Jobs that actually got a raise in Oklahoma

Consumer prices rose about 26% between May 2019 and May 2025, so a wage that grew less than that lost ground while appearing to rise. The column on the right is the inflation-adjusted change; the nominal figure beneath it is what a paycheck comparison would have shown. Limited to occupations employing at least 50,000 people, so the ranking is not dominated by tiny, noisy ones.

Cost of living: prices in Oklahoma run 12.2% below the national average (2024), so a Oklahoma salary is worth about 1.14× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order. To see where a job pays a real premium, use jobs that pay more in Oklahoma.

Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Cost of living: BEA regional price parities, 2024

Find high paying jobs in Oklahoma

OccupationMedian, Oklahoma · Real change since 2019

1Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary$49,920
Bachelor's degree
$29,120 – $60,230+98.2%+149.6% nominal
2Slaughterers and Meat Packers$45,970
No formal educational credential
$33,290 – $45,970+56.3%+96.8% nominal
3Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity$50,300
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,380 – $65,400+43.0%+80.1% nominal
4Cooks, Short Order$35,130
No formal educational credential
$25,290 – $36,270+39.3%+75.4% nominal
5Order Clerks$45,850
Some college, no degree
$39,130 – $48,430+32.9%+67.3% nominal
6Rehabilitation Counselors$38,260
Master's degree
$27,200 – $57,320+32.3%+66.6% nominal
7Production Workers, All Other$44,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$21,860 – $60,720+31.6%+65.7% nominal
8Coin, Vending, and Amusement Machine Servicers and Repairers$48,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,600 – $62,090+28.9%+62.3% nominal
9Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$45,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,890 – $62,480+26.0%+58.7% nominal
10Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers$36,300
No formal educational credential
$34,960 – $46,180+24.5%+56.7% nominal
11First-Line Supervisors of Gambling Services Workers$58,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,780 – $75,430+22.1%+53.7% nominal
12Counter and Rental Clerks$37,160
No formal educational credential
$23,800 – $61,880+19.4%+50.3% nominal
13Psychiatric Technicians$39,060
Postsecondary nondegree award
$34,080 – $62,400+18.0%+48.6% nominal
14Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas$56,680
No formal educational credential
$34,490 – $97,950+18.0%+48.6% nominal
15Engineers, All Other$119,810
Bachelor's degree
$71,890 – $158,040+17.4%+47.8% nominal
16Tree Trimmers and Pruners$46,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,110 – $56,170+16.7%+47.0% nominal
17Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$59,910
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,760 – $86,560+16.6%+46.8% nominal
18Surgical Technologists$61,190
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,200 – $77,320+15.7%+45.7% nominal
19Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine Repairers$51,880
Some college, no degree
$36,260 – $68,370+15.2%+45.0% nominal
20Cooks, Fast Food$27,720
No formal educational credential
$22,340 – $36,900+14.8%+44.6% nominal
21Credit Analysts$75,330
Bachelor's degree
$47,530 – $178,350+14.6%+44.3% nominal
22Packers and Packagers, Hand$34,520
No formal educational credential
$22,660 – $44,030+14.4%+44.0% nominal
23Childcare Workers$27,730
High school diploma or equivalent
$22,040 – $38,580+14.3%+43.9% nominal
24Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary$27,920
Some college, no degree
$17,940 – $37,370+13.9%+43.4% nominal
25Residential Advisors$35,390
High school diploma or equivalent
$22,690 – $46,150+13.6%+43.1% nominal
26Nursing Assistants$35,930
Postsecondary nondegree award
$29,630 – $42,870+13.6%+43.0% nominal
27New Accounts Clerks$43,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,110 – $50,290+12.9%+42.2% nominal
28Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers$26,260
No formal educational credential
$21,370 – $34,100+12.6%+41.8% nominal
29Food Preparation Workers$28,540
No formal educational credential
$20,800 – $35,980+12.5%+41.7% nominal
30Loan Interviewers and Clerks$47,210
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,670 – $63,000+12.1%+41.2% nominal
31Respiratory Therapists$78,800
Associate's degree
$64,380 – $95,350+12.0%+41.0% nominal
32Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers$26,830
No formal educational credential
$17,990 – $36,540+11.4%+40.3% nominal
33Sewing Machine Operators$33,340
No formal educational credential
$23,850 – $44,350+11.4%+40.3% nominal
34Food Servers, Nonrestaurant$28,490
No formal educational credential
$23,030 – $37,850+11.4%+40.3% nominal
35Tellers$35,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,380 – $46,210+11.3%+40.2% nominal
36Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$42,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,150 – $57,640+11.2%+40.0% nominal
37Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria$29,270
No formal educational credential
$21,620 – $38,670+10.6%+39.3% nominal
38Architects, Except Landscape and Naval$100,350
Bachelor's degree
$55,040 – $165,790+10.5%+39.2% nominal
39Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$46,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,330 – $59,530+10.3%+38.9% nominal
40Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks$27,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$21,760 – $35,680+10.1%+38.7% nominal
41Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$58,320
Postsecondary nondegree award
$45,440 – $66,410+10.0%+38.6% nominal
42Detectives and Criminal Investigators$80,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,420 – $136,120+9.9%+38.4% nominal
43Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers$28,170
No formal educational credential
$20,750 – $38,600+9.8%+38.2% nominal
44Correctional Officers and Jailers$45,690
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,530 – $58,380+9.6%+38.0% nominal
45Cashiers$28,180
No formal educational credential
$21,730 – $35,050+9.5%+37.9% nominal
46Home Health and Personal Care Aides$27,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$22,940 – $35,150+9.2%+37.5% nominal
47Medical Equipment Preparers$43,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,400 – $57,770+9.1%+37.4% nominal
48Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$28,620
No formal educational credential
$22,460 – $37,000+8.4%+36.5% nominal
49Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$39,310
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,180 – $48,710+8.0%+36.0% nominal
50Advertising Sales Agents$57,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$27,460 – $173,050+8.0%+36.0% nominal

