As the American job market continues to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, companies big and small are scrambling to find workers to meet growing consumer demand. Across sectors as diverse as finance, food service, and tech, employers are raising wages to attract job seekers and fill job openings at a time when many view going back to work as an existential risk.
In many occupations in the United States, high salaries have long been the norm. Currently, the average annual wage among full-time workers is $56,310. In dozens of occupations, the average worker earns more than double this amount.
Using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 24/7 Wall St. identified the 87 occupations with six figure salaries. Occupations were ranked on average annual wage. Non-specific occupational categories, typically classified as “all other” by the BLS, were excluded from analysis.
Most of the jobs on this list are in high demand in the United States. Over half of them have stronger projected employment growth between 2019 and 2029 than the 3.7% overall projected employment growth rate, and only a handful of them are expected to shed workers in the coming years. Here is a look at America’s fastest growing jobs.
In high-demand and high-growth fields, expertise and specialization are typically rewarded in the job market. Partially as a result, the highest paying jobs often require high levels of educational attainment. Only four occupations on this list typically require less than a bachelor’s degree. Many require a master’s degree and over one-third require a doctoral or professional degree. Here is a look at the highest paying jobs you can get without a college degree.
Click here to see 87 jobs with six figure salaries
Click here to our detail methodology
87. Mining and geological engineers, including mining safety engineers
> Avg. annual wage: $100,140
> 90% of workers earn more than: $57,040
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Bachelor’s degree
> Total employment: 6,270
> Projected employment chg. 2019-2029: +4.8%
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86. Atmospheric and space scientists
> Avg. annual wage: $100,550
> 90% of workers earn more than: $52,350
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Bachelor’s degree
> Total employment: 10,210
> Projected employment chg. 2019-2029: +7.1%
85. Materials engineers
> Avg. annual wage: $100,550
> 90% of workers earn more than: $57,970
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Bachelor’s degree
> Total employment: 24,740
> Projected employment chg. 2019-2029: +1.5%
84. Architecture teachers, postsecondary
> Avg. annual wage: $100,820
> 90% of workers earn more than: $45,960
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Doctoral or professional degree
> Total employment: 6,910
> Projected employment chg. 2019-2029: +5.9%
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83. Political science teachers, postsecondary
> Avg. annual wage: $100,970
> 90% of workers earn more than: $43,460
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Doctoral or professional degree
> Total employment: 15,130
> Projected employment chg. 2019-2029: +5.1%
82. Database administrators and architects
> Avg. annual wage: $101,090
> 90% of workers earn more than: $54,070
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Bachelor’s degree
> Total employment: 133,630
> Projected employment chg. 2019-2029: +9.7%
81. Physics teachers, postsecondary
> Avg. annual wage: $101,290
> 90% of workers earn more than: $49,340
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Doctoral or professional degree
> Total employment: 13,670
> Projected employment chg. 2019-2029: +4.1%
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80. Biological science teachers, postsecondary
> Avg. annual wage: $101,320
> 90% of workers earn more than: $46,430
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Doctoral or professional degree
> Total employment: 51,500
> Projected employment chg. 2019-2029: +9.3%
79. Agricultural engineers
> Avg. annual wage: $101,620
> 90% of workers earn more than: $51,160
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Bachelor’s degree
> Total employment: 1,440
> Projected employment chg. 2019-2029: +0.0%
78. Medical scientists, except epidemiologists
> Avg. annual wage: $101,800
> 90% of workers earn more than: $50,240
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Doctoral or professional degree
> Total employment: 126,110
> Projected employment chg. 2019-2029: +6.1%
77. Administrative law judges, adjudicators, and hearing officers
> Avg. annual wage: $102,050
> 90% of workers earn more than: $47,580
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Doctoral or professional degree
> Total employment: 14,570
> Projected employment chg. 2019-2029: +0.0%
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76. Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary
> Avg. annual wage: $103,010
> 90% of workers earn more than: $65,150
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Master’s degree
> Total employment: 262,480
