Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Springfield, MA

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

Cost of living: prices in Springfield, MA run 3.9% below the national average (2024), so a Springfield, MA salary is worth about 1.04× 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 Springfield, MA

OccupationMedian, Springfield, MA · vs. national

1Opticians, Dispensing$71,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,970 – $85,110+50.2%
2Glaziers$83,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$61,360 – $101,180+46.1%
3Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$92,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,760 – $118,820+44.3%
4Insurance Underwriters$115,420
Bachelor's degree
$71,540 – $156,510+41.8%
5Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$105,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$63,600 – $106,610+41.6%
6Roofers$76,300
No formal educational credential
$50,470 – $101,360+37.6%
7Bus Drivers, School$65,730
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,470 – $67,620+37.2%
8Healthcare Support Workers, All Other$65,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,300 – $79,440+35.8%
9Construction Laborers$62,660
No formal educational credential
$43,490 – $93,510+33.0%
10Child, Family, and School Social Workers$78,250
Bachelor's degree
$49,650 – $98,480+31.4%
11Funeral Attendants$46,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,200 – $61,370+29.2%
12Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$89,660
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,300 – $150,010+28.1%
13Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs$47,720
No formal educational credential
$35,480 – $47,720+28.0%
14Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health$103,930
Bachelor's degree
$68,480 – $129,700+26.4%
15Court, Municipal, and License Clerks$61,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,860 – $84,390+25.4%
16Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$76,530
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,940 – $98,870+25.4%
17Carpenters$75,520
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,470 – $100,510+24.7%
18Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$79,640
Bachelor's degree
$58,240 – $96,360+24.5%
19Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education$77,880
Bachelor's degree
$52,940 – $91,320+24.3%
20Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$79,920
Bachelor's degree
$60,020 – $95,250+24.2%
21Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria$46,440
No formal educational credential
$36,970 – $50,110+24.0%
22Sheet Metal Workers$76,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,520 – $103,120+23.9%
23Food Service Managers$85,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,000 – $130,900+23.1%
24Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School$79,970
Bachelor's degree
$60,330 – $93,120+22.8%
25Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors$78,870
Master's degree
$57,060 – $101,670+22.6%
26Electricians$77,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,050 – $109,280+22.5%
27Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$78,190
Postsecondary nondegree award
$45,640 – $108,500+22.4%
28Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$73,070
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,080 – $122,810+22.1%
29Printing Press Operators$55,740
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,090 – $71,490+21.8%
30Personal Financial Advisors$127,870
Bachelor's degree
$50,800 – $429,470+21.7%
31Special Education Teachers, Middle School$81,270
Bachelor's degree
$60,870 – $98,790+21.6%
32Surgical Technologists$78,510
Postsecondary nondegree award
$66,560 – $91,720+21.4%
33Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$77,850
Postsecondary nondegree award
$59,180 – $88,060+20.9%
34Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$89,340
Postsecondary nondegree award
$63,540 – $105,500+20.6%
35Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers$72,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,180 – $95,540+20.3%
36Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School$79,350
Bachelor's degree
$74,750 – $91,370+19.7%
37Tree Trimmers and Pruners$60,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,380 – $74,690+19.7%
38Medical Equipment Repairers$73,580
Associate's degree
$49,380 – $107,800+19.3%
39Physician Assistants$161,770
Master's degree
$113,860 – $164,680+19.1%
40Insurance Sales Agents$74,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,400 – $155,140+19.0%
41Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators$60,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,170 – $78,390+18.8%
42Highway Maintenance Workers$59,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,070 – $71,530+18.3%
43Correctional Officers and Jailers$69,650
High school diploma or equivalent
$61,500 – $83,390+18.2%
44First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers$57,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,770 – $73,810+17.3%
45Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other$57,740
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,760 – $75,060+17.3%
46Loan Officers$89,480
Bachelor's degree
$58,670 – $168,650+16.7%
47Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$59,030
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,560 – $77,270+16.6%
48Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers$45,420
No formal educational credential
$34,960 – $58,390+16.0%
49Dentists, General$198,250
Doctoral or professional degree
$105,990 – $415,600+16.0%
50Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door$85,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,700 – $101,370+15.4%

