
Highest and lowest paying education jobs in Houston
Highest and lowest paying education jobs in Houston
Whether you picture hard-working teachers buying school supplies for their students or genius professors shaping future leaders, it’s fair to say education encompasses a wide variety of jobs. So much so that there’s room to specialize and pursue your passion.
Historically, teachers’ pay is a rather contentious topic. The median annual salary across all teaching professions is $57,949—about $3,000 below the median annual salary of all working professionals with a bachelor’s degree or higher. Despite this, many of these jobs are rewarding in more ways than one. In other words, education can be very lucrative—particularly within specialty fields.
Stacker compiled a list of the highest- and lowest-paying education jobs in Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jobs are ranked by 2019 annual mean wage. Keep reading to discover the highest- and lowest-paying education jobs in your city.

#54. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $22,520
- #321 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 20,660
National
- Annual mean salary: $29,640
- Employment: 1,346,910
- Entry level education requirements: Some college, no degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($41,810)
--- Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA ($41,430)
--- New Bedford, MA ($41,360)

#53. Substitute teachers, short-term
- Annual mean salary: $24,100
- #226 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 17,120
National
- Annual mean salary: $32,460
- Employment: 587,120
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salisbury, MD-DE ($58,740)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($53,870)
--- Salinas, CA ($49,790)

#52. Library technicians
- Annual mean salary: $33,140
- #162 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 710
National
- Annual mean salary: $36,950
- Employment: 88,720
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($58,980)
--- Iowa City, IA ($54,140)
--- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($52,650)

#51. Farm and home management educators
- Annual mean salary: $36,080
- #21 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $52,720
- Employment: 8,720
- Entry level education requirements: Master’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE-IA ($87,800)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($65,850)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($65,510)

#50. Museum technicians and conservators
- Annual mean salary: $37,350
- #48 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120
National
- Annual mean salary: $48,030
- Employment: 13,190
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($68,320)
--- New Haven, CT ($63,900)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($63,240)

#49. Preschool teachers, except special education
- Annual mean salary: $39,290
- #44 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 9,120
National
- Annual mean salary: $34,650
- Employment: 431,350
- Entry level education requirements: Associate’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Vineland-Bridgeton, NJ ($55,430)
--- Laredo, TX ($50,350)
--- Waterbury, CT ($49,840)

#48. Teaching assistants, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $44,800
- #13 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,030
National
- Annual mean salary: $36,460
- Employment: 137,500
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ ($59,650)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($57,670)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($57,330)

#47. Special education teachers, preschool
- Annual mean salary: $47,330
- #55 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $67,060
- Employment: 22,340
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($93,100)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($92,990)
--- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($85,050)

#46. Curators
- Annual mean salary: $55,760
- #42 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140
National
- Annual mean salary: $59,130
- Employment: 12,890
- Entry level education requirements: Master’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Ann Arbor, MI ($82,280)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($81,640)
--- Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY ($76,200)

#45. Kindergarten teachers, except special education
- Annual mean salary: $57,530
- #118 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,870
National
- Annual mean salary: $60,210
- Employment: 124,290
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Merced, CA ($97,220)
--- Modesto, CA ($91,230)
--- Kingston, NY ($89,850)

#44. Education teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $58,360
- #85 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 910
National
- Annual mean salary: $74,560
- Employment: 61,300
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Rochester, NY ($108,450)
--- Salt Lake City, UT ($107,300)
--- Toledo, OH ($106,940)

#43. Elementary school teachers, except special education
- Annual mean salary: $58,550
- #177 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 29,610
National
- Annual mean salary: $63,930
- Employment: 1,430,480
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kingston, NY ($92,090)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($90,270)
--- Merced, CA ($89,910)

#42. Middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education
- Annual mean salary: $58,840
- #152 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 14,700
National
- Annual mean salary: $63,550
- Employment: 622,330
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kingston, NY ($91,610)
--- Bakersfield, CA ($91,350)
--- El Centro, CA ($89,610)

#41. Self-enrichment teachers
- Annual mean salary: $59,360
- #5 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,710
National
- Annual mean salary: $46,120
- Employment: 252,780
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($65,570)
--- Warner Robins, GA ($65,340)
--- Fairbanks, AK ($64,710)

