Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Puerto Rico

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

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

Find high paying jobs in Puerto Rico

OccupationMedian, Puerto Rico · vs. national

1Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary$47,440
Bachelor's degree
$30,220 – $64,330+10.6%
2Industrial Production Managers$129,740
Bachelor's degree
$63,690 – $204,460+2.9%
3School Psychologists$97,210
Master's degree
$86,030 – $97,740+1.3%
4Medical Assistants$46,120
Postsecondary nondegree award
$22,380 – $60,200+0.9%
5Postal Service Clerks$62,610
No formal educational credential
$55,350 – $75,030+0.8%
6Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary$84,590
Doctoral or professional degree
$58,610 – $112,5400.0%
7Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education$61,760
Bachelor's degree
$51,230 – $74,830-1.5%
8Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators$56,390
No formal educational credential
$45,530 – $75,030-3.6%
9Postal Service Mail Carriers$57,700
No formal educational credential
$44,160 – $81,040-4.7%
10Transportation Security Screeners$63,130
High school diploma or equivalent
$24,660 – $67,200-5.5%
11Teachers and Instructors, All Other$61,510
Bachelor's degree
$30,940 – $74,590-7.0%
12Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School$58,220
Bachelor's degree
$50,700 – $62,780-10.6%
13Airfield Operations Specialists$50,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,920 – $66,360-11.7%
14Farm and Home Management Educators$53,160
Master's degree
$49,060 – $67,220-11.7%
15Special Education Teachers, Middle School$58,270
Bachelor's degree
$50,490 – $65,170-12.8%
16Tax Preparers$46,730
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,830 – $96,360-14.9%
17Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education$32,120
Associate's degree
$22,450 – $44,580-15.8%
18Chemists$76,450
Bachelor's degree
$40,160 – $135,530-16.2%
19Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary$66,580
Doctoral or professional degree
$62,910 – $81,300-17.1%
20Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs$44,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$27,830 – $59,950-17.1%
21Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors$53,000
Master's degree
$29,290 – $77,020-17.6%
22Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$59,100
Bachelor's degree
$39,150 – $73,410-18.0%
23Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$52,530
Bachelor's degree
$46,090 – $69,170-18.4%
24Biological Technicians$46,630
Bachelor's degree
$31,200 – $64,140-18.9%
25Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$77,050
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,750 – $86,810-19.2%
26Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$51,540
Bachelor's degree
$28,600 – $73,930-19.4%
27Telemarketers$28,580
No formal educational credential
$21,840 – $29,440-19.4%
28Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School$53,160
Bachelor's degree
$49,260 – $65,270-19.8%
29Industrial Engineers$81,820
Bachelor's degree
$55,700 – $127,860-20.1%
30Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary$85,320
Doctoral or professional degree
$47,160 – $136,460-20.5%
31Pharmacists$111,270
Doctoral or professional degree
$61,730 – $127,290-21.0%
32Special Education Teachers, Secondary School$58,080
Bachelor's degree
$50,670 – $61,530-21.8%
33Animal Caretakers$27,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$21,840 – $31,200-21.9%
34Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$83,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,070 – $160,860-22.1%
35Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators$36,090
No formal educational credential
$22,040 – $72,790-22.3%
36Postsecondary Teachers, All Other$60,230
Doctoral or professional degree
$36,980 – $98,590-22.4%
37Self-Enrichment Teachers$36,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$21,840 – $62,000-22.8%
38Education Administrators, Postsecondary$80,410
Master's degree
$41,990 – $126,280-23.1%
39Architectural and Engineering Managers$130,560
Bachelor's degree
$87,210 – $189,070-23.8%
40Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary$83,150
Doctoral or professional degree
$50,730 – $100,160-23.9%
41Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary$80,130
Master's degree
$50,780 – $96,740-24.3%
42Librarians and Media Collections Specialists$51,610
Master's degree
$29,690 – $74,190-24.4%
43Detectives and Criminal Investigators$70,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,020 – $153,670-24.6%
44Social and Community Service Managers$60,280
Bachelor's degree
$37,490 – $107,730-25.0%
45Dental Assistants$35,910
Postsecondary nondegree award
$23,310 – $57,200-25.3%
46Mechanical Drafters$53,470
Associate's degree
$33,860 – $99,400-25.3%
47Pharmacy Aides$28,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$21,990 – $35,420-25.4%
48Cooks, Fast Food$22,640
No formal educational credential
$21,840 – $29,000-26.7%
49Child, Family, and School Social Workers$43,620
Bachelor's degree
$29,880 – $61,720-26.8%
50Tour and Travel Guides$27,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$21,840 – $43,050-26.9%

