Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Akron, OH

Each occupation's median wage in Akron, OH 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 Akron, OH pays a real premium. Limited to occupations with at least 1,000 workers in the state.

Cost of living: prices in Akron, OH run 6.6% below the national average (2024), so a Akron, OH salary is worth about 1.07× 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 Akron, OH

OccupationMedian, Akron, OH · vs. national

1Interpreters and Translators$80,640
Bachelor's degree
$36,520 – $95,470+34.0%
2Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping$61,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,870 – $75,950+33.5%
3Construction Laborers$58,830
No formal educational credential
$37,110 – $79,110+24.9%
4Brokerage Clerks$81,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,510 – $121,360+23.5%
5Sheet Metal Workers$76,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,090 – $94,240+23.5%
6Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School$81,640
Bachelor's degree
$61,020 – $101,850+23.2%
7Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$78,560
Bachelor's degree
$46,690 – $99,550+22.8%
8Electricians$77,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,360 – $123,170+22.4%
9Structural Iron and Steel Workers$76,330
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,960 – $82,440+21.6%
10Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators$64,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,480 – $89,130+20.0%
11Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$76,460
Bachelor's degree
$44,830 – $103,300+18.8%
12Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity$70,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,660 – $70,000+18.5%
13Millwrights$77,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,160 – $82,000+18.1%
14Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School$76,760
Bachelor's degree
$46,330 – $100,210+17.9%
15Public Safety Telecommunicators$62,050
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,100 – $68,010+17.0%
16Family Medicine Physicians$284,960
Doctoral or professional degree
$65,430 – $449,440+16.7%
17Painters, Construction and Maintenance$57,560
No formal educational credential
$37,720 – $74,410+16.5%
18Tire Repairers and Changers$43,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,200 – $57,410+16.4%
19Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$81,820
Bachelor's degree
$46,990 – $102,190+13.6%
20Tree Trimmers and Pruners$57,450
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,560 – $57,450+12.7%
21Machine Feeders and Offbearers$46,190
No formal educational credential
$37,020 – $58,540+12.1%
22Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$63,850
No formal educational credential
$44,990 – $81,450+12.0%
23Interior Designers$74,720
Bachelor's degree
$47,760 – $99,990+11.2%
24Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$54,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,330 – $60,340+11.0%
25Order Clerks$51,060
Some college, no degree
$36,140 – $63,810+10.6%
26Couriers and Messengers$43,240
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,990 – $44,280+10.3%
27Physicians, All Other$293,090
Doctoral or professional degree
$68,750 – $538,070+10.2%
28Food Batchmakers$46,510
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,980 – $57,380+10.0%
29Protective Service Workers, All Other$46,030
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,130 – $70,180+8.2%
30Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary$46,150
Bachelor's degree
$29,330 – $54,910+7.6%
31Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$79,480
Associate's degree
$38,470 – $97,590+7.0%
32Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$63,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,700 – $98,500+6.8%
33Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians$67,100
Bachelor's degree
$40,300 – $81,360+6.6%
34Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists$38,100
Postsecondary nondegree award
$24,130 – $79,950+6.5%
35Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education$66,240
Bachelor's degree
$38,260 – $93,750+5.7%
36Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$52,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,930 – $75,770+5.7%
37Tutors$45,630
Some college, no degree
$28,020 – $74,980+5.3%
38Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary$67,150
Bachelor's degree
$48,090 – $91,760+5.2%
39Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators$53,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,770 – $77,940+4.8%
40Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic$48,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,170 – $69,720+4.7%
41Special Education Teachers, Secondary School$77,780
Bachelor's degree
$49,490 – $100,570+4.7%
42Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics$52,900
Postsecondary nondegree award
$34,450 – $78,690+4.5%
43Postal Service Clerks$64,670
No formal educational credential
$55,350 – $75,030+4.1%
44Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$74,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,890 – $139,260+4.0%
45Opticians, Dispensing$48,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,290 – $65,140+3.4%
46Packers and Packagers, Hand$37,440
No formal educational credential
$30,260 – $47,360+3.2%
47Firefighters$61,140
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,200 – $80,080+3.1%
48Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$60,210
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,680 – $77,350+2.7%
49Waiters and Waitresses$36,150
No formal educational credential
$23,780 – $61,290+2.6%
50Manicurists and Pedicurists$36,700
Postsecondary nondegree award
$26,370 – $48,950+2.6%