Bars run from the 10th to the 90th percentile; the middle half is shaded darker, and the tick is the median.

#	Occupation	MedianOklahoma	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Real change since 2019
1	Teaching Assistants, PostsecondaryBachelor's degree	$49,920	$29,120 – $60,230	+98.2%+149.6% nominal
2	Slaughterers and Meat PackersNo formal educational credential	$45,970	$33,290 – $45,970	+56.3%+96.8% nominal
3	Bus Drivers, Transit and IntercityHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,300	$37,380 – $65,400	+43.0%+80.1% nominal
4	Cooks, Short OrderNo formal educational credential	$35,130	$25,290 – $36,270	+39.3%+75.4% nominal
5	Order ClerksSome college, no degree	$45,850	$39,130 – $48,430	+32.9%+67.3% nominal
6	Rehabilitation CounselorsMaster's degree	$38,260	$27,200 – $57,320	+32.3%+66.6% nominal
7	Production Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,120	$21,860 – $60,720	+31.6%+65.7% nominal
8	Coin, Vending, and Amusement Machine Servicers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,160	$28,600 – $62,090	+28.9%+62.3% nominal
9	Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,680	$31,890 – $62,480	+26.0%+58.7% nominal
10	Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and TrimmersNo formal educational credential	$36,300	$34,960 – $46,180	+24.5%+56.7% nominal
11	First-Line Supervisors of Gambling Services WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,900	$34,780 – $75,430	+22.1%+53.7% nominal
12	Counter and Rental ClerksNo formal educational credential	$37,160	$23,800 – $61,880	+19.4%+50.3% nominal
13	Psychiatric TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$39,060	$34,080 – $62,400	+18.0%+48.6% nominal
14	Service Unit Operators, Oil and GasNo formal educational credential	$56,680	$34,490 – $97,950	+18.0%+48.6% nominal
15	Engineers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$119,810	$71,890 – $158,040	+17.4%+47.8% nominal
16	Tree Trimmers and PrunersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,950	$38,110 – $56,170	+16.7%+47.0% nominal
17	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,910	$41,760 – $86,560	+16.6%+46.8% nominal
18	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,190	$49,200 – $77,320	+15.7%+45.7% nominal
19	Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine RepairersSome college, no degree	$51,880	$36,260 – $68,370	+15.2%+45.0% nominal
20	Cooks, Fast FoodNo formal educational credential	$27,720	$22,340 – $36,900	+14.8%+44.6% nominal
21	Credit AnalystsBachelor's degree	$75,330	$47,530 – $178,350	+14.6%+44.3% nominal
22	Packers and Packagers, HandNo formal educational credential	$34,520	$22,660 – $44,030	+14.4%+44.0% nominal
23	Childcare WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$27,730	$22,040 – $38,580	+14.3%+43.9% nominal
24	Teaching Assistants, Except PostsecondarySome college, no degree	$27,920	$17,940 – $37,370	+13.9%+43.4% nominal
25	Residential AdvisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$35,390	$22,690 – $46,150	+13.6%+43.1% nominal
26	Nursing AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award	$35,930	$29,630 – $42,870	+13.6%+43.0% nominal
