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Visualize it: Wages and projected openings by occupation

Domingo Angeles and Elka Torpey | November 2019

When making career decisions, you may find visual presentations of data useful for comparing occupations. The following charts from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) can help you to assess, at a glance, the pay and projected openings for hundreds of occupations.

With the scatter charts that follow, you can compare occupations by median annual wages in 2018 and openings projected each year, on average, from 2018 to 2028. The farther to the right a data point is in a chart, the more openings an occupation is projected to have. The higher a data point is, the greater an occupation’s wage. A line in each chart shows the 2018 median annual wage for all workers ($38,640).

Nearly all occupations in the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH) are represented in six charts. The charts combine multiple OOH occupation groups with titles adapted as follows:

Computers, engineering, science, and math
Construction, production, repair, and farming
Education, protective service, social service, and legal
Food, media, entertainment, and arts
Healthcare, personal care, and cleaning
Office, sales, transportation, management, and business

Most openings arise when workers leave an occupation permanently and need to be replaced (openings from separations). Other openings are from new jobs created in an occupation that need to be filled (openings from growth). Every occupation is projected to have at least some openings due to separations, even if employment in the occupation is projected to decline.

Computers, engineering, science, and math

The occupations in chart 1 are projected to have about 705,200 annual average openings over the projections decade. More than half of these projected openings are in the computer and information technology group, with software developers projected to have the most openings (134,600) of the occupations in the chart.

