Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Waco, TX

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

Cost of living: prices in Waco, TX run 7.5% below the national average (2024), so a Waco, TX salary is worth about 1.08× 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 Waco, TX

OccupationMedian, Waco, TX · vs. national

1Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary$206,810
Doctoral or professional degree
$80,950 – $206,810+157.7%
2Tutors$64,750
Some college, no degree
$32,670 – $64,750+49.4%
3Social Workers, All Other$105,830
Bachelor's degree
$46,150 – $125,670+47.2%
4Residential Advisors$55,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,530 – $67,270+30.5%
5Massage Therapists$72,560
Postsecondary nondegree award
$29,530 – $105,490+24.1%
6Education Administrators, All Other$117,810
Bachelor's degree
$50,620 – $143,680+23.8%
7Tax Preparers$65,020
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,850 – $124,960+18.4%
8Physicians, All Other$312,520
Doctoral or professional degree
$125,340 – $395,370+17.5%
9Clergy$70,300
Bachelor's degree
$38,710 – $113,560+15.6%
10Surveying and Mapping Technicians$60,960
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,520 – $71,260+12.4%
11Production Workers, All Other$44,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,630 – $60,170+12.0%
12Physical Therapist Assistants$76,340
Associate's degree
$42,240 – $100,270+11.6%
13Pharmacists$150,710
Doctoral or professional degree
$118,600 – $173,500+7.0%
14Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers$49,070
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,320 – $92,160+7.0%
15Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$79,360
Associate's degree
$36,520 – $104,820+6.8%
16Occupational Therapy Assistants$77,170
Associate's degree
$60,900 – $90,880+6.7%
17Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary$67,520
Bachelor's degree
$56,180 – $81,260+5.8%
18Firefighters$62,650
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,310 – $69,740+5.7%
19Recreational Vehicle Service Technicians$54,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,640 – $67,790+4.1%
20Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$80,580
Associate's degree
$44,540 – $107,400+3.1%
21Instructional Coordinators$79,620
Master's degree
$59,490 – $101,150+2.8%
22Surgical Technologists$66,020
Postsecondary nondegree award
$51,730 – $80,350+2.1%
23Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors$65,630
Master's degree
$43,590 – $96,520+2.0%
24Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$47,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,330 – $51,200+2.0%
25Demonstrators and Product Promoters$39,980
No formal educational credential
$35,380 – $48,940+1.7%
26Chief Executives$217,610
Bachelor's degree
$121,470 – $479,650+1.7%
27Healthcare Social Workers$68,960
Master's degree
$48,570 – $84,610+1.6%
28Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$60,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,070 – $61,480+1.5%
29Occupational Therapists$101,500
Master's degree
$70,850 – $131,820+1.2%
30Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$80,580
Postsecondary nondegree award
$44,720 – $93,020+0.9%
31Stockers and Order Fillers$37,500
No formal educational credential
$29,050 – $46,260+0.5%
32Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All Other$50,720
Bachelor's degree
$31,530 – $61,830-0.3%
33First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$105,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$71,490 – $134,790-0.4%
34Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$75,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,150 – $94,870-0.5%
35Industrial Engineers$101,910
Bachelor's degree
$63,500 – $134,550-0.5%
36Helpers--Electricians$42,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,480 – $51,480-1.3%
37Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine Repairers$47,170
Some college, no degree
$29,120 – $57,290-1.3%
38Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers$115,920
Doctoral or professional degree
$108,890 – $133,470-1.6%
39Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers$57,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,590 – $84,310-1.7%
40Physical Therapists$100,390
Doctoral or professional degree
$76,120 – $131,060-2.3%
41Industrial Production Managers$123,200
Bachelor's degree
$76,980 – $180,080-2.3%
42Highway Maintenance Workers$49,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,880 – $61,040-2.3%
43First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$61,240
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,110 – $82,690-2.6%
44Nurse Practitioners$128,920
Master's degree
$100,590 – $163,880-2.6%
45Dental Hygienists$95,340
Associate's degree
$80,960 – $100,530-2.8%
46Dietitians and Nutritionists$73,850
Bachelor's degree
$50,800 – $97,280-3.3%
47Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs$52,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,180 – $62,690-3.3%
48Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$46,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,370 – $94,380-3.4%
49Postal Service Clerks$59,970
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $75,030-3.5%
50Family Medicine Physicians$235,710
Doctoral or professional degree
$175,040 – $393,060-3.5%