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

#	Occupation	MedianSpringfield, MA	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	vs. national
1	Opticians, DispensingHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,000	$46,970 – $85,110	+50.2%
2	GlaziersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$83,420	$61,360 – $101,180	+46.1%
3	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$92,080	$52,760 – $118,820	+44.3%
4	Insurance UnderwritersBachelor's degree	$115,420	$71,540 – $156,510	+41.8%
5	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$105,220	$63,600 – $106,610	+41.6%
6	RoofersNo formal educational credential	$76,300	$50,470 – $101,360	+37.6%
7	Bus Drivers, SchoolHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,730	$47,470 – $67,620	+37.2%
8	Healthcare Support Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,760	$51,300 – $79,440	+35.8%
9	Construction LaborersNo formal educational credential	$62,660	$43,490 – $93,510	+33.0%
10	Child, Family, and School Social WorkersBachelor's degree	$78,250	$49,650 – $98,480	+31.4%
11	Funeral AttendantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,090	$31,200 – $61,370	+29.2%
12	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$89,660	$58,300 – $150,010	+28.1%
13	Shuttle Drivers and ChauffeursNo formal educational credential	$47,720	$35,480 – $47,720	+28.0%
14	Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including HealthBachelor's degree	$103,930	$68,480 – $129,700	+26.4%
15	Court, Municipal, and License ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,080	$47,860 – $84,390	+25.4%
16	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$76,530	$47,940 – $98,870	+25.4%
17	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,520	$49,470 – $100,510	+24.7%
18	Elementary School Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$79,640	$58,240 – $96,360	+24.5%
19	Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$77,880	$52,940 – $91,320	+24.3%
20	Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$79,920	$60,020 – $95,250	+24.2%
21	Cooks, Institution and CafeteriaNo formal educational credential	$46,440	$36,970 – $50,110	+24.0%
22	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,580	$46,520 – $103,120	+23.9%
23	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$85,410	$48,000 – $130,900	+23.1%
24	Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary SchoolBachelor's degree	$79,970	$60,330 – $93,120	+22.8%
25	Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and AdvisorsMaster's degree	$78,870	$57,060 – $101,670	+22.6%
26	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,420	$47,050 – $109,280	+22.5%
27	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$78,190	$45,640 – $108,500	+22.4%
28	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,070	$49,080 – $122,810	+22.1%
29	Printing Press OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,740	$39,090 – $71,490	+21.8%
30	Personal Financial AdvisorsBachelor's degree	$127,870	$50,800 – $429,470	+21.7%
31	Special Education Teachers, Middle SchoolBachelor's degree	$81,270	$60,870 – $98,790	+21.6%
32	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$78,510	$66,560 – $91,720	+21.4%
33	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$77,850	$59,180 – $88,060	+20.9%
34	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$89,340	$63,540 – $105,500	+20.6%
35	Security and Fire Alarm Systems InstallersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,280	$46,180 – $95,540	+20.3%
36	Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary SchoolBachelor's degree	$79,350	$74,750 – $91,370	+19.7%
37	Tree Trimmers and PrunersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,980	$52,380 – $74,690	+19.7%
38	Medical Equipment RepairersAssociate's degree	$73,580	$49,380 – $107,800	+19.3%
39	Physician AssistantsMaster's degree	$161,770	$113,860 – $164,680	+19.1%
40	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,100	$48,400 – $155,140	+19.0%
41	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,200	$41,170 – $78,390	+18.8%
42	Highway Maintenance WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,460	$44,070 – $71,530	+18.3%
43	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$69,650	$61,500 – $83,390	+18.2%
44	First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,580	$37,770 – $73,810	+17.3%
45	Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,740	$44,760 – $75,060	+17.3%
46	Loan OfficersBachelor's degree	$89,480	$58,670 – $168,650	+16.7%
47	Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,030	$43,560 – $77,270	+16.6%
48	Landscaping and Groundskeeping WorkersNo formal educational credential	$45,420	$34,960 – $58,390	+16.0%
49	Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree	$198,250	$105,990 – $415,600	+16.0%
50	Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical DoorHigh school diploma or equivalent	$85,790	$56,700 – $101,370	+15.4%

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

Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Springfield, MA

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