Most common jobs in Midland

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

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 Midland 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 Midland are the most common.

#50. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

Midland, TX
- Employment: 320 (3.209 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $69,100 (#20 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.

#47. Pump operators, except wellhead pumpers

Midland, TX
- Employment: 330 (3.330 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $45,620 (#19 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 10,580 (0.076 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $51,830
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- St. Louis, MO-IL ($68,580)
--- Birmingham-Hoover, AL ($63,820)
--- Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ ($63,740)
- Job description: Tend, control, or operate power-driven, stationary, or portable pumps and manifold systems to transfer gases, oil, other liquids, slurries, or powdered materials to and from various vessels and processes.

#47. Bartenders

Midland, TX
- Employment: 330 (3.283 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $25,580 (#188 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 486,720 (3.499 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $28,910
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($64,630)
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($59,960)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($45,330)
- Job description: Mix and serve drinks to patrons, directly or through waitstaff.

#47. Human resources specialists

Midland, TX
- Employment: 330 (3.343 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $65,590 (#120 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 647,810 (4.657 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $69,430
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($96,090)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($93,680)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($90,130)
- Job description: Recruit, screen, interview, or place individuals within an organization. May perform other activities in multiple human resources areas.

#47. Medical assistants

Midland, TX
- Employment: 330 (3.345 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $35,760 (#144 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.

#47. Helpers--extraction workers

Midland, TX
- Employment: 330 (3.282 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $37,850 (#14 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 12,740 (0.092 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $39,150
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Oklahoma City, OK ($51,890)
--- Bakersfield, CA ($50,150)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($48,290)
- Job description: Help extraction craft workers, such as earth drillers, blasters and explosives workers, derrick operators, and mining machine operators, by performing duties requiring less skill. Duties include supplying equipment or cleaning work area.

#44. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary

Midland, TX
- Employment: 350 (3.530 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $21,700 (#352 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 1,272,840 (9.151 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $30,630
- Entry level education requirements: Some college, no degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA ($42,110)
--- New Bedford, MA ($41,780)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($41,160)
- Job description: Assist a preschool, elementary, middle, or secondary school teacher with instructional duties. Serve in a position for which a teacher has primary responsibility for the design and implementation of educational programs and services.

#43. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers

Midland, TX
- Employment: 360 (3.591 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $20,800 (#282 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 374,940 (2.695 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $26,300
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($42,670)
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($40,390)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($37,720)
- Job description: Facilitate food service. Clean tables; remove dirty dishes; replace soiled table linens; set tables; replenish supply of clean linens, silverware, glassware, and dishes; supply service bar with food; and serve items such as water, condiments, and coffee to patrons.

#41 (tie). Food preparation workers

Midland, TX
- Employment: 390 (3.961 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $28,430 (#96 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 793,590 (5.705 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $26,820
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($37,330)
--- Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA ($36,120)
--- Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA ($35,860)
- Job description: Perform a variety of food preparation duties other than cooking, such as preparing cold foods and shellfish, slicing meat, and brewing coffee or tea.

#41 (tie). Medical secretaries and administrative assistants

Midland, TX
- Employment: 390 (3.972 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $37,910 (#117 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 597,100 (4.293 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $39,000
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($55,220)
--- Salinas, CA ($53,900)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($52,020)
- Job description: Perform secretarial duties using specific knowledge of medical terminology and hospital, clinic, or laboratory procedures. Duties may include scheduling appointments, billing patients, and compiling and recording medical charts, reports, and correspondence.

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

Midland, TX
- Employment: 400 (3.974 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $79,390 (#20 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.

#38 (tie). Construction managers

Midland, TX
- Employment: 440 (4.429 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $108,470 (#96 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 285,640 (2.054 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $107,260
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Napa, CA ($161,780)
--- Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ ($154,800)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($153,490)
- Job description: Plan, direct, or coordinate, usually through subordinate supervisory personnel, activities concerned with the construction and maintenance of structures, facilities, and systems. Participate in the conceptual development of a construction project and oversee its organization, scheduling, budgeting, and implementation. Includes managers in specialized construction fields, such as carpentry or plumbing.

#38 (tie). Property, real estate, and community association managers

Midland, TX
- Employment: 440 (4.453 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $106,280 (#4 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 219,800 (1.58 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $73,210
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Charleston-North Charleston, SC ($117,770)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($113,800)
--- Boulder, CO ($107,230)
- Job description: Plan, direct, or coordinate the selling, buying, leasing, or governance activities of commercial, industrial, or residential real estate properties. Includes managers of homeowner and condominium associations, rented or leased housing units, buildings, or land (including rights-of-way).

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

Midland, TX
- Employment: 460 (4.585 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $72,730 (#6 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.

#35 (tie). Derrick operators, oil and gas

Midland, TX
- Employment: 470 (4.680 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $46,950 (#12 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 9,350 (0.067 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $50,280
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Anchorage, AK ($69,420)
--- New Orleans-Metairie, LA ($62,250)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($60,190)
- Job description: Rig derrick equipment and operate pumps to circulate mud or fluid through drill hole.

