Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Reno, NV

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

Cost of living: prices in Reno, NV run 1.0% above the national average (2024), so a Reno, NV salary is worth about 0.99× 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 Reno, NV

OccupationMedian, Reno, NV · vs. national

1Social Workers, All Other$154,040
Bachelor's degree
$99,780 – $177,400+114.2%
2Real Estate Sales Agents$106,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,770 – $106,190+101.0%
3Carpet Installers$78,080
No formal educational credential
$45,440 – $85,340+55.1%
4Protective Service Workers, All Other$63,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,630 – $98,350+48.7%
5Business Teachers, Postsecondary$142,920
Doctoral or professional degree
$63,270 – $176,170+44.2%
6Firefighters$81,360
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,520 – $121,090+37.2%
7Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors$64,300
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,720 – $84,120+36.3%
8Surveying and Mapping Technicians$73,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,230 – $106,500+35.2%
9Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$79,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,930 – $110,920+32.9%
10Physicians, All Other$349,200
Doctoral or professional degree
$217,230 – $485,460+31.3%
11Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers$76,690
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,870 – $98,370+30.8%
12Pest Control Workers$58,910
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,260 – $95,680+30.2%
13Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$122,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$66,970 – $139,820+28.9%
14Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters$59,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,590 – $80,210+28.2%
15Respiratory Therapists$105,140
Associate's degree
$73,420 – $108,670+27.8%
16Library Assistants, Clerical$47,050
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,360 – $61,180+27.5%
17First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$132,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$79,600 – $182,310+25.2%
18Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors$61,740
No formal educational credential
$49,330 – $82,170+24.3%
19Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary$99,120
Doctoral or professional degree
$84,240 – $121,190+23.5%
20Veterinary Technologists and Technicians$58,160
Associate's degree
$35,310 – $66,560+22.8%
21Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$73,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,810 – $108,140+22.4%
22Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$78,600
Postsecondary nondegree award
$62,800 – $90,970+22.0%
23Manicurists and Pedicurists$43,530
Postsecondary nondegree award
$32,190 – $80,160+21.7%
24Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$58,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,570 – $69,870+21.2%
25First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$113,340
Postsecondary nondegree award
$61,140 – $156,510+21.2%
26Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$92,130
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,660 – $125,400+20.9%
27Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$77,020
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,200 – $111,540+20.7%
28Industrial Machinery Mechanics$77,810
High school diploma or equivalent
$62,160 – $96,150+20.6%
29Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$78,970
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,750 – $98,160+20.5%
30Dental Hygienists$117,850
Associate's degree
$100,850 – $124,390+20.1%
31Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$74,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,860 – $105,680+20.0%
32Sewing Machine Operators$43,730
No formal educational credential
$31,560 – $56,360+19.3%
33Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$94,740
Associate's degree
$70,120 – $121,700+18.3%
34Healthcare Social Workers$80,330
Master's degree
$47,960 – $116,390+18.3%
35Public Safety Telecommunicators$62,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,950 – $95,060+18.2%
36Surgical Technologists$75,830
Postsecondary nondegree award
$61,570 – $94,220+17.3%
37Parts Salespersons$45,090
No formal educational credential
$33,120 – $76,760+16.7%
38Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria$43,270
No formal educational credential
$32,020 – $52,830+15.5%
39Electricians$72,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,420 – $102,250+15.2%
40Occupational Health and Safety Technicians$70,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,710 – $116,090+15.0%
41Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers$45,020
No formal educational credential
$35,050 – $61,700+15.0%
42Court, Municipal, and License Clerks$55,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,440 – $77,000+13.8%
43Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping$52,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,370 – $71,770+13.0%
44Librarians and Media Collections Specialists$76,840
Master's degree
$36,590 – $105,340+12.6%
45Tax Preparers$61,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,940 – $92,010+12.5%
46Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$49,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,600 – $65,760+11.8%
47Production Workers, All Other$44,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,360 – $62,030+11.8%
48Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$107,980
Associate's degree
$70,680 – $133,250+11.8%
49File Clerks$48,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,300 – $76,090+11.7%
50Food Batchmakers$47,210
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,700 – $65,480+11.6%