#40. Special education teachers, middle school
- Annual mean salary: $59,720
- #83 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,980
National
- Annual mean salary: $65,740
- Employment: 85,840
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Worcester, MA-CT ($86,410)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($85,440)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($85,340)

#39. Special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school
- Annual mean salary: $60,120
- #120 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,740
National
- Annual mean salary: $64,420
- Employment: 193,830
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Merced, CA ($93,990)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($92,040)
--- Fresno, CA ($89,480)

#38. Archivists
- Annual mean salary: $60,640
- #14 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $57,500
- Employment: 6,560
- Entry level education requirements: Master’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($81,730)
--- Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX ($80,200)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($73,490)

#37. Career/technical education teachers, middle school
- Annual mean salary: $60,840
- #26 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 420
National
- Annual mean salary: $64,900
- Employment: 11,860
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Fresno, CA ($126,110)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($95,660)
--- Utica-Rome, NY ($90,480)

#36. Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education
- Annual mean salary: $61,130
- #137 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 28,570
National
- Annual mean salary: $65,930
- Employment: 1,035,850
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bakersfield, CA ($97,680)
--- Fresno, CA ($93,410)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($93,350)

#35. Special education teachers, secondary school
- Annual mean salary: $61,890
- #97 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,200
National
- Annual mean salary: $65,710
- Employment: 143,170
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($98,500)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($93,280)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($93,110)

#34. Career/technical education teachers, secondary school
- Annual mean salary: $62,980
- #83 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,310
National
- Annual mean salary: $64,800
- Employment: 74,520
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Fresno, CA ($102,780)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($87,500)
--- New Haven, CT ($85,740)
#33. Librarians and media collections specialists
- Annual mean salary: $63,170
- #91 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,260
National
- Annual mean salary: $61,920
- Employment: 135,690
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA ($89,880)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($89,390)
--- Merced, CA ($87,800)

#32. Geography teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $64,900
- #15 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $86,540
- Employment: 3,970
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($122,330)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($108,150)
--- Austin-Round Rock, TX ($102,010)

#31. Library science teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $66,080
- #15 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
National
- Annual mean salary: $77,170
- Employment: 4,390
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($128,110)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($109,820)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($104,380)
#30. Adult basic education, adult secondary education, and english as a second language instructors
- Annual mean salary: $66,730
- #18 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,040
National
- Annual mean salary: $58,980
- Employment: 51,950
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($94,920)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($92,360)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($90,000)
#29. Social work teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $68,280
- #28 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $77,910
- Employment: 13,640
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($97,040)
--- Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC ($95,470)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($92,920)

#28. Criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $68,310
- #30 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 320
National
- Annual mean salary: $72,980
- Employment: 14,070
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Fresno, CA ($141,190)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($138,130)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($102,150)

#27. Instructional coordinators
- Annual mean salary: $69,090
- #115 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 4,160
National
- Annual mean salary: $69,180
- Employment: 176,690
- Entry level education requirements: Master’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Jackson, MI ($117,990)
--- New Haven, CT ($111,750)
--- Warner Robins, GA ($103,980)
#26. Career/technical education teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $69,970
- #35 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,910
National
- Annual mean salary: $60,420
- Employment: 112,210
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($92,930)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($90,500)
--- San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA ($89,100)

#25. Communications teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $70,820
- #44 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 450
National
- Annual mean salary: $79,830
- Employment: 29,120
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($139,590)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($128,640)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($124,400)

#24. Foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $72,080
- #44 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 330
National
- Annual mean salary: $80,170
- Employment: 24,860
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($127,820)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($115,340)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($110,010)

#23. Area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $74,940
- #24 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100
National
- Annual mean salary: $88,410
- Employment: 10,600
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($142,330)
--- Rochester, NY ($121,740)
--- Providence-Warwick, RI-MA ($119,320)

#22. Recreation and fitness studies teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $77,290
- #18 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 230
National
- Annual mean salary: $73,720
- Employment: 15,880
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($132,460)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($101,230)
--- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($94,590)