> Projected employment chg. 2019-2029: +4.0%
75. Materials scientists
> Avg. annual wage: $104,450
> 90% of workers earn more than: $54,810
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Bachelor’s degree
> Total employment: 6,930
> Projected employment chg. 2019-2029: +2.9%
74. Nuclear power reactor operators
> Avg. annual wage: $104,470
> 90% of workers earn more than: $76,360
> Typical entry-level edu. required: High school diploma or equivalent
> Total employment: 5,310
> Projected employment chg. 2019-2029: -35.8%
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73. Atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary
> Avg. annual wage: $104,710
> 90% of workers earn more than: $48,280
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Doctoral or professional degree
> Total employment: 11,750
> Projected employment chg. 2019-2029: +2.3%
72. Biochemists and biophysicists
> Avg. annual wage: $104,810
> 90% of workers earn more than: $52,640
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Doctoral or professional degree
> Total employment: 32,010
> Projected employment chg. 2019-2029: +4.0%
71. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
> Avg. annual wage: $105,100
> 90% of workers earn more than: $56,970
> Typical entry-level edu. required: High school diploma or equivalent
> Total employment: 132,210
> Projected employment chg. 2019-2029: +3.5%
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70. Electrical engineers
> Avg. annual wage: $105,990
> 90% of workers earn more than: $64,870
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Bachelor’s degree
> Total employment: 185,220
> Projected employment chg. 2019-2029: +4.7%
69. Construction managers
> Avg. annual wage: $107,260
> 90% of workers earn more than: $56,880
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Bachelor’s degree
> Total employment: 285,640
> Projected employment chg. 2019-2029: +8.5%
68. Business teachers, postsecondary
> Avg. annual wage: $107,270
> 90% of workers earn more than: $39,720
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Doctoral or professional degree
> Total employment: 79,810
> Projected employment chg. 2019-2029: +12.0%
67. Information security analysts
> Avg. annual wage: $107,580
> 90% of workers earn more than: $60,060
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Bachelor’s degree
> Total employment: 138,000
> Projected employment chg. 2019-2029: +31.2%
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66. Administrative services and facilities managers
> Avg. annual wage: $108,120
> 90% of workers earn more than: $56,080
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Bachelor’s degree
> Total employment: 307,620
> Projected employment chg. 2019-2029: +6.5%
65. Veterinarians
> Avg. annual wage: $108,350
> 90% of workers earn more than: $60,690
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Doctoral or professional degree
> Total employment: 73,710
> Projected employment chg. 2019-2029: +15.9%
64. Commercial pilots
> Avg. annual wage: $110,830
> 90% of workers earn more than: $47,570
> Typical entry-level edu. required: High school diploma or equivalent
> Total employment: 37,120
> Projected employment chg. 2019-2029: +9.1%
63. Geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers
> Avg. annual wage: $112,110
> 90% of workers earn more than: $51,890
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Bachelor’s degree
> Total employment: 27,890
> Projected employment chg. 2019-2029: +5.0%
62. Electronics engineers, except computer
> Avg. annual wage: $112,320
> 90% of workers earn more than: $69,210
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Bachelor’s degree
> Total employment: 122,320
> Projected employment chg. 2019-2029: +1.4%
61. Mathematicians
> Avg. annual wage: $112,530
> 90% of workers earn more than: $61,130
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Master’s degree
> Total employment: 2,460
> Projected employment chg. 2019-2029: +3.4%
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60. Industrial-organizational psychologists
> Avg. annual wage: $112,690
> 90% of workers earn more than: $57,440
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Master’s degree
> Total employment: 780
> Projected employment chg. 2019-2029: +0.0%
59. Engineering teachers, postsecondary
> Avg. annual wage: $114,130
> 90% of workers earn more than: $55,440
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Doctoral or professional degree
> Total employment: 38,520
> Projected employment chg. 2019-2029: +8.5%
58. Software developers and software quality assurance analysts and testers
> Avg. annual wage: $114,270
> 90% of workers earn more than: $65,210
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Bachelor’s degree
> Total employment: 1,476,800
> Projected employment chg. 2019-2029: +21.5%
57. Art directors
> Avg. annual wage: $114,490
> 90% of workers earn more than: $54,530
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Bachelor’s degree
> Total employment: 40,950
> Projected employment chg. 2019-2029: -1.8%
