A tight labor market has translated into raises for many American workers. A survey of 1,004 companies in the fall of last year by Willis Towers Watson revealed 32% have bumped up their wage hike projections for 2022 compared to earlier in the year. On average, companies estimate an overall average salary increase of 3.4% compared to 3% in 2021. In 2021, the average raise was 2.8%.
Yet workers in some industries fared better than the average recorded in the Willis Towers Watson survey. To determine the industries where workers got the biggest raises, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed industry-specific data on wages from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. Industries were ranked based on the percentage change in real average annual wage from May 2020 to May 2021.
For example, employees in the scientific research and development services business – the lowest on this list of 25 – had raises of 7.4% on average between May 2020 and May 2021. Workers in the petroleum and coal products manufacturing industry had a similar raise of 7.4%.
Workers in the deep sea, coastal, and Great Lakes water transportation industry saw the largest paycheck boost at 30% between 2020 and 2021. The industry carries cargo to and from foreign ports as well as ferrying passengers along waterways. The hike came at the same time as an 11.6% drop in its employee base.
In fact, industries with some of the largest dips in employment registered some of the biggest wage gains. As employees were either laid off or quit during the pandemic, employers likely hiked salaries to keep current workers on the payroll or attract new workers to keep the business afloat.
Hit hard by COVID-19, the special food services industry lost more than 15% of its workforce. Those who stayed pocketed a near 11% salary increase. See the saddest restaurant closings of 2021.
Similarly, the pandemic thinned the ranks of event promoters by a third as fewer events were scheduled. Yet raises of more than 16% were given to the remaining event organizers. But was event planning the industry laying off the most workers?
Click here to see industries where people got the biggest raises
Click here to see our detailed methodology
25. Scientific research and development services
> Wage increase, 2020 to 2021: +7.4%
> Average annual wage, 2021: $116,920
> Employment change, 2020 to 2021: +5.8%
> Total employment, 2021: 795,910
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24. Petroleum and coal products manufacturing
> Wage increase, 2020 to 2021: +7.4%
> Average annual wage, 2021: $84,760
> Employment change, 2020 to 2021: -5.1%
> Total employment, 2021: 103,260
23. Office administrative services
> Wage increase, 2020 to 2021: +7.4%
> Average annual wage, 2021: $74,120
> Employment change, 2020 to 2021: -2.4%
> Total employment, 2021: 486,170
22. School and employee bus transportation
> Wage increase, 2020 to 2021: +7.6%
> Average annual wage, 2021: $42,160
> Employment change, 2020 to 2021: +4.8%
> Total employment, 2021: 178,190
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21. Restaurants and other eating places
> Wage increase, 2020 to 2021: +7.7%
> Average annual wage, 2021: $29,670
> Employment change, 2020 to 2021: +4.6%
> Total employment, 2021: 9,431,910
20. General merchandise stores
> Wage increase, 2020 to 2021: +8.1%
> Average annual wage, 2021: $33,130
> Employment change, 2020 to 2021: +3.0%
> Total employment, 2021: 3,084,830
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19. Automobile dealers
> Wage increase, 2020 to 2021: +8.2%
> Average annual wage, 2021: $53,850
> Employment change, 2020 to 2021: +1.9%
> Total employment, 2021: 1,220,250
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18. Grain and oilseed milling
> Wage increase, 2020 to 2021: +8.5%
> Average annual wage, 2021: $57,610
> Employment change, 2020 to 2021: +1.9%
> Total employment, 2021: 62,980
17. Pulp, paper, and paperboard mills
> Wage increase, 2020 to 2021: +9.2%
> Average annual wage, 2021: $65,820
> Employment change, 2020 to 2021: -4.5%
> Total employment, 2021: 87,450
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16. Special food services
> Wage increase, 2020 to 2021: +10.9%
> Average annual wage, 2021: $36,250
> Employment change, 2020 to 2021: -15.1%
> Total employment, 2021: 473,810
15. Alumina and aluminum production and processing
> Wage increase, 2020 to 2021: +11.6%
> Average annual wage, 2021: $55,790
> Employment change, 2020 to 2021: -1.0%
> Total employment, 2021: 55,150
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14. Offices of physicians
> Wage increase, 2020 to 2021: +11.9%
> Average annual wage, 2021: $91,600
> Employment change, 2020 to 2021: +4.0%
> Total employment, 2021: 2,696,070
13. Nonscheduled air transportation
> Wage increase, 2020 to 2021: +12.3%
> Average annual wage, 2021: $92,090
> Employment change, 2020 to 2021: +6.2%
> Total employment, 2021: 48,610
12. Pipeline transportation of natural gas
> Wage increase, 2020 to 2021: +12.3%
> Average annual wage, 2021: $86,590
> Employment change, 2020 to 2021: -2.3%
> Total employment, 2021: 30,200
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11. Coal mining
> Wage increase, 2020 to 2021: +14.3%
> Average annual wage, 2021: $72,330
> Employment change, 2020 to 2021: -14.9%
> Total employment, 2021: 36,740
10. Promoters of performing arts, sports, and similar events
> Wage increase, 2020 to 2021: +16.3%
> Average annual wage, 2021: $54,460
> Employment change, 2020 to 2021: -31.9%
> Total employment, 2021: 77,670
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9. Independent artists, writers, and performers
> Wage increase, 2020 to 2021: +17.6%
> Average annual wage, 2021: $84,180
> Employment change, 2020 to 2021: -6.6%
> Total employment, 2021: 45,210
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8. Support activities for water transportation
> Wage increase, 2020 to 2021: +18.5%
> Average annual wage, 2021: $73,340
> Employment change, 2020 to 2021: +2.2%
> Total employment, 2021: 89,860
7. Inland water transportation
> Wage increase, 2020 to 2021: +19.3%
> Average annual wage, 2021: $82,420
> Employment change, 2020 to 2021: +3.1%
> Total employment, 2021: 25,500
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6. Pipeline transportation of crude oil
> Wage increase, 2020 to 2021: +19.7%
> Average annual wage, 2021: $96,860
> Employment change, 2020 to 2021: -5.1%
> Total employment, 2021: 11,470
5. Agents and managers for artists, athletes, entertainers, and other public figures
> Wage increase, 2020 to 2021: +19.8%
> Average annual wage, 2021: $96,030
> Employment change, 2020 to 2021: -18.7%
> Total employment, 2021: 23,500
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4. Household appliance manufacturing
> Wage increase, 2020 to 2021: +19.8%
> Average annual wage, 2021: $57,680
> Employment change, 2020 to 2021: +8.8%
> Total employment, 2021: 64,980
3. Motion picture and video industries
> Wage increase, 2020 to 2021: +21.0%
> Average annual wage, 2021: $85,860
> Employment change, 2020 to 2021: -4.3%
> Total employment, 2021: 315,390
2. Spectator sports
> Wage increase, 2020 to 2021: +22.1%
> Average annual wage, 2021: $62,190
> Employment change, 2020 to 2021: +4.0%
> Total employment, 2021: 114,140
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1. Deep sea, coastal, and great lakes water transportation
> Wage increase, 2020 to 2021: +30.0%
> Average annual wage, 2021: $83,320
> Employment change, 2020 to 2021: -11.6%
> Total employment, 2021: 32,310
Methodology
To determine the industries where workers got the biggest raises, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed industry-specific data on wages from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. Industries were ranked based on the percentage change in real average annual wage from May 2020 to May 2021.
Industries were classified at the fourth level of detail in the North American Industry Classification System code. Data on total employment also came from the BLS OEWS. Industries classified as “other” in a specific industry were not considered.
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