Pay and jobs by occupation in the Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area (BLS, May 2025). BLS counts about 253,210 jobs across all occupations here, with a median annual wage of $42,990 for all occupations combined. 472 occupations have a published median wage in this area.

Wages by occupation

OccupationJobsMedian annual wageMean annual wageJobs per 1,000 jobs hereConcentration vs. U.S.
Accountants and Auditors1,720$74,770$81,4506.810.73
Administrative Services Managers280$80,490$93,1701.100.65
Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors230$47,520$51,7900.903.74
Advertising Sales Agents70$37,710$46,1800.280.47
Agricultural Inspectors30$49,220$53,6300.121.32
Amusement and Recreation Attendants1,110$26,130$27,1104.371.71
Animal Caretakers520$29,780$32,0502.061.20
Animal Control Workers50$39,950$41,6300.202.56
Architects, Except Landscape and Naval70$83,410$92,1700.280.40
Architectural and Civil Drafters120$56,460$60,9500.480.72
Architectural and Engineering Managers130$153,290$154,5200.530.37
Art Directors50$82,340$87,9000.200.58
Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary370$67,330$74,6301.462.43
Athletic Trainers50$52,150$55,2200.201.03
Audio and Video Technicians80$44,820$43,5400.330.73
Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants180$29,930$31,4500.721.09
Automotive Body and Related Repairers270$48,220$50,5801.081.13
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics1,400$44,090$48,5605.521.22
Baggage Porters and Bellhops50$31,700$33,5800.201.08
Bakers460$31,500$33,2401.831.20
Bartenders1,390$34,580$38,1005.511.13
Bill and Account Collectors130$44,150$42,6500.530.52
Billing and Posting Clerks220$41,640$43,4400.850.33
Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary150$66,200$72,5300.601.86
Biological Scientists, All Other40$81,330$85,2700.150.41
Biological Technicians30$55,740$57,1400.120.27
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks2,710$44,920$46,57010.691.21
Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys60$33,390$34,2800.231.67
Budget Analysts60$70,360$75,0600.250.84
Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists780$51,080$53,1103.101.66
Bus Drivers, School750$35,170$36,7802.971.15
Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity150$35,570$35,6200.600.58
Business Operations Specialists, All Other1,040$61,760$69,4904.090.58
Business Teachers, Postsecondary320$84,430$104,3801.262.38
Butchers and Meat Cutters270$35,760$35,4701.061.20
Buyers and Purchasing Agents550$66,900$73,4002.180.69
Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters210$38,800$42,5900.851.71
Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians30$50,620$58,7600.130.32
Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary510$59,780$59,1202.032.76
Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School100$57,390$55,0600.380.53
Carpenters1,130$43,560$44,7604.451.03
Cartographers and Photogrammetrists30$64,580$66,7400.121.33
Cashiers7,720$28,700$29,34030.501.53
Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers160$43,200$44,7300.650.49
Chefs and Head Cooks330$60,780$64,3201.321.02
Chemical Technicians230$47,710$50,4300.922.50
Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary100$74,150$73,8400.393.01
Chemists80$78,330$80,9000.310.57
Chief Executives60$203,790$252,4500.230.17
Child, Family, and School Social Workers860$54,660$54,9103.401.35
Childcare Workers690$29,900$31,3402.710.81
Chiropractors70$103,270$96,3800.281.11
Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians140$62,380$62,8500.571.29
Civil Engineers300$95,460$97,1301.180.50
Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators120$73,920$78,1800.480.23
Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment590$35,040$33,5602.320.95
Clergy60$58,210$66,0100.250.67
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists110$74,990$77,4900.450.91
Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians520$55,260$58,2902.050.96
Coaches and Scouts360$51,060$67,8201.420.89
Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders640$44,820$43,9702.522.46
Coin, Vending, and Amusement Machine Servicers and Repairers60$47,240$46,4300.221.32
Commercial and Industrial Designers70$70,980$70,1800.281.28
Communications Teachers, Postsecondary110$68,010$73,6700.422.24
Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other190$51,350$52,6800.761.10
Community Health Workers70$43,620$46,1100.290.73
Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists110$66,560$73,5100.440.61
