36 Jobs With Wages Rising Faster Than Inflation

By Sam Stebbins Published Nov 4, 10:00AM EDT

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36 Jobs With Wages Rising Faster Than Inflation — © damircudic / E+ via Getty Images

Incomes are on the rise for American workers. According to the latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, wages and salaries in the private sector rose by 5.2% annually in the third quarter. Still, soaring inflation outpaced wage gains, as the consumer price index climbed by a historic 8.2% over the same period.

While most private-sector workers have seen their real wages fall in the last 12 months due to inflation, some occupations have recorded far stronger than average income growth – even outpacing inflation.

Using data from the BLS’s Current Employment Statistics survey, 24/7 Wall St. identified the jobs where pay is rising the fastest. In each of the 36 jobs on this list, average hourly earnings climbed by over 12% from August 2021 to August 2022.

The largest share of occupations on this list – eight out of 36 – is in the retail sector, as pay for workers selling sporting goods, outdoor equipment, and home goods is rising rapidly. Additionally, six of the jobs on this list are in the professional and business services sector, and four are in leisure and hospitality. Many of these jobs are related to travel and outdoor recreation. (Here is a look at the industries where people got the biggest raises during the pandemic.)

While average hourly wages have surged in these occupations in the past year, many still pay less than average. In just over half of the jobs on this list, average hourly wages as of August 2022 were below the average of $32.16 an hour across all private sector occupations. (Here is a look at the highest paying jobs you can have in America.)

Click here to see jobs where pay is rising the fastest.

36. RV parks and recreational camp workers
> 1-yr. change in avg. hourly earnings: +12.1%
> Avg. hourly earnings, August 2022: $18.59
> Avg. hourly earnings, August 2021: $16.58
> Sector: Leisure and hospitality
> Avg. hourly earnings across sector: $20.01 (+7.8% in past year)

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35. Misc. nondepository credit intermediation bankers
> 1-yr. change in avg. hourly earnings: +12.3%
> Avg. hourly earnings, August 2022: $44.74
> Avg. hourly earnings, August 2021: $39.85
> Sector: Financial activities
> Avg. hourly earnings across sector: $41.49 (+3.2% in past year)

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34. HVAC and refrigeration equipment workers
> 1-yr. change in avg. hourly earnings: +12.3%
> Avg. hourly earnings, August 2022: $34.36
> Avg. hourly earnings, August 2021: $30.60
> Sector: Trade, transportation, and utilities
> Avg. hourly earnings across sector: $27.74 (+4.4% in past year)

33. Wireless telecommunications carrier workers
> 1-yr. change in avg. hourly earnings: +12.4%
> Avg. hourly earnings, August 2022: $34.24
> Avg. hourly earnings, August 2021: $30.47
> Sector: Information
> Avg. hourly earnings across sector: $46.70 (+4.9% in past year)

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Dick's Sporting Goods (CC BY 2.0) by Mike Mozart

32. Sporting goods store workers
> 1-yr. change in avg. hourly earnings: +12.5%
> Avg. hourly earnings, August 2022: $21.37
> Avg. hourly earnings, August 2021: $19.00
> Sector: Retail trade
> Avg. hourly earnings across sector: $22.97 (+4.2% in past year)

31. Telephone call center workers
> 1-yr. change in avg. hourly earnings: +12.5%
> Avg. hourly earnings, August 2022: $24.66
> Avg. hourly earnings, August 2021: $21.92
> Sector: Professional and business services
> Avg. hourly earnings across sector: $38.62 (+4.2% in past year)

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30. Facilities support service workers
> 1-yr. change in avg. hourly earnings: +12.8%
> Avg. hourly earnings, August 2022: $27.58
> Avg. hourly earnings, August 2021: $24.45
> Sector: Professional and business services
> Avg. hourly earnings across sector: $38.62 (+4.2% in past year)

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29. Computer and office machine repair workers
> 1-yr. change in avg. hourly earnings: +12.8%
> Avg. hourly earnings, August 2022: $32.81
> Avg. hourly earnings, August 2021: $29.08
> Sector: Other services
> Avg. hourly earnings across sector: $28.30 (+1.9% in past year)

Facilities at the Continental ... by James St. John

Facilities at the Continental ... (CC BY 2.0) by James St. John

28. Lime, gypsum, and other nonmetallic mineral products manufacturing
> 1-yr. change in avg. hourly earnings: +12.8%
> Avg. hourly earnings, August 2022: $30.69
> Avg. hourly earnings, August 2021: $27.20
> Sector: Durable goods manufacturing
> Avg. hourly earnings across sector: $32.51 (+3.5% in past year)

