Jobs that actually got a raise in America

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.

Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025

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OccupationMedian, America · Real change since 2019

1Gambling Dealers$34,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$24,040 – $77,090+28.2%+61.4% nominal
2Transportation Security Screeners$66,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,700 – $78,350+26.9%+59.9% nominal
3Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers$232,140
Bachelor's degree
$106,710 – $463,830+25.2%+57.7% nominal
4Waiters and Waitresses$35,230
No formal educational credential
$18,100 – $64,720+22.2%+53.9% nominal
5Sales and Related Workers, All Other$48,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,720 – $97,910+20.5%+51.7% nominal
6Driver/Sales Workers$38,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$22,590 – $59,980+19.1%+49.9% nominal
7Dishwashers$34,810
No formal educational credential
$26,200 – $42,860+15.3%+45.2% nominal
8Bartenders$34,340
No formal educational credential
$20,110 – $73,770+15.2%+45.0% nominal
9Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers$33,980
No formal educational credential
$21,300 – $46,570+15.0%+44.8% nominal
10Food Servers, Nonrestaurant$35,360
No formal educational credential
$28,030 – $46,120+14.9%+44.7% nominal
11Substitute Teachers, Short-Term$41,670
Bachelor's degree
$28,560 – $65,790+14.9%+44.7% nominal
12Childcare Workers$34,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$24,260 – $46,010+14.6%+44.4% nominal
13Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers$34,890
No formal educational credential
$27,440 – $43,190+14.4%+44.1% nominal
14Food Processing Workers, All Other$39,680
No formal educational credential
$32,210 – $47,950+14.4%+44.0% nominal
15Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other$35,840
No formal educational credential
$25,470 – $47,550+14.0%+43.5% nominal
16Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers$33,580
No formal educational credential
$25,780 – $43,970+13.9%+43.4% nominal
17Residential Advisors$42,240
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,870 – $61,060+13.9%+43.4% nominal
18Counter and Rental Clerks$41,300
No formal educational credential
$29,800 – $65,370+13.8%+43.3% nominal
19Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks$35,070
High school diploma or equivalent
$27,120 – $45,470+13.8%+43.3% nominal
20Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$35,510
No formal educational credential
$27,640 – $48,570+13.5%+42.9% nominal
21Animal Caretakers$35,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$27,250 – $50,060+13.3%+42.7% nominal
22Cooks, Short Order$35,880
No formal educational credential
$23,440 – $46,460+13.3%+42.7% nominal
23Nursing Assistants$42,260
Postsecondary nondegree award
$33,940 – $51,980+13.1%+42.5% nominal
24Food Preparation Workers$35,320
No formal educational credential
$25,810 – $45,340+13.1%+42.4% nominal
25Home Health and Personal Care Aides$35,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$27,040 – $45,040+12.5%+41.6% nominal
26Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants$35,670
No formal educational credential
$28,630 – $46,060+12.4%+41.5% nominal
27Retail Salespersons$35,410
No formal educational credential
$27,210 – $47,890+11.4%+40.2% nominal
28Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse$35,660
No formal educational credential
$32,900 – $45,690+11.3%+40.2% nominal
29Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers$32,910
No formal educational credential
$23,560 – $42,470+11.2%+40.0% nominal
30Packers and Packagers, Hand$36,280
No formal educational credential
$27,890 – $47,100+11.2%+40.0% nominal
31Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing$43,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,110 – $56,830+11.2%+40.0% nominal
32Parking Attendants$35,150
No formal educational credential
$27,040 – $44,550+11.0%+39.8% nominal
33Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$43,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,390 – $60,030+10.7%+39.5% nominal
34Cashiers$32,880
No formal educational credential
$24,530 – $40,410+10.4%+39.0% nominal
35Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment$35,830
No formal educational credential
$27,380 – $47,610+10.3%+38.9% nominal
36Recreation Workers$36,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$27,600 – $50,410+10.2%+38.7% nominal
37Sewing Machine Operators$36,670
No formal educational credential
$27,860 – $47,840+10.2%+38.8% nominal
38Manicurists and Pedicurists$35,760
Postsecondary nondegree award
$28,920 – $50,140+10.2%+38.8% nominal
39Labor Relations Specialists$95,420
Bachelor's degree
$50,490 – $156,180+9.8%+38.2% nominal
40Tour and Travel Guides$38,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,520 – $60,930+9.7%+38.1% nominal
41Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$44,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,170 – $61,600+9.6%+38.0% nominal
42Computer Hardware Engineers$161,740
Bachelor's degree
$92,940 – $225,330+9.6%+38.0% nominal
43Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$44,650
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,280 – $64,880+9.6%+38.0% nominal
44Tellers$43,030
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,360 – $49,680+9.4%+37.8% nominal
45Amusement and Recreation Attendants$32,150
No formal educational credential
$22,350 – $42,490+9.2%+37.6% nominal
46Food Batchmakers$42,290
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,990 – $58,940+9.1%+37.3% nominal
47Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity$59,050
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,030 – $84,700+9.0%+37.2% nominal
48Fast Food and Counter Workers$31,200
No formal educational credential
$22,840 – $42,650+9.0%+37.2% nominal
49Slaughterers and Meat Packers$40,130
No formal educational credential
$33,340 – $51,090+9.0%+37.3% nominal
50Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists$35,790
Postsecondary nondegree award
$27,040 – $71,190+8.9%+37.2% nominal