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56. Nurse practitioners
> Avg. annual wage: $114,510
> 90% of workers earn more than: $82,960
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Master’s degree
> Total employment: 211,280
> Projected employment chg. 2019-2029: +52.4%
55. Chemical engineers
> Avg. annual wage: $114,820
> 90% of workers earn more than: $68,430
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Bachelor’s degree
> Total employment: 25,770
> Projected employment chg. 2019-2029: +4.3%
54. Education administrators, postsecondary
> Avg. annual wage: $115,200
> 90% of workers earn more than: $56,310
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Master’s degree
> Total employment: 140,880
> Projected employment chg. 2019-2029: +3.7%
53. Nurse midwives
> Avg. annual wage: $115,540
> 90% of workers earn more than: $67,710
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Master’s degree
> Total employment: 7,120
> Projected employment chg. 2019-2029: +12.5%
52. Physician assistants
> Avg. annual wage: $116,080
> 90% of workers earn more than: $76,700
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Master’s degree
> Total employment: 125,280
> Projected employment chg. 2019-2029: +31.3%
51. Sales engineers
> Avg. annual wage: $117,270
> 90% of workers earn more than: $60,730
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Bachelor’s degree
> Total employment: 63,780
> Projected employment chg. 2019-2029: +6.4%
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50. Industrial production managers
> Avg. annual wage: $118,190
> 90% of workers earn more than: $67,100
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Bachelor’s degree
> Total employment: 179,570
> Projected employment chg. 2019-2029: +0.9%
49. Medical and health services managers
> Avg. annual wage: $118,800
> 90% of workers earn more than: $59,980
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Bachelor’s degree
> Total employment: 402,540
> Projected employment chg. 2019-2029: +31.5%
48. Computer network architects
> Avg. annual wage: $119,230
> 90% of workers earn more than: $67,190
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Bachelor’s degree
> Total employment: 159,350
> Projected employment chg. 2019-2029: +5.0%
47. Economists
> Avg. annual wage: $120,880
> 90% of workers earn more than: $59,220
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Master’s degree
> Total employment: 17,520
> Projected employment chg. 2019-2029: +14.6%
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46. Aerospace engineers
> Avg. annual wage: $121,110
> 90% of workers earn more than: $72,770
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Bachelor’s degree
> Total employment: 60,630
> Projected employment chg. 2019-2029: +2.7%
45. Personal financial advisors
> Avg. annual wage: $122,490
> 90% of workers earn more than: $44,100
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Bachelor’s degree
> Total employment: 218,050
> Projected employment chg. 2019-2029: +4.4%
44. Actuaries
> Avg. annual wage: $123,180
> 90% of workers earn more than: $66,030
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Bachelor’s degree
> Total employment: 22,480
> Projected employment chg. 2019-2029: +17.7%
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43. Economics teachers, postsecondary
> Avg. annual wage: $123,720
> 90% of workers earn more than: $53,860
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Doctoral or professional degree
> Total employment: 13,080
> Projected employment chg. 2019-2029: +4.8%
42. Political scientists
> Avg. annual wage: $124,100
> 90% of workers earn more than: $62,840
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Master’s degree
> Total employment: 6,010
> Projected employment chg. 2019-2029: +5.7%
41. Health specialties teachers, postsecondary
> Avg. annual wage: $124,890
> 90% of workers earn more than: $43,840
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Doctoral or professional degree
> Total employment: 200,040
> Projected employment chg. 2019-2029: +20.5%
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40. Nuclear engineers
> Avg. annual wage: $125,130
> 90% of workers earn more than: $74,800
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Bachelor’s degree
> Total employment: 15,700
> Projected employment chg. 2019-2029: -12.8%
39. Optometrists
> Avg. annual wage: $125,440
> 90% of workers earn more than: $60,750
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Doctoral or professional degree
> Total employment: 36,690
> Projected employment chg. 2019-2029: +4.3%
38. Pharmacists
> Avg. annual wage: $125,460
> 90% of workers earn more than: $85,210
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Doctoral or professional degree
> Total employment: 315,470
> Projected employment chg. 2019-2029: -3.3%
37. General and operations managers
> Avg. annual wage: $125,740
> 90% of workers earn more than: $45,850
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Bachelor’s degree
> Total employment: 2,347,420
> Projected employment chg. 2019-2029: +5.8%
