Jobs that actually got a raise in Utah

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 Utah run 1.1% below the national average (2024), so a Utah salary is worth about 1.01× 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 Utah.

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

Find high paying jobs in Utah

OccupationMedian, Utah · Real change since 2019

1Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$60,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,880 – $73,270+60.4%+102.0% nominal
2Coaches and Scouts$45,680
Bachelor's degree
$23,330 – $95,000+38.8%+74.8% nominal
3Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers$174,590
Bachelor's degree
$108,270 – $433,330+36.5%+71.8% nominal
4Substitute Teachers, Short-Term$36,490
Bachelor's degree
$24,710 – $53,780+35.2%+70.3% nominal
5Tax Preparers$66,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,430 – $102,840+33.9%+68.6% nominal
6Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials$31,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$23,890 – $49,290+32.8%+67.2% nominal
7Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers$44,150
No formal educational credential
$37,320 – $46,020+31.5%+65.5% nominal
8Postsecondary Teachers, All Other$61,370
Doctoral or professional degree
$36,230 – $131,060+30.8%+64.8% nominal
9Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians$61,870
Associate's degree
$48,370 – $88,110+29.8%+63.4% nominal
10Flight Attendants$82,730
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,830 – $133,230+28.8%+62.2% nominal
11Bartenders$32,150
No formal educational credential
$17,640 – $75,080+28.5%+61.8% nominal
12Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers$37,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,890 – $49,100+27.8%+60.9% nominal
13Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All Other$38,020
Bachelor's degree
$18,090 – $61,470+26.9%+59.8% nominal
14Insurance Sales Agents$61,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,270 – $132,090+26.8%+59.6% nominal
15Family Medicine Physicians$297,510
Doctoral or professional degree
$142,340 – $413,910+26.7%+59.5% nominal
16Waiters and Waitresses$31,150
No formal educational credential
$18,550 – $60,320+25.5%+58.0% nominal
17Financial Examiners$92,000
Bachelor's degree
$55,000 – $155,440+25.5%+58.0% nominal
18Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers$62,210
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,830 – $86,430+25.1%+57.6% nominal
19Special Education Teachers, Middle School$78,920
Bachelor's degree
$48,410 – $113,830+24.7%+57.1% nominal
20Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors$59,310
No formal educational credential
$42,990 – $72,930+24.3%+56.5% nominal
21Tour and Travel Guides$38,540
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,130 – $57,930+23.1%+55.0% nominal
22Special Education Teachers, Secondary School$64,210
Bachelor's degree
$34,130 – $97,380+23.0%+54.9% nominal
23First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$100,380
Postsecondary nondegree award
$60,130 – $122,490+22.0%+53.6% nominal
24Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers$35,690
No formal educational credential
$26,980 – $45,230+21.3%+52.8% nominal
25Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers$105,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$65,140 – $109,390+18.1%+48.8% nominal
26Slaughterers and Meat Packers$44,040
No formal educational credential
$36,460 – $46,810+18.1%+48.7% nominal
27Social Workers, All Other$66,440
Bachelor's degree
$51,090 – $114,500+18.0%+48.5% nominal
28Production Workers, All Other$41,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,550 – $55,130+18.0%+48.6% nominal
29Dietetic Technicians$40,580
Associate's degree
$34,340 – $50,000+17.9%+48.5% nominal
30Financial Managers$150,450
Bachelor's degree
$87,550 – $282,980+17.6%+48.1% nominal
31Dishwashers$31,830
No formal educational credential
$21,940 – $37,870+17.3%+47.7% nominal
32Recreation Workers$32,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$22,520 – $47,450+16.8%+47.0% nominal
33Correctional Officers and Jailers$67,290
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,700 – $84,680+16.8%+47.1% nominal
34Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks$36,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,550 – $45,050+16.5%+46.7% nominal
35Opticians, Dispensing$41,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,680 – $76,750+16.4%+46.6% nominal
36Massage Therapists$62,130
Postsecondary nondegree award
$23,160 – $97,970+16.1%+46.2% nominal
37Surgical Technologists$62,720
Postsecondary nondegree award
$45,760 – $87,430+15.5%+45.5% nominal
38General and Operations Managers$97,850
Bachelor's degree
$44,100 – $213,270+15.4%+45.3% nominal
39Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers$46,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,090 – $63,900+15.4%+45.3% nominal
40Court, Municipal, and License Clerks$51,130
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,230 – $77,240+15.3%+45.1% nominal
41Childcare Workers$31,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$23,040 – $43,440+15.3%+45.2% nominal
42Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$36,270
No formal educational credential
$29,130 – $45,770+15.2%+45.1% nominal
43Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$82,940
Doctoral or professional degree
$65,310 – $139,050+15.0%+44.8% nominal
44Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters$46,390
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,000 – $61,120+15.0%+44.8% nominal
45Fast Food and Counter Workers$28,670
No formal educational credential
$21,980 – $36,670+14.9%+44.7% nominal
46Animal Caretakers$34,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$26,310 – $56,730+14.9%+44.7% nominal
47Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$44,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,840 – $59,860+14.9%+44.7% nominal
48Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop$29,610
No formal educational credential
$22,040 – $45,100+14.8%+44.5% nominal
49Advertising Sales Agents$74,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,470 – $155,120+14.7%+44.4% nominal
50First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$110,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$82,270 – $135,490+14.4%+44.1% nominal