View Chart Data

Chart 1. Computers, engineering, science, and math occupations

Median annual wages, 2018, and occupational openings, projected 2018–28, annual average
Occupation	Occupational group	Annual average openings, projected 2018–28	Median annual wage, 2018
Computer and information research scientists	Computer and Information Technology	3,200	$118,370
Computer programmers	Computer and Information Technology	15,100	84,280
Software developers	Computer and Information Technology	134,600	105,590
Computer support specialists	Computer and Information Technology	82,500	53,470
Computer systems analysts	Computer and Information Technology	53,400	88,740
Database administrators	Computer and Information Technology	9,700	90,070
Network and computer systems administrators	Computer and Information Technology	29,300	82,050
Information security analysts	Computer and Information Technology	12,800	98,350
Web developers	Computer and Information Technology	15,100	69,430
Computer network architects	Computer and Information Technology	12,200	109,020
Architects	Architecture and Engineering	11,800	79,380
Landscape architects	Architecture and Engineering	1,900	68,230
Cartographers and photogrammetrists	Architecture and Engineering	1,100	64,430
Surveyors	Architecture and Engineering	4,000	62,580
Aerospace engineers	Architecture and Engineering	4,500	115,220
Biomedical engineers	Architecture and Engineering	1,500	88,550
Chemical engineers	Architecture and Engineering	2,400	104,910
Civil engineers	Architecture and Engineering	28,300	86,640
Computer hardware engineers	Architecture and Engineering	5,200	114,600
Electrical and electronics engineers	Architecture and Engineering	22,900	99,070
Environmental engineers	Architecture and Engineering	4,600	87,620
Industrial engineers	Architecture and Engineering	22,600	87,040
Marine engineers and naval architects	Architecture and Engineering	800	92,560
Materials engineers	Architecture and Engineering	1,700	92,390
Mechanical engineers	Architecture and Engineering	22,900	87,370
Mining and geological engineers	Architecture and Engineering	500	92,250
Nuclear engineers	Architecture and Engineering	1,100	107,600
Petroleum engineers	Architecture and Engineering	2,500	137,170
Drafters	Architecture and Engineering	20,500	55,550
Civil engineering technicians	Architecture and Engineering	7,700	52,580
Environmental engineering technicians	Architecture and Engineering	2,000	50,560
Industrial engineering technicians	Architecture and Engineering	6,600	55,460
Mechanical engineering technicians	Architecture and Engineering	4,300	56,250
Surveying and mapping technicians	Architecture and Engineering	7,200	44,380
Agricultural engineers	Architecture and Engineering	200	77,110
Health and safety engineers	Architecture and Engineering	2,000	89,130
Aerospace engineering and operations technicians	Architecture and Engineering	1,100	67,010
Electrical and electronics engineering technicians	Architecture and Engineering	12,700	64,330
Electro-mechanical technicians	Architecture and Engineering	1,400	57,790
Atmospheric scientists, including meteorologists	Life, Physical, and Social Science	1,100	94,110
Economists	Life, Physical, and Social Science	1,800	104,340
Agricultural and food scientists	Life, Physical, and Social Science	4,300	64,020
Biochemists and biophysicists	Life, Physical, and Social Science	3,100	93,280
Microbiologists	Life, Physical, and Social Science	2,100	71,650
Zoologists and wildlife biologists	Life, Physical, and Social Science	1,900	63,420
Epidemiologists	Life, Physical, and Social Science	700	69,660
Medical scientists	Life, Physical, and Social Science	13,200	84,810
Physicists and astronomers	Life, Physical, and Social Science	2,000	119,580
Chemists and materials scientists	Life, Physical, and Social Science	9,100	78,330
Environmental scientists and specialists	Life, Physical, and Social Science	10,300	71,130
Geoscientists	Life, Physical, and Social Science	3,600	91,130
Hydrologists	Life, Physical, and Social Science	800	79,370
Survey researchers	Life, Physical, and Social Science	1,500	57,700
Psychologists	Life, Physical, and Social Science	16,200	79,010
Sociologists	Life, Physical, and Social Science	400	82,050
Urban and regional planners	Life, Physical, and Social Science	4,200	73,050
Anthropologists and archeologists	Life, Physical, and Social Science	800	62,410
Political scientists	Life, Physical, and Social Science	800	117,570
Biological technicians	Life, Physical, and Social Science	9,800	44,500
Chemical technicians	Life, Physical, and Social Science	7,200	48,160
Geological and petroleum technicians	Life, Physical, and Social Science	1,800	53,300
Nuclear technicians	Life, Physical, and Social Science	900	79,140
Environmental science and protection technicians	Life, Physical, and Social Science	4,600	46,170
Forensic science technicians	Life, Physical, and Social Science	2,400	58,230
Conservation scientists and foresters	Life, Physical, and Social Science	3,600	61,340
Geographers	Life, Physical, and Social Science	200	80,300
Historians	Life, Physical, and Social Science	400	61,140
Agricultural and food science technicians	Life, Physical, and Social Science	3,800	40,860
Mathematicians and statisticians	Math	5,600	88,190
Actuaries	Math	2,200	102,880
Operations research analysts	Math	10,900	83,390
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics (wages) and Employment Projections (projected openings).

Each of the 71 occupations in chart 1 had an annual wage above the median for all workers. And many had a wage that was more than double or triple that amount. The highest earning occupation in chart 1 is petroleum engineers ($137,170).

Construction, production, repair, and farming

Openings for the occupations shown in chart 2 are projected to total about 2 million annually, on average. Of the occupations shown, construction laborers and helpers is expected to have the most openings (216,000), followed by assemblers and fabricators (182,600).