Compliance Officers310$64,020$69,8601.220.46
Computer and Information Systems Managers420$146,360$152,2201.650.38
Computer Network Architects170$124,000$113,6800.660.57
Computer Network Support Specialists180$63,160$65,2000.730.78
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators500$53,480$55,0901.961.80
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers40$60,130$65,8500.150.80
Computer Occupations, All Other250$81,570$87,0400.990.35
Computer Programmers100$91,520$91,9200.380.64
Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary110$73,670$85,0000.421.85
Computer Systems Analysts300$91,200$97,5701.180.35
Computer User Support Specialists860$56,980$58,0203.390.74
Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine Repairers130$48,840$48,1800.521.24
Conservation Scientists60$62,460$65,5400.221.31
Construction and Building Inspectors220$59,230$61,1300.870.93
Construction Laborers2,320$42,740$44,1409.151.30
Construction Managers970$99,990$104,9603.841.57
Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door30$57,000$61,6500.120.40
Cooks, Fast Food4,350$24,260$25,75017.204.17
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria1,000$34,640$33,8603.951.39
Cooks, Restaurant3,930$32,150$34,16015.521.71
Cooks, Short Order220$28,790$28,4600.870.98
Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders30$37,180$39,2400.122.69
Correctional Officers and Jailers1,020$46,440$46,9204.041.65
Cost Estimators390$66,060$69,8701.531.06
Counter and Rental Clerks730$36,580$40,9902.881.12
Couriers and Messengers90$39,470$40,2800.360.81
Court, Municipal, and License Clerks510$47,790$50,2102.001.73
Credit Analysts30$68,850$77,3400.120.29
Credit Counselors40$46,970$52,0500.160.88
Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary180$61,520$63,3100.738.60
Crossing Guards and Flaggers40$29,570$31,7400.140.23
Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders70$42,060$44,7800.281.67
Customer Service Representatives3,150$36,970$39,90012.440.75
Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders150$45,500$44,6300.592.06
Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic310$37,990$40,6601.211.10
Data Entry Keyers120$37,850$39,5900.490.60
Data Scientists170$81,880$100,0000.650.39
Database Administrators40$51,490$68,9000.160.35
Database Architects50$118,570$105,0000.190.44
Demonstrators and Product Promoters—$29,900$35,990——
Dental Assistants610$47,450$46,9902.430.97
Dental Hygienists340$84,080$88,4401.350.94
Dentists, General200$213,190$230,9900.801.00
Detectives and Criminal Investigators270$57,200$58,5501.081.46
Diagnostic Medical Sonographers140$81,770$81,9900.540.92
Dietetic Technicians50$32,280$31,0400.200.96
Dietitians and Nutritionists120$57,010$59,6500.460.93
Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers590$28,890$28,8802.330.67
Dishwashers710$28,930$29,9302.820.92
Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance300$41,480$45,6101.190.91
Driver/Sales Workers710$31,000$36,0802.791.06
Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers30$38,330$41,7400.120.23
Economics Teachers, Postsecondary60$116,150$117,2500.243.29
Editors70$63,140$76,9300.290.49
Education Administrators, All Other30$74,430$81,3400.130.36
Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary750$82,550$86,1002.961.40
Education Administrators, Postsecondary610$84,740$103,5802.422.09
Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare130$57,810$67,6800.521.09
Education Teachers, Postsecondary230$83,890$78,1900.912.34
Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All Other50$50,580$51,8900.190.25
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors680$55,210$53,9702.701.19
Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians70$87,950$85,3600.280.46
Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment70$63,270$64,2300.270.63
Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay70$104,710$104,0400.272.00
Electrical Engineers140$118,870$112,2300.550.43
Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers990$78,880$78,5003.904.62
Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers180$36,780$36,3400.700.44
Electricians1,110$51,540$54,9304.380.90
Electronics Engineers, Except Computer30$88,730$94,8100.140.22
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education3,210$50,280$52,98012.661.42
Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs630$41,110$42,6002.512.52
Emergency Medical Technicians600$40,580$43,8802.372.04
Emergency Medicine Physicians—$420,440$359,540——
Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary50$83,780$89,4900.180.71
Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other50$75,360$69,3800.180.48
Engineers, All Other120$83,640$91,5000.470.47
English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary270$69,540$67,0201.052.84
Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling110$77,470$82,8300.421.73
Entertainment Attendants and Related Workers, All Other30$36,460$38,7100.132.78
Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary50$80,680$72,5200.214.86
Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health170$64,540$67,1400.671.17
Etchers and Engravers50$37,260$39,0100.183.63
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining130$53,760$52,9500.492.23
Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants360$58,980$62,8601.430.48
Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors380$39,490$44,0401.500.72
Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic160$38,480$40,4900.621.58
Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers150$35,950$35,5900.617.37
Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders100$36,650$39,3500.411.08
Facilities Managers210$102,860$107,9500.850.84
Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary30$67,320$63,6400.126.82
Family Medicine Physicians150$187,660$222,3900.590.86
Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse220$33,810$34,7500.850.50
Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals80$37,950$37,0800.301.43
Fast Food and Counter Workers5,200$27,860$28,61020.540.83
File Clerks60$43,790$43,1400.250.53
Financial and Investment Analysts220$90,310$89,4000.860.37
Financial Managers560$122,480$140,4902.190.41
Financial Risk Specialists30$95,890$106,8900.120.29
Financial Specialists, All Other60$102,380$99,9700.220.26
Fire Inspectors and Investigators60$47,480$53,6200.252.81
Firefighters950$31,200$33,1303.731.68
First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers1,880$69,610$72,1407.411.42
First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services280$47,880$50,2901.111.67
First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers—$60,020$59,900——
First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers200$54,440$56,4400.791.24
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers2,570$41,600$44,20010.161.29
First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers400$48,520$50,9501.581.38
First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers250$57,740$59,5901.001.19
First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers1,340$75,430$81,3205.271.33
First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers270$75,820$89,7801.090.79
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers1,850$54,150$58,6707.330.79
First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service Workers180$44,680$47,2800.720.98
First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives400$68,420$72,0801.571.58
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers1,440$65,620$68,5405.681.31
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers2,580$46,400$49,52010.171.41
First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers100$64,830$62,5100.390.74
First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors970$54,650$57,3103.840.96
Floral Designers70$29,540$32,2700.271.04
Food Batchmakers110$37,090$37,6500.420.38
Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other260$28,370$29,8601.041.91
Food Preparation Workers2,190$28,730$28,7108.641.50
Food Processing Workers, All Other210$35,960$36,5300.821.96
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant490$27,340$30,4801.951.03
Food Service Managers610$76,140$79,3202.431.58
Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary40$61,790$66,3900.141.14
Foresters40$85,690$81,1900.172.50
Fundraisers210$62,180$67,4800.811.14
Fundraising Managers60$140,140$129,8700.240.95
Funeral Attendants170$35,760$34,5500.673.37
Funeral Home Managers60$77,570$87,9900.252.78
Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders50$39,890$40,7000.212.28
Furniture Finishers30$39,660$38,7100.141.45
General and Operations Managers3,360$76,810$100,68013.260.59
Graphic Designers270$47,070$55,0501.050.82
Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic170$53,760$47,6700.661.52
Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists260$35,550$38,5901.010.51
Health Education Specialists70$49,560$56,8500.300.70
Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars90$46,590$58,1300.341.40
Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary280$73,440$79,7401.100.77
Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other190$39,610$45,5700.740.63
Healthcare Social Workers270$57,650$54,9601.090.90
Healthcare Support Workers, All Other60$38,040$41,2000.260.36
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers860$51,500$53,5403.411.30
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers3,840$49,460$54,39015.151.14
Helpers, Construction Trades, All Other30$35,430$36,7300.130.81
Helpers--Carpenters50$37,990$39,9400.201.41
Helpers--Electricians420$37,510$39,0201.654.04
Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers340$35,030$35,6701.352.19
Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters190$39,520$39,4200.752.62
Helpers--Production Workers360$36,430$39,0401.421.33
Highway Maintenance Workers570$48,870$47,9002.252.26
History Teachers, Postsecondary90$69,930$73,8500.383.10
Home Appliance Repairers160$28,670$33,7000.653.12
Home Health and Personal Care Aides3,900$30,350$30,99015.400.56
Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop980$26,900$27,3103.881.39
Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks740$28,710$29,5202.921.74
Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping140$47,580$46,1600.530.92
Human Resources Managers170$118,150$132,1000.670.47
Human Resources Specialists980$63,710$69,7403.860.66
Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians60$62,880$60,8000.260.53
Industrial Engineers400$94,880$95,2001.590.68
Industrial Machinery Mechanics930$60,320$59,6603.691.30
Industrial Production Managers560$114,300$120,6102.191.39
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators1,330$49,140$46,5405.241.05
Information and Record Clerks, All Other380$34,510$35,6801.491.71
Information Security Analysts90$77,360$98,7300.360.30
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers1,090$43,400$44,5104.321.13
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other200$44,040$44,1300.780.69
Instructional Coordinators420$61,560$66,1901.661.13
Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks70$38,890$43,2000.270.20
Insurance Sales Agents760$46,240$53,8203.000.97
Interior Designers100$56,830$58,4900.410.90
Interpreters and Translators50$39,350$41,0000.210.63
Interviewers, Except Eligibility and Loan80$37,950$40,3200.300.31
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners3,360$33,810$33,64013.250.93
Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers30$47,510$43,4900.130.93
Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education60$55,420$50,4900.230.33
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand4,030$36,340$37,90015.930.84
Landscape Architects30$83,840$77,8500.120.98
Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers2,530$36,400$37,64010.001.63
Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers370$30,460$31,1601.461.14
Lawyers490$97,690$119,7801.930.40
Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants160$35,660$37,9900.650.64
Librarians and Media Collections Specialists210$58,370$60,3800.830.96
Library Assistants, Clerical130$30,700$32,9100.510.93
Library Technicians120$43,910$41,5400.491.12
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses1,160$62,410$61,6604.601.10
Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers240$25,170$26,6600.930.92
Light Truck Drivers1,380$37,610$39,0005.450.86
Loan Officers250$60,150$65,3701.000.57
Lodging Managers200$51,990$56,9400.772.82
Logging Equipment Operators60$50,090$49,3700.251.85
Logisticians150$74,040$79,3900.600.37
Machine Feeders and Offbearers200$36,140$38,0400.782.88
Machinists580$49,510$51,2402.281.24
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists50$80,420$82,8700.190.69
Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners2,370$29,440$31,2609.381.69
Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service50$35,260$35,5500.180.52
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General2,950$44,550$45,57011.641.18
Maintenance Workers, Machinery360$61,400$62,6601.413.66
Management Analysts300$91,350$96,1801.170.20
Managers, All Other610$102,790$110,7902.430.61
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists700$63,800$71,9602.770.48
Marketing Managers170$146,610$151,6200.690.27
Marriage and Family Therapists90$43,710$45,5800.360.85
Massage Therapists70$55,010$61,2800.280.43
Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary160$63,870$73,0900.642.07
Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers620$37,940$37,4702.452.61
Mechanical Drafters90$60,330$62,2400.361.40