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

#	Occupation	MedianAkron, OH	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	vs. national
1	Interpreters and TranslatorsBachelor's degree	$80,640	$36,520 – $95,470	+34.0%
2	Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, RecordkeepingHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,940	$34,870 – $75,950	+33.5%
3	Construction LaborersNo formal educational credential	$58,830	$37,110 – $79,110	+24.9%
4	Brokerage ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,230	$53,510 – $121,360	+23.5%
5	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,350	$45,090 – $94,240	+23.5%
6	Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary SchoolBachelor's degree	$81,640	$61,020 – $101,850	+23.2%
7	Elementary School Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$78,560	$46,690 – $99,550	+22.8%
8	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,360	$46,360 – $123,170	+22.4%
9	Structural Iron and Steel WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,330	$51,960 – $82,440	+21.6%
10	Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,000	$35,480 – $89,130	+20.0%
11	Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$76,460	$44,830 – $103,300	+18.8%
12	Bus Drivers, Transit and IntercityHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,000	$40,660 – $70,000	+18.5%
13	MillwrightsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,570	$52,160 – $82,000	+18.1%
14	Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary SchoolBachelor's degree	$76,760	$46,330 – $100,210	+17.9%
15	Public Safety TelecommunicatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,050	$44,100 – $68,010	+17.0%
16	Family Medicine PhysiciansDoctoral or professional degree	$284,960	$65,430 – $449,440	+16.7%
17	Painters, Construction and MaintenanceNo formal educational credential	$57,560	$37,720 – $74,410	+16.5%
18	Tire Repairers and ChangersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,900	$34,200 – $57,410	+16.4%
19	Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$81,820	$46,990 – $102,190	+13.6%
20	Tree Trimmers and PrunersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,450	$48,560 – $57,450	+12.7%
21	Machine Feeders and OffbearersNo formal educational credential	$46,190	$37,020 – $58,540	+12.1%
22	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$63,850	$44,990 – $81,450	+12.0%
23	Interior DesignersBachelor's degree	$74,720	$47,760 – $99,990	+11.2%
24	Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,120	$44,330 – $60,340	+11.0%
25	Order ClerksSome college, no degree	$51,060	$36,140 – $63,810	+10.6%
26	Couriers and MessengersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,240	$30,990 – $44,280	+10.3%
27	Physicians, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$293,090	$68,750 – $538,070	+10.2%
28	Food BatchmakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,510	$34,980 – $57,380	+10.0%
29	Protective Service Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,030	$36,130 – $70,180	+8.2%
30	Teaching Assistants, PostsecondaryBachelor's degree	$46,150	$29,330 – $54,910	+7.6%
31	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$79,480	$38,470 – $97,590	+7.0%
32	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,920	$46,700 – $98,500	+6.8%
33	Clinical Laboratory Technologists and TechniciansBachelor's degree	$67,100	$40,300 – $81,360	+6.6%
34	Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and CosmetologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$38,100	$24,130 – $79,950	+6.5%
35	Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$66,240	$38,260 – $93,750	+5.7%
36	Maintenance and Repair Workers, GeneralHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,420	$34,930 – $75,770	+5.7%
37	TutorsSome college, no degree	$45,630	$28,020 – $74,980	+5.3%
38	Career/Technical Education Teachers, PostsecondaryBachelor's degree	$67,150	$48,090 – $91,760	+5.2%
39	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,100	$37,770 – $77,940	+4.8%
40	Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,320	$37,170 – $69,720	+4.7%
41	Special Education Teachers, Secondary SchoolBachelor's degree	$77,780	$49,490 – $100,570	+4.7%
42	Automotive Service Technicians and MechanicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$52,900	$34,450 – $78,690	+4.5%
43	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$64,670	$55,350 – $75,030	+4.1%
44	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,990	$40,890 – $139,260	+4.0%
45	Opticians, DispensingHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,890	$33,290 – $65,140	+3.4%
46	Packers and Packagers, HandNo formal educational credential	$37,440	$30,260 – $47,360	+3.2%
47	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,140	$36,200 – $80,080	+3.1%
48	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,210	$39,680 – $77,350	+2.7%
49	Waiters and WaitressesNo formal educational credential	$36,150	$23,780 – $61,290	+2.6%
50	Manicurists and PedicuristsPostsecondary nondegree award	$36,700	$26,370 – $48,950	+2.6%

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Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Akron, OH

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