Highest-paying jobs in Abilene

Written by:
July 8, 2022
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Highest-paying jobs in Abilene

Stacker collected information on the highest-paying jobs in Abilene, TX, using data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jobs are ranked by average annual salary with information up to date as of May 2021.

In Abilene, the annual mean wage is $44,500 or 23.6% lower than national mean of $58,260, while the highest-paying occupation makes $150,920. Read on to see which jobs make the list.

#50. Advertising sales agents

Abilene, TX
- Annual mean salary: $65,690
- #37 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30

National
- Annual mean salary: $66,540
- Employment: 96,660
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($97,840)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($97,720)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($83,050)

#49. Telecommunications line installers and repairers

Abilene, TX
- Annual mean salary: $66,590
- #53 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50

National
- Annual mean salary: $62,250
- Employment: 101,530
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($90,680)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($90,370)
--- Salinas, CA ($88,050)

#48. Loan officers

Abilene, TX
- Annual mean salary: $66,630
- #297 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140

National
- Annual mean salary: $80,570
- Employment: 340,170
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($111,830)
--- Bend-Redmond, OR ($106,290)
--- Wilmington, NC ($104,930)

#47. Registered nurses

Abilene, TX
- Annual mean salary: $67,070
- #303 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,720

National
- Annual mean salary: $82,750
- Employment: 3,047,530
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($155,230)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($151,640)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($146,360)

#46. Physical therapist assistants

Abilene, TX
- Annual mean salary: $68,890
- #27 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60

National
- Annual mean salary: $60,740
- Employment: 93,660
- Entry level education requirements: Associate’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($85,960)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($78,740)
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($76,390)

#45. Occupational therapy assistants

Abilene, TX
- Annual mean salary: $69,740
- #29 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30

National
- Annual mean salary: $63,560
- Employment: 41,980
- Entry level education requirements: Associate’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($85,570)
--- Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV ($77,720)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($77,650)

#44. Network and computer systems administrators

Abilene, TX
- Annual mean salary: $69,780
- #336 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120

National
- Annual mean salary: $91,250
- Employment: 316,760
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($135,440)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($116,370)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($110,930)

#43. Civil engineers

Abilene, TX
- Annual mean salary: $72,350
- #361 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140

National
- Annual mean salary: $95,490
- Employment: 304,310
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($119,720)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($116,550)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($115,120)

#42. Securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents

Abilene, TX
- Annual mean salary: $72,680
- #129 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 130

National
- Annual mean salary: $93,260
- Employment: 426,870
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($154,880)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($141,290)
--- Memphis, TN-MS-AR ($121,180)

#41. Diagnostic medical sonographers

Abilene, TX
- Annual mean salary: $72,820
- #139 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60

National
- Annual mean salary: $80,680
- Employment: 78,640
- Entry level education requirements: Associate’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($138,110)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($137,140)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($131,080)

#40. Dental hygienists

Abilene, TX
- Annual mean salary: $72,910
- #190 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90

National
- Annual mean salary: $81,360
- Employment: 207,190
- Entry level education requirements: Associate’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($125,750)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($122,660)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($119,320)

#39. Financial and investment analysts

Abilene, TX
- Annual mean salary: $74,630
- #250 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50

National
- Annual mean salary: $103,020
- Employment: 291,880
- Entry level education requirements: nan
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($135,620)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($133,640)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($132,820)

#38. Accountants and auditors

Abilene, TX
- Annual mean salary: $74,770
- #170 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 440

National
- Annual mean salary: $83,980
- Employment: 1,318,550
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($112,830)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($109,330)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($107,540)

#37. Management analysts

Abilene, TX
- Annual mean salary: $75,500
- #336 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90

National
- Annual mean salary: $100,530
- Employment: 768,450
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Dothan, AL ($135,020)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($127,320)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($125,250)

#36. Project management specialists

Abilene, TX
- Annual mean salary: $77,330
- #322 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 200

National
- Annual mean salary: $98,420
- Employment: 743,860
- Entry level education requirements: nan
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($133,950)
--- Birmingham-Hoover, AL ($130,250)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($125,330)

#35. Speech-language pathologists

Abilene, TX
- Annual mean salary: $77,750
- #202 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120