Medical and Health Services Managers680$100,360$111,5302.670.70
Medical Assistants1,300$38,490$40,9405.120.97
Medical Equipment Preparers80$43,590$45,3300.310.62
Medical Equipment Repairers130$57,790$60,3300.501.18
Medical Records Specialists290$41,760$48,1201.160.93
Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists—$107,990$111,760——
Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants2,340$38,750$41,0209.231.49
Medical Transcriptionists40$39,990$40,3000.150.58
Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners160$47,730$54,7700.610.67
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers280$54,930$56,9001.091.27
Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers200$35,960$42,0300.800.75
Meter Readers, Utilities30$39,110$43,1000.120.95
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education1,590$47,370$51,4806.271.57
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators3,000$41,230$41,43011.841.31
Miscellaneous Construction and Related Workers60$43,720$44,9300.251.36
Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders90$43,620$44,9100.340.55
Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines200$58,890$57,3500.800.70
Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic40$36,580$38,1800.160.73
Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic500$42,900$41,2201.992.06
Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers100$57,620$58,8100.382.33
Motor Vehicle Operators, All Other50$28,560$29,8800.190.62
Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic150$42,140$43,9000.610.76
Museum Technicians and Conservators30$22,660$29,4800.131.60
Natural Sciences Managers50$112,880$130,2300.180.26
Network and Computer Systems Administrators320$83,040$89,2301.260.63
New Accounts Clerks170$45,010$48,2700.682.87
News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists30$37,060$43,4700.130.53
Nurse Anesthetists70$270,400$262,4900.260.79
Nurse Midwives40$97,830$105,4500.142.77
Nurse Practitioners420$123,770$123,2101.650.79
Nursing Assistants4,150$37,340$37,12016.401.76
Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary230$77,220$81,6400.911.81
Occupational Health and Safety Specialists210$78,720$86,8000.850.94
Occupational Health and Safety Technicians50$54,860$59,8700.201.03
Occupational Therapists210$90,750$90,5900.840.81
Occupational Therapy Assistants80$63,160$67,6100.300.92
Office and Administrative Support Workers, All Other200$46,010$48,0500.780.63
Office Clerks, General3,710$37,450$39,71014.640.92
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators1,320$48,060$49,5805.201.69
Operations Research Analysts50$78,050$75,8900.220.31
Ophthalmic Medical Technicians100$40,180$42,1800.400.87
Opticians, Dispensing120$46,170$49,1100.491.04
Optometrists70$148,840$146,3500.291.04
Order Clerks120$43,610$45,1100.481.00
Orderlies30$33,570$35,6200.120.36
Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics150$43,350$44,5700.582.49
Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders1,190$40,200$40,3704.681.92
Packers and Packagers, Hand670$30,230$30,6202.660.74
Painters, Construction and Maintenance270$44,190$45,7601.060.73
Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders500$50,410$50,8401.983.21
Paralegals and Legal Assistants500$46,520$45,8801.960.78
Paramedics680$48,110$49,7902.704.18
Parking Attendants120$29,520$31,8300.490.55
Parts Salespersons680$28,160$33,2902.691.55
Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators110$42,640$44,0700.451.66
Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks150$46,010$49,5800.600.61
Personal Financial Advisors140$66,070$99,1400.540.31
Pest Control Workers290$44,620$44,2701.151.74
Pharmacists580$132,130$134,3302.291.11
Pharmacy Aides100$34,660$32,3800.411.59
Pharmacy Technicians940$38,040$41,1803.731.23
Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary50$77,450$80,9200.181.37
Phlebotomists180$37,860$39,2000.690.75
Photographers—$37,200$47,900——
Physical Therapist Aides40$30,620$41,3200.160.52
Physical Therapist Assistants180$64,680$69,1000.731.01
Physical Therapists370$99,040$97,6101.440.84
Physician Assistants340$115,460$119,8801.321.27
Physicians, All Other490$371,190$340,3301.920.87
Physics Teachers, Postsecondary40$81,440$82,5800.161.89
Pipelayers210$43,890$43,8800.853.98
Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic60$40,890$40,8900.221.06
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters490$55,860$53,8401.930.64
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers1,760$48,390$51,4906.941.61
Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary60$84,170$85,3400.242.24
Postal Service Clerks260$63,650$63,8501.032.17
Postal Service Mail Carriers890$57,470$59,7003.531.67
Postmasters and Mail Superintendents80$95,680$94,7600.313.51
Postsecondary Teachers, All Other170$75,140$68,2500.690.72
Prepress Technicians and Workers40$43,890$43,2900.171.11
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education940$35,480$42,6903.711.20
Printing Press Operators190$47,340$46,8300.740.80
Private Detectives and Investigators50$42,610$46,6500.180.81
Procurement Clerks60$48,270$48,2300.240.67
Producers and Directors80$62,780$74,6400.310.34
Production Workers, All Other700$42,460$43,6302.751.70
Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks640$47,100$50,0402.551.01
Project Management Specialists1,000$91,200$91,6503.970.58
Property Appraisers and Assessors170$47,980$52,9300.681.86
Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers470$54,090$57,6101.840.92
Protective Service Workers, All Other70$40,330$46,7500.290.56
Psychiatric Technicians120$40,600$44,1500.480.47
Psychiatrists30$155,400$179,4200.120.68
Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary130$80,950$78,5600.511.90
Public Relations Managers40$101,910$134,8500.160.34
Public Relations Specialists350$57,320$63,0701.390.76
Public Safety Telecommunicators420$40,970$42,3101.652.50
Purchasing Managers70$124,340$131,1200.280.52
Radiologic Technologists and Technicians410$66,460$69,1101.631.10
Receptionists and Information Clerks1,120$34,840$34,7104.430.76
Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary80$82,230$78,4500.334.05
Recreation Workers820$38,270$36,4603.231.52
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors740$32,820$34,4202.923.08
Registered Nurses4,760$82,100$82,93018.810.87
Rehabilitation Counselors230$44,320$45,0300.901.48
Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel Clerks40$34,320$32,8700.180.23
Residential Advisors240$38,650$40,5700.941.72
Respiratory Therapists270$73,160$73,7101.081.20
Retail Salespersons8,030$30,490$33,09031.701.26
Roofers90$47,430$48,0600.340.40
Sales and Related Workers, All Other50$37,010$44,4300.180.30
Sales Engineers70$87,880$101,4900.280.83
Sales Managers420$105,770$129,4901.650.40
Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel1,390$56,970$66,1705.480.68
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products1,760$65,940$78,0106.940.87
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products160$96,720$119,7900.650.36
Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood180$38,340$38,8400.732.76
School Psychologists50$58,910$61,9200.210.51
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education1,760$57,240$54,4606.951.01
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive2,900$41,410$42,65011.441.04
Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents650$58,600$87,6902.570.82
Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers100$50,920$52,8400.390.70
Security Guards1,030$37,170$41,0304.090.50
Self-Enrichment Teachers430$37,510$42,7101.720.80
Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders120$47,550$48,5000.471.21
Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners70$46,180$46,5400.291.45
Sewing Machine Operators460$29,730$31,9601.802.67
Sheet Metal Workers110$46,030$49,0900.440.57
Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks870$39,160$41,5103.420.65
Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs430$31,270$32,3701.701.06
Skincare Specialists90$37,240$43,2700.340.72
Slaughterers and Meat Packers240$38,500$37,3400.932.07
Social and Community Service Managers340$77,120$78,1901.351.00
Social and Human Service Assistants440$41,660$43,9501.720.61
Social Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, All Other30$67,560$69,9200.121.17
Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary100$80,680$79,8500.384.64
Social Workers, All Other80$49,470$57,8600.310.76
Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary40$70,200$68,2800.151.98
Software Developers610$124,010$125,2502.400.22
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers110$96,320$94,1000.450.38
Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School120$50,710$53,3200.490.29
Special Education Teachers, Middle School—$60,020$56,560——
Special Education Teachers, Secondary School130$47,390$50,3800.520.49
Speech-Language Pathologists190$96,200$90,7900.740.63
Stockers and Order Fillers5,500$36,370$36,14021.741.19
