Most common jobs in Philadelphia

Written by:
July 11, 2021
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Most common jobs in Philadelphia

The 10 largest occupations in America employ 30.5 million workers, representing 21% of all workers. Keeping America's economy moving would be impossible without office workers, package handlers, food prep workers, and truck drivers. And what would the sick do without the millions of hospital workers, nurses, and home health aides?

Stacker compiled a list of the most common jobs in Philadelphia using data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jobs are ranked by total employment as of May 2020. While much has changed during the coronavirus pandemic, the jobs featured here give a holistic view at the most popular industries in your area and how many jobs are supported.

Keep reading to see which jobs in Philadelphia are the most common.

#50. Sales managers

Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD
- Employment: 6,940 (2.573 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $163,620 (#16 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 390,170 (2.805 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $147,580
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($207,070)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($202,700)
--- Trenton, NJ ($186,960)
- Job description: Plan, direct, or coordinate the actual distribution or movement of a product or service to the customer. Coordinate sales distribution by establishing sales territories, quotas, and goals and establish training programs for sales representatives. Analyze sales statistics gathered by staff to determine sales potential and inventory requirements and monitor the preferences of customers.

#49. Dishwashers

Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD
- Employment: 6,950 (2.579 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $24,490 (#130 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 395,660 (2.844 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $25,600
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($34,440)
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($33,600)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($33,460)
- Job description: Clean dishes, kitchen, food preparation equipment, or utensils.

#48. Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers

Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD
- Employment: 7,310 (2.711 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $59,900 (#57 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 344,020 (2.473 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $53,410
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Fairbanks, AK ($91,840)
--- Napa, CA ($82,650)
--- Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA ($76,440)
- Job description: Install or repair heating, central air conditioning, HVAC, or refrigeration systems, including oil burners, hot-air furnaces, and heating stoves.

#47. Correctional officers and jailers

Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD
- Employment: 7,400 (2.745 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $55,530 (#51 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 405,870 (2.918 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $52,340
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bakersfield, CA ($85,850)
--- Stockton-Lodi, CA ($84,790)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($83,050)
- Job description: Guard inmates in penal or rehabilitative institutions in accordance with established regulations and procedures. May guard prisoners in transit between jail, courtroom, prison, or other point. Includes deputy sheriffs and police who spend the majority of their time guarding prisoners in correctional institutions.

#46. Health specialties teachers, postsecondary

Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD
- Employment: 7,690 (2.850 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $114,380 (#30 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 200,040 (1.438 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $124,890
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($211,500)
--- Jackson, MS ($195,830)
--- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($176,930)
- Job description: Teach courses in health specialties, in fields such as dentistry, laboratory technology, medicine, pharmacy, public health, therapy, and veterinary medicine.

#45. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers

Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD
- Employment: 7,910 (2.934 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $86,190 (#22 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 614,080 (4.415 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $72,990
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($107,870)
--- Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA ($103,930)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($100,620)
- Job description: Directly supervise and coordinate activities of construction or extraction workers.

#44. Compliance officers

Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD
- Employment: 7,950 (2.948 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $83,950 (#20 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 327,360 (2.353 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $75,620
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Flagstaff, AZ ($99,640)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($98,030)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($96,850)
- Job description: Examine, evaluate, and investigate eligibility for or conformity with laws and regulations governing contract compliance of licenses and permits, and perform other compliance and enforcement inspection and analysis activities not classified elsewhere.

#43. First-line supervisors of transportation and material moving workers, except aircraft cargo handling supervisors

Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD
- Employment: 9,240 (3.428 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $60,400 (#56 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 477,430 (3.432 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $58,300
- Entry level education requirements: nan
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Fairbanks, AK ($80,810)
--- Houma-Thibodaux, LA ($76,610)
--- Odessa, TX ($76,050)
- Job description: Directly supervise and coordinate activities of material-moving machine and vehicle operators and helpers.

#41 (tie). Preschool teachers, except special education

Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD
- Employment: 9,250 (3.429 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $33,030 (#189 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 370,940 (2.667 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $36,550
- Entry level education requirements: Associate’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Midland, TX ($58,080)
--- Odessa, TX ($54,120)
--- Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV ($52,350)
- Job description: Instruct preschool-aged students, following curricula or lesson plans, in activities designed to promote social, physical, and intellectual growth.