National
- Annual mean salary: $85,820
- Employment: 147,470
- Entry level education requirements: Master’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($118,260)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($111,120)
--- Salinas, CA ($107,160)

#34. Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary

Abilene, TX
- Annual mean salary: $78,490
- #339 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 160

National
- Annual mean salary: $102,650
- Employment: 274,710
- Entry level education requirements: Master’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($144,880)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($143,450)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($142,330)

#33. Computer programmers

Abilene, TX
- Annual mean salary: $79,380
- #171 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40

National
- Annual mean salary: $96,650
- Employment: 152,610
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($144,130)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($126,220)
--- Dalton, GA ($123,500)

#32. Construction managers

Abilene, TX
- Annual mean salary: $79,810
- #349 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80

National
- Annual mean salary: $108,210
- Employment: 284,750
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Anchorage, AK ($160,710)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($149,050)
--- Napa, CA ($145,430)

#31. Computer systems analysts

Abilene, TX
- Annual mean salary: $82,510
- #269 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90

National
- Annual mean salary: $102,210
- Employment: 505,150
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($141,290)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($131,650)
--- Huntsville, AL ($118,690)

#30. Facilities managers

Abilene, TX
- Annual mean salary: $82,920
- #261 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30

National
- Annual mean salary: $101,970
- Employment: 101,230
- Entry level education requirements: nan
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kennewick-Richland, WA ($146,040)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($136,440)
--- Ithaca, NY ($136,210)

#29. General and operations managers

Abilene, TX
- Annual mean salary: $84,420
- #355 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,950

National
- Annual mean salary: $115,250
- Employment: 2,984,920
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($165,340)
--- Trenton, NJ ($165,030)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($159,210)

#28. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

Abilene, TX
- Annual mean salary: $84,620
- #213 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30

National
- Annual mean salary: $98,760
- Employment: 128,230
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($182,700)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($170,740)
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($164,600)

#27. Human resources managers

Abilene, TX
- Annual mean salary: $89,280
- #324 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50

National
- Annual mean salary: $136,590
- Employment: 166,530
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($190,020)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($186,930)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($175,410)

#26. Education administrators, postsecondary

Abilene, TX
- Annual mean salary: $90,130
- #185 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140

National
- Annual mean salary: $111,260
- Employment: 155,990
- Entry level education requirements: Master’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Corvallis, OR ($178,570)
--- Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC ($165,940)
--- Syracuse, NY ($164,660)

#25. Personal financial advisors

Abilene, TX
- Annual mean salary: $90,470
- #271 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100

National
- Annual mean salary: $119,960
- Employment: 263,030
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Barnstable Town, MA ($172,780)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($161,010)
--- East Stroudsburg, PA ($158,790)

#24. Commercial pilots

Abilene, TX
- Annual mean salary: $90,550
- #114 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40

National
- Annual mean salary: $115,080
- Employment: 42,770
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($185,920)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($184,260)
--- Savannah, GA ($177,450)

#23. Veterinarians

Abilene, TX
- Annual mean salary: $92,310
- #258 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40

National
- Annual mean salary: $109,920
- Employment: 77,260
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($144,440)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($141,670)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($140,390)

#22. Mechanical engineers

Abilene, TX
- Annual mean salary: $93,310
- #107 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50

National
- Annual mean salary: $97,000
- Employment: 278,240
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($137,540)
--- Baton Rouge, LA ($128,790)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($127,030)

#21. Health specialties teachers, postsecondary

Abilene, TX
- Annual mean salary: $93,720
- #91 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 180

National
- Annual mean salary: $133,310
- Employment: 191,830
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($226,440)
--- Jackson, MS ($202,690)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($183,250)

#20. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

Abilene, TX
- Annual mean salary: $94,160
- #192 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50

National
- Annual mean salary: $105,580
- Employment: 144,640
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($159,890)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($154,170)
--- Trenton, NJ ($144,620)

#19. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products

Abilene, TX
- Annual mean salary: $94,220
- #121 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40

National
- Annual mean salary: $102,750
- Employment: 266,160
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($150,760)
--- Durham-Chapel Hill, NC ($141,470)
--- Iowa City, IA ($138,870)