Structural Iron and Steel Workers100$47,590$56,1600.400.92
Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters90$43,610$43,6500.371.09
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors460$56,360$58,7901.810.57
Substitute Teachers, Short-Term1,260$32,350$31,6604.961.47
Surgical Technologists150$58,690$57,6400.600.79
Surveying and Mapping Technicians150$46,540$50,6200.581.56
Surveyors80$59,310$67,8000.310.96
Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service40$29,420$29,4700.150.70
Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers60$41,640$38,5500.242.69
Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders30$40,400$42,1800.131.92
Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents70$52,800$57,5600.260.72
Tax Preparers180$44,160$50,5300.691.41
Teachers and Instructors, All Other160$48,680$53,7300.630.86
Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary2,290$28,850$30,2309.050.99
Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary240$46,370$45,3500.950.90
Technical Writers—$86,100$90,800——
Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers190$57,840$63,4600.730.81
Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers140$60,040$62,3700.560.89
Telemarketers180$29,870$31,5500.711.88
Tellers420$39,280$42,4701.670.79
Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders90$34,420$36,9600.349.96
Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders30$37,230$37,1500.132.29
Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders350$37,560$36,3401.3716.39
Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders350$36,420$36,4201.399.85
Textile, Apparel, and Furnishings Workers, All Other120$34,210$34,3100.465.30
Tile and Stone Setters60$42,200$42,5900.220.97
Tire Repairers and Changers180$34,200$36,0300.711.02
Tool and Die Makers90$56,940$53,5100.360.99
Tour and Travel Guides110$31,680$33,3900.421.21
Training and Development Managers40$102,860$115,2800.140.45
Training and Development Specialists660$54,190$59,0502.610.88
Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers200$93,610$103,8900.810.57
Tree Trimmers and Pruners410$48,470$51,0801.634.60
Tutors270$34,040$41,2601.080.96
Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials110$26,540$30,8500.444.34
Upholsterers70$62,140$58,6300.272.11
Urban and Regional Planners90$66,150$69,7100.351.21
Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers130$31,060$28,8800.520.66
Veterinarians150$119,320$118,6600.601.10
Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers320$35,760$35,3001.281.57
Veterinary Technologists and Technicians90$44,170$43,1800.360.44
Waiters and Waitresses5,180$29,160$34,63020.461.40
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators350$47,940$49,1001.391.68
Web and Digital Interface Designers50$76,190$83,1500.200.28
Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping80$45,190$42,5200.320.92
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers1,060$49,310$50,1204.181.56
Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders90$49,890$52,0600.341.67
Woodworkers, All Other100$39,370$38,6900.3810.72
Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing250$35,890$37,7500.982.48
Writers and Authors50$60,960$64,6000.210.69
Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists30$64,620$66,8400.131.08

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, metropolitan area estimates (cross-industry, all ownerships). Wages are pay for all workers in an occupation in this area, not any one person or employer; a dash means BLS does not publish the figure (often to protect privacy or because the estimate is unreliable), and “or more” marks a wage at or above BLS’s top reporting limit. Concentration is the BLS location quotient: the occupation's share of jobs in this area divided by its share nationally (1.00 = the same share as the U.S.; above 1.00 = a larger share); it says nothing about pay or openings. Jobs per 1,000 is the occupation's jobs per 1,000 jobs of all kinds in this area. Occupations that BLS reports only as hourly wages are not listed, and BLS shows some wages above its top limit as plain numbers while others read “or more”. Occupations are listed alphabetically; click a heading to sort. MajorPays does not rank places or occupations. MajorPays selected and reorganized these figures; the Bureau of Labor Statistics has not approved or endorsed this presentation. MajorPays does not provide advice. See Data sources.

Explore more: all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas · salary by state · careers