Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Abilene, TX

Each occupation's median wage in Abilene, TX compared against the national median for the same occupation. Unlike a cost-of-living adjustment — which scales every job in a state by the same constant and so cannot change their order — this genuinely re-ranks, and it shows where Abilene, TX pays a real premium. Limited to occupations with at least 1,000 workers in the state.

Cost of living: prices in Abilene, TX run 9.6% below the national average (2024), so a Abilene, TX salary is worth about 1.11× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order.

Local wage estimates are suppressed more often than state ones — BLS withholds any figure too few local employers report — so an occupation missing here simply has no published local estimate.

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

Find high paying jobs in Abilene, TX

OccupationMedian, Abilene, TX · vs. national

1Physical Therapist Aides$49,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$25,890 – $49,790+41.3%
2Firefighters$78,380
Postsecondary nondegree award
$45,920 – $78,380+32.2%
3Massage Therapists$68,730
Postsecondary nondegree award
$54,700 – $101,730+17.6%
4First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$118,210
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,880 – $120,680+11.5%
5Physical Therapist Assistants$76,090
Associate's degree
$38,920 – $95,650+11.3%
6First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$100,430
Postsecondary nondegree award
$71,870 – $106,330+7.4%
7Occupational Therapists$104,740
Master's degree
$78,110 – $132,340+4.4%
8Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary$66,460
Bachelor's degree
$51,470 – $82,210+4.1%
9Postal Service Clerks$63,210
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $76,360+1.7%
10Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas$58,830
No formal educational credential
$34,210 – $99,900+1.2%
11Bakers$37,430
No formal educational credential
$22,980 – $43,780+0.7%
12Animal Caretakers$35,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$22,290 – $49,070+0.3%
13Physical Therapists$102,920
Doctoral or professional degree
$45,210 – $131,280+0.2%
14Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary$78,630
Master's degree
$37,590 – $202,8000.0%
15Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators$58,470
No formal educational credential
$48,880 – $71,4700.0%
16Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$76,070
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,540 – $93,990-0.2%
17Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$73,750
Postsecondary nondegree award
$51,180 – $98,160-0.5%
18Bus Drivers, School$47,370
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,700 – $62,330-1.1%
19Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$48,050
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,200 – $73,690-1.1%
20Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs$36,820
No formal educational credential
$29,190 – $45,990-1.3%
21Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$78,810
Postsecondary nondegree award
$44,760 – $81,510-1.3%
22Teachers and Instructors, All Other$64,940
Bachelor's degree
$35,360 – $96,100-1.8%
23Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$47,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,400 – $56,830-2.1%
24Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary$78,080
Doctoral or professional degree
$47,450 – $142,320-2.3%
25Helpers--Production Workers$38,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,460 – $58,340-2.3%
26Nurse Practitioners$129,120
Master's degree
$67,050 – $159,810-2.4%
27Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other$48,880
Postsecondary nondegree award
$35,670 – $62,230-2.8%
28Public Safety Telecommunicators$51,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,960 – $61,370-2.9%
29Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All Other$49,300
Bachelor's degree
$35,210 – $60,090-3.1%
30Roustabouts, Oil and Gas$45,410
No formal educational credential
$36,350 – $48,960-3.3%
31Office and Administrative Support Workers, All Other$44,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$23,330 – $64,940-3.4%
32Postal Service Mail Carriers$57,970
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,040-4.3%
33Machinists$56,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,440 – $70,960-4.4%
34Mechanical Engineers$99,460
Bachelor's degree
$68,460 – $153,340-4.5%
35Surgical Technologists$61,740
Postsecondary nondegree award
$28,580 – $80,030-4.5%
36Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping$48,350
Associate's degree
$30,540 – $60,180-4.5%
37Dental Hygienists$93,600
Associate's degree
$77,160 – $99,290-4.6%
38Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants$43,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,980 – $49,790-4.7%
39Security Guards$36,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$27,000 – $53,650-5.0%
40Pharmacists$133,660
Doctoral or professional degree
$47,580 – $168,840-5.1%
41Medical Records Specialists$48,390
Postsecondary nondegree award
$35,220 – $69,900-5.4%
42Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$60,950
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,320 – $71,340-5.4%
43Highway Maintenance Workers$47,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,810 – $47,630-5.4%
44Industrial Engineers$96,840
Bachelor's degree
$69,420 – $128,810-5.5%
45Veterinarians$122,820
Doctoral or professional degree
$77,140 – $175,200-5.6%
46Physician Assistants$127,550
Master's degree
$102,890 – $157,760-6.1%
47English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary$73,670
Doctoral or professional degree
$46,060 – $127,230-6.5%
48Paralegals and Legal Assistants$58,700
Associate's degree
$34,530 – $76,690-6.7%
49Tire Repairers and Changers$35,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$26,670 – $46,110-6.7%
50Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$54,720
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,180 – $77,630-6.7%

