Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Oklahoma

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

Cost of living: prices in Oklahoma run 12.2% below the national average (2024), so a Oklahoma salary is worth about 1.14× 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 Oklahoma.

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

Find high paying jobs in Oklahoma

OccupationMedian, Oklahoma · vs. national

1Family Medicine Physicians$361,350
Doctoral or professional degree
$127,950 – $486,270+48.0%
2Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$63,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,480 – $79,410+26.6%
3Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$79,330
Associate's degree
$51,230 – $105,210+20.0%
4Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers$119,990
Bachelor's degree
$43,040 – $197,980+17.7%
5Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary$49,920
Bachelor's degree
$29,120 – $60,230+16.3%
6Slaughterers and Meat Packers$45,970
No formal educational credential
$33,290 – $45,970+14.6%
7Business Operations Specialists, All Other$93,640
Bachelor's degree
$61,110 – $136,990+12.8%
8Teachers and Instructors, All Other$73,320
Bachelor's degree
$34,750 – $97,470+10.9%
9Production Workers, All Other$44,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$21,860 – $60,720+10.0%
10Postsecondary Teachers, All Other$84,550
Doctoral or professional degree
$43,310 – $177,440+8.9%
11Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine Repairers$51,880
Some college, no degree
$36,260 – $68,370+8.5%
12Helpers--Electricians$46,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,880 – $59,190+8.1%
13Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel Clerks$47,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,860 – $81,050+6.6%
14Sheet Metal Workers$65,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,000 – $79,090+6.2%
15Petroleum Engineers$153,020
Bachelor's degree
$86,990 – $221,320+5.6%
16Logisticians$86,600
Bachelor's degree
$46,880 – $127,070+5.2%
17Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary$67,060
Bachelor's degree
$47,990 – $104,170+5.1%
18Medical Records Specialists$53,460
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,610 – $74,710+4.5%
19Occupational Therapists$104,300
Master's degree
$68,530 – $134,420+4.0%
20Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other$81,330
Associate's degree
$49,860 – $108,390+3.8%
21Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$80,880
Associate's degree
$52,010 – $112,260+3.4%
22Computer Network Support Specialists$78,740
Associate's degree
$49,740 – $132,240+3.3%
23Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$45,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,890 – $62,480+3.0%
24Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$49,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,680 – $75,980+2.2%
25Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$75,480
Postsecondary nondegree award
$56,510 – $97,490+1.9%
26Coin, Vending, and Amusement Machine Servicers and Repairers$48,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,600 – $62,090+1.5%
27Education Administrators, Postsecondary$105,830
Master's degree
$59,390 – $231,490+1.2%
28Architects, Except Landscape and Naval$100,350
Bachelor's degree
$55,040 – $165,790+1.1%
29Information and Record Clerks, All Other$49,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,730 – $63,580+0.9%
30Nurse Practitioners$133,390
Master's degree
$99,490 – $167,950+0.8%
31Roustabouts, Oil and Gas$47,260
No formal educational credential
$36,260 – $66,550+0.6%
32Physician Assistants$136,550
Master's degree
$102,890 – $173,010+0.5%
33Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other$49,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,240 – $78,850+0.4%
34Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators$58,470
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $75,2800.0%
35Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors$59,350
Master's degree
$35,350 – $92,8700.0%
36Dental Hygienists$97,580
Associate's degree
$81,290 – $119,760-0.5%
37Computer Programmers$99,780
Bachelor's degree
$63,110 – $249,600-0.6%
38Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas$58,270
No formal educational credential
$48,960 – $68,640-0.6%
39Chemical Technicians$60,020
Associate's degree
$35,410 – $97,380-0.6%
40Order Clerks$45,850
Some college, no degree
$39,130 – $48,430-0.7%
41Couriers and Messengers$38,910
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,470 – $44,170-0.7%
42Postal Service Mail Carriers$59,880
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,040-1.1%
43Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks$48,650
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,030 – $66,140-1.2%
44Procurement Clerks$49,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,620 – $64,940-1.3%
45Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$46,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,330 – $59,530-1.5%
46Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers$95,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$74,420 – $107,170-1.6%
47Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters$50,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,990 – $65,770-1.9%
48Cooks, Short Order$35,130
No formal educational credential
$25,290 – $36,270-2.1%
49Civil Engineers$98,760
Bachelor's degree
$66,550 – $153,470-2.1%
50Mechanical Engineers$101,850
Bachelor's degree
$70,070 – $136,110-2.2%

