Table 1: Employment and mean wages for the largest U.S. occupations, May 2009
Occupation Employment Percent of total U.S. employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage

Retail salespersons

 4,209,500 3.2 $11.84 $24,630

Cashiers

 3,439,380 2.6 9.15 19,030

Office clerks, general

 2,815,240 2.2 13.32 27,700

Combined food preparation and serving workers, inc. fast food

 2,695,740 2.1 8.71 18,120

Registered nurses

 2,583,770 2.0 31.99 66,530

Waiters and waitresses

 2,302,070 1.8 9.80 20,380

Customer service representatives

 2,195,860 1.7 15.58 32,410

Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand

 2,135,790 1.6 12.16 25,290

Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners

 2,090,400 1.6 11.60 24,120

Stock clerks and order fillers

 1,864,410 1.4 11.28 23,460

Secretaries, except legal, medical, and executive

 1,797,670 1.4 14.93 31,060

Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks

 1,757,870 1.3 16.71 34,750

General and operations managers

 1,689,680 1.3 53.15 110,550

Truck drivers, heavy and tractor-trailer

 1,550,930 1.2 18.87 39,260

Elementary school teachers, except special education

 1,544,300 1.2 (1) 53,150
(1) Wages for some occupations that do not generally work year round, full time, are reported either as hourly wages or annual salaries, depending on how they are typically paid.

 

Last Modified Date: August 12, 2010