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27. Plywood and engineered wood products manufacturing
> 1-yr. change in avg. hourly earnings: +13.0%
> Avg. hourly earnings, August 2022: $26.40
> Avg. hourly earnings, August 2021: $23.37
> Sector: Durable goods manufacturing
> Avg. hourly earnings across sector: $32.51 (+3.5% in past year)

26. Home furnishings store workers
> 1-yr. change in avg. hourly earnings: +13.2%
> Avg. hourly earnings, August 2022: $26.01
> Avg. hourly earnings, August 2021: $22.98
> Sector: Retail trade
> Avg. hourly earnings across sector: $22.97 (+4.2% in past year)

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25. Floor covering store workers
> 1-yr. change in avg. hourly earnings: +13.2%
> Avg. hourly earnings, August 2022: $32.84
> Avg. hourly earnings, August 2021: $29.00
> Sector: Retail trade
> Avg. hourly earnings across sector: $22.97 (+4.2% in past year)

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24. Convenience store workers
> 1-yr. change in avg. hourly earnings: +13.4%
> Avg. hourly earnings, August 2022: $17.32
> Avg. hourly earnings, August 2021: $15.27
> Sector: Retail trade
> Avg. hourly earnings across sector: $22.97 (+4.2% in past year)

23. Newspaper publishing workers
> 1-yr. change in avg. hourly earnings: +13.5%
> Avg. hourly earnings, August 2022: $28.41
> Avg. hourly earnings, August 2021: $25.04
> Sector: Information
> Avg. hourly earnings across sector: $46.70 (+4.9% in past year)

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22. Tile and terrazzo contractors
> 1-yr. change in avg. hourly earnings: +13.5%
> Avg. hourly earnings, August 2022: $32.28
> Avg. hourly earnings, August 2021: $28.45
> Sector: Construction
> Avg. hourly earnings across sector: $35.00 (+5.5% in past year)

21. Other building equipment contractors
> 1-yr. change in avg. hourly earnings: +13.5%
> Avg. hourly earnings, August 2022: $38.68
> Avg. hourly earnings, August 2021: $34.09
> Sector: Construction
> Avg. hourly earnings across sector: $35.00 (+5.5% in past year)

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20. Freight transportation arrangement workers
> 1-yr. change in avg. hourly earnings: +13.7%
> Avg. hourly earnings, August 2022: $36.89
> Avg. hourly earnings, August 2021: $32.44
> Sector: Transportation and warehousing
> Avg. hourly earnings across sector: $28.31 (+5.3% in past year)

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Sally Beauty Supply (CC BY 2.0) by Mike Mozart

19. Cosmetic and beauty supply store workers
> 1-yr. change in avg. hourly earnings: +14.1%
> Avg. hourly earnings, August 2022: $23.78
> Avg. hourly earnings, August 2021: $20.84
> Sector: Retail trade
> Avg. hourly earnings across sector: $22.97 (+4.2% in past year)

18. Caterers and mobile food service workers
> 1-yr. change in avg. hourly earnings: +14.3%
> Avg. hourly earnings, August 2022: $25.24
> Avg. hourly earnings, August 2021: $22.09
> Sector: Leisure and hospitality
> Avg. hourly earnings across sector: $20.01 (+7.8% in past year)

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IN THE BEGINNING AND AT THE EN... by summonedbyfells

IN THE BEGINNING AND AT THE EN... (CC BY 2.0) by summonedbyfells

17. Skiing facility workers
> 1-yr. change in avg. hourly earnings: +14.5%
> Avg. hourly earnings, August 2022: $27.88
> Avg. hourly earnings, August 2021: $24.34
> Sector: Leisure and hospitality
> Avg. hourly earnings across sector: $20.01 (+7.8% in past year)

16. Other activities related to real estate finance workers
> 1-yr. change in avg. hourly earnings: +14.6%
> Avg. hourly earnings, August 2022: $46.45
> Avg. hourly earnings, August 2021: $40.52
> Sector: Financial activities
> Avg. hourly earnings across sector: $41.49 (+3.2% in past year)

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one, two, three here we go. [E... by Katelyn

one, two, three here we go. [E... (CC BY 2.0) by Katelyn

15. Support activities for road transportation workers
> 1-yr. change in avg. hourly earnings: +14.8%
> Avg. hourly earnings, August 2022: $27.50
> Avg. hourly earnings, August 2021: $23.96
> Sector: Transportation and warehousing
> Avg. hourly earnings across sector: $28.31 (+5.3% in past year)

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14. Material handling equipment manufacturing
> 1-yr. change in avg. hourly earnings: +15.0%
> Avg. hourly earnings, August 2022: $32.88
> Avg. hourly earnings, August 2021: $28.58
> Sector: Durable goods manufacturing
> Avg. hourly earnings across sector: $32.51 (+3.5% in past year)