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

#	Occupation	MedianOklahoma	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	vs. national
1	Family Medicine PhysiciansDoctoral or professional degree	$361,350	$127,950 – $486,270	+48.0%
2	Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,640	$39,480 – $79,410	+26.6%
3	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$79,330	$51,230 – $105,210	+20.0%
4	Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and GeographersBachelor's degree	$119,990	$43,040 – $197,980	+17.7%
5	Teaching Assistants, PostsecondaryBachelor's degree	$49,920	$29,120 – $60,230	+16.3%
6	Slaughterers and Meat PackersNo formal educational credential	$45,970	$33,290 – $45,970	+14.6%
7	Business Operations Specialists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$93,640	$61,110 – $136,990	+12.8%
8	Teachers and Instructors, All OtherBachelor's degree	$73,320	$34,750 – $97,470	+10.9%
9	Production Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,120	$21,860 – $60,720	+10.0%
10	Postsecondary Teachers, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$84,550	$43,310 – $177,440	+8.9%
11	Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine RepairersSome college, no degree	$51,880	$36,260 – $68,370	+8.5%
12	Helpers--ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,110	$35,880 – $59,190	+8.1%
13	Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,340	$40,860 – $81,050	+6.6%
14	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,640	$46,000 – $79,090	+6.2%
15	Petroleum EngineersBachelor's degree	$153,020	$86,990 – $221,320	+5.6%
16	LogisticiansBachelor's degree	$86,600	$46,880 – $127,070	+5.2%
17	Career/Technical Education Teachers, PostsecondaryBachelor's degree	$67,060	$47,990 – $104,170	+5.1%
18	Medical Records SpecialistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$53,460	$36,610 – $74,710	+4.5%
19	Occupational TherapistsMaster's degree	$104,300	$68,530 – $134,420	+4.0%
20	Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$81,330	$49,860 – $108,390	+3.8%
21	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$80,880	$52,010 – $112,260	+3.4%
22	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$78,740	$49,740 – $132,240	+3.3%
23	Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,680	$31,890 – $62,480	+3.0%
24	Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,630	$35,680 – $75,980	+2.2%
25	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$75,480	$56,510 – $97,490	+1.9%
26	Coin, Vending, and Amusement Machine Servicers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,160	$28,600 – $62,090	+1.5%
27	Education Administrators, PostsecondaryMaster's degree	$105,830	$59,390 – $231,490	+1.2%
28	Architects, Except Landscape and NavalBachelor's degree	$100,350	$55,040 – $165,790	+1.1%
29	Information and Record Clerks, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,940	$35,730 – $63,580	+0.9%
30	Nurse PractitionersMaster's degree	$133,390	$99,490 – $167,950	+0.8%
31	Roustabouts, Oil and GasNo formal educational credential	$47,260	$36,260 – $66,550	+0.6%
32	Physician AssistantsMaster's degree	$136,550	$102,890 – $173,010	+0.5%
33	Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,420	$31,240 – $78,850	+0.4%
34	Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$58,470	$42,600 – $75,280	0.0%
35	Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health CounselorsMaster's degree	$59,350	$35,350 – $92,870	0.0%
36	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$97,580	$81,290 – $119,760	-0.5%
37	Computer ProgrammersBachelor's degree	$99,780	$63,110 – $249,600	-0.6%
38	Derrick Operators, Oil and GasNo formal educational credential	$58,270	$48,960 – $68,640	-0.6%
39	Chemical TechniciansAssociate's degree	$60,020	$35,410 – $97,380	-0.6%
40	Order ClerksSome college, no degree	$45,850	$39,130 – $48,430	-0.7%
41	Couriers and MessengersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,910	$29,470 – $44,170	-0.7%
42	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$59,880	$42,390 – $81,040	-1.1%
43	Insurance Claims and Policy Processing ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,650	$36,030 – $66,140	-1.2%
44	Procurement ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,940	$37,620 – $64,940	-1.3%
45	Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,470	$33,330 – $59,530	-1.5%
46	Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and GaugersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$95,140	$74,420 – $107,170	-1.6%
47	Structural Metal Fabricators and FittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,380	$38,990 – $65,770	-1.9%
48	Cooks, Short OrderNo formal educational credential	$35,130	$25,290 – $36,270	-2.1%
49	Civil EngineersBachelor's degree	$98,760	$66,550 – $153,470	-2.1%
50	Mechanical EngineersBachelor's degree	$101,850	$70,070 – $136,110	-2.2%

More for Oklahoma

Metro areas in Oklahoma

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

By field in Oklahoma

Without a degree

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

Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Oklahoma

More for Oklahoma

Metro areas in Oklahoma

By field in Oklahoma

Without a degree

Jobs that pay the biggest premium in each state