OEWS May 2025 data Public-data reference. official source
Public dataset

Salary data for 830+ occupations

WageDex makes the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey easier to read. National, state, and metro wage estimates, published percentile distributions, employment counts, and ten-year occupational projections in one place, labeled by source and release.

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The median US occupation pays $61,390 a year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

WageDex covers BLS wage estimates for 830+ occupations across 54 states and territories and 528+ metropolitan or nonmetropolitan areas, with purchasing-power adjustments computed from BLS wages and BEA Regional Price Parities, side-by-side comparisons, and ten-year occupational projections. Half of the 825 occupations with a published national median have a median under $61,390 a year.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics , OEWS May 2025 release, published spring 2026

830+
Occupations
54
States & territories
528+
Local wage areas
May 2025
BLS OEWS release
Browse All Jobs Highest Paying Jobs Compare by State Browse Local Wage Areas

The national picture

Across the 825 occupations with a published BLS median wage (of 830+ tracked), half have a median under $61,390 a year. The employment-weighted mean of detailed-occupation medians is highest for management at $125,861. That derived benchmark is 3.6 times the $35,157 value for food preparation and serving related. It is not a worker-level group mean or median.

$61,390
Median of 825 occupations with published wages
$125,861
Management weighted mean of occupation medians
3.6×
Top-to-bottom group benchmark gap
54 + 528
State & local wage areas covered

The wage inputs are BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates. WageDex labels derived cross-cuts separately and does not use scraped job-board averages.

WageDex-computed cross-cut: the largest major group, Office and Administrative Support (~17.8M published employment), has an employment-weighted mean of occupation medians of $49,453. The highest value on that same derived measure is management at $125,861. These are group comparison benchmarks, not worker-level medians.

Research

Original analysis from our editorial process, every statistic derived from our own database. See all research.

Research

Top 10 US Occupations with Widest 10th-90th Percentile Wage Gap

WageDex ranks all 800+ US occupations by the difference between 90th and 10th percentile annual wage, updated directly from BLS OEWS national wage data.

 Research

Top 10 Highest-Paying US Occupations by National Median Wage

WageDex ranks all 800+ US occupations by national median annual wage from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.

 Research

US Jurisdictions by Equal-Weighted Occupation-Median Benchmark

A derived ranking that gives every occupation with a published state median equal weight. It is not the BLS All Occupations mean or median.

Where occupations cluster on pay

US occupational wage distribution

Median annual wage across 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median (of 830+ tracked)

$0–$20,000: 0 US occupations (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 98 US occupations (12%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 298 US occupations (36%). Below this entry. $60,000–$80,000: 209 US occupations (25%). This entry sits in this band. $80,000–$100,000: 82 US occupations (10%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 58 US occupations (7%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 32 US occupations (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 14 US occupations (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 9 US occupations (1%). Above this entry. $180,000 and above: 25 US occupations (3%). Above this entry. Median job $0 $180,000+ every BLS occupation, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Read the chart as text · as of May 2025
Band Count Share
$0–$20,000 0 US occupations 0%
$20,000–$40,000 98 US occupations 12%
$40,000–$60,000 298 US occupations 36%
$60,000–$80,000 (this entry) 209 US occupations 25%
$80,000–$100,000 82 US occupations 10%
$100,000–$120,000 58 US occupations 7%
$120,000–$140,000 32 US occupations 4%
$140,000–$160,000 14 US occupations 2%
$160,000–$180,000 9 US occupations 1%
$180,000 and above 25 US occupations 3%

$61,390 · 50th percentile of 825 US occupations

Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025

Half of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median wage (5 of the 830+ tracked occupations lack a published national median) pay under $61,390 a year. The long right tail past $150,000 is dominated by physicians, dentists, executives, and senior technology leadership.

Published employment vs. the group wage benchmark

Each dot is one of the 22 SOC major occupational groups, placed by summed published employment and the employment-weighted mean of its detailed-occupation medians.