#41 (tie). Child, family, and school social workers

Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD
- Employment: 9,250 (3.431 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $51,100 (#132 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 328,120 (2.359 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $52,370
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor's degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Trenton, NJ ($76,020)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($73,490)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($70,940)
- Job description: Provide social services and assistance to improve the social and psychological functioning of children and their families and to maximize the family well-being and the academic functioning of children. May assist parents, arrange adoptions, and find foster homes for abandoned or abused children. In schools, they address such problems as teenage pregnancy, misbehavior, and truancy. May also advise teachers.

#40. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers

Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD
- Employment: 9,350 (3.466 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $73,470 (#57 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 599,900 (4.313 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $66,800
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Baton Rouge, LA ($101,930)
--- Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX ($100,590)
--- Longview, WA ($99,590)
- Job description: Directly supervise and coordinate the activities of production and operating workers, such as inspectors, precision workers, machine setters and operators, assemblers, fabricators, and plant and system operators. Excludes team or work leaders.

#39. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD
- Employment: 9,940 (3.687 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $69,620 (#19 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 503,390 (3.619 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $65,230
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($92,040)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($89,100)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($86,180)
- Job description: Provide high-level administrative support by conducting research, preparing statistical reports, and handling information requests, as well as performing routine administrative functions such as preparing correspondence, receiving visitors, arranging conference calls, and scheduling meetings. May also train and supervise lower-level clerical staff.

#38. Pharmacy technicians

Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD
- Employment: 9,950 (3.688 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $33,380 (#250 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 415,310 (2.986 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $36,450
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($56,620)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($56,020)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($52,810)
- Job description: Prepare medications under the direction of a pharmacist. May measure, mix, count out, label, and record amounts and dosages of medications according to prescription orders.

#37. Electricians

Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD
- Employment: 10,170 (3.773 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $76,850 (#22 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 656,510 (4.72 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $61,550
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($106,680)
--- Trenton, NJ ($90,210)
--- Kankakee, IL ($88,530)
- Job description: Install, maintain, and repair electrical wiring, equipment, and fixtures. Ensure that work is in accordance with relevant codes. May install or service street lights, intercom systems, or electrical control systems.

#36. Industrial truck and tractor operators

Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD
- Employment: 10,350 (3.838 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $39,860 (#136 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 640,950 (4.608 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $39,210
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($58,230)
--- Hinesville, GA ($56,220)
--- Battle Creek, MI ($52,400)
- Job description: Operate industrial trucks or tractors equipped to move materials around a warehouse, storage yard, factory, construction site, or similar location.

#35. Computer and information systems managers

Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD
- Employment: 10,370 (3.845 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $161,290 (#23 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 457,290 (3.288 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $161,730
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($235,040)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($212,480)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($201,320)
- Job description: Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as electronic data processing, information systems, systems analysis, and computer programming.

#34. Maids and housekeeping cleaners

Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD
- Employment: 10,530 (3.906 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $30,250 (#62 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 795,590 (5.72 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $28,010
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($44,640)
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($41,370)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($40,490)
- Job description: Perform any combination of light cleaning duties to maintain private households or commercial establishments, such as hotels and hospitals, in a clean and orderly manner. Duties may include making beds, replenishing linens, cleaning rooms and halls, and vacuuming.

#33. Automotive service technicians and mechanics

Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD
- Employment: 11,120 (4.122 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $46,850 (#126 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 620,110 (4.458 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $46,760
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Fairbanks, AK ($66,060)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($64,630)
--- California-Lexington Park, MD ($64,420)
- Job description: Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul automotive vehicles.

#32. Computer systems analysts

Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD
- Employment: 11,930 (4.424 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $105,040 (#19 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 574,450 (4.13 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $99,020
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($133,970)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($125,350)
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($124,070)
- Job description: Analyze science, engineering, business, and other data processing problems to develop and implement solutions to complex applications problems, system administration issues, or network concerns. Perform systems management and integration functions, improve existing computer systems, and review computer system capabilities, workflow, and schedule limitations. May analyze or recommend commercially available software.

#31. Middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education

Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD
- Employment: 12,060 (4.473 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $72,330 (#62 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 599,520 (4.31 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $64,990
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor's degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bakersfield, CA ($101,970)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($89,200)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($88,220)
- Job description: Teach one or more subjects to students at the middle, intermediate, or junior high school level.