View Chart Data

Chart 2. Construction, production, repair, and farming occupations

Median annual wages, 2018, and occupational openings, projected 2018–28, annual average
Occupation	Occupational group	Annual average openings, projected 2018–28	Median annual wage, 2018
Electricians	Construction and Extraction	94,600	$55,190
Solar photovoltaic installers	Construction and Extraction	2,200	42,680
Masonry workers	Construction and Extraction	35,500	44,810
Carpenters	Construction and Extraction	116,300	46,590
Flooring installers and tile and marble setters	Construction and Extraction	13,700	40,830
Construction laborers and helpers	Construction and Extraction	216,000	34,810
Construction equipment operators	Construction and Extraction	59,600	46,990
Drywall and ceiling tile installers, and tapers	Construction and Extraction	14,800	45,180
Glaziers	Construction and Extraction	7,000	43,550
Insulation workers	Construction and Extraction	7,200	41,910
Painters, construction and maintenance	Construction and Extraction	41,400	38,940
Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters	Construction and Extraction	66,100	53,910
Roofers	Construction and Extraction	19,500	39,970
Ironworkers	Construction and Extraction	13,400	52,770
Construction and building inspectors	Construction and Extraction	15,800	59,700
Elevator installers and repairers	Construction and Extraction	3,500	79,780
Hazardous materials removal workers	Construction and Extraction	6,600	42,030
Boilermakers	Construction and Extraction	1,600	62,150
Sheet metal workers	Construction and Extraction	17,300	48,460
Assemblers and fabricators	Production	182,600	32,820
Bakers	Production	28,100	26,520
Butchers	Production	17,400	31,580
Metal and plastic machine workers	Production	103,800	36,080
Machinists and tool and die makers	Production	48,300	44,950
Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers	Production	48,800	41,380
Woodworkers	Production	31,600	31,550
Power plant operators, distributors, and dispatchers	Production	4,500	83,020
Stationary engineers and boiler operators	Production	3,700	60,440
Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators	Production	10,600	46,780
Quality control inspectors	Production	54,400	38,250
Jewelers and precious stone and metal workers	Production	4,400	39,440
Dental and ophthalmic laboratory technicians and medical appliance technicians	Production	11,500	36,690
Food and tobacco processing workers	Production	38,700	29,090
Painting and coating workers	Production	18,100	36,810
Wind turbine technicians	Installation, Maintenance, and Repair	1,300	54,370
Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers	Installation, Maintenance, and Repair	23,600	56,100
Aircraft and avionics equipment mechanics and technicians	Installation, Maintenance, and Repair	13,300	63,060
Automotive body and glass repairers	Installation, Maintenance, and Repair	18,100	41,330
Automotive service technicians and mechanics	Installation, Maintenance, and Repair	74,000	40,710
Diesel service technicians and mechanics	Installation, Maintenance, and Repair	28,400	47,350
Heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians	Installation, Maintenance, and Repair	23,100	50,320
Small engine mechanics	Installation, Maintenance, and Repair	8,300	37,060
Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers	Installation, Maintenance, and Repair	42,800	47,610
Industrial machinery mechanics, machinery maintenance workers, and millwrights	Installation, Maintenance, and Repair	50,100	51,630
General maintenance and repair workers	Installation, Maintenance, and Repair	156,900	38,300
Line installers and repairers	Installation, Maintenance, and Repair	25,200	65,880
Medical equipment repairers	Installation, Maintenance, and Repair	6,000	49,210
Electrical and electronics installers and repairers	Installation, Maintenance, and Repair	11,100	57,890
Agricultural workers	Farming, Fishing, and Forestry	145,100	24,620
Forest and conservation workers	Farming, Fishing, and Forestry	2,400	27,460
Logging workers	Farming, Fishing, and Forestry	7,200	40,650
Note: A published wage is not available for fishing and hunting workers; therefore, this occupation does not appear in the chart. BLS projects 6,200 annual average openings for fishing and hunting workers over the projections decade. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics (wages) and Employment Projections (projected openings).

Thirty-seven of the 51 occupations in chart 2 had an annual wage above the median for all workers. Power plant operators, distributors, and dispatchers ($83,020), in the production group, had the highest wage of the occupations in this chart.

About half of the 1.4 million annual average openings in chart 3 are projected to be in the education, training, and library group. Security guards and gaming surveillance officers is the occupation projected to have the most openings of those shown in chart 3: about 155,200 each year, on average, from 2018 to 2028.