Office and Administrative Support has the largest published employment total; management has the highest derived occupation-median benchmark. The chart compares those two measures without asserting a worker-level group median. Scatter plot of 22 data points. $20000$40000$60000$80000$100000$120000$140000 0M5M10M15M20M Total US employment (millions) Weighted mean of occupation medians Management - Total US employment (millions): 11.1M · Weighted mean of occupation medians: $125861Legal - Total US employment (millions): 1.3M · Weighted mean of occupation medians: $121466Computer and Mathematical - Total US employment (millions): 5.3M · Weighted mean of occupation medians: $111763Healthcare Practitioners and Technical - Total US employment (millions): 9.8M · Weighted mean of occupation medians: $105700Architecture and Engineering - Total US employment (millions): 2.6M · Weighted mean of occupation medians: $100795Life, Physical, and Social Science - Total US employment (millions): 1.5M · Weighted mean of occupation medians: $87552Business and Financial Operations - Total US employment (millions): 10.5M · Weighted mean of occupation medians: $84984Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media - Total US employment (millions): 1.9M · Weighted mean of occupation medians: $65992Educational Instruction and Library - Total US employment (millions): 9.1M · Weighted mean of occupation medians: $60556Construction and Extraction - Total US employment (millions): 6.4M · Weighted mean of occupation medians: $59771Installation, Maintenance, and Repair - Total US employment (millions): 6.1M · Weighted mean of occupation medians: $59449Community and Social Service - Total US employment (millions): 2.7M · Weighted mean of occupation medians: $58390Protective Service - Total US employment (millions): 3.8M · Weighted mean of occupation medians: $56722Office and Administrative Support - Total US employment (millions): 17.8M · Weighted mean of occupation medians: $49453Production - Total US employment (millions): 8.6M · Weighted mean of occupation medians: $49321Sales and Related - Total US employment (millions): 13.4M · Weighted mean of occupation medians: $48726Transportation and Material Moving - Total US employment (millions): 13.7M · Weighted mean of occupation medians: $47165Healthcare Support - Total US employment (millions): 7.9M · Weighted mean of occupation medians: $40184Farming, Fishing, and Forestry - Total US employment (millions): 0.4M · Weighted mean of occupation medians: $39265Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance - Total US employment (millions): 4.5M · Weighted mean of occupation medians: $38649Personal Care and Service - Total US employment (millions): 3.3M · Weighted mean of occupation medians: $38183Food Preparation and Serving Related - Total US employment (millions): 13.7M · Weighted mean of occupation medians: $35157
Office and Administrative Support has the largest published employment total; management has the highest derived occupation-median benchmark. The chart compares those two measures without asserting a worker-level group median.
Read the chart as text
  • Management: Total US employment (millions) 11.1M, Weighted mean of occupation medians $125861
  • Legal: Total US employment (millions) 1.3M, Weighted mean of occupation medians $121466
  • Computer and Mathematical: Total US employment (millions) 5.3M, Weighted mean of occupation medians $111763
  • Healthcare Practitioners and Technical: Total US employment (millions) 9.8M, Weighted mean of occupation medians $105700
  • Architecture and Engineering: Total US employment (millions) 2.6M, Weighted mean of occupation medians $100795
  • Life, Physical, and Social Science: Total US employment (millions) 1.5M, Weighted mean of occupation medians $87552
  • Business and Financial Operations: Total US employment (millions) 10.5M, Weighted mean of occupation medians $84984
  • Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media: Total US employment (millions) 1.9M, Weighted mean of occupation medians $65992
  • Educational Instruction and Library: Total US employment (millions) 9.1M, Weighted mean of occupation medians $60556
  • Construction and Extraction: Total US employment (millions) 6.4M, Weighted mean of occupation medians $59771
  • Installation, Maintenance, and Repair: Total US employment (millions) 6.1M, Weighted mean of occupation medians $59449
  • Community and Social Service: Total US employment (millions) 2.7M, Weighted mean of occupation medians $58390
  • Protective Service: Total US employment (millions) 3.8M, Weighted mean of occupation medians $56722
  • Office and Administrative Support: Total US employment (millions) 17.8M, Weighted mean of occupation medians $49453
  • Production: Total US employment (millions) 8.6M, Weighted mean of occupation medians $49321
  • Sales and Related: Total US employment (millions) 13.4M, Weighted mean of occupation medians $48726
  • Transportation and Material Moving: Total US employment (millions) 13.7M, Weighted mean of occupation medians $47165
  • Healthcare Support: Total US employment (millions) 7.9M, Weighted mean of occupation medians $40184
  • Farming, Fishing, and Forestry: Total US employment (millions) 0.4M, Weighted mean of occupation medians $39265
  • Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance: Total US employment (millions) 4.5M, Weighted mean of occupation medians $38649
  • Personal Care and Service: Total US employment (millions) 3.3M, Weighted mean of occupation medians $38183
  • Food Preparation and Serving Related: Total US employment (millions) 13.7M, Weighted mean of occupation medians $35157

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.