#30. Carpenters

Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD
- Employment: 12,330 (4.572 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $64,190 (#31 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 699,300 (5.027 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $54,200
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($82,950)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($82,300)
--- Hanford-Corcoran, CA ($79,870)
- Job description: Construct, erect, install, or repair structures and fixtures made of wood and comparable materials, such as concrete forms; building frameworks, including partitions, joists, studding, and rafters; and wood stairways, window and door frames, and hardwood floors. May also install cabinets, siding, drywall, and batt or roll insulation. Includes brattice builders who build doors or brattices (ventilation walls or partitions) in underground passageways.

#29. Shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks

Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD
- Employment: 12,570 (4.662 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $37,740 (#145 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 727,640 (5.231 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $37,210
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Fairbanks, AK ($52,310)
--- California-Lexington Park, MD ($50,180)
--- Bremerton-Silverdale, WA ($49,530)
- Job description: Verify and maintain records on incoming and outgoing shipments involving inventory. Duties include verifying and recording incoming merchandise or material and arranging for the transportation of products. May prepare items for shipment.

#28. Passenger vehicle drivers, except bus drivers, transit and intercity

Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD
- Employment: 13,550 (5.025 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $35,070 (#120 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 599,980 (4.313 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $34,360
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($46,580)
--- Fairbanks, AK ($45,780)
--- Bremerton-Silverdale, WA ($44,940)
- Job description: Drive a motor vehicle to transport passengers on a planned or scheduled basis. May collect a fare.

#27. Financial managers

Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD
- Employment: 13,700 (5.081 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $171,030 (#9 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 653,080 (4.695 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $151,510
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($214,670)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($210,180)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($192,310)
- Job description: Plan, direct, or coordinate accounting, investing, banking, insurance, securities, and other financial activities of a branch, office, or department of an establishment.

#26. Medical assistants

Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD
- Employment: 14,090 (5.224 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $36,500 (#122 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 710,200 (5.106 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $36,930
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($53,960)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($53,660)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($52,520)
- Job description: Perform administrative and certain clinical duties under the direction of a physician. Administrative duties may include scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records, billing, and coding information for insurance purposes. Clinical duties may include taking and recording vital signs and medical histories, preparing patients for examination, drawing blood, and administering medications as directed by physician.

#25. Management analysts

Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD
- Employment: 14,130 (5.240 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $97,910 (#73 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 734,000 (5.277 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $97,580
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Dothan, AL ($163,720)
--- Barnstable Town, MA ($157,490)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($135,250)
- Job description: Conduct organizational studies and evaluations, design systems and procedures, conduct work simplification and measurement studies, and prepare operations and procedures manuals to assist management in operating more efficiently and effectively. Includes program analysts and management consultants.

#24. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD
- Employment: 14,690 (5.448 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $76,260 (#62 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 654,900 (4.708 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $70,000
- Entry level education requirements: nan
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($131,090)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($122,570)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($115,690)
- Job description: Maintain order and protect life and property by enforcing local, tribal, state, or federal laws and ordinances. Perform a combination of the following duties: patrol a specific area; direct traffic; issue traffic summonses; investigate accidents; apprehend and arrest suspects, or serve legal processes of courts. Includes police officers working at educational institutions.

#23. Market research analysts and marketing specialists

Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD
- Employment: 15,090 (5.595 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $78,680 (#22 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 690,160 (4.962 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $73,970
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($117,900)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($97,720)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($96,150)
- Job description: Research conditions in local, regional, national, or online markets. Gather information to determine potential sales of a product or service, or plan a marketing or advertising campaign. May gather information on competitors, prices, sales, and methods of marketing and distribution. May employ search marketing tactics, analyze web metrics, and develop recommendations to increase search engine ranking and visibility to target markets.

#22. Cooks, restaurant

Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD
- Employment: 15,520 (5.756 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $30,860 (#92 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 1,109,650 (7.977 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $29,530
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($45,200)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($39,950)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($39,450)
- Job description: Prepare, season, and cook dishes such as soups, meats, vegetables, or desserts in restaurants. May order supplies, keep records and accounts, price items on menu, or plan menu.

