Jobs that lost the most to inflation in Oklahoma

Every occupation here is paid more in dollars than it was in 2019 and less in what those dollars buy. Prices rose about 26% over the period; these wages did not keep up. Limited to occupations employing at least 50,000 people.

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

1Skincare Specialists$37,340
Postsecondary nondegree award
$22,140 – $77,020-42.5%-27.5% nominal
2Medical Transcriptionists$27,740
Postsecondary nondegree award
$22,110 – $49,470-40.6%-25.2% nominal
3Operations Research Analysts$61,520
Bachelor's degree
$41,680 – $88,280-36.3%-19.7% nominal
4Hazardous Materials Removal Workers$44,300
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,590 – $50,630-32.7%-15.3% nominal
5Nurse Anesthetists$156,830
Master's degree
$156,830 – $296,200-30.4%-12.4% nominal
6Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$48,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,230 – $96,050-27.8%-9.1% nominal
7Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$64,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,310 – $153,700-26.2%-7.1% nominal
8Waiters and Waitresses$17,910
No formal educational credential
$15,230 – $47,630-23.7%-3.9% nominal
9Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping$37,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,330 – $59,150-23.3%-3.4% nominal
10Chemists$74,960
Bachelor's degree
$48,520 – $112,920-23.1%-3.1% nominal
11Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers$119,990
Bachelor's degree
$43,040 – $197,980-22.9%-2.9% nominal
12Physical Therapist Assistants$59,480
Associate's degree
$24,960 – $79,860-21.4%-1.0% nominal
13Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$50,350
Postsecondary nondegree award
$37,020 – $77,040-20.3%+0.3% nominal
14Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers$48,240
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,760 – $73,820-19.3%+1.7% nominal
15Travel Agents$36,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$21,120 – $56,020-19.0%+2.0% nominal
16Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers$50,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,760 – $94,330-19.0%+2.1% nominal
17Self-Enrichment Teachers$38,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$22,120 – $106,510-18.6%+2.5% nominal
18Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas$55,160
No formal educational credential
$48,180 – $79,910-18.0%+3.3% nominal
19Civil Engineers$98,760
Bachelor's degree
$66,550 – $153,470-17.8%+3.6% nominal
20Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products$72,480
Bachelor's degree
$38,200 – $152,910-17.7%+3.7% nominal
21Occupational Therapy Assistants$66,520
Associate's degree
$51,710 – $79,320-17.4%+4.0% nominal
22Tax Preparers$42,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$26,720 – $82,210-17.3%+4.2% nominal
23Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers$38,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,660 – $48,280-16.7%+4.9% nominal
24Mechanical Drafters$63,440
Associate's degree
$42,130 – $92,040-16.0%+5.8% nominal
25Construction and Building Inspectors$59,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,410 – $94,850-15.9%+5.9% nominal
26Loan Officers$72,990
Bachelor's degree
$36,510 – $158,710-15.9%+5.9% nominal
27General and Operations Managers$90,430
Bachelor's degree
$45,840 – $202,740-15.4%+6.6% nominal
28Surveyors$61,300
Bachelor's degree
$37,510 – $103,270-15.2%+6.8% nominal
29First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$85,310
Postsecondary nondegree award
$55,260 – $101,770-15.2%+6.8% nominal
30Ophthalmic Medical Technicians$37,920
Postsecondary nondegree award
$29,330 – $48,260-14.6%+7.6% nominal
31Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School$50,630
Bachelor's degree
$43,870 – $73,990-14.5%+7.7% nominal
32Brickmasons and Blockmasons$50,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,350 – $68,680-14.5%+7.7% nominal
33Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$48,710
Bachelor's degree
$45,150 – $71,650-14.2%+8.1% nominal
34Physical Therapists$98,590
Doctoral or professional degree
$68,330 – $128,000-14.2%+8.0% nominal
35Dentists, General$166,170
Doctoral or professional degree
$97,290 – $346,890-14.2%+8.1% nominal
36Special Education Teachers, Middle School$50,450
Bachelor's degree
$45,400 – $73,160-14.2%+8.0% nominal
37Health Education Specialists$62,440
Bachelor's degree
$39,270 – $103,780-14.1%+8.2% nominal
38Library Technicians$29,440
Postsecondary nondegree award
$22,520 – $48,290-14.0%+8.3% nominal
39First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$82,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,380 – $121,100-13.8%+8.5% nominal
40Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining$47,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,000 – $55,990-13.6%+8.9% nominal
41Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door$62,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,530 – $88,850-13.4%+9.1% nominal
42Medical Equipment Repairers$48,440
Associate's degree
$33,710 – $77,250-13.4%+9.0% nominal
43Computer and Information Research Scientists$93,100
Master's degree
$71,930 – $136,340-13.1%+9.5% nominal
44Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas$58,270
No formal educational credential
$48,960 – $68,640-13.0%+9.5% nominal
45Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders$50,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,340 – $81,820-12.3%+10.5% nominal
46Chemical Technicians$60,020
Associate's degree
$35,410 – $97,380-12.2%+10.5% nominal
47Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners$48,990
Bachelor's degree
$29,620 – $76,240-11.9%+10.9% nominal
48Budget Analysts$80,990
Bachelor's degree
$55,620 – $118,360-11.7%+11.2% nominal
49Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$48,440
Bachelor's degree
