Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Bloomington, IL

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

Cost of living: prices in Bloomington, IL run 6.5% below the national average (2024), so a Bloomington, IL 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 Bloomington, IL

OccupationMedian, Bloomington, IL · vs. national

1Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$96,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,150 – $100,120+60.8%
2Business Teachers, Postsecondary$148,290
Doctoral or professional degree
$50,800 – $169,580+49.7%
3Personal Financial Advisors$141,070
Bachelor's degree
$58,430 – $346,950+34.3%
4Physicians, All Other$356,830
Doctoral or professional degree
$59,140 – $422,710+34.2%
5Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse$47,210
No formal educational credential
$31,930 – $49,940+32.4%
6Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$79,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,100 – $99,230+32.0%
7Insurance Sales Agents$82,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,810 – $178,720+31.7%
8Construction Laborers$60,650
No formal educational credential
$36,360 – $93,780+28.7%
9First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$134,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$68,350 – $142,080+26.4%
10Electricians$79,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,100 – $104,480+25.7%
11Carpenters$75,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,050 – $103,240+24.6%
12Public Relations Specialists$91,630
Bachelor's degree
$49,080 – $132,960+22.6%
13Residential Advisors$51,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,370 – $59,550+22.3%
14Highway Maintenance Workers$61,290
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,840 – $100,790+21.9%
15Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$77,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,190 – $102,730+21.8%
16Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners$60,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,880 – $91,630+21.7%
17Computer Network Architects$161,780
Bachelor's degree
$98,570 – $203,480+20.7%
18Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians$75,530
Bachelor's degree
$55,990 – $104,270+20.0%
19First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers$58,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,980 – $63,860+18.4%
20First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$94,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,330 – $119,930+17.7%
21Firefighters$69,270
Postsecondary nondegree award
$31,200 – $77,570+16.9%
22Healthcare Social Workers$78,960
Master's degree
$47,670 – $92,680+16.3%
23Database Architects$161,430
Bachelor's degree
$117,640 – $203,930+15.7%
24Manicurists and Pedicurists$40,830
Postsecondary nondegree award
$31,200 – $57,030+14.2%
25Parts Salespersons$43,960
No formal educational credential
$31,200 – $60,330+13.8%
26Coaches and Scouts$53,210
Bachelor's degree
$31,200 – $113,970+12.4%
27Training and Development Specialists$75,550
Bachelor's degree
$41,110 – $122,740+9.1%
28Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$51,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,860 – $79,460+9.1%
29Communications Teachers, Postsecondary$85,390
Doctoral or professional degree
$41,340 – $102,470+8.7%
30Agricultural Equipment Operators$45,280
No formal educational credential
$37,570 – $60,430+8.5%
31Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling$86,300
Bachelor's degree
$40,260 – $134,310+8.5%
32Managers, All Other$153,210
Bachelor's degree
$79,700 – $321,360+8.0%
33Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other$53,050
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,690 – $72,800+7.8%
34Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$61,370
No formal educational credential
$45,470 – $83,770+7.6%
35Library Technicians$47,930
Postsecondary nondegree award
$31,560 – $47,930+7.5%
36Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks$62,400
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,310 – $89,910+7.1%
37Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary$85,280
Doctoral or professional degree
$51,640 – $101,240+6.7%
38Public Safety Telecommunicators$56,540
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,820 – $62,060+6.6%
39Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers$37,060
No formal educational credential
$31,200 – $39,180+6.2%
40Construction and Building Inspectors$79,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,380 – $109,110+6.1%
41Automotive Body and Related Repairers$58,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,720 – $95,050+6.0%
42Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$80,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,540 – $100,490+5.6%
43Surgical Technologists$68,140
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,970 – $84,500+5.4%
44Nurse Practitioners$139,190
Master's degree
$97,730 – $153,240+5.2%
45Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators$53,300
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,420 – $64,440+5.1%
46Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$64,030
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,200 – $91,500+5.0%
47Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping$48,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,200 – $50,820+5.0%
48Social and Community Service Managers$84,130
Bachelor's degree
$59,380 – $105,990+4.7%
49Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary$84,110
Doctoral or professional degree
$34,160 – $116,450+4.7%
50Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$67,270
Postsecondary nondegree award
$51,960 – $75,740+4.5%