#35 (tie). Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

Midland, TX
- Employment: 470 (4.692 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $59,310 (#74 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 147,680 (1.062 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $57,000
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($84,460)
--- Fairbanks, AK ($81,920)
--- Bismarck, ND ($78,350)
- Job description: Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul mobile mechanical, hydraulic, and pneumatic equipment, such as cranes, bulldozers, graders, and conveyors, used in construction, logging, and mining.

#34. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

Midland, TX
- Employment: 520 (5.269 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $52,490 (#103 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 253,010 (1.819 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $52,090
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($75,320)
--- New Bedford, MA ($75,110)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($72,460)
- Job description: Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul buses and trucks, or maintain and repair any type of diesel engines. Includes mechanics working primarily with automobile or marine diesel engines.

#32 (tie). Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education

Midland, TX
- Employment: 540 (5.411 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $59,550 (#165 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.

#32 (tie). Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers

Midland, TX
- Employment: 540 (5.469 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $49,370 (#76 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 549,200 (3.948 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $44,580
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Odessa, TX ($85,040)
--- Fairbanks, AK ($80,520)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($67,990)
- Job description: Inspect, test, sort, sample, or weigh nonagricultural raw materials or processed, machined, fabricated, or assembled parts or products for defects, wear, and deviations from specifications. May use precision measuring instruments and complex test equipment.

#30 (tie). First-line supervisors of food preparation and serving workers

Midland, TX
- Employment: 560 (5.675 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $42,460 (#37 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.

#30 (tie). Maids and housekeeping cleaners

Midland, TX
- Employment: 560 (5.663 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $26,970 (#127 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.

#29. Financial managers

Midland, TX
- Employment: 590 (5.936 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $143,260 (#72 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.

#28. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers

Midland, TX
- Employment: 630 (6.322 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $81,020 (#40 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 475,000 (3.415 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $73,100
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($95,680)
--- Bremerton-Silverdale, WA ($93,140)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($92,810)
- Job description: Directly supervise and coordinate the activities of mechanics, installers, and repairers. May also advise customers on recommended services. Excludes team or work leaders.

#27. Geological and hydrologic technicians

Midland, TX
- Employment: 670 (6.749 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $47,760 (#48 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 15,580 (0.112 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $61,130
- Entry level education requirements: Associate’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($117,170)
--- Tulsa, OK ($89,180)
--- Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO ($80,250)
- Job description: Assist scientists or engineers in the use of electronic, sonic, or nuclear measuring instruments in laboratory, exploration, and production activities to obtain data indicating resources such as metallic ore, minerals, gas, coal, or petroleum. Analyze mud and drill cuttings. Chart pressure, temperature, and other characteristics of wells or bore holes.

#25 (tie). Receptionists and information clerks

Midland, TX
- Employment: 700 (7.057 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $32,070 (#115 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 968,420 (6.962 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $32,410
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Napa, CA ($43,270)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($42,160)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($41,840)
- Job description: Answer inquiries and provide information to the general public, customers, visitors, and other interested parties regarding activities conducted at establishment and location of departments, offices, and employees within the organization.

#25 (tie). First-line supervisors of retail sales workers

Midland, TX
- Employment: 700 (7.068 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $51,900 (#40 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.

#24. Cooks, restaurant

Midland, TX
- Employment: 710 (7.169 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $27,260 (#207 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.

#23. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

Midland, TX
- Employment: 720 (7.240 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $46,660 (#289 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 417,440 (3.001 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $61,100
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($106,100)
--- Fairbanks, AK ($94,280)
--- Kankakee, IL ($93,420)
- Job description: Assemble, install, alter, and repair pipelines or pipe systems that carry water, steam, air, or other liquids or gases. May install heating and cooling equipment and mechanical control systems. Includes sprinkler fitters.

#21 (tie). Construction laborers

Midland, TX
- Employment: 920 (9.295 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $36,250 (#230 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 971,330 (6.983 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $43,000
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI ($66,670)
--- Kankakee, IL ($65,730)
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($63,860)
- Job description: Perform tasks involving physical labor at construction sites. May operate hand and power tools of all types: air hammers, earth tampers, cement mixers, small mechanical hoists, surveying and measuring equipment, and a variety of other equipment and instruments. May clean and prepare sites, dig trenches, set braces to support the sides of excavations, erect scaffolding, and clean up rubble, debris, and other waste materials. May assist other craft workers.

#21 (tie). Light truck drivers

Midland, TX
- Employment: 920 (9.277 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $45,540 (#33 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 929,470 (6.682 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $41,050
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($52,420)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($51,890)
--- Anchorage, AK ($51,590)
- Job description: Drive a light vehicle, such as a truck or van, with a capacity of less than 26,001 pounds Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW), primarily to pick up merchandise or packages from a distribution center and deliver. May load and unload vehicle.