View Chart Data

Chart 3. Education, protective service, social service, and legal occupations

Median annual wages, 2018, and occupational openings, projected 2018–28, annual average
Occupation	Occupational group	Annual average openings, projected 2018–28	Median annual wage, 2018
Preschool teachers	Education, Training, and Library	58,100	$29,780
Kindergarten and elementary school teachers	Education, Training, and Library	126,600	57,980
Middle school teachers	Education, Training, and Library	48,300	58,600
Career and technical education teachers	Education, Training, and Library	16,400	56,750
Special education teachers	Education, Training, and Library	34,700	59,780
Adult literacy and high school equivalency diploma teachers	Education, Training, and Library	6,600	53,630
Archivists, curators, and museum workers	Education, Training, and Library	4,400	48,400
Librarians	Education, Training, and Library	14,700	59,050
Library technicians and assistants	Education, Training, and Library	27,800	29,640
Instructional coordinators	Education, Training, and Library	18,600	64,450
Teacher assistants	Education, Training, and Library	153,900	26,970
Postsecondary teachers	Education, Training, and Library	133,600	78,470
High school teachers	Education, Training, and Library	80,300	60,320
Firefighters	Protective Service	25,000	49,620
Correctional officers and bailiffs	Protective Service	35,500	44,400
Police and detectives	Protective Service	61,200	63,380
Private detectives and investigators	Protective Service	3,300	50,090
Security guards and gaming surveillance officers	Protective Service	155,200	28,530
Fire inspectors	Protective Service	1,600	60,200
Health educators and community health workers	Community and Social Service	16,200	46,080
Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors	Community and Social Service	41,500	44,630
School and career counselors	Community and Social Service	37,300	56,310
Marriage and family therapists	Community and Social Service	7,500	50,090
Rehabilitation counselors	Community and Social Service	14,000	35,630
Social workers	Community and Social Service	81,100	49,470
Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists	Community and Social Service	8,200	53,020
Social and human service assistants	Community and Social Service	57,500	33,750
Court reporters	Legal	1,600	57,150
Arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators	Legal	400	62,270
Judges and hearing officers	Legal	2,300	117,190
Lawyers	Legal	45,700	120,910
Paralegals and legal assistants	Legal	40,400	50,940
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics (wages) and Employment Projections (projected openings).

Twenty-six of the 32 occupations in chart 3 had an annual wage that was above the median for all workers. Those in the legal group had some of the highest wages in the chart, notably lawyers ($120,910) and judges and hearing officers ($117,190).

Food, media, entertainment, and arts

The occupations in chart 4 are projected to have about 2.7 million openings each year, on average, from 2018 to 2028. Food and beverage serving and related workers is the occupation projected to have more openings than any other in this article: more than 1.1 million annually, on average.

View Chart Data

Chart 4. Food, media, entertainment, and arts occupations

Median annual wages, 2018, and occupational openings, projected 2018–28, annual average
Occupation	Occupational group	Annual average openings, projected 2018–28	Median annual wage, 2018
Chefs and head cooks	Food Preparation and Serving	20,700	$48,460
Cooks	Food Preparation and Serving	400,700	25,200
Food preparation workers	Food Preparation and Serving	158,500	23,730
Bartenders	Food Preparation and Serving	123,100	22,550
Food and beverage serving and related workers	Food Preparation and Serving	1,141,100	21,750
Waiters and waitresses	Food Preparation and Serving	539,000	21,780
Public relations specialists	Media and Communication	30,700	60,000
Announcers	Media and Communication	5,200	31,990
Reporters, correspondents, and broadcast news analysts	Media and Communication	5,300	43,490
Editors	Media and Communication	12,400	59,480
Technical writers	Media and Communication	6,100	71,850
Writers and authors	Media and Communication	12,800	62,170
Interpreters and translators	Media and Communication	9,800	49,930
Broadcast and sound engineering technicians	Media and Communication	17,200	43,660
Photographers	Media and Communication	11,800	34,000
Film and video editors and camera operators	Media and Communication	7,900	58,990
Producers and directors	Entertainment and Sports	16,000	71,680
Athletes and sports competitors	Entertainment and Sports	2,100	50,650
Coaches and scouts	Entertainment and Sports	47,600	33,780
Umpires, referees, and other sports officials	Entertainment and Sports	3,400	27,020
Music directors and composers	Entertainment and Sports	7,800	49,630
Art directors	Arts and Design	11,100	92,780
Multimedia artists and animators	Arts and Design	8,300	72,520
Industrial designers	Arts and Design	4,600	66,590
Fashion designers	Arts and Design	2,600	72,720
Floral designers	Arts and Design	4,400	27,200
Graphic designers	Arts and Design	30,300	50,370
Interior designers	Arts and Design	8,000	53,370
Craft and fine artists	Arts and Design	5,500	48,960
Note: BLS does not publish median annual wages for actors, dancers and choreographers, and musicians and singers. Therefore, these occupations do not appear on the chart. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics (wages) and Employment Projections (projected openings).

