Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Decatur, IL

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

Cost of living: prices in Decatur, IL run 11.6% below the national average (2024), so a Decatur, IL salary is worth about 1.13× 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 Decatur, IL

OccupationMedian, Decatur, IL · vs. national

1Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$100,520
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,850 – $116,170+68.0%
2Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$160,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$75,070 – $213,810+49.6%
3Carpenters$87,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,050 – $118,460+44.0%
4Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment$49,370
No formal educational credential
$31,200 – $56,340+37.8%
5Food Batchmakers$57,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,460 – $74,660+36.9%
6Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$59,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,330 – $61,820+36.9%
7Roofers$74,640
No formal educational credential
$48,010 – $100,350+34.6%
8Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary$48,480
Some college, no degree
$31,200 – $62,870+31.8%
9Construction Laborers$61,270
No formal educational credential
$46,800 – $97,540+30.0%
10Electricians$81,020
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,370 – $119,020+28.2%
11Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$77,770
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,770 – $107,540+27.5%
12Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$61,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,720 – $74,830+23.8%
13Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$73,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,670 – $98,290+23.5%
14First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$91,450
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,200 – $125,810+22.8%
15Physical Therapists$125,600
Doctoral or professional degree
$85,580 – $147,630+22.2%
16Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$76,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,720 – $116,450+20.3%
17Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$57,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,770 – $62,110+18.8%
18Industrial Machinery Mechanics$75,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,580 – $106,950+16.8%
19Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators$53,990
No formal educational credential
$37,560 – $60,080+16.3%
20Helpers--Production Workers$44,960
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,760 – $78,540+15.1%
21Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$73,410
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,120 – $100,140+14.9%
22Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$46,010
No formal educational credential
$36,380 – $58,490+14.3%
23Library Technicians$50,650
Postsecondary nondegree award
$31,200 – $60,900+13.6%
24Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance$56,740
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,150 – $83,020+12.7%
25Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$50,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,300 – $57,240+12.1%
26Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education$42,740
Associate's degree
$36,860 – $59,220+12.1%
27Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators$56,690
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,670 – $56,690+11.8%
28Highway Maintenance Workers$54,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,130 – $100,790+9.0%
29Labor Relations Specialists$103,780
Bachelor's degree
$59,080 – $126,880+8.8%
30Security Guards$41,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,200 – $48,010+8.4%
31Architectural and Engineering Managers$183,860
Bachelor's degree
$122,210 – $211,110+7.4%
32Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$81,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,450 – $108,120+7.3%
33Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$57,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,020 – $66,200+7.3%
34Packers and Packagers, Hand$38,570
No formal educational credential
$31,200 – $54,840+6.3%
35Light Truck Drivers$47,660
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,330 – $96,510+6.2%
36Phlebotomists$47,720
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,550 – $50,290+5.5%
37Firefighters$62,430
Postsecondary nondegree award
$40,930 – $73,400+5.3%
38Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$50,650
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,710 – $50,730+5.0%
39Industrial Production Managers$132,250
Bachelor's degree
$102,280 – $209,850+4.9%
40First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$65,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,350 – $96,300+4.1%
41Home Health and Personal Care Aides$37,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,820 – $39,450+3.8%
42Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$66,750
Postsecondary nondegree award
$54,640 – $79,710+3.6%
43Pharmacists$145,960
Doctoral or professional degree
$106,180 – $167,290+3.6%
44Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$62,150
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,950 – $80,270+3.5%
45Structural Iron and Steel Workers$64,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$64,830 – $99,540+3.3%
46Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$71,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,300 – $118,380+2.6%
47Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks$46,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,390 – $55,290+2.4%
48Management Analysts$103,690
Bachelor's degree
$49,320 – $167,850+1.8%
49Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$62,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,050 – $95,450+1.7%
50Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education$63,530
Bachelor's degree
$45,470 – $75,370+1.4%