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

#	Occupation	MedianAmerica	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Real change since 2019
1	Gambling DealersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$34,320	$24,040 – $77,090	+28.2%+61.4% nominal
2	Transportation Security ScreenersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,770	$44,700 – $78,350	+26.9%+59.9% nominal
3	Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight EngineersBachelor's degree	$232,140	$106,710 – $463,830	+25.2%+57.7% nominal
4	Waiters and WaitressesNo formal educational credential	$35,230	$18,100 – $64,720	+22.2%+53.9% nominal
5	Sales and Related Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,280	$29,720 – $97,910	+20.5%+51.7% nominal
6	Driver/Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,770	$22,590 – $59,980	+19.1%+49.9% nominal
7	DishwashersNo formal educational credential	$34,810	$26,200 – $42,860	+15.3%+45.2% nominal
8	BartendersNo formal educational credential	$34,340	$20,110 – $73,770	+15.2%+45.0% nominal
9	Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender HelpersNo formal educational credential	$33,980	$21,300 – $46,570	+15.0%+44.8% nominal
10	Food Servers, NonrestaurantNo formal educational credential	$35,360	$28,030 – $46,120	+14.9%+44.7% nominal
11	Substitute Teachers, Short-TermBachelor's degree	$41,670	$28,560 – $65,790	+14.9%+44.7% nominal
12	Childcare WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$34,980	$24,260 – $46,010	+14.6%+44.4% nominal
13	Laundry and Dry-Cleaning WorkersNo formal educational credential	$34,890	$27,440 – $43,190	+14.4%+44.1% nominal
14	Food Processing Workers, All OtherNo formal educational credential	$39,680	$32,210 – $47,950	+14.4%+44.0% nominal
15	Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All OtherNo formal educational credential	$35,840	$25,470 – $47,550	+14.0%+43.5% nominal
16	Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service WorkersNo formal educational credential	$33,580	$25,780 – $43,970	+13.9%+43.4% nominal
17	Residential AdvisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$42,240	$29,870 – $61,060	+13.9%+43.4% nominal
18	Counter and Rental ClerksNo formal educational credential	$41,300	$29,800 – $65,370	+13.8%+43.3% nominal
19	Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$35,070	$27,120 – $45,470	+13.8%+43.3% nominal
20	Maids and Housekeeping CleanersNo formal educational credential	$35,510	$27,640 – $48,570	+13.5%+42.9% nominal
21	Animal CaretakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$35,360	$27,250 – $50,060	+13.3%+42.7% nominal
22	Cooks, Short OrderNo formal educational credential	$35,880	$23,440 – $46,460	+13.3%+42.7% nominal
23	Nursing AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award	$42,260	$33,940 – $51,980	+13.1%+42.5% nominal
24	Food Preparation WorkersNo formal educational credential	$35,320	$25,810 – $45,340	+13.1%+42.4% nominal
25	Home Health and Personal Care AidesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$35,800	$27,040 – $45,040	+12.5%+41.6% nominal
26	Automotive and Watercraft Service AttendantsNo formal educational credential	$35,670	$28,630 – $46,060	+12.4%+41.5% nominal
27	Retail SalespersonsNo formal educational credential	$35,410	$27,210 – $47,890	+11.4%+40.2% nominal
28	Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and GreenhouseNo formal educational credential	$35,660	$32,900 – $45,690	+11.3%+40.2% nominal
29	Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket TakersNo formal educational credential	$32,910	$23,560 – $42,470	+11.2%+40.0% nominal
30	Packers and Packagers, HandNo formal educational credential	$36,280	$27,890 – $47,100	+11.2%+40.0% nominal
31	Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except SawingHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,380	$32,110 – $56,830	+11.2%+40.0% nominal
32	Parking AttendantsNo formal educational credential	$35,150	$27,040 – $44,550	+11.0%+39.8% nominal
33	Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,220	$33,390 – $60,030	+10.7%+39.5% nominal
34	CashiersNo formal educational credential	$32,880	$24,530 – $40,410	+10.4%+39.0% nominal
35	Cleaners of Vehicles and EquipmentNo formal educational credential	$35,830	$27,380 – $47,610	+10.3%+38.9% nominal
36	Recreation WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36,560	$27,600 – $50,410	+10.2%+38.7% nominal
37	Sewing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$36,670	$27,860 – $47,840	+10.2%+38.8% nominal
38	Manicurists and PedicuristsPostsecondary nondegree award	$35,760	$28,920 – $50,140	+10.2%+38.8% nominal
39	Labor Relations SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$95,420	$50,490 – $156,180	+9.8%+38.2% nominal
40	Tour and Travel GuidesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,120	$28,520 – $60,930	+9.7%+38.1% nominal
41	Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,350	$34,170 – $61,600	+9.6%+38.0% nominal
42	Computer Hardware EngineersBachelor's degree	$161,740	$92,940 – $225,330	+9.6%+38.0% nominal
43	Miscellaneous Assemblers and FabricatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,650	$33,280 – $64,880	+9.6%+38.0% nominal
44	TellersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,030	$34,360 – $49,680	+9.4%+37.8% nominal
45	Amusement and Recreation AttendantsNo formal educational credential	$32,150	$22,350 – $42,490	+9.2%+37.6% nominal
46	Food BatchmakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$42,290	$31,990 – $58,940	+9.1%+37.3% nominal
47	Bus Drivers, Transit and IntercityHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,050	$40,030 – $84,700	+9.0%+37.2% nominal
48	Fast Food and Counter WorkersNo formal educational credential	$31,200	$22,840 – $42,650	+9.0%+37.2% nominal
49	Slaughterers and Meat PackersNo formal educational credential	$40,130	$33,340 – $51,090	+9.0%+37.3% nominal
50	Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and CosmetologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$35,790	$27,040 – $71,190	+8.9%+37.2% nominal

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

Jobs that actually got a raise in America

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Without a degree

Jobs that actually got a raise in each state