830+

Occupations

54

States & Territories

528+

Metro & nonmetro areas

2025

BLS Data Year

Popular Occupations

Median annual pay for some of the most-searched roles, highest first.

Marketing Managers $166,790 Software Developers $135,980 Civil Engineers $100,840 Dental Hygienists $98,100 Registered Nurses $97,550 Accountants and Auditors $83,680 Electricians $63,190

Browse by Career Category

All 22 SOC major groups, compared by the employment-weighted mean of their detailed-occupation medians.

Management $125,861 Legal $121,466 Computer and Mathematical $111,763 Healthcare Practitioners and Technical $105,700 Architecture and Engineering $100,795 Life, Physical, and Social Science $87,552 Business and Financial Operations $84,984 Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media $65,992 Educational Instruction and Library $60,556 Construction and Extraction $59,771 Installation, Maintenance, and Repair $59,449 Community and Social Service $58,390 Protective Service $56,722 Office and Administrative Support $49,453 Production $49,321 Sales and Related $48,726 Transportation and Material Moving $47,165 Healthcare Support $40,184 Farming, Fishing, and Forestry $39,265 Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance $38,649 Personal Care and Service $38,183 Food Preparation and Serving Related $35,157

Why WageDex?

Source estimates come from named federal datasets; WageDex calculations are labeled as derived measures.

830

Occupations, one source

Wage inputs come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program and retain their published occupation and geography scope.

~1.1M

Establishments in the sample

Each annual OEWS estimate combines six semiannual survey panels collected over three years.

May 2025

Fresh, and dated

Pages label the May 2025 reference period so readers can distinguish the data vintage from the page date.

Salary Guides

Learn how to read and use BLS wage data for career decisions.

Understanding BLS Data

What the numbers mean and why employer-reported data matters.

Salary Negotiation

Document a relevant occupation, geography, and published wage percentile.

Highest-Paying Careers

Compare occupations by published national median wage.

Best States for Salaries

Compare published state wages before and after a price-level adjustment.

Salary vs. Cost of Living

Compare metro wages with BEA regional price parities.

View all guides →

Where to start

Three ways to turn this data into a decision

  • Start with your occupation: search or browse to see its median pay, full percentile band, and 10-year outlook. Browse occupations
  • Compare the same published wage statistic across state and local-area geographies; the estimates can differ materially by location. Compare states
  • Negotiating or planning a move? Compare the relevant wage distribution and location benchmarks with the calculator. Salary calculator

All figures are BLS OEWS survey estimates for the May 2025 reference period, not offers or predictions for any individual.

Occupation-median benchmark by major group

Employment-weighted mean of detailed-occupation medians; not a worker-level group median

weighted mean of medians

What this shows Management has the highest employment-weighted mean of published occupation medians, near $126K. The top-to-bottom ratio on this derived benchmark is 3.6×; it does not reconstruct either group's worker-level wage distribution.

Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS As of May 2025

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics · 2025

About this data

How WageDex works, and why you can trust these figures

What this site is

WageDex tracks U.S. occupational wages and employment. All salary data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, the authoritative federal source for occupation-level wage data.

Editorial process

  1. Source. Download raw OEWS data files from the BLS website, the May 2025 release, the most recent complete annual dataset published by BLS.
  2. Verify. Normalize occupation codes and titles to the 2018 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) taxonomy so figures are comparable across occupations and geographies.
  3. Publish. Blend in BLS Employment Projections growth-outlook data for each occupation, and publish per-occupation and per-metro pages linking back to the BLS source.

Editorial independence & corrections

The WageDex editorial process is independent and is not affiliated with the BLS or the Department of Labor. Found an error? Get in touch via the contact page. See our methodology and editorial & corrections policy for full source attribution.

Frequently asked

Where does WageDex get its salary data?

All salary data comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers nationwide to produce detailed wage estimates by occupation and geographic area.

How many occupations does WageDex cover?

WageDex includes salary data for 830 occupations as classified by the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) system, covering every major industry and job type in the U.S. economy.

Is WageDex free?

Yes, WageDex is completely free. You can look up salaries by occupation, compare metro-area wages, and view safety ratings without any account or subscription.

What are the metro salary pages?

Metro salary pages show wage data for specific occupations in specific metropolitan areas, letting you see how pay varies by location. This is useful for job seekers evaluating offers in different cities or planning a relocation.

WageDex is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Figures are national/state aggregates and may not reflect pay at a specific employer or role, consult a qualified career counselor or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.