#21. Architecture teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $77,920
- #14 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140
National
- Annual mean salary: $98,980
- Employment: 6,780
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($166,930)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($141,050)
--- Providence-Warwick, RI-MA ($117,550)
#20. Psychology teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $78,840
- #65 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 570
National
- Annual mean salary: $87,530
- Employment: 37,480
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($129,120)
--- Bakersfield, CA ($128,700)
--- Fresno, CA ($127,520)
#19. Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $80,220
- #44 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 720
National
- Annual mean salary: $83,160
- Employment: 59,680
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($120,980)
--- Rochester, NY ($108,480)
--- New Haven, CT ($107,320)

#18. English language and literature teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $82,010
- #31 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,260
National
- Annual mean salary: $80,180
- Employment: 67,930
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($138,190)
--- Fresno, CA ($128,540)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($121,070)

#17. Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $84,100
- #29 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,040
National
- Annual mean salary: $83,220
- Employment: 94,060
- Entry level education requirements: Master’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($119,250)
--- Rochester, NY ($114,810)
--- Provo-Orem, UT ($112,520)
#16. Law teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $84,690
- #24 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 210
National
- Annual mean salary: $129,950
- Employment: 16,180
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Tallahassee, FL ($174,030)
--- Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI ($168,420)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($155,710)

#15. Agricultural sciences teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $84,790
- #7 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $89,320
- Employment: 9,470
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($148,200)
--- College Station-Bryan, TX ($124,100)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($113,820)

#14. Political science teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $85,250
- #34 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 390
National
- Annual mean salary: $102,290
- Employment: 15,750
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($155,410)
--- Durham-Chapel Hill, NC ($142,680)
--- Providence-Warwick, RI-MA ($136,460)

#13. Mathematical science teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $88,950
- #31 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,110
National
- Annual mean salary: $86,330
- Employment: 51,150
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($143,390)
--- Fresno, CA ($127,330)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($124,750)

#12. History teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $89,550
- #28 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 470
National
- Annual mean salary: $84,210
- Employment: 21,030
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Fresno, CA ($144,240)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($127,460)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($114,750)

#11. Computer science teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $90,180
- #50 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 550
National
- Annual mean salary: $98,430
- Employment: 31,800
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Tuscaloosa, AL ($151,520)
--- College Station-Bryan, TX ($149,560)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($142,520)

#10. Business teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $90,210
- #77 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,270
National
- Annual mean salary: $105,440
- Employment: 83,920
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- College Station-Bryan, TX ($177,360)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($154,210)
--- Tuscaloosa, AL ($141,870)

#9. Atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $90,250
- #33 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 170
National
- Annual mean salary: $102,690
- Employment: 11,020
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($147,800)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($146,430)
--- Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI ($138,680)

#8. Sociology teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $93,600
- #12 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 180
National
- Annual mean salary: $85,240
- Employment: 13,850
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($121,440)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($119,800)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($118,900)

#7. Philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $97,240
- #12 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 260
National
- Annual mean salary: $88,970
- Employment: 23,490
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($155,290)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($134,000)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($133,610)

#6. Physics teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $99,110
- #29 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 230
National
- Annual mean salary: $101,110
- Employment: 13,780
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- College Station-Bryan, TX ($148,240)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($144,430)
--- Rochester, NY ($144,220)

#5. Chemistry teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $104,050
- #14 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 350
National
- Annual mean salary: $92,650
- Employment: 21,380
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($137,130)
--- College Station-Bryan, TX ($135,530)
--- Salt Lake City, UT ($132,340)

#4. Engineering teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $107,950
- #18 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 600
National
- Annual mean salary: $112,110
- Employment: 36,080
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- College Station-Bryan, TX ($160,730)
--- Pittsburgh, PA ($143,600)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($140,020)

#3. Biological science teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $110,230
- #17 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,060
National
- Annual mean salary: $98,700
- Employment: 53,090
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($143,420)
--- Salt Lake City, UT ($142,610)
--- Norwich-New London-Westerly, CT-RI ($140,810)

#2. Economics teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $117,540
- #22 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 190
National
- Annual mean salary: $119,160
- Employment: 13,270
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- College Station-Bryan, TX ($169,320)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($162,330)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($161,460)

#1. Health specialties teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $180,310
- #4 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 6,160
National
- Annual mean salary: $121,620
- Employment: 201,920
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Jacksonville, FL ($202,430)
--- Jackson, MS ($185,500)
--- Kalamazoo-Portage, MI ($184,130)