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

#	Occupation	MedianUtah	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Real change since 2019
1	Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,790	$45,880 – $73,270	+60.4%+102.0% nominal
2	Coaches and ScoutsBachelor's degree	$45,680	$23,330 – $95,000	+38.8%+74.8% nominal
3	Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight EngineersBachelor's degree	$174,590	$108,270 – $433,330	+36.5%+71.8% nominal
4	Substitute Teachers, Short-TermBachelor's degree	$36,490	$24,710 – $53,780	+35.2%+70.3% nominal
5	Tax PreparersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,720	$38,430 – $102,840	+33.9%+68.6% nominal
6	Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports OfficialsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$31,430	$23,890 – $49,290	+32.8%+67.2% nominal
7	Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and TrimmersNo formal educational credential	$44,150	$37,320 – $46,020	+31.5%+65.5% nominal
8	Postsecondary Teachers, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$61,370	$36,230 – $131,060	+30.8%+64.8% nominal
9	Mechanical Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$61,870	$48,370 – $88,110	+29.8%+63.4% nominal
10	Flight AttendantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,730	$49,830 – $133,230	+28.8%+62.2% nominal
11	BartendersNo formal educational credential	$32,150	$17,640 – $75,080	+28.5%+61.8% nominal
12	Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal CaretakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$37,560	$31,890 – $49,100	+27.8%+60.9% nominal
13	Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$38,020	$18,090 – $61,470	+26.9%+59.8% nominal
14	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,230	$35,270 – $132,090	+26.8%+59.6% nominal
15	Family Medicine PhysiciansDoctoral or professional degree	$297,510	$142,340 – $413,910	+26.7%+59.5% nominal
16	Waiters and WaitressesNo formal educational credential	$31,150	$18,550 – $60,320	+25.5%+58.0% nominal
17	Financial ExaminersBachelor's degree	$92,000	$55,000 – $155,440	+25.5%+58.0% nominal
18	Title Examiners, Abstractors, and SearchersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,210	$40,830 – $86,430	+25.1%+57.6% nominal
19	Special Education Teachers, Middle SchoolBachelor's degree	$78,920	$48,410 – $113,830	+24.7%+57.1% nominal
20	Refuse and Recyclable Material CollectorsNo formal educational credential	$59,310	$42,990 – $72,930	+24.3%+56.5% nominal
21	Tour and Travel GuidesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,540	$31,130 – $57,930	+23.1%+55.0% nominal
22	Special Education Teachers, Secondary SchoolBachelor's degree	$64,210	$34,130 – $97,380	+23.0%+54.9% nominal
23	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$100,380	$60,130 – $122,490	+22.0%+53.6% nominal
24	Laundry and Dry-Cleaning WorkersNo formal educational credential	$35,690	$26,980 – $45,230	+21.3%+52.8% nominal
25	Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and GaugersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$105,980	$65,140 – $109,390	+18.1%+48.8% nominal
26	Slaughterers and Meat PackersNo formal educational credential	$44,040	$36,460 – $46,810	+18.1%+48.7% nominal
27	Social Workers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$66,440	$51,090 – $114,500	+18.0%+48.5% nominal
28	Production Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$41,460	$31,550 – $55,130	+18.0%+48.6% nominal
29	Dietetic TechniciansAssociate's degree	$40,580	$34,340 – $50,000	+17.9%+48.5% nominal
30	Financial ManagersBachelor's degree	$150,450	$87,550 – $282,980	+17.6%+48.1% nominal
31	DishwashersNo formal educational credential	$31,830	$21,940 – $37,870	+17.3%+47.7% nominal
32	Recreation WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$32,890	$22,520 – $47,450	+16.8%+47.0% nominal
33	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,290	$47,700 – $84,680	+16.8%+47.1% nominal
34	Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36,250	$28,550 – $45,050	+16.5%+46.7% nominal
35	Opticians, DispensingHigh school diploma or equivalent	$41,780	$35,680 – $76,750	+16.4%+46.6% nominal
36	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,130	$23,160 – $97,970	+16.1%+46.2% nominal
37	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,720	$45,760 – $87,430	+15.5%+45.5% nominal
38	General and Operations ManagersBachelor's degree	$97,850	$44,100 – $213,270	+15.4%+45.3% nominal
39	Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and FinishersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,940	$35,090 – $63,900	+15.4%+45.3% nominal
40	Court, Municipal, and License ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,130	$39,230 – $77,240	+15.3%+45.1% nominal
41	Childcare WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$31,630	$23,040 – $43,440	+15.3%+45.2% nominal
42	Maids and Housekeeping CleanersNo formal educational credential	$36,270	$29,130 – $45,770	+15.2%+45.1% nominal
43	Medical Scientists, Except EpidemiologistsDoctoral or professional degree	$82,940	$65,310 – $139,050	+15.0%+44.8% nominal
44	Cabinetmakers and Bench CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,390	$35,000 – $61,120	+15.0%+44.8% nominal
45	Fast Food and Counter WorkersNo formal educational credential	$28,670	$21,980 – $36,670	+14.9%+44.7% nominal
46	Animal CaretakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$34,750	$26,310 – $56,730	+14.9%+44.7% nominal
47	Miscellaneous Assemblers and FabricatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,040	$35,840 – $59,860	+14.9%+44.7% nominal
48	Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee ShopNo formal educational credential	$29,610	$22,040 – $45,100	+14.8%+44.5% nominal
49	Advertising Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,260	$38,470 – $155,120	+14.7%+44.4% nominal
50	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$110,500	$82,270 – $135,490	+14.4%+44.1% nominal

More for Utah

Metro areas in Utah

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

By field in Utah

Without a degree

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

Jobs that actually got a raise in Utah

More for Utah

Metro areas in Utah

By field in Utah

Without a degree

Jobs that actually got a raise in each state