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

#	Occupation	MedianDecatur, IL	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	vs. national
1	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$100,520	$49,850 – $116,170	+68.0%
2	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$160,460	$75,070 – $213,810	+49.6%
3	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$87,220	$50,050 – $118,460	+44.0%
4	Cleaners of Vehicles and EquipmentNo formal educational credential	$49,370	$31,200 – $56,340	+37.8%
5	Food BatchmakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,880	$37,460 – $74,660	+36.9%
6	Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,160	$43,330 – $61,820	+36.9%
7	RoofersNo formal educational credential	$74,640	$48,010 – $100,350	+34.6%
8	Teaching Assistants, Except PostsecondarySome college, no degree	$48,480	$31,200 – $62,870	+31.8%
9	Construction LaborersNo formal educational credential	$61,270	$46,800 – $97,540	+30.0%
10	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,020	$49,370 – $119,020	+28.2%
11	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$77,770	$47,770 – $107,540	+27.5%
12	Maintenance and Repair Workers, GeneralHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,380	$43,720 – $74,830	+23.8%
13	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,680	$48,670 – $98,290	+23.5%
14	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$91,450	$56,200 – $125,810	+22.8%
15	Physical TherapistsDoctoral or professional degree	$125,600	$85,580 – $147,630	+22.2%
16	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,750	$49,720 – $116,450	+20.3%
17	Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,700	$42,770 – $62,110	+18.8%
18	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,380	$53,580 – $106,950	+16.8%
19	Industrial Truck and Tractor OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$53,990	$37,560 – $60,080	+16.3%
20	Helpers--Production WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,960	$36,760 – $78,540	+15.1%
21	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$73,410	$39,120 – $100,140	+14.9%
22	Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, HandNo formal educational credential	$46,010	$36,380 – $58,490	+14.3%
23	Library TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$50,650	$31,200 – $60,900	+13.6%
24	Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and AmbulanceHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,740	$39,150 – $83,020	+12.7%
25	Miscellaneous Assemblers and FabricatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,040	$41,300 – $57,240	+12.1%
26	Preschool Teachers, Except Special EducationAssociate's degree	$42,740	$36,860 – $59,220	+12.1%
27	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,690	$34,670 – $56,690	+11.8%
28	Highway Maintenance WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,790	$33,130 – $100,790	+9.0%
29	Labor Relations SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$103,780	$59,080 – $126,880	+8.8%
30	Security GuardsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$41,220	$31,200 – $48,010	+8.4%
31	Architectural and Engineering ManagersBachelor's degree	$183,860	$122,210 – $211,110	+7.4%
32	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,800	$53,450 – $108,120	+7.3%
33	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,670	$47,020 – $66,200	+7.3%
34	Packers and Packagers, HandNo formal educational credential	$38,570	$31,200 – $54,840	+6.3%
35	Light Truck DriversHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,660	$34,330 – $96,510	+6.2%
36	PhlebotomistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$47,720	$36,550 – $50,290	+5.5%
37	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,430	$40,930 – $73,400	+5.3%
38	Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,650	$46,710 – $50,730	+5.0%
39	Industrial Production ManagersBachelor's degree	$132,250	$102,280 – $209,850	+4.9%
40	First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,470	$40,350 – $96,300	+4.1%
41	Home Health and Personal Care AidesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$37,160	$34,820 – $39,450	+3.8%
42	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$66,750	$54,640 – $79,710	+3.6%
43	PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree	$145,960	$106,180 – $167,290	+3.6%
44	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,150	$50,950 – $80,270	+3.5%
45	Structural Iron and Steel WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,830	$64,830 – $99,540	+3.3%
46	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,780	$45,300 – $118,380	+2.6%
47	Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,360	$41,390 – $55,290	+2.4%
48	Management AnalystsBachelor's degree	$103,690	$49,320 – $167,850	+1.8%
49	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,790	$47,050 – $95,450	+1.7%
50	Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$63,530	$45,470 – $75,370	+1.4%

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