U.S. Salary Data for Every Job and Location
Explore compensation data for 831 occupations across all 50 states and 390+ metro areas
Highest Paying Jobs in the U.S.
| Occupation | Median Salary | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Family Medicine Physicians | $238,380 | 107,950 |
| General Internal Medicine Physicians | $236,350 | 66,640 |
| Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | $226,600 | 99,300 |
| Dentists, All Other Specialists | $225,770 | 5,900 |
| Nurse Anesthetists | $223,210 | 50,350 |
| Pediatricians, General | $210,130 | 42,960 |
| Chief Executives | $206,420 | 211,850 |
| Dentists, General | $172,790 | 113,490 |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $171,200 | 645,970 |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $167,740 | 210,340 |
| Physicists | $166,290 | 21,340 |
| Financial Managers | $161,700 | 818,620 |
| Natural Sciences Managers | $161,180 | 100,870 |
| Marketing Managers | $161,030 | 384,980 |
| Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates | $156,210 | 25,580 |
Most Common Jobs in the U.S.
| Occupation | Employment | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | 3,988,140 | $34,900 |
| Retail Salespersons | 3,800,250 | $34,580 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 3,780,930 | $30,480 |
| General and Operations Managers | 3,584,420 | $102,950 |
| Registered Nurses | 3,282,010 | $93,600 |
| Cashiers | 3,148,030 | $31,190 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | 2,982,530 | $38,940 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 2,779,530 | $37,090 |
| Customer Service Representatives | 2,725,930 | $42,830 |
| Office Clerks, General | 2,510,550 | $43,630 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | 2,302,690 | $33,760 |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | 2,199,900 | $35,930 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 2,070,480 | $57,440 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | 1,737,820 | $46,290 |
| Software Developers | 1,654,440 | $133,080 |
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About This Data
All salary data on this site comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program. The BLS surveys approximately 1.1 million business establishments to produce these estimates, making it one of the most comprehensive and reliable wage data sources available in the United States.
The data covers over 800 detailed occupations across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and 390+ metropolitan statistical areas. For each occupation and location, we display median and mean annual wages, hourly wages, wage percentiles (10th, 25th, 75th, and 90th), and total employment estimates. The current data reflects the May 2024 survey period.
How to Use Salary Lookup
Use the search bar above to find any occupation by job title. Each job page shows national salary statistics, a state-by-state comparison table, the highest-paying metropolitan areas, and a salary percentile breakdown. You can also:
- Browse salaries by state to see the highest and lowest paying jobs in each state
- Explore metro areas to compare pay in specific cities
- View salary differences by industry to see how the same job pays in different sectors
- Use our comparison pages to see two careers side by side
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between median and mean salary?
The median is the midpoint — half of workers earn more and half earn less. The mean (average) adds all salaries and divides by the number of workers. The median is often more representative because it is not distorted by a few extremely high earners. For example, a few CEOs earning millions can pull the mean up significantly while the median stays stable.
Why do salaries vary so much by state and metro area?
State and metro-level salary differences reflect local cost of living (especially housing costs), concentration of high-paying industries, labor supply and demand dynamics, unionization rates, and state-level minimum wage laws. A job paying $80,000 in a low-cost state may offer equivalent purchasing power to $120,000+ in an expensive coastal city.
Does this data include bonuses, tips, or benefits?
No. BLS OEWS data measures base wages and salaries only. It does not include bonuses, commissions, tips, overtime pay, stock options, health insurance, retirement contributions, or other non-wage compensation. Actual total compensation may be 20-40% higher than the base salary figures shown.
How often is the salary data updated?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics releases new OEWS data annually, typically in the spring for the previous May survey period. Salary Lookup updates its database when new BLS data becomes available. The current data reflects May 2024 estimates.
Are self-employed workers included?
No. The OEWS survey covers only wage and salary workers employed by businesses and government agencies. Self-employed individuals, unincorporated business owners, and unpaid family workers are not included in these statistics.