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36. Training and development managers
> Avg. annual wage: $125,920
> 90% of workers earn more than: $66,270
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Bachelor’s degree
> Total employment: 38,710
> Projected employment chg. 2019-2029: +7.3%
35. Computer hardware engineers
> Avg. annual wage: $126,140
> 90% of workers earn more than: $70,100
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Bachelor’s degree
> Total employment: 64,710
> Projected employment chg. 2019-2029: +1.5%
34. Astronomers
> Avg. annual wage: $126,250
> 90% of workers earn more than: $62,410
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Doctoral or professional degree
> Total employment: 1,910
> Projected employment chg. 2019-2029: +4.3%
33. Air traffic controllers
> Avg. annual wage: $127,440
> 90% of workers earn more than: $72,760
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Associate’s degree
> Total employment: 22,190
> Projected employment chg. 2019-2029: +0.8%
32. Computer and information research scientists
> Avg. annual wage: $130,890
> 90% of workers earn more than: $72,210
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Master’s degree
> Total employment: 30,220
> Projected employment chg. 2019-2029: +15.3%
31. Judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates
> Avg. annual wage: $131,850
> 90% of workers earn more than: $40,270
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Doctoral or professional degree
> Total employment: 28,550
> Projected employment chg. 2019-2029: +3.3%
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30. Purchasing managers
> Avg. annual wage: $132,660
> 90% of workers earn more than: $74,570
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Bachelor’s degree
> Total employment: 70,960
> Projected employment chg. 2019-2029: +2.6%
29. Human resources managers
> Avg. annual wage: $134,580
> 90% of workers earn more than: $71,180
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Bachelor’s degree
> Total employment: 156,600
> Projected employment chg. 2019-2029: +6.3%
28. Law teachers, postsecondary
> Avg. annual wage: $134,760
> 90% of workers earn more than: $41,650
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Doctoral or professional degree
> Total employment: 14,930
> Projected employment chg. 2019-2029: +7.0%
27. Public relations and fundraising managers
> Avg. annual wage: $135,580
> 90% of workers earn more than: $66,740
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Bachelor’s degree
> Total employment: 81,110
> Projected employment chg. 2019-2029: +9.2%
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26. Compensation and benefits managers
> Avg. annual wage: $137,160
> 90% of workers earn more than: $70,920
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Bachelor’s degree
> Total employment: 16,340
> Projected employment chg. 2019-2029: +2.2%
25. Physicists
> Avg. annual wage: $137,700
> 90% of workers earn more than: $67,450
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Doctoral or professional degree
> Total employment: 16,160
> Projected employment chg. 2019-2029: +7.1%
24. Advertising and promotions managers
> Avg. annual wage: $147,560
> 90% of workers earn more than: $68,940
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Bachelor’s degree
> Total employment: 22,490
> Projected employment chg. 2019-2029: -1.0%
23. Sales managers
> Avg. annual wage: $147,580
> 90% of workers earn more than: $63,170
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Bachelor’s degree
> Total employment: 390,170
> Projected employment chg. 2019-2029: +3.6%
22. Lawyers
> Avg. annual wage: $148,910
> 90% of workers earn more than: $61,490
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Doctoral or professional degree
> Total employment: 658,120
> Projected employment chg. 2019-2029: +4.0%
21. Podiatrists
> Avg. annual wage: $151,110
> 90% of workers earn more than: $55,230
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Doctoral or professional degree
> Total employment: 9,710
> Projected employment chg. 2019-2029: +1.0%
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20. Financial managers
> Avg. annual wage: $151,510
> 90% of workers earn more than: $70,830
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Bachelor’s degree
> Total employment: 653,080
> Projected employment chg. 2019-2029: +15.5%
19. Petroleum engineers
> Avg. annual wage: $154,330
> 90% of workers earn more than: $78,620
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Bachelor’s degree
> Total employment: 27,850
> Projected employment chg. 2019-2029: +3.0%
18. Marketing managers
> Avg. annual wage: $154,470
> 90% of workers earn more than: $74,620
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Bachelor’s degree
> Total employment: 270,200
> Projected employment chg. 2019-2029: +6.7%
17. Natural sciences managers
> Avg. annual wage: $154,930
> 90% of workers earn more than: $71,400
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Bachelor’s degree
> Total employment: 75,870
> Projected employment chg. 2019-2029: +4.8%