#19 (tie). Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

Midland, TX
- Employment: 950 (9.547 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $47,620 (#216 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 402,870 (2.896 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $55,280
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($96,440)
--- Barnstable Town, MA ($93,620)
--- Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA ($93,320)
- Job description: Operate one or several types of power construction equipment, such as motor graders, bulldozers, scrapers, compressors, pumps, derricks, shovels, tractors, or front-end loaders to excavate, move, and grade earth, erect structures, or pour concrete or other hard surface pavement. May repair and maintain equipment in addition to other duties.

#19 (tie). Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand

Midland, TX
- Employment: 950 (9.542 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $36,280 (#52 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.

#18. Customer service representatives

Midland, TX
- Employment: 970 (9.747 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $36,220 (#173 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.

#17. Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers

Midland, TX
- Employment: 1,000 (10.049 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $57,400 (#22 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 397,550 (2.858 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $46,690
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Fairbanks, AK ($75,080)
--- Wheeling, WV-OH ($74,970)
--- Anchorage, AK ($73,790)
- Job description: Use hand-welding, flame-cutting, hand-soldering, or brazing equipment to weld or join metal components or to fill holes, indentations, or seams of fabricated metal products.

#16. Electricians

Midland, TX
- Employment: 1,020 (10.263 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $60,200 (#139 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.

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

Midland, TX
- Employment: 1,070 (10.803 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $26,460 (#286 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.

#13 (tie). Stockers and order fillers

Midland, TX
- Employment: 1,120 (11.298 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $34,790 (#26 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.

#13 (tie). Secretaries and administrative assistants, except legal, medical, and executive

Midland, TX
- Employment: 1,120 (11.263 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $38,830 (#148 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.

#12. Industrial machinery mechanics

Midland, TX
- Employment: 1,320 (13.294 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $62,400 (#65 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 385,980 (2.775 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $57,350
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Norwich-New London-Westerly, CT-RI ($84,180)
--- San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA ($84,150)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($77,580)
- Job description: Repair, install, adjust, or maintain industrial production and processing machinery or refinery and pipeline distribution systems. May also install, dismantle, or move machinery and heavy equipment according to plans.

#11. Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks

Midland, TX
- Employment: 1,390 (14.027 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $48,230 (#27 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 1,443,940 (10.381 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $44,100
- Entry level education requirements: Some college, no degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($56,700)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($55,720)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($55,720)
- Job description: Compute, classify, and record numerical data to keep financial records complete. Perform any combination of routine calculating, posting, and verifying duties to obtain primary financial data for use in maintaining accounting records. May also check the accuracy of figures, calculations, and postings pertaining to business transactions recorded by other workers.

#10. Petroleum engineers

Midland, TX
- Employment: 1,400 (14.119 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $134,000 (#22 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 27,850 (0.2 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $154,330
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX ($185,130)
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($178,240)
--- Wichita Falls, TX ($174,910)
- Job description: Devise methods to improve oil and gas extraction and production and determine the need for new or modified tool designs. Oversee drilling and offer technical advice.

#9. Accountants and auditors

Midland, TX
- Employment: 1,610 (16.155 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $103,120 (#3 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.

#8. Waiters and waitresses

Midland, TX
- Employment: 1,620 (16.327 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $19,310 (#362 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.

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

Midland, TX
- Employment: 2,260 (22.776 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $84,830 (#28 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.

#6. Office clerks, general

Midland, TX
- Employment: 2,640 (26.545 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $39,890 (#65 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.

#5. Roustabouts, oil and gas

Midland, TX
- Employment: 2,700 (27.131 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $41,330 (#21 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 44,710 (0.321 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $42,160
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Gulfport-Biloxi-Pascagoula, MS ($57,330)
--- Anchorage, AK ($52,180)
--- Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO ($52,030)
- Job description: Assemble or repair oil field equipment using hand and power tools. Perform other tasks as needed.

#4. General and operations managers

Midland, TX
- Employment: 2,740 (27.575 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $138,070 (#34 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.

#3. Retail salespersons

Midland, TX
- Employment: 3,010 (30.238 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $32,570 (#89 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 3,659,670 (26.31 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $30,940
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($43,160)
--- Carson City, NV ($40,030)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($39,160)
- Job description: Sell merchandise, such as furniture, motor vehicles, appliances, or apparel to consumers.

#2. Fast food and counter workers

Midland, TX
- Employment: 3,060 (30.803 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $23,420 (#148 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 3,450,120 (24.803 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $24,540
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($34,020)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($34,000)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($33,370)
- Job description: Perform duties such as taking orders and serving food and beverages. Serve customers at counter or from a steam table. May take payment. May prepare food and beverages.

#1. Service unit operators, oil and gas

Midland, TX
- Employment: 3,220 (32.351 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $46,040 (#36 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 43,840 (0.315 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $52,510
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Fresno, CA ($79,790)
--- Wheeling, WV-OH ($71,350)
--- Tyler, TX ($64,330)
- Job description: Operate equipment to increase oil flow from producing wells or to remove stuck pipe, casing, tools, or other obstructions from drilling wells. Includes fishing-tool technicians.

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