13. Travel agents
> 1-yr. change in avg. hourly earnings: +15.2%
> Avg. hourly earnings, August 2022: $30.48
> Avg. hourly earnings, August 2021: $26.46
> Sector: Professional and business services
> Avg. hourly earnings across sector: $38.62 (+4.2% in past year)

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12. Alcoholic beverage trade and transportation workers
> 1-yr. change in avg. hourly earnings: +15.4%
> Avg. hourly earnings, August 2022: $37.19
> Avg. hourly earnings, August 2021: $32.23
> Sector: Trade, transportation, and utilities
> Avg. hourly earnings across sector: $27.74 (+4.4% in past year)

11. Seafood product preparation and packaging workers
> 1-yr. change in avg. hourly earnings: +15.5%
> Avg. hourly earnings, August 2022: $21.55
> Avg. hourly earnings, August 2021: $18.66
> Sector: Nondurable goods manufacturing
> Avg. hourly earnings across sector: $28.20 (+3.6% in past year)

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10. Other ground passenger transportation workers
> 1-yr. change in avg. hourly earnings: +15.6%
> Avg. hourly earnings, August 2022: $21.47
> Avg. hourly earnings, August 2021: $18.57
> Sector: Transportation and warehousing
> Avg. hourly earnings across sector: $28.31 (+5.3% in past year)

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9. Miscellaneous professional and technical service workers
> 1-yr. change in avg. hourly earnings: +15.7%
> Avg. hourly earnings, August 2022: $38.92
> Avg. hourly earnings, August 2021: $33.65
> Sector: Professional and business services
> Avg. hourly earnings across sector: $38.62 (+4.2% in past year)

8. Travel arrangement and reservation service workers
> 1-yr. change in avg. hourly earnings: +15.8%
> Avg. hourly earnings, August 2022: $32.87
> Avg. hourly earnings, August 2021: $28.39
> Sector: Professional and business services
> Avg. hourly earnings across sector: $38.62 (+4.2% in past year)

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Contractors Put Finishing Touc... by Forest Service Alaska Region, USDA

Contractors Put Finishing Touc... (CC BY 2.0) by Forest Service Alaska Region, USDA

7. Other building finishing contractors
> 1-yr. change in avg. hourly earnings: +15.9%
> Avg. hourly earnings, August 2022: $32.84
> Avg. hourly earnings, August 2021: $28.34
> Sector: Construction
> Avg. hourly earnings across sector: $35.00 (+5.5% in past year)

6. Book and newspaper store workers
> 1-yr. change in avg. hourly earnings: +16.4%
> Avg. hourly earnings, August 2022: $18.85
> Avg. hourly earnings, August 2021: $16.19
> Sector: Retail trade
> Avg. hourly earnings across sector: $22.97 (+4.2% in past year)

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5. Offices of real estate appraisers
> 1-yr. change in avg. hourly earnings: +16.6%
> Avg. hourly earnings, August 2022: $37.29
> Avg. hourly earnings, August 2021: $31.98
> Sector: Financial activities
> Avg. hourly earnings across sector: $41.49 (+3.2% in past year)

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4. Outdoor power equipment store workers
> 1-yr. change in avg. hourly earnings: +17.3%
> Avg. hourly earnings, August 2022: $23.99
> Avg. hourly earnings, August 2021: $20.45
> Sector: Retail trade
> Avg. hourly earnings across sector: $22.97 (+4.2% in past year)

3. Convention and trade show organizers
> 1-yr. change in avg. hourly earnings: +20.4%
> Avg. hourly earnings, August 2022: $41.22
> Avg. hourly earnings, August 2021: $34.24
> Sector: Professional and business services
> Avg. hourly earnings across sector: $38.62 (+4.2% in past year)

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2. Arts and sports promoters and agents and managers for public figures
> 1-yr. change in avg. hourly earnings: +21.4%
> Avg. hourly earnings, August 2022: $36.76
> Avg. hourly earnings, August 2021: $30.27
> Sector: Leisure and hospitality
> Avg. hourly earnings across sector: $20.01 (+7.8% in past year)

Copenhagen Sept 2014 by Michael John Button

Copenhagen Sept 2014 (CC BY 2.0) by Michael John Button

1. Florists
> 1-yr. change in avg. hourly earnings: +25.3%
> Avg. hourly earnings, August 2022: $19.94
> Avg. hourly earnings, August 2021: $15.92
> Sector: Retail trade
> Avg. hourly earnings across sector: $22.97 (+4.2% in past year)

About the Author Sam Stebbins →

Sam Stebbins is a writer at a673b.bigscoots-temp.com where his primary focus is on government policy, politics, companies, and broad social and economic trends. Sam has been writing in the money and news verticals for over 8 years and holds a bachelor's degree from Hobart College, which he earned in 2010. Sam resides in upstate New York and enjoys hiking, biking, canoeing, and skiing in the Adirondack Mountains and across the Northeast.