Most common jobs in Wausau

Written by:
July 11, 2021
Dean Drobot // Shutterstock

Most common jobs in Wausau

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 Wausau 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 Wausau are the most common.

#49. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists

Wausau, WI
- Employment: 270 (3.895 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $26,810 (#260 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 302,410 (2.174 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $32,740
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Worcester, MA-CT ($50,580)
--- New Bedford, MA ($48,390)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($47,470)
- Job description: Provide beauty services, such as cutting, coloring, and styling hair, and massaging and treating scalp. May shampoo hair, apply makeup, dress wigs, remove hair, and provide nail and skincare services.

#49. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

Wausau, WI
- Employment: 270 (4.006 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $75,870 (#51 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 287,150 (2.064 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $70,650
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($97,980)
--- Waterbury, CT ($92,160)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($88,750)
- Job description: Review settled claims to determine that payments and settlements are made in accordance with company practices and procedures. Confer with legal counsel on claims requiring litigation. May also settle insurance claims.

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

Wausau, WI
- Employment: 270 (3.935 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $38,870 (#53 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.

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

Wausau, WI
- Employment: 300 (4.437 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $59,750 (#162 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.

#46. Tellers

Wausau, WI
- Employment: 310 (4.562 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $31,760 (#211 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 423,570 (3.045 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $32,960
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($41,600)
--- Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL ($38,770)
--- Redding, CA ($38,530)
- Job description: Receive and pay out money. Keep records of money and negotiable instruments involved in a financial institution's various transactions.

#45. Electricians

Wausau, WI
- Employment: 320 (4.723 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $63,390 (#97 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.

#44. Human resources specialists

Wausau, WI
- Employment: 330 (4.793 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $66,680 (#95 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.

#42. Computer numerically controlled tool operators

Wausau, WI
- Employment: 340 (4.942 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $46,560 (#69 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 149,120 (1.072 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $44,300
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($69,040)
--- Waco, TX ($60,570)
--- Springfield, MA-CT ($59,760)
- Job description: Operate computer-controlled tools, machines, or robots to machine or process parts, tools, or other work pieces made of metal, plastic, wood, stone, or other materials. May also set up and maintain equipment.

#42. Cooks, restaurant

Wausau, WI
- Employment: 340 (4.974 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $29,000 (#136 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.

#42. Coating, painting, and spraying machine setters, operators, and tenders

Wausau, WI
- Employment: 340 (4.924 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $40,240 (#164 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 137,510 (0.989 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $42,140
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bremerton-Silverdale, WA ($64,780)
--- Portsmouth, NH-ME ($64,240)
--- Harrisonburg, VA ($61,990)
- Job description: Set up, operate, or tend spraying or rolling machines to coat or paint any of a wide variety of products, including glassware, cloth, ceramics, metal, plastic, paper, or wood, with lacquer, silver, copper, rubber, varnish, glaze, enamel, oil, or rust-proofing materials. Includes painters of transportation vehicles such as painters in auto body repair facilities.

#39 (tie). Carpenters

Wausau, WI
- Employment: 350 (5.069 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $48,580 (#154 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.

#39 (tie). Firefighters

Wausau, WI
- Employment: 350 (5.057 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $37,280 (#251 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 311,350 (2.238 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $56,360
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($125,680)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($109,480)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($105,670)
- Job description: Control and extinguish fires or respond to emergency situations where life, property, or the environment is at risk. Duties may include fire prevention, emergency medical service, hazardous material response, search and rescue, and disaster assistance.

#38. Industrial engineers

Wausau, WI
- Employment: 360 (5.208 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $73,880 (#310 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 290,190 (2.086 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $93,610
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Billings, MT ($125,760)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($123,710)
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($123,510)
- Job description: Design, develop, test, and evaluate integrated systems for managing industrial production processes, including human work factors, quality control, inventory control, logistics and material flow, cost analysis, and production coordination.

#37. Medical assistants

Wausau, WI
- Employment: 370 (5.386 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $37,590 (#96 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.