Nineteen of the 29 occupations in chart 4 had an annual wage above the median for all occupations. Nearly all of the occupations in the arts and design group and the media and communication group had a wage above the median, compared with one (chefs and head cooks) in the food preparation and serving group.

BLS does not publish annual wages for actors (7,700 openings), dancers and choreographers (3,600 openings), and musicians and singers (22,400 openings) because workers in these occupations do not usually work full-time, year round. As a result, these occupations are not included in the chart.

Healthcare, personal care, and cleaning

Openings for the occupations in chart 5 are projected to total about 2.8 million annually, on average, over the 2018–28 decade. Home health aides and personal care aides combined are expected to have more openings from growth than any other occupation (118,600).

View Chart Data

Chart 5. Healthcare, personal care, and cleaning occupations

Median annual wages, 2018, and occupational openings, projected 2018–28, annual average
Occupation	Occupational group	Annual average openings, projected 2018–28	Median annual wage, 2018
Dietitians and nutritionists	Healthcare	5,500	$60,370
Audiologists	Healthcare	800	75,920
Nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives, and nurse practitioners	Healthcare	20,500	113,930
Athletic trainers	Healthcare	2,500	47,510
Genetic counselors	Healthcare	300	80,370
Nursing assistants and orderlies	Healthcare	196,800	28,530
Phlebotomists	Healthcare	18,100	34,480
Chiropractors	Healthcare	1,800	71,410
Dentists	Healthcare	6,000	156,240
Optometrists	Healthcare	1,700	111,790
Pharmacists	Healthcare	14,100	126,120
Physicians and surgeons [1]	Healthcare	28,500	208,000
Physician assistants	Healthcare	11,500	108,610
Podiatrists	Healthcare	700	129,550
Registered nurses	Healthcare	210,400	71,730
Occupational therapists	Healthcare	10,500	84,270
Physical therapists	Healthcare	16,900	87,930
Radiation therapists	Healthcare	1,100	82,330
Recreational therapists	Healthcare	1,100	47,860
Respiratory therapists	Healthcare	10,600	60,280
Speech-language pathologists	Healthcare	13,500	77,510
Veterinarians	Healthcare	5,100	93,830
Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians	Healthcare	25,500	52,330
Dental hygienists	Healthcare	17,900	74,820
Diagnostic medical sonographers and cardiovascular technologists and technicians, including vascular technologists	Healthcare	9,500	67,080
Nuclear medicine technologists	Healthcare	1,200	76,820
Radiologic and MRI technologists	Healthcare	16,700	61,240
EMTs and paramedics	Healthcare	19,900	34,320
Pharmacy technicians	Healthcare	38,300	32,700
Surgical technologists	Healthcare	10,400	47,300
Veterinary technologists and technicians	Healthcare	11,800	34,420
Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses	Healthcare	66,300	46,240
Medical records and health information technicians	Healthcare	16,800	40,350
Opticians	Healthcare	6,600	37,010
Occupational health and safety specialists and technicians	Healthcare	7,600	69,370
Home health aides and personal care aides	Healthcare	627,700	24,060
Psychiatric technicians and aides	Healthcare	15,500	30,860
Occupational therapy assistants and aides	Healthcare	8,100	57,620
Physical therapist assistants and aides	Healthcare	24,500	48,090
Massage therapists	Healthcare	24,200	41,420
Dental assistants	Healthcare	44,800	38,660
Medical assistants	Healthcare	99,700	33,610
Medical transcriptionists	Healthcare	7,700	34,770
Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers	Healthcare	18,100	27,540
Orthotists and prosthetists	Healthcare	900	69,120
Exercise physiologists	Healthcare	1,100	49,270
Funeral service workers	Personal Care and Service	5,600	57,580
Animal care and service workers	Personal Care and Service	62,200	23,950
Gaming services workers	Personal Care and Service	28,400	22,810
Barbers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists	Personal Care and Service	104,700	24,830
Manicurists and pedicurists	Personal Care and Service	20,300	24,330
Skincare specialists	Personal Care and Service	9,400	31,290
Childcare workers	Personal Care and Service	177,900	23,240
Fitness trainers and instructors	Personal Care and Service	67,600	39,820
Recreation workers	Personal Care and Service	74,000	25,060
Janitors and building cleaners	Building and Grounds Cleaning	343,100	26,110
Pest control workers	Building and Grounds Cleaning	12,600	35,610
Grounds maintenance workers	Building and Grounds Cleaning	189,200	29,400
[1] The median annual wage for physicians and surgeons was greater than or equal to $208,000, the highest median annual wage published by the BLS Occupational Employment Statistics program. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics (wages) and Employment Projections (projected openings).

