Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Nevada

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

Cost of living: prices in Nevada run 0.0% below the national average (2024), so a Nevada salary is worth about 1.00× 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 Nevada.

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

Find high paying jobs in Nevada

OccupationMedian, Nevada · vs. national

1Real Estate Sales Agents$79,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,340 – $153,680+51.4%
2Continuous Mining Machine Operators$85,590
No formal educational credential
$69,680 – $91,210+38.5%
3Carpet Installers$67,040
No formal educational credential
$39,350 – $83,510+33.2%
4Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$46,550
No formal educational credential
$30,000 – $56,400+31.1%
5Riggers$81,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,400 – $100,100+30.5%
6Correctional Officers and Jailers$76,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$62,150 – $102,610+29.8%
7Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers$141,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$102,920 – $174,710+29.2%
8Protective Service Workers, All Other$54,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,500 – $78,520+28.8%
9Library Assistants, Clerical$46,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,000 – $59,740+26.3%
10Sewing Machine Operators$45,750
No formal educational credential
$30,730 – $55,550+24.8%
11First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$132,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$94,260 – $163,940+24.6%
12Maintenance Workers, Machinery$75,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,350 – $92,950+24.1%
13Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$60,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,040 – $83,390+24.0%
14Librarians and Media Collections Specialists$84,540
Master's degree
$56,310 – $102,940+23.8%
15Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors$61,310
No formal educational credential
$48,030 – $81,950+23.4%
16Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors$57,960
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,880 – $84,180+22.9%
17Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$79,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,560 – $97,970+21.9%
18Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers$71,050
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,160 – $94,320+21.1%
19Industrial Machinery Mechanics$77,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,450 – $96,150+20.5%
20Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary$96,500
Doctoral or professional degree
$57,670 – $121,190+20.2%
21Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other$93,670
Associate's degree
$66,440 – $134,000+19.6%
22Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$71,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,050 – $111,210+19.3%
23Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$94,890
Postsecondary nondegree award
$61,010 – $113,290+18.8%
24Couriers and Messengers$46,520
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,700 – $49,980+18.7%
25Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$76,160
Postsecondary nondegree award
$61,750 – $89,420+18.3%
26Dental Hygienists$115,290
Associate's degree
$99,800 – $129,460+17.5%
27Manicurists and Pedicurists$41,880
Postsecondary nondegree award
$30,000 – $78,300+17.1%
28Surgical Technologists$75,480
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,330 – $102,430+16.8%
29Electricians$73,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,110 – $121,200+16.4%
30Court, Municipal, and License Clerks$56,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,790 – $77,760+16.4%
31Healthcare Social Workers$78,470
Master's degree
$51,890 – $101,380+15.6%
32Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$74,810
Associate's degree
$44,200 – $103,360+15.2%
33Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$61,520
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,530 – $95,050+14.5%
34Demonstrators and Product Promoters$45,030
No formal educational credential
$30,900 – $100,770+14.5%
35Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists$75,840
Bachelor's degree
$54,720 – $95,150+14.4%
36Painters, Construction and Maintenance$56,390
No formal educational credential
$41,430 – $98,190+14.1%
37Loan Interviewers and Clerks$57,070
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,950 – $76,060+14.1%
38Public Safety Telecommunicators$60,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,170 – $87,240+13.2%
39Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$88,160
Associate's degree
$50,660 – $130,450+12.8%
40Lodging Managers$78,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,390 – $175,580+12.8%
41Computer Network Support Specialists$85,790
Associate's degree
$51,010 – $109,990+12.6%
42Firefighters$66,570
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,600 – $101,450+12.3%
43Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$82,680
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,170 – $100,620+11.6%
44Community Health Workers$57,730
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,980 – $95,200+11.3%
45Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining$82,920
No formal educational credential
$68,060 – $91,880+11.3%
46Gambling Service Workers, All Other$40,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$27,990 – $75,130+11.3%
47Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining$63,810
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,920 – $88,760+11.1%
48Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks$38,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,110 – $49,860+10.9%
49Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$68,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,770 – $97,720+10.7%
50Physical Therapist Assistants$75,520
Associate's degree
$49,140 – $87,930+10.4%