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

Wausau, WI
- Employment: 390 (5.742 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $37,720 (#185 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.

#35 (tie). Teaching assistants, except postsecondary

Wausau, WI
- Employment: 390 (5.705 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $28,290 (#172 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.

#33 (tie). Computer systems analysts

Wausau, WI
- Employment: 400 (5.835 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $73,900 (#290 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.

#33 (tie). Machinists

Wausau, WI
- Employment: 400 (5.848 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $42,340 (#285 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 360,340 (2.59 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $47,800
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($68,950)
--- Anchorage, AK ($64,610)
--- Farmington, NM ($64,190)
- Job description: Set up and operate a variety of machine tools to produce precision parts and instruments out of metal. Includes precision instrument makers who fabricate, modify, or repair mechanical instruments. May also fabricate and modify parts to make or repair machine tools or maintain industrial machines, applying knowledge of mechanics, mathematics, metal properties, layout, and machining procedures.

#32. Shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks

Wausau, WI
- Employment: 410 (6.031 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $44,410 (#11 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.

#31. Automotive service technicians and mechanics

Wausau, WI
- Employment: 440 (6.451 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $45,410 (#162 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.

#29 (tie). Construction laborers

Wausau, WI
- Employment: 450 (6.615 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $48,000 (#59 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.

#29 (tie). Insurance claims and policy processing clerks

Wausau, WI
- Employment: 450 (6.597 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $42,590 (#112 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 240,740 (1.731 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $45,070
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($60,640)
--- Anchorage, AK ($60,250)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($58,390)
- Job description: Process new insurance policies, modifications to existing policies, and claims forms. Obtain information from policyholders to verify the accuracy and completeness of information on claims forms, applications and related documents, and company records. Update existing policies and company records to reflect changes requested by policyholders and insurance company representatives.

#27 (tie). Bartenders

Wausau, WI
- Employment: 460 (6.730 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $24,290 (#220 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.

#27 (tie). Industrial machinery mechanics

Wausau, WI
- Employment: 460 (6.693 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $54,710 (#208 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.

#25 (tie). Waiters and waitresses

Wausau, WI
- Employment: 470 (6.890 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $26,100 (#144 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.

#25 (tie). Software developers and software quality assurance analysts and testers

Wausau, WI
- Employment: 470 (6.874 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $94,510 (#175 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 1,476,800 (10.617 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $114,270
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($157,480)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($144,740)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($140,930)
- Job description: Research, design, and develop computer and network software or specialized utility programs. Analyze user needs and develop software solutions, applying principles and techniques of computer science, engineering, and mathematical analysis. Update software or enhance existing software capabilities. May work with computer hardware engineers to integrate hardware and software systems, and develop specifications and performance requirements. May maintain databases within an application area, working individually or coordinating database development as part of a team.

#24. First-line supervisors of retail sales workers

Wausau, WI
- Employment: 490 (7.174 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $43,060 (#281 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.

#22 (tie). Industrial truck and tractor operators

Wausau, WI
- Employment: 500 (7.238 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $42,440 (#67 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.

#22 (tie). Structural metal fabricators and fitters

Wausau, WI
- Employment: 500 (7.334 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $49,880 (#22 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 69,550 (0.5 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $44,750
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Longview, WA ($71,950)
--- Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls, NY ($60,760)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($58,230)
- Job description: Fabricate, position, align, and fit parts of structural metal products.

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

Wausau, WI
- Employment: 510 (7.492 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $63,430 (#56 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.

#19 (tie). Cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic

Wausau, WI
- Employment: 520 (7.660 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $39,730 (#76 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 179,300 (1.289 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $38,650
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Oshkosh-Neenah, WI ($50,080)
--- Rome, GA ($49,580)
--- Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH ($49,140)
- Job description: Set up, operate, or tend machines to saw, cut, shear, slit, punch, crimp, notch, bend, or straighten metal or plastic material.

#19 (tie). Accountants and auditors

Wausau, WI
- Employment: 520 (7.619 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $70,040 (#228 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.