Chart 5 shows 58 occupations, 37 of which had an annual wage above the median for all workers. Most of the high-wage occupations in chart 5 are in healthcare. The wage for physicians and surgeons is the highest of any occupation, shown here as greater than or equal to $208,000—the top median annual wage published by BLS.

Office, sales, transportation, management, and business

The occupations in chart 6 are projected to have about 6.9 million openings each year, on average, from 2018 to 2028. Retail sales workers and cashiers, both in the sales group, are projected to have the most openings of the occupations in the chart, with combined annual average openings of more than 1.3 million. Although BLS projects overall employment in these two occupations to decline, many openings are still expected as workers leave permanently and need to be replaced.

View Chart Data

Chart 6. Office, sales, transportation, management, and business occupations

Median annual wages, 2018, and occupational openings, projected 2018–28, annual average
Occupation	Occupational group	Annual average openings, projected 2018–28	Median annual wage, 2018
Bill and account collectors	Office and Administrative Support	27,700	$36,020
Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks	Office and Administrative Support	188,500	40,240
Tellers	Office and Administrative Support	47,600	29,450
Customer service representatives	Office and Administrative Support	387,600	33,750
Receptionists	Office and Administrative Support	157,900	29,140
Police, fire, and ambulance dispatchers	Office and Administrative Support	10,100	40,660
Postal service workers	Office and Administrative Support	24,100	58,760
Secretaries and administrative assistants	Office and Administrative Support	380,700	38,880
Desktop publishers	Office and Administrative Support	1,200	42,910
Financial clerks	Office and Administrative Support	157,200	39,570
Information clerks	Office and Administrative Support	179,500	34,520
Material recording clerks	Office and Administrative Support	392,100	28,860
General office clerks	Office and Administrative Support	360,400	32,730
Travel agents	Sales	9,700	38,700
Cashiers	Sales	661,300	22,430
Retail sales workers	Sales	671,800	24,340
Advertising sales agents	Sales	19,500	51,740
Insurance sales agents	Sales	53,400	50,600
Securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents	Sales	44,600	64,120
Wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives	Sales	187,100	61,660
Models	Sales	600	23,770
Real estate brokers and sales agents	Sales	49,000	50,300
Sales engineers	Sales	7,900	101,420
Flight attendants	Transportation and Material Moving	15,300	56,000
Airline and commercial pilots	Transportation and Material Moving	13,700	115,670
Air traffic controllers	Transportation and Material Moving	2,300	124,540
Bus drivers	Transportation and Material Moving	91,300	34,450
Delivery truck drivers and driver/sales workers	Transportation and Material Moving	169,500	30,500
Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers	Transportation and Material Moving	238,400	43,680
Taxi drivers, ride-hailing drivers, and chauffeurs	Transportation and Material Moving	51,300	25,980
Railroad workers	Transportation and Material Moving	8,300	61,480
Water transportation workers	Transportation and Material Moving	8,900	54,400
Material moving machine operators	Transportation and Material Moving	89,200	35,850
Hand laborers and material movers	Transportation and Material Moving	620,400	27,270
Advertising, promotions, and marketing managers	Management	28,700	132,620
Sales managers	Management	39,000	124,220
Public relations and fundraising managers	Management	7,800	114,800
Administrative services managers	Management	28,100	96,180
Computer and information systems managers	Management	38,800	142,530