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16. Architectural and engineering managers
> Avg. annual wage: $158,100
> 90% of workers earn more than: $95,310
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Bachelor’s degree
> Total employment: 195,900
> Projected employment chg. 2019-2029: +2.6%
15. Computer and information systems managers
> Avg. annual wage: $161,730
> 90% of workers earn more than: $90,430
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Bachelor’s degree
> Total employment: 457,290
> Projected employment chg. 2019-2029: +10.5%
14. Dentists
> Avg. annual wage: $180,830
> 90% of workers earn more than: $81,060
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Doctoral or professional degree
> Total employment: 95,920
> Projected employment chg. 2019-2029: +2.7%
13. Pediatricians
> Avg. annual wage: $184,570
> 90% of workers earn more than: $69,470
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Doctoral or professional degree
> Total employment: 27,550
> Projected employment chg. 2019-2029: -1.5%
12. Airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers
> Avg. annual wage: $186,870
> 90% of workers earn more than: $80,920
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Bachelor’s degree
> Total employment: 83,550
> Projected employment chg. 2019-2029: +2.8%
11. Nurse anesthetists
> Avg. annual wage: $189,190
> 90% of workers earn more than: $133,970
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Master’s degree
> Total employment: 41,960
> Projected employment chg. 2019-2029: +13.6%
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10. Chief executives
> Avg. annual wage: $197,840
> 90% of workers earn more than: $62,780
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Bachelor’s degree
> Total employment: 202,360
> Projected employment chg. 2019-2029: -10.0%
9. General internal medicine physicians
> Avg. annual wage: $210,960
> 90% of workers earn more than: $64,340
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Doctoral or professional degree
> Total employment: 50,600
> Projected employment chg. 2019-2029: -0.6%
8. Family medicine physicians
> Avg. annual wage: $214,370
> 90% of workers earn more than: $79,610
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Doctoral or professional degree
> Total employment: 98,590
> Projected employment chg. 2019-2029: +6.1%
7. Prosthodontists
> Avg. annual wage: $214,870
> 90% of workers earn more than: $80,270
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Doctoral or professional degree
> Total employment: 530
> Projected employment chg. 2019-2029: +0.0%
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6. Psychiatrists
> Avg. annual wage: $217,100
> 90% of workers earn more than: $69,470
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Doctoral or professional degree
> Total employment: 25,540
> Projected employment chg. 2019-2029: +12.2%
5. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons
> Avg. annual wage: $234,990
> 90% of workers earn more than: $63,840
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Doctoral or professional degree
> Total employment: 4,120
> Projected employment chg. 2019-2029: +1.8%
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4. Orthodontists
> Avg. annual wage: $237,990
> 90% of workers earn more than: $74,020
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Doctoral or professional degree
> Total employment: 5,040
> Projected employment chg. 2019-2029: +1.4%
3. Obstetricians and gynecologists
> Avg. annual wage: $239,120
> 90% of workers earn more than: $82,330
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Doctoral or professional degree
> Total employment: 18,900
> Projected employment chg. 2019-2029: -1.0%
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2. Surgeons, except ophthalmologists
> Avg. annual wage: $251,650
> 90% of workers earn more than: $77,240
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Doctoral or professional degree
> Total employment: 37,900
> Projected employment chg. 2019-2029: -2.0%
1. Anesthesiologists
> Avg. annual wage: $271,440
> 90% of workers earn more than: $136,180
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Doctoral or professional degree
> Total employment: 28,590
> Projected employment chg. 2019-2029: +0.6%
Methodology
To determine the jobs with six figure salaries, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed wage data from the May 2020 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program of the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Some 789 detailed occupations were ranked based on average annual wage. Non-specific occupational categories, typically classified as “all other” by the BLS, were excluded from analysis. Data on total employment also came from the BLS OES. Supplemental data on projected employment change from 2019 to 2029 came from the Employment Projections program of the BLS. All average salary figures listed do not include self-employed workers, workers employed by private households, or agricultural workers.
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