27	New Accounts ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,380	$33,110 – $50,290	+12.9%+42.2% nominal
28	Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket TakersNo formal educational credential	$26,260	$21,370 – $34,100	+12.6%+41.8% nominal
29	Food Preparation WorkersNo formal educational credential	$28,540	$20,800 – $35,980	+12.5%+41.7% nominal
30	Loan Interviewers and ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,210	$34,670 – $63,000	+12.1%+41.2% nominal
31	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$78,800	$64,380 – $95,350	+12.0%+41.0% nominal
32	Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender HelpersNo formal educational credential	$26,830	$17,990 – $36,540	+11.4%+40.3% nominal
33	Sewing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$33,340	$23,850 – $44,350	+11.4%+40.3% nominal
34	Food Servers, NonrestaurantNo formal educational credential	$28,490	$23,030 – $37,850	+11.4%+40.3% nominal
35	TellersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$35,840	$29,380 – $46,210	+11.3%+40.2% nominal
36	Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$42,180	$33,150 – $57,640	+11.2%+40.0% nominal
37	Cooks, Institution and CafeteriaNo formal educational credential	$29,270	$21,620 – $38,670	+10.6%+39.3% nominal
38	Architects, Except Landscape and NavalBachelor's degree	$100,350	$55,040 – $165,790	+10.5%+39.2% nominal
39	Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,470	$33,330 – $59,530	+10.3%+38.9% nominal
40	Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$27,630	$21,760 – $35,680	+10.1%+38.7% nominal
41	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$58,320	$45,440 – $66,410	+10.0%+38.6% nominal
42	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,430	$51,420 – $136,120	+9.9%+38.4% nominal
43	Laundry and Dry-Cleaning WorkersNo formal educational credential	$28,170	$20,750 – $38,600	+9.8%+38.2% nominal
44	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,690	$34,530 – $58,380	+9.6%+38.0% nominal
45	CashiersNo formal educational credential	$28,180	$21,730 – $35,050	+9.5%+37.9% nominal
46	Home Health and Personal Care AidesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$27,710	$22,940 – $35,150	+9.2%+37.5% nominal
47	Medical Equipment PreparersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,460	$34,400 – $57,770	+9.1%+37.4% nominal
48	Maids and Housekeeping CleanersNo formal educational credential	$28,620	$22,460 – $37,000	+8.4%+36.5% nominal
49	Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$39,310	$31,180 – $48,710	+8.0%+36.0% nominal
50	Advertising Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,670	$27,460 – $173,050	+8.0%+36.0% nominal

More for Oklahoma

Metro areas in Oklahoma

Pay varies more between metros than between states — the spread inside one state is often wider than the gap between two.

By field in Oklahoma

Without a degree

The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in Oklahoma to rank honestly.

Jobs that actually got a raise in Oklahoma

More for Oklahoma

Metro areas in Oklahoma

By field in Oklahoma

Without a degree

Jobs that actually got a raise in each state