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

#	Occupation	MedianReno, NV	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	vs. national
1	Social Workers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$154,040	$99,780 – $177,400	+114.2%
2	Real Estate Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$106,190	$46,770 – $106,190	+101.0%
3	Carpet InstallersNo formal educational credential	$78,080	$45,440 – $85,340	+55.1%
4	Protective Service Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,250	$36,630 – $98,350	+48.7%
5	Business Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$142,920	$63,270 – $176,170	+44.2%
6	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$81,360	$47,520 – $121,090	+37.2%
7	Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness InstructorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,300	$32,720 – $84,120	+36.3%
8	Surveying and Mapping TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,320	$48,230 – $106,500	+35.2%
9	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,770	$52,930 – $110,920	+32.9%
10	Physicians, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$349,200	$217,230 – $485,460	+31.3%
11	Title Examiners, Abstractors, and SearchersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,690	$50,870 – $98,370	+30.8%
12	Pest Control WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,910	$36,260 – $95,680	+30.2%
13	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$122,890	$66,970 – $139,820	+28.9%
14	Cabinetmakers and Bench CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,840	$39,590 – $80,210	+28.2%
15	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$105,140	$73,420 – $108,670	+27.8%
16	Library Assistants, ClericalHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,050	$37,360 – $61,180	+27.5%
17	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$132,790	$79,600 – $182,310	+25.2%
18	Refuse and Recyclable Material CollectorsNo formal educational credential	$61,740	$49,330 – $82,170	+24.3%
19	Nursing Instructors and Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$99,120	$84,240 – $121,190	+23.5%
20	Veterinary Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$58,160	$35,310 – $66,560	+22.8%
21	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,260	$54,810 – $108,140	+22.4%
22	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$78,600	$62,800 – $90,970	+22.0%
23	Manicurists and PedicuristsPostsecondary nondegree award	$43,530	$32,190 – $80,160	+21.7%
24	Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,820	$38,570 – $69,870	+21.2%
25	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$113,340	$61,140 – $156,510	+21.2%
26	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$92,130	$59,660 – $125,400	+20.9%
27	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,020	$44,200 – $111,540	+20.7%
28	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,810	$62,160 – $96,150	+20.6%
29	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,970	$59,750 – $98,160	+20.5%
30	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$117,850	$100,850 – $124,390	+20.1%
31	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,110	$52,860 – $105,680	+20.0%
32	Sewing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$43,730	$31,560 – $56,360	+19.3%
33	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$94,740	$70,120 – $121,700	+18.3%
34	Healthcare Social WorkersMaster's degree	$80,330	$47,960 – $116,390	+18.3%
35	Public Safety TelecommunicatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,670	$51,950 – $95,060	+18.2%
36	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$75,830	$61,570 – $94,220	+17.3%
37	Parts SalespersonsNo formal educational credential	$45,090	$33,120 – $76,760	+16.7%
38	Cooks, Institution and CafeteriaNo formal educational credential	$43,270	$32,020 – $52,830	+15.5%
39	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,800	$47,420 – $102,250	+15.2%
40	Occupational Health and Safety TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,790	$51,710 – $116,090	+15.0%
41	Landscaping and Groundskeeping WorkersNo formal educational credential	$45,020	$35,050 – $61,700	+15.0%
42	Court, Municipal, and License ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,440	$39,440 – $77,000	+13.8%
43	Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, RecordkeepingHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,410	$38,370 – $71,770	+13.0%
44	Librarians and Media Collections SpecialistsMaster's degree	$76,840	$36,590 – $105,340	+12.6%
45	Tax PreparersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,790	$47,940 – $92,010	+12.5%
46	Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,590	$39,600 – $65,760	+11.8%
47	Production Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,860	$36,360 – $62,030	+11.8%
48	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$107,980	$70,680 – $133,250	+11.8%
49	File ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,680	$33,300 – $76,090	+11.7%
50	Food BatchmakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,210	$34,700 – $65,480	+11.6%

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

Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Reno, NV

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