#21. First-line supervisors of food preparation and serving workers

Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD
- Employment: 15,670 (5.811 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $45,360 (#22 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 891,540 (6.409 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $37,880
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($59,490)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($53,350)
--- Napa, CA ($53,230)
- Job description: Directly supervise and coordinate activities of workers engaged in preparing and serving food.

#20. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD
- Employment: 15,760 (5.843 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $57,590 (#52 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 676,440 (4.863 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $50,090
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($75,950)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($74,820)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($74,520)
- Job description: Care for ill, injured, or convalescing patients or persons with disabilities in hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, private homes, group homes, and similar institutions. May work under the supervision of a registered nurse. Licensing required.

#19. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers

Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD
- Employment: 16,750 (6.211 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $35,090 (#88 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 872,370 (6.272 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $33,800
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($46,990)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($45,160)
--- New Haven, CT ($43,820)
- Job description: Landscape or maintain grounds of property using hand or power tools or equipment. Workers typically perform a variety of tasks, which may include any combination of the following: sod laying, mowing, trimming, planting, watering, fertilizing, digging, raking, sprinkler installation, and installation of mortarless segmental concrete masonry wall units.

#18. First-line supervisors of retail sales workers

Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD
- Employment: 17,730 (6.575 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $52,340 (#38 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 1,063,110 (7.643 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $47,300
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($62,180)
--- Yakima, WA ($61,710)
--- Sheboygan, WI ($61,610)
- Job description: Directly supervise and coordinate activities of retail sales workers in an establishment or department. Duties may include management functions, such as purchasing, budgeting, accounting, and personnel work, in addition to supervisory duties.

#17. Packers and packagers, hand

Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD
- Employment: 19,220 (7.128 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $31,490 (#62 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 599,270 (4.308 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $29,270
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Rome, GA ($39,770)
--- Longview, WA ($39,680)
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($36,820)
- Job description: Pack or package by hand a wide variety of products and materials.

#16. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel

Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD
- Employment: 19,390 (7.191 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $82,720 (#16 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 977,070 (7.024 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $70,490
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($115,620)
--- Lawrence, KS ($97,910)
--- Boulder, CO ($94,870)
- Job description: Sell services to individuals or businesses. May describe options or resolve client problems.

#15. Security guards

Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD
- Employment: 24,050 (8.920 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $32,870 (#176 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 1,054,400 (7.58 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $34,360
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Idaho Falls, ID ($66,030)
--- San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA ($61,090)
--- Durham-Chapel Hill, NC ($51,850)
- Job description: Guard, patrol, or monitor premises to prevent theft, violence, or infractions of rules. May operate x-ray and metal detector equipment.

#14. Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education

Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD
- Employment: 24,640 (9.138 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $72,690 (#61 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 991,000 (7.124 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $67,340
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Napa, CA ($99,170)
--- Fresno, CA ($96,200)
--- Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA ($95,500)
- Job description: Teach one or more subjects to students at the secondary school level.

#13. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products

Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD
- Employment: 25,160 (9.331 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $81,200 (#41 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 1,278,670 (9.192 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $73,500
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Danbury, CT ($112,810)
--- Napa, CA ($101,850)
--- Santa Fe, NM ($93,680)
- Job description: Sell goods for wholesalers or manufacturers to businesses or groups of individuals. Work requires substantial knowledge of items sold.

#12. Accountants and auditors

Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD
- Employment: 29,540 (10.956 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $85,720 (#26 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 1,274,620 (9.163 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $81,660
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($111,680)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($105,720)
--- Midland, TX ($103,120)
- Job description: Examine, analyze, and interpret accounting records to prepare financial statements, give advice, or audit and evaluate statements prepared by others. Install or advise on systems of recording costs or other financial and budgetary data.

#11. Waiters and waitresses

Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD
- Employment: 30,960 (11.479 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $27,050 (#121 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 1,944,240 (13.977 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $27,470
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($62,630)
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($57,210)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($43,160)
- Job description: Take orders and serve food and beverages to patrons at tables in dining establishment.

#10. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers

Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD
- Employment: 32,120 (11.912 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $69,560 (#13 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 1,427,260 (10.261 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $62,010
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bremerton-Silverdale, WA ($78,770)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($77,030)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($75,820)
- Job description: Directly supervise and coordinate the activities of clerical and administrative support workers.