#18. Maids and housekeeping cleaners

Wausau, WI
- Employment: 540 (7.854 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $25,860 (#158 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.

#17. Nursing assistants

Wausau, WI
- Employment: 640 (9.278 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $31,530 (#155 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.

#15 (tie). Light truck drivers

Wausau, WI
- Employment: 650 (9.532 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $40,490 (#135 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.

#15 (tie). Elementary school teachers, except special education

Wausau, WI
- Employment: 650 (9.501 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $55,860 (#200 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 1,364,870 (9.812 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $65,420
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Merced, CA ($99,360)
--- Kingston, NY ($93,780)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($92,910)
- Job description: Teach academic and social skills to students at the elementary school level.

#14. Packaging and filling machine operators and tenders

Wausau, WI
- Employment: 710 (10.417 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $42,250 (#20 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 370,910 (2.667 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $35,220
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Beckley, WV ($52,340)
--- Cedar Rapids, IA ($52,240)
--- Battle Creek, MI ($49,120)
- Job description: Operate or tend machines to prepare industrial or consumer products for storage or shipment. Includes cannery workers who pack food products.

#13. Stockers and order fillers

Wausau, WI
- Employment: 720 (10.514 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $28,960 (#220 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.

#12. Paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders

Wausau, WI
- Employment: 740 (10.805 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $53,300 (#5 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 99,890 (0.718 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $41,480
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA ($60,340)
--- Columbia, SC ($60,250)
--- Charleston-North Charleston, SC ($59,970)
- Job description: Set up, operate, or tend paper goods machines that perform a variety of functions, such as converting, sawing, corrugating, banding, wrapping, boxing, stitching, forming, or sealing paper or paperboard sheets into products.

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

Wausau, WI
- Employment: 760 (11.065 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $30,560 (#148 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.

#10. Maintenance and repair workers, general

Wausau, WI
- Employment: 930 (13.544 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $47,200 (#48 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 1,357,630 (9.76 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $43,790
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($58,140)
--- Yuba City, CA ($57,930)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($54,820)
- Job description: Perform work involving the skills of two or more maintenance or craft occupations to keep machines, mechanical equipment, or the structure of a building in repair. Duties may involve pipe fitting; HVAC maintenance; insulating; welding; machining; carpentry; repairing electrical or mechanical equipment; installing, aligning, and balancing new equipment; and repairing buildings, floors, or stairs.

#9. Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks

Wausau, WI
- Employment: 970 (14.211 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $41,200 (#171 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.

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

Wausau, WI
- Employment: 990 (14.420 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $66,930 (#203 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.

#7. Fast food and counter workers

Wausau, WI
- Employment: 1,040 (15.126 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $21,250 (#270 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.

#6. Customer service representatives

Wausau, WI
- Employment: 1,150 (16.808 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $38,290 (#100 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.

#5. Office clerks, general

Wausau, WI
- Employment: 1,330 (19.395 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $36,660 (#158 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.

#4. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers

Wausau, WI
- Employment: 1,340 (19.499 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $49,390 (#127 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 1,797,710 (12.924 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $48,710
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Barnstable Town, MA ($65,170)
--- Danville, IL ($63,230)
--- Lewiston, ID-WA ($62,250)
- Job description: Drive a tractor-trailer combination or a truck with a capacity of at least 26,001 pounds Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW). May be required to unload truck. Requires commercial drivers' license. Includes tow truck drivers.

#3. Cashiers

Wausau, WI
- Employment: 1,710 (24.886 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $22,340 (#311 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 3,333,100 (23.962 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $25,710
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($35,970)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($34,480)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($34,320)
- Job description: Receive and disburse money in establishments other than financial institutions. May use electronic scanners, cash registers, or related equipment. May process credit or debit card transactions and validate checks.

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

Wausau, WI
- Employment: 1,760 (25.690 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $36,240 (#53 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.

#1. Registered nurses

Wausau, WI
- Employment: 1,790 (26.172 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $70,080 (#187 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.

Trending Now