Financial managers	Management	64,900	127,990
Compensation and benefits managers	Management	1,400	121,010
Training and development managers	Management	3,800	111,340
Human resources managers	Management	14,400	113,300
Industrial production managers	Management	13,800	103,380
Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers	Management	95,600	67,950
Construction managers	Management	40,200	93,370
Preschool and childcare center directors	Management	5,800	47,940
Elementary, middle, and high school principals	Management	22,900	95,310
Postsecondary education administrators	Management	16,800	94,340
Architectural and engineering managers	Management	14,600	140,760
Food service managers	Management	46,900	54,240
Lodging managers	Management	5,500	53,390
Medical and health services managers	Management	42,200	99,730
Natural sciences managers	Management	6,100	123,860
Property, real estate, and community association managers	Management	31,600	58,340
Social and community service managers	Management	17,800	65,320
Top executives	Management	246,800	104,980
Emergency management directors	Management	900	74,420
Insurance underwriters	Business and Financial	8,400	69,380
Human resources specialists	Business and Financial	67,700	60,880
Claims adjusters, appraisers, examiners, and investigators	Business and Financial	27,400	65,670
Cost estimators	Business and Financial	24,200	64,040
Management analysts	Business and Financial	99,900	83,610
Meeting, convention, and event planners	Business and Financial	16,800	49,370
Accountants and auditors	Business and Financial	146,000	70,500
Appraisers and assessors of real estate	Business and Financial	6,700	54,980
Budget analysts	Business and Financial	4,800	76,220
Compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists	Business and Financial	9,200	63,000
Financial analysts	Business and Financial	30,900	85,660
Personal financial advisors	Business and Financial	23,200	88,890
Financial examiners	Business and Financial	5,200	80,180
Loan officers	Business and Financial	29,900	63,040
Tax examiners and collectors, and revenue agents	Business and Financial	4,600	54,440
Training and development specialists	Business and Financial	37,300	60,870
Market research analysts	Business and Financial	90,700	63,120
Purchasing managers, buyers, and purchasing agents	Business and Financial	46,600	67,600
Logisticians	Business and Financial	17,900	74,600
Fundraisers	Business and Financial	11,300	56,950
Labor relations specialists	Business and Financial	7,000	67,790
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics (wages) and Employment Projections (projected openings).

Sixty-four of the 79 occupations shown in chart 6 had an annual wage that was higher than the median for all workers—including each of the occupations in the management group and the business and financial group.

For more information

Wage data in the charts are from the BLS Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) program, which produces employment and wage estimates annually for more than 800 detailed occupations. Projections data are from the BLS Employment Projections program.

Get more information about all of the occupations in these charts from the Occupational Outlook Handbook. To learn more about occupational separations and openings, watch this video: “Understanding BLS projections of occupational separations."

Domingo Angeles and Elka Torpey are economists in the Office of Occupational Statistics and Employment Projections, BLS. They can be reached at angeles.domingo@bls.gov or torpey.elka@bls.gov.

Suggested citation:

Domingo Angeles and Elka Torpey, "Visualize it: Wages and projected openings by occupation," Career Outlook, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, November 2019.