$43,400 – $68,990-11.6%+11.3% nominal
50Electrical Engineers$107,760
Bachelor's degree
$74,060 – $187,140-11.3%+11.6% 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	Skincare SpecialistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$37,340	$22,140 – $77,020	-42.5%-27.5% nominal
2	Medical TranscriptionistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$27,740	$22,110 – $49,470	-40.6%-25.2% nominal
3	Operations Research AnalystsBachelor's degree	$61,520	$41,680 – $88,280	-36.3%-19.7% nominal
4	Hazardous Materials Removal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,300	$37,590 – $50,630	-32.7%-15.3% nominal
5	Nurse AnesthetistsMaster's degree	$156,830	$156,830 – $296,200	-30.4%-12.4% nominal
6	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,900	$35,230 – $96,050	-27.8%-9.1% nominal
7	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,640	$38,310 – $153,700	-26.2%-7.1% nominal
8	Waiters and WaitressesNo formal educational credential	$17,910	$15,230 – $47,630	-23.7%-3.9% nominal
9	Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, RecordkeepingHigh school diploma or equivalent	$37,350	$29,330 – $59,150	-23.3%-3.4% nominal
10	ChemistsBachelor's degree	$74,960	$48,520 – $112,920	-23.1%-3.1% nominal
11	Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and GeographersBachelor's degree	$119,990	$43,040 – $197,980	-22.9%-2.9% nominal
12	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$59,480	$24,960 – $79,860	-21.4%-1.0% nominal
13	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$50,350	$37,020 – $77,040	-20.3%+0.3% nominal
14	Security and Fire Alarm Systems InstallersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,240	$37,760 – $73,820	-19.3%+1.7% nominal
15	Travel AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36,980	$21,120 – $56,020	-19.0%+2.0% nominal
16	Title Examiners, Abstractors, and SearchersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,270	$35,760 – $94,330	-19.0%+2.1% nominal
17	Self-Enrichment TeachersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,010	$22,120 – $106,510	-18.6%+2.5% nominal
18	Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and GasNo formal educational credential	$55,160	$48,180 – $79,910	-18.0%+3.3% nominal
19	Civil EngineersBachelor's degree	$98,760	$66,550 – $153,470	-17.8%+3.6% nominal
20	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific ProductsBachelor's degree	$72,480	$38,200 – $152,910	-17.7%+3.7% nominal
21	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$66,520	$51,710 – $79,320	-17.4%+4.0% nominal
22	Tax PreparersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$42,700	$26,720 – $82,210	-17.3%+4.2% nominal
23	Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,880	$32,660 – $48,280	-16.7%+4.9% nominal
24	Mechanical DraftersAssociate's degree	$63,440	$42,130 – $92,040	-16.0%+5.8% nominal
25	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,280	$41,410 – $94,850	-15.9%+5.9% nominal
26	Loan OfficersBachelor's degree	$72,990	$36,510 – $158,710	-15.9%+5.9% nominal
27	General and Operations ManagersBachelor's degree	$90,430	$45,840 – $202,740	-15.4%+6.6% nominal
28	SurveyorsBachelor's degree	$61,300	$37,510 – $103,270	-15.2%+6.8% nominal
29	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$85,310	$55,260 – $101,770	-15.2%+6.8% nominal
30	Ophthalmic Medical TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$37,920	$29,330 – $48,260	-14.6%+7.6% nominal
31	Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary SchoolBachelor's degree	$50,630	$43,870 – $73,990	-14.5%+7.7% nominal
32	Brickmasons and BlockmasonsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,620	$40,350 – $68,680	-14.5%+7.7% nominal
33	Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$48,710	$45,150 – $71,650	-14.2%+8.1% nominal
34	Physical TherapistsDoctoral or professional degree	$98,590	$68,330 – $128,000	-14.2%+8.0% nominal
35	Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree	$166,170	$97,290 – $346,890	-14.2%+8.1% nominal
36	Special Education Teachers, Middle SchoolBachelor's degree	$50,450	$45,400 – $73,160	-14.2%+8.0% nominal
37	Health Education SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$62,440	$39,270 – $103,780	-14.1%+8.2% nominal
38	Library TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$29,440	$22,520 – $48,290	-14.0%+8.3% nominal
39	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,830	$48,380 – $121,100	-13.8%+8.5% nominal
40	Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface MiningHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,100	$40,000 – $55,990	-13.6%+8.9% nominal
41	Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical DoorHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,780	$38,530 – $88,850	-13.4%+9.1% nominal
42	Medical Equipment RepairersAssociate's degree	$48,440	$33,710 – $77,250	-13.4%+9.0% nominal
43	Computer and Information Research ScientistsMaster's degree	$93,100	$71,930 – $136,340	-13.1%+9.5% nominal
44	Derrick Operators, Oil and GasNo formal educational credential	$58,270	$48,960 – $68,640	-13.0%+9.5% nominal
45	Chemical Equipment Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,160	$37,340 – $81,820	-12.3%+10.5% nominal
46	Chemical TechniciansAssociate's degree	$60,020	$35,410 – $97,380	-12.2%+10.5% nominal
47	Meeting, Convention, and Event PlannersBachelor's degree	$48,990	$29,620 – $76,240	-11.9%+10.9% nominal
48	Budget AnalystsBachelor's degree	$80,990	$55,620 – $118,360	-11.7%+11.2% nominal
49	Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$48,440	$43,400 – $68,990	-11.6%+11.3% nominal
50	Electrical EngineersBachelor's degree	$107,760	$74,060 – $187,140	-11.3%+11.6% 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 lost the most to inflation in Oklahoma

More for Oklahoma

Metro areas in Oklahoma

By field in Oklahoma

Without a degree

Jobs that lost the most to inflation in each state