#9. Nursing assistants

Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD
- Employment: 34,740 (12.883 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $32,910 (#107 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 1,371,050 (9.857 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $32,050
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($48,420)
--- Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA ($43,960)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($42,200)
- Job description: Provide or assist with basic care or support under the direction of onsite licensed nursing staff. Perform duties such as monitoring of health status, feeding, bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, or ambulation of patients in a health or nursing facility. May include medication administration and other health-related tasks. Includes nursing care attendants, nursing aides, and nursing attendants.

#8. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners

Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD
- Employment: 40,530 (15.028 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $31,840 (#95 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 1,990,510 (14.31 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $31,410
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($44,110)
--- Barnstable Town, MA ($43,860)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($42,250)
- Job description: Keep buildings in clean and orderly condition. Perform heavy cleaning duties, such as cleaning floors, shampooing rugs, washing walls and glass, and removing rubbish. Duties may include tending furnace and boiler, performing routine maintenance activities, notifying management of need for repairs, and cleaning snow or debris from sidewalk.

#7. Stockers and order fillers

Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD
- Employment: 40,670 (15.082 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $29,970 (#173 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 2,210,960 (15.895 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $31,010
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Odessa, TX ($39,130)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($39,040)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($38,580)
- Job description: Receive, store, and issue merchandise, materials, equipment, and other items from stockroom, warehouse, or storage yard to fill shelves, racks, tables, or customers' orders. May operate power equipment to fill orders. May mark prices on merchandise and set up sales displays.

#6. Secretaries and administrative assistants, except legal, medical, and executive

Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD
- Employment: 41,270 (15.305 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $43,350 (#57 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 1,850,360 (13.302 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $40,420
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($56,080)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($52,480)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($51,930)
- Job description: Perform routine administrative functions such as drafting correspondence, scheduling appointments, organizing and maintaining paper and electronic files, or providing information to callers.

#5. General and operations managers

Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD
- Employment: 42,070 (15.601 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $155,110 (#10 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 2,347,420 (16.876 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $125,740
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($183,170)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($175,990)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($172,370)
- Job description: Plan, direct, or coordinate the operations of public or private sector organizations, overseeing multiple departments or locations. Duties and responsibilities include formulating policies, managing daily operations, and planning the use of materials and human resources, but are too diverse and general in nature to be classified in any one functional area of management or administration, such as personnel, purchasing, or administrative services. Usually manage through subordinate supervisors. Excludes First-Line Supervisors.

#4. Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand

Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD
- Employment: 56,260 (20.864 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $34,190 (#119 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 2,805,200 (20.167 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $33,710
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($42,690)
--- Fairbanks, AK ($41,900)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($41,820)
- Job description: Manually move freight, stock, luggage, or other materials, or perform other general labor. Includes all manual laborers not elsewhere classified.

#3. Customer service representatives

Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD
- Employment: 59,520 (22.070 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $42,080 (#33 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 2,833,250 (20.368 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $38,510
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($49,930)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($47,720)
--- Midland, MI ($47,250)
- Job description: Interact with customers to provide basic or scripted information in response to routine inquiries about products and services. May handle and resolve general complaints. Excludes individuals whose duties are primarily installation, sales, repair, and technical support.

#2. Office clerks, general

Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD
- Employment: 62,600 (23.215 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $40,740 (#49 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 2,788,090 (20.044 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $37,770
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($49,560)
--- Napa, CA ($47,570)
--- Boulder, CO ($47,160)
- Job description: Perform duties too varied and diverse to be classified in any specific office clerical occupation, requiring knowledge of office systems and procedures. Clerical duties may be assigned in accordance with the office procedures of individual establishments and may include a combination of answering telephones, bookkeeping, typing or word processing, office machine operation, and filing.

#1. Registered nurses

Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD
- Employment: 70,350 (26.086 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $79,980 (#77 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 2,986,500 (21.47 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $80,010
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor's degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($149,200)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($146,870)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($142,140)
- Job description: Assess patient health problems and needs, develop and implement nursing care plans, and maintain medical records. Administer nursing care to ill, injured, convalescent, or disabled patients. May advise patients on health maintenance and disease prevention or provide case management. Licensing or registration required.

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