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

#	Occupation	MedianWaco, TX	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	vs. national
1	Nursing Instructors and Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$206,810	$80,950 – $206,810	+157.7%
2	TutorsSome college, no degree	$64,750	$32,670 – $64,750	+49.4%
3	Social Workers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$105,830	$46,150 – $125,670	+47.2%
4	Residential AdvisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,110	$28,530 – $67,270	+30.5%
5	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$72,560	$29,530 – $105,490	+24.1%
6	Education Administrators, All OtherBachelor's degree	$117,810	$50,620 – $143,680	+23.8%
7	Tax PreparersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,020	$43,850 – $124,960	+18.4%
8	Physicians, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$312,520	$125,340 – $395,370	+17.5%
9	ClergyBachelor's degree	$70,300	$38,710 – $113,560	+15.6%
10	Surveying and Mapping TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,960	$39,520 – $71,260	+12.4%
11	Production Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,940	$32,630 – $60,170	+12.0%
12	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$76,340	$42,240 – $100,270	+11.6%
13	PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree	$150,710	$118,600 – $173,500	+7.0%
14	Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and FinishersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,070	$43,320 – $92,160	+7.0%
15	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$79,360	$36,520 – $104,820	+6.8%
16	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$77,170	$60,900 – $90,880	+6.7%
17	Career/Technical Education Teachers, PostsecondaryBachelor's degree	$67,520	$56,180 – $81,260	+5.8%
18	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,650	$46,310 – $69,740	+5.7%
19	Recreational Vehicle Service TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,120	$29,640 – $67,790	+4.1%
20	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$80,580	$44,540 – $107,400	+3.1%
21	Instructional CoordinatorsMaster's degree	$79,620	$59,490 – $101,150	+2.8%
22	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$66,020	$51,730 – $80,350	+2.1%
23	Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and AdvisorsMaster's degree	$65,630	$43,590 – $96,520	+2.0%
24	Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,480	$31,330 – $51,200	+2.0%
25	Demonstrators and Product PromotersNo formal educational credential	$39,980	$35,380 – $48,940	+1.7%
26	Chief ExecutivesBachelor's degree	$217,610	$121,470 – $479,650	+1.7%
27	Healthcare Social WorkersMaster's degree	$68,960	$48,570 – $84,610	+1.6%
28	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,930	$38,070 – $61,480	+1.5%
29	Occupational TherapistsMaster's degree	$101,500	$70,850 – $131,820	+1.2%
30	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$80,580	$44,720 – $93,020	+0.9%
31	Stockers and Order FillersNo formal educational credential	$37,500	$29,050 – $46,260	+0.5%
32	Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$50,720	$31,530 – $61,830	-0.3%
33	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$105,570	$71,490 – $134,790	-0.4%
34	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,850	$56,150 – $94,870	-0.5%
35	Industrial EngineersBachelor's degree	$101,910	$63,500 – $134,550	-0.5%
36	Helpers--ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$42,120	$33,480 – $51,480	-1.3%
37	Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine RepairersSome college, no degree	$47,170	$29,120 – $57,290	-1.3%
38	Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing OfficersDoctoral or professional degree	$115,920	$108,890 – $133,470	-1.6%
39	Title Examiners, Abstractors, and SearchersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,630	$38,590 – $84,310	-1.7%
40	Physical TherapistsDoctoral or professional degree	$100,390	$76,120 – $131,060	-2.3%
41	Industrial Production ManagersBachelor's degree	$123,200	$76,980 – $180,080	-2.3%
42	Highway Maintenance WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,090	$35,880 – $61,040	-2.3%
43	First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,240	$38,110 – $82,690	-2.6%
44	Nurse PractitionersMaster's degree	$128,920	$100,590 – $163,880	-2.6%
45	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$95,340	$80,960 – $100,530	-2.8%
46	Dietitians and NutritionistsBachelor's degree	$73,850	$50,800 – $97,280	-3.3%
47	Eligibility Interviewers, Government ProgramsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,440	$41,180 – $62,690	-3.3%
48	Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,900	$35,370 – $94,380	-3.4%
49	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$59,970	$42,600 – $75,030	-3.5%
50	Family Medicine PhysiciansDoctoral or professional degree	$235,710	$175,040 – $393,060	-3.5%

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