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

#	Occupation	MedianAbilene, TX	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	vs. national
1	Physical Therapist AidesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,790	$25,890 – $49,790	+41.3%
2	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$78,380	$45,920 – $78,380	+32.2%
3	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$68,730	$54,700 – $101,730	+17.6%
4	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$118,210	$57,880 – $120,680	+11.5%
5	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$76,090	$38,920 – $95,650	+11.3%
6	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$100,430	$71,870 – $106,330	+7.4%
7	Occupational TherapistsMaster's degree	$104,740	$78,110 – $132,340	+4.4%
8	Career/Technical Education Teachers, PostsecondaryBachelor's degree	$66,460	$51,470 – $82,210	+4.1%
9	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$63,210	$42,600 – $76,360	+1.7%
10	Service Unit Operators, Oil and GasNo formal educational credential	$58,830	$34,210 – $99,900	+1.2%
11	BakersNo formal educational credential	$37,430	$22,980 – $43,780	+0.7%
12	Animal CaretakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$35,480	$22,290 – $49,070	+0.3%
13	Physical TherapistsDoctoral or professional degree	$102,920	$45,210 – $131,280	+0.2%
14	Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, PostsecondaryMaster's degree	$78,630	$37,590 – $202,800	0.0%
15	Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$58,470	$48,880 – $71,470	0.0%
16	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,070	$48,540 – $93,990	-0.2%
17	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$73,750	$51,180 – $98,160	-0.5%
18	Bus Drivers, SchoolHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,370	$36,700 – $62,330	-1.1%
19	Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,050	$36,200 – $73,690	-1.1%
20	Shuttle Drivers and ChauffeursNo formal educational credential	$36,820	$29,190 – $45,990	-1.3%
21	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$78,810	$44,760 – $81,510	-1.3%
22	Teachers and Instructors, All OtherBachelor's degree	$64,940	$35,360 – $96,100	-1.8%
23	Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,250	$36,400 – $56,830	-2.1%
24	Mathematical Science Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$78,080	$47,450 – $142,320	-2.3%
25	Helpers--Production WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,160	$29,460 – $58,340	-2.3%
26	Nurse PractitionersMaster's degree	$129,120	$67,050 – $159,810	-2.4%
27	Health Technologists and Technicians, All OtherPostsecondary nondegree award	$48,880	$35,670 – $62,230	-2.8%
28	Public Safety TelecommunicatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,480	$36,960 – $61,370	-2.9%
29	Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$49,300	$35,210 – $60,090	-3.1%
30	Roustabouts, Oil and GasNo formal educational credential	$45,410	$36,350 – $48,960	-3.3%
31	Office and Administrative Support Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,120	$23,330 – $64,940	-3.4%
32	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$57,970	$42,390 – $81,040	-4.3%
33	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,160	$36,440 – $70,960	-4.4%
34	Mechanical EngineersBachelor's degree	$99,460	$68,460 – $153,340	-4.5%
35	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,740	$28,580 – $80,030	-4.5%
36	Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and TimekeepingAssociate's degree	$48,350	$30,540 – $60,180	-4.5%
37	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$93,600	$77,160 – $99,290	-4.6%
38	Medical Secretaries and Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,790	$34,980 – $49,790	-4.7%
39	Security GuardsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36,120	$27,000 – $53,650	-5.0%
40	PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree	$133,660	$47,580 – $168,840	-5.1%
41	Medical Records SpecialistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$48,390	$35,220 – $69,900	-5.4%
42	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,950	$47,320 – $71,340	-5.4%
43	Highway Maintenance WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,570	$39,810 – $47,630	-5.4%
44	Industrial EngineersBachelor's degree	$96,840	$69,420 – $128,810	-5.5%
45	VeterinariansDoctoral or professional degree	$122,820	$77,140 – $175,200	-5.6%
46	Physician AssistantsMaster's degree	$127,550	$102,890 – $157,760	-6.1%
47	English Language and Literature Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$73,670	$46,060 – $127,230	-6.5%
48	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$58,700	$34,530 – $76,690	-6.7%
49	Tire Repairers and ChangersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$35,180	$26,670 – $46,110	-6.7%
50	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversPostsecondary nondegree award	$54,720	$38,180 – $77,630	-6.7%

More for Abilene, TX

By field in Abilene, TX

Without a degree

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

Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Abilene, TX

More for Abilene, TX

Other metro areas in TX

By field in Abilene, TX

Without a degree

Jobs that pay the biggest premium in each state