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

#	Occupation	MedianNevada	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	vs. national
1	Real Estate Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,990	$28,340 – $153,680	+51.4%
2	Continuous Mining Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$85,590	$69,680 – $91,210	+38.5%
3	Carpet InstallersNo formal educational credential	$67,040	$39,350 – $83,510	+33.2%
4	Maids and Housekeeping CleanersNo formal educational credential	$46,550	$30,000 – $56,400	+31.1%
5	RiggersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,720	$46,400 – $100,100	+30.5%
6	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,490	$62,150 – $102,610	+29.8%
7	Elevator and Escalator Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$141,950	$102,920 – $174,710	+29.2%
8	Protective Service Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,790	$34,500 – $78,520	+28.8%
9	Library Assistants, ClericalHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,620	$32,000 – $59,740	+26.3%
10	Sewing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$45,750	$30,730 – $55,550	+24.8%
11	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$132,100	$94,260 – $163,940	+24.6%
12	Maintenance Workers, MachineryHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,500	$45,350 – $92,950	+24.1%
13	Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,180	$38,040 – $83,390	+24.0%
14	Librarians and Media Collections SpecialistsMaster's degree	$84,540	$56,310 – $102,940	+23.8%
15	Refuse and Recyclable Material CollectorsNo formal educational credential	$61,310	$48,030 – $81,950	+23.4%
16	Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness InstructorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,960	$32,880 – $84,180	+22.9%
17	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,860	$59,560 – $97,970	+21.9%
18	Title Examiners, Abstractors, and SearchersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,050	$47,160 – $94,320	+21.1%
19	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,750	$59,450 – $96,150	+20.5%
20	Nursing Instructors and Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$96,500	$57,670 – $121,190	+20.2%
21	Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$93,670	$66,440 – $134,000	+19.6%
22	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,410	$51,050 – $111,210	+19.3%
23	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$94,890	$61,010 – $113,290	+18.8%
24	Couriers and MessengersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,520	$31,700 – $49,980	+18.7%
25	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$76,160	$61,750 – $89,420	+18.3%
26	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$115,290	$99,800 – $129,460	+17.5%
27	Manicurists and PedicuristsPostsecondary nondegree award	$41,880	$30,000 – $78,300	+17.1%
28	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$75,480	$48,330 – $102,430	+16.8%
29	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,570	$46,110 – $121,200	+16.4%
30	Court, Municipal, and License ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,680	$42,790 – $77,760	+16.4%
31	Healthcare Social WorkersMaster's degree	$78,470	$51,890 – $101,380	+15.6%
32	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$74,810	$44,200 – $103,360	+15.2%
33	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,520	$44,530 – $95,050	+14.5%
34	Demonstrators and Product PromotersNo formal educational credential	$45,030	$30,900 – $100,770	+14.5%
35	Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$75,840	$54,720 – $95,150	+14.4%
36	Painters, Construction and MaintenanceNo formal educational credential	$56,390	$41,430 – $98,190	+14.1%
37	Loan Interviewers and ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,070	$38,950 – $76,060	+14.1%
38	Public Safety TelecommunicatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,040	$45,170 – $87,240	+13.2%
39	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$88,160	$50,660 – $130,450	+12.8%
40	Lodging ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,110	$45,390 – $175,580	+12.8%
41	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$85,790	$51,010 – $109,990	+12.6%
42	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$66,570	$47,600 – $101,450	+12.3%
43	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$82,680	$47,170 – $100,620	+11.6%
44	Community Health WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,730	$41,980 – $95,200	+11.3%
45	Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground MiningNo formal educational credential	$82,920	$68,060 – $91,880	+11.3%
46	Gambling Service Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$40,430	$27,990 – $75,130	+11.3%
47	Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface MiningHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,810	$46,920 – $88,760	+11.1%
48	Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,900	$29,110 – $49,860	+10.9%
49	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,410	$48,770 – $97,720	+10.7%
50	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$75,520	$49,140 – $87,930	+10.4%

More for Nevada

Metro areas in Nevada

Pay varies more between metros than between states — the spread inside one state is often wider than the gap between two.

By field in Nevada

Without a degree

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

Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Nevada

More for Nevada

Metro areas in Nevada

By field in Nevada

Without a degree

Jobs that pay the biggest premium in each state