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

#	Occupation	MedianPuerto Rico	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	vs. national
1	Teaching Assistants, PostsecondaryBachelor's degree	$47,440	$30,220 – $64,330	+10.6%
2	Industrial Production ManagersBachelor's degree	$129,740	$63,690 – $204,460	+2.9%
3	School PsychologistsMaster's degree	$97,210	$86,030 – $97,740	+1.3%
4	Medical AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award	$46,120	$22,380 – $60,200	+0.9%
5	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$62,610	$55,350 – $75,030	+0.8%
6	Biological Science Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$84,590	$58,610 – $112,540	0.0%
7	Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$61,760	$51,230 – $74,830	-1.5%
8	Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$56,390	$45,530 – $75,030	-3.6%
9	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$57,700	$44,160 – $81,040	-4.7%
10	Transportation Security ScreenersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,130	$24,660 – $67,200	-5.5%
11	Teachers and Instructors, All OtherBachelor's degree	$61,510	$30,940 – $74,590	-7.0%
12	Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary SchoolBachelor's degree	$58,220	$50,700 – $62,780	-10.6%
13	Airfield Operations SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,180	$36,920 – $66,360	-11.7%
14	Farm and Home Management EducatorsMaster's degree	$53,160	$49,060 – $67,220	-11.7%
15	Special Education Teachers, Middle SchoolBachelor's degree	$58,270	$50,490 – $65,170	-12.8%
16	Tax PreparersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,730	$29,830 – $96,360	-14.9%
17	Preschool Teachers, Except Special EducationAssociate's degree	$32,120	$22,450 – $44,580	-15.8%
18	ChemistsBachelor's degree	$76,450	$40,160 – $135,530	-16.2%
19	Psychology Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$66,580	$62,910 – $81,300	-17.1%
20	Eligibility Interviewers, Government ProgramsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,950	$27,830 – $59,950	-17.1%
21	Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and AdvisorsMaster's degree	$53,000	$29,290 – $77,020	-17.6%
22	Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$59,100	$39,150 – $73,410	-18.0%
23	Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$52,530	$46,090 – $69,170	-18.4%
24	Biological TechniciansBachelor's degree	$46,630	$31,200 – $64,140	-18.9%
25	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,050	$51,750 – $86,810	-19.2%
26	Elementary School Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$51,540	$28,600 – $73,930	-19.4%
27	TelemarketersNo formal educational credential	$28,580	$21,840 – $29,440	-19.4%
28	Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary SchoolBachelor's degree	$53,160	$49,260 – $65,270	-19.8%
29	Industrial EngineersBachelor's degree	$81,820	$55,700 – $127,860	-20.1%
30	Health Specialties Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$85,320	$47,160 – $136,460	-20.5%
31	PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree	$111,270	$61,730 – $127,290	-21.0%
32	Special Education Teachers, Secondary SchoolBachelor's degree	$58,080	$50,670 – $61,530	-21.8%
33	Animal CaretakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$27,600	$21,840 – $31,200	-21.9%
34	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$83,560	$44,070 – $160,860	-22.1%
35	Industrial Truck and Tractor OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$36,090	$22,040 – $72,790	-22.3%
36	Postsecondary Teachers, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$60,230	$36,980 – $98,590	-22.4%
37	Self-Enrichment TeachersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36,110	$21,840 – $62,000	-22.8%
38	Education Administrators, PostsecondaryMaster's degree	$80,410	$41,990 – $126,280	-23.1%
39	Architectural and Engineering ManagersBachelor's degree	$130,560	$87,210 – $189,070	-23.8%
40	Engineering Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$83,150	$50,730 – $100,160	-23.9%
41	Education Administrators, Kindergarten through SecondaryMaster's degree	$80,130	$50,780 – $96,740	-24.3%
42	Librarians and Media Collections SpecialistsMaster's degree	$51,610	$29,690 – $74,190	-24.4%
43	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,760	$38,020 – $153,670	-24.6%
44	Social and Community Service ManagersBachelor's degree	$60,280	$37,490 – $107,730	-25.0%
45	Dental AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award	$35,910	$23,310 – $57,200	-25.3%
46	Mechanical DraftersAssociate's degree	$53,470	$33,860 – $99,400	-25.3%
47	Pharmacy AidesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$28,100	$21,990 – $35,420	-25.4%
48	Cooks, Fast FoodNo formal educational credential	$22,640	$21,840 – $29,000	-26.7%
49	Child, Family, and School Social WorkersBachelor's degree	$43,620	$29,880 – $61,720	-26.8%
50	Tour and Travel GuidesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$27,860	$21,840 – $43,050	-26.9%

More for Puerto Rico

Other metro areas in PR

By field in Puerto Rico

Without a degree

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

Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Puerto Rico

More for Puerto Rico

Other metro areas in PR

By field in Puerto Rico

Without a degree

Jobs that pay the biggest premium in each state