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

#	Occupation	MedianBloomington, IL	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	vs. national
1	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$96,250	$59,150 – $100,120	+60.8%
2	Business Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$148,290	$50,800 – $169,580	+49.7%
3	Personal Financial AdvisorsBachelor's degree	$141,070	$58,430 – $346,950	+34.3%
4	Physicians, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$356,830	$59,140 – $422,710	+34.2%
5	Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and GreenhouseNo formal educational credential	$47,210	$31,930 – $49,940	+32.4%
6	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,220	$45,100 – $99,230	+32.0%
7	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,040	$42,810 – $178,720	+31.7%
8	Construction LaborersNo formal educational credential	$60,650	$36,360 – $93,780	+28.7%
9	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$134,080	$68,350 – $142,080	+26.4%
10	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,430	$38,100 – $104,480	+25.7%
11	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,470	$47,050 – $103,240	+24.6%
12	Public Relations SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$91,630	$49,080 – $132,960	+22.6%
13	Residential AdvisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,680	$35,370 – $59,550	+22.3%
14	Highway Maintenance WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,290	$33,840 – $100,790	+21.9%
15	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,700	$47,190 – $102,730	+21.8%
16	Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe CleanersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,720	$36,880 – $91,630	+21.7%
17	Computer Network ArchitectsBachelor's degree	$161,780	$98,570 – $203,480	+20.7%
18	Clinical Laboratory Technologists and TechniciansBachelor's degree	$75,530	$55,990 – $104,270	+20.0%
19	First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,120	$34,980 – $63,860	+18.4%
20	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$94,080	$58,330 – $119,930	+17.7%
21	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$69,270	$31,200 – $77,570	+16.9%
22	Healthcare Social WorkersMaster's degree	$78,960	$47,670 – $92,680	+16.3%
23	Database ArchitectsBachelor's degree	$161,430	$117,640 – $203,930	+15.7%
24	Manicurists and PedicuristsPostsecondary nondegree award	$40,830	$31,200 – $57,030	+14.2%
25	Parts SalespersonsNo formal educational credential	$43,960	$31,200 – $60,330	+13.8%
26	Coaches and ScoutsBachelor's degree	$53,210	$31,200 – $113,970	+12.4%
27	Training and Development SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$75,550	$41,110 – $122,740	+9.1%
28	Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and ExecutiveHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,880	$33,860 – $79,460	+9.1%
29	Communications Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$85,390	$41,340 – $102,470	+8.7%
30	Agricultural Equipment OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$45,280	$37,570 – $60,430	+8.5%
31	Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except GamblingBachelor's degree	$86,300	$40,260 – $134,310	+8.5%
32	Managers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$153,210	$79,700 – $321,360	+8.0%
33	Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,050	$34,690 – $72,800	+7.8%
34	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$61,370	$45,470 – $83,770	+7.6%
35	Library TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$47,930	$31,560 – $47,930	+7.5%
36	Payroll and Timekeeping ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,400	$34,310 – $89,910	+7.1%
37	Mathematical Science Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$85,280	$51,640 – $101,240	+6.7%
38	Public Safety TelecommunicatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,540	$47,820 – $62,060	+6.6%
39	Laundry and Dry-Cleaning WorkersNo formal educational credential	$37,060	$31,200 – $39,180	+6.2%
40	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,250	$47,380 – $109,110	+6.1%
41	Automotive Body and Related RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,160	$38,720 – $95,050	+6.0%
42	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,480	$47,540 – $100,490	+5.6%
43	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$68,140	$48,970 – $84,500	+5.4%
44	Nurse PractitionersMaster's degree	$139,190	$97,730 – $153,240	+5.2%
45	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,300	$39,420 – $64,440	+5.1%
46	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$64,030	$39,200 – $91,500	+5.0%
47	Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, RecordkeepingHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,680	$31,200 – $50,820	+5.0%
48	Social and Community Service ManagersBachelor's degree	$84,130	$59,380 – $105,990	+4.7%
49	Psychology Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$84,110	$34,160 – $116,450	+4.7%
50	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$67,270	$51,960 – $75,740	+4.5%

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Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Bloomington, IL

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