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Official U.S. labour statistics

What does the job pay, and how do you get it?

Median and range salaries, day-to-day tasks, the education expected and the careers each role leads to — for 1,016 occupations.

Popular:Dental HygienistsMedical AssistantsElectriciansParalegals and Legal Assistants

In the spotlight

Dental Hygienists

Zone 3

Median annual pay

$98,100

$47.16 per hour

People employed

222,740

Medium preparation needed

Core skillsImportance
  • Active Listening
  • Speaking
  • Critical Thinking

Most looked-up careers

Median annual pay, national, May 2025.

View all 1,016 →
Dental HygienistsGrowingMedium preparation needed · 222,740 employed$98,100median / yrMedical AssistantsGrowingMedium preparation needed · 817,870 employed$45,690median / yrElectriciansGrowingMedium preparation needed · 757,220 employed$63,190median / yrParalegals and Legal AssistantsMedium preparation needed · 392,880 employed$62,890median / yrRegistered NursesGrowingConsiderable preparation needed · 3,379,720 employed$97,550median / yrPharmacy TechniciansGrowingMedium preparation needed · 471,680 employed$45,750median / yrPhlebotomistsGrowingMedium preparation needed · 143,540 employed$45,230median / yrPhysical TherapistsGrowingExtensive preparation needed · 267,330 employed$102,760median / yrDental AssistantsGrowingMedium preparation needed · 387,790 employed$48,070median / yrHeating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersGrowingMedium preparation needed · 409,670 employed$61,010median / yrWelders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersLittle to some preparation needed · 416,210 employed$53,750median / yrRadiologic Technologists and TechniciansMedium preparation needed · 230,490 employed$80,110median / yr

Guides worth starting with

Career and technical education programs

Which CTE pathways lead to which jobs, what they pay, and how long they take.

Highest paying jobs without a degree

Ranked by median pay, limited to work you can enter without a bachelor's.

Air Traffic Controllers · Wind Energy Operations Managers · Telecommunications Engineering Specialists

Highest paying trade jobs

Skilled trades, ranked by pay, with the apprenticeship route for each.

Nuclear Power Reactor Operators · Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers · Power Distributors and Dispatchers

Bright Outlook careers

The occupations O*NET expects to grow fastest, ranked by median pay.

Dermatologists · Prosthodontists · Psychiatrists

Fastest growing careers

Ranked by the official 2024–34 federal growth projection, with pay alongside.

Wind Turbine Service Technicians · Solar Photovoltaic Installers · Data Scientists

Careers with the most new jobs

Ranked by projected job gains 2024–34 — where the volume of hiring will be.

Registered Nurses · Acute Care Nurses · Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses

Browse by field

Every occupation grouped the way people actually search — by the kind of work.

All fields →
Healthcare116 occupations · up to $559,030Skilled trades117 occupations · up to $109,910Computer and IT38 occupations · up to $140,300Business and finance50 occupations · up to $117,330Office and administration55 occupations · up to $76,590Education and library63 occupations · up to $128,500Food service and hospitality18 occupations · up to $62,470Transportation52 occupations · up to $232,140

Browse by how much preparation it takes

O*NET sorts every occupation by preparation level, from a few days of training to years of study.

2Little to some preparation neededUsually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.3Medium preparation neededMost occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.4Considerable preparation neededMost of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.5Extensive preparation neededMost of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).

The largest occupations in the country

Ranked by how many people are employed.

Retail SalespersonsGrowingLittle to some preparation needed · 3,897,860 employed$35,410median / yrFast Food and Counter WorkersGrowingLittle to some preparation needed · 3,854,050 employed$31,200median / yrGeneral and Operations ManagersGrowingConsiderable preparation needed · 3,503,020 employed$105,770median / yrRegistered NursesGrowingConsiderable preparation needed · 3,379,720 employed$97,550median / yrCashiersGrowingLittle to some preparation needed · 3,089,410 employed$32,880median / yrLaborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, HandGrowingLittle to some preparation needed · 2,950,280 employed$40,240median / yrStockers and Order FillersGrowingLittle to some preparation needed · 2,833,810 employed$37,330median / yrCustomer Service RepresentativesGrowingLittle to some preparation needed · 2,595,750 employed$44,770median / yr

Where these numbers come from

Pay figures come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey (May 2025). Descriptions, tasks, skills and preparation levels come from the O*NET database, version 31.0, published by the U.S. Department of Labor.

Read the full methodology →