#18. Software developers

Abilene, TX
- Annual mean salary: $95,400
- #235 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120

National
- Annual mean salary: $120,990
- Employment: 1,364,180
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($167,420)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($158,320)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($148,220)

#17. Administrative services managers

Abilene, TX
- Annual mean salary: $95,790
- #221 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90

National
- Annual mean salary: $113,030
- Employment: 224,620
- Entry level education requirements: nan
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($149,360)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($142,650)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($141,950)

#16. Physical therapists

Abilene, TX
- Annual mean salary: $97,310
- #64 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110

National
- Annual mean salary: $92,920
- Employment: 225,350
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($123,190)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($118,370)
--- Midland, TX ($116,880)

#15. Occupational therapists

Abilene, TX
- Annual mean salary: $97,530
- #30 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70

National
- Annual mean salary: $89,470
- Employment: 127,830
- Entry level education requirements: Master’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($121,190)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($113,210)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($113,190)

#14. Sales managers

Abilene, TX
- Annual mean salary: $98,110
- #359 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 170

National
- Annual mean salary: $142,390
- Employment: 453,800
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($198,960)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($196,910)
--- Boulder, CO ($182,820)

#13. Medical and health services managers

Abilene, TX
- Annual mean salary: $98,870
- #309 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 260

National
- Annual mean salary: $119,840
- Employment: 436,770
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($162,110)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($157,340)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($156,370)

#12. Electrical engineers

Abilene, TX
- Annual mean salary: $99,130
- #157 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50

National
- Annual mean salary: $107,890
- Employment: 186,020
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($148,870)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($133,640)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($124,680)

#11. Industrial production managers

Abilene, TX
- Annual mean salary: $99,620
- #308 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40

National
- Annual mean salary: $117,780
- Employment: 192,270
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($155,640)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($153,860)
--- Fort Collins, CO ($153,470)

#10. Pharmacists

Abilene, TX
- Annual mean salary: $102,710
- #387 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 220

National
- Annual mean salary: $125,690
- Employment: 312,550
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($168,640)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($163,840)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($158,420)

#9. Nurse practitioners

Abilene, TX
- Annual mean salary: $112,670
- #191 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 180

National
- Annual mean salary: $118,040
- Employment: 234,690
- Entry level education requirements: Master’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($197,870)
--- Napa, CA ($184,700)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($180,380)

#8. Computer network architects

Abilene, TX
- Annual mean salary: $116,360
- #40 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30

National
- Annual mean salary: $120,650
- Employment: 168,830
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($177,600)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($152,900)
--- Rapid City, SD ($145,810)

#7. Lawyers

Abilene, TX
- Annual mean salary: $116,590
- #184 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90

National
- Annual mean salary: $148,030
- Employment: 681,010
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($231,200)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($191,460)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($186,610)

#6. Physician assistants

Abilene, TX
- Annual mean salary: $117,130
- #152 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30

National
- Annual mean salary: $119,460
- Employment: 132,940
- Entry level education requirements: Master’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Portsmouth, NH-ME ($167,240)
--- Panama City, FL ($165,000)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($164,150)

#5. Marketing managers

Abilene, TX
- Annual mean salary: $121,300
- #198 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40

National
- Annual mean salary: $153,440
- Employment: 278,690
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($210,280)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($198,870)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($191,310)

#4. Petroleum engineers

Abilene, TX
- Annual mean salary: $126,640
- #25 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30

National
- Annual mean salary: $145,720
- Employment: 22,100
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($214,700)
--- Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA ($175,590)
--- Anchorage, AK ($169,650)

#3. Computer and information systems managers

Abilene, TX
- Annual mean salary: $128,800
- #210 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90

National
- Annual mean salary: $162,930
- Employment: 485,190
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($228,030)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($211,470)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($202,800)

#2. Financial managers

Abilene, TX
- Annual mean salary: $130,350
- #179 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 170

National
- Annual mean salary: $153,460
- Employment: 681,070
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($209,100)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($201,330)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($188,900)

#1. Dentists, general

Abilene, TX
- Annual mean salary: $150,920
- #248 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40

National
- Annual mean salary: $167,160
- Employment: 108,680
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Manchester, NH ($276,510)
--- Salinas, CA ($234,410)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($229,800)

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