The most disproportionately high-paying job in every state
Madison Hoff  Â
- Some jobs at the state level pay more than the national median pay for that particular job.
- We looked at the job for each state that has the greatest percent increase from the national median among jobs with at least 1,000 employees in a state.
The median annual pay for substitute teachers in Nebraska is 53% higher than the national median annual salary for substitute teachers.
That makes that occupation the most disproportionately high-paying job among occupations in the state that have at least 1,000 employees. That is, this job has the greatest percent difference between the state and national median annual pay for jobs in the state with at least 1,000 workers and with available pay data.
To find out these disproportionately high-paying jobs in each state and DC, Insider looked at May 2021 median annual pay data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. We excluded jobs that didn't have median pay data or a specific median value and we excluded jobs that had a total employment in a state or DC of less than 1,000.
The above map shows our results. You can hover over the map to see the state or DC median annual pay and national median annual pay for the most disproportionately high-paying jobs.
Based on our calculations, there are several states where the most disproportionately high-paying job is in education. This is the case for Georgia, Nebraska, and West Virginia.
Below is the pay, employment, and percent difference for each of the disproportionately high-paying jobs.
Alabama: Chemical equipment operators and tenders
State median annual pay: $60,230
National median annual pay: $48,090
State employment: 2,220
The state median pay is 25% higher than the national median pay for this occupation.
Alaska: Correctional officers and jailers
State median annual pay: $65,730
National median annual pay: $47,920
State employment: 1,230
The state median pay is 37% higher than the national median pay for this occupation.
Arizona: Semiconductor processing technicians
State median annual pay: $57,910
National median annual pay: $39,870
State employment: 2,270
The state median pay is 45% higher than the national median pay for this occupation.
Arkansas: Postsecondary biological science teachers
State median annual pay: $155,580
National median annual pay: $81,440
State employment: 1,730
The state median pay is 91% higher than the national median pay for this occupation.
California: Postsecondary criminal justice and law enforcement teachers
State median annual pay: $130,910
National median annual pay: $64,600
State employment: 1,960
The state median pay is 103% higher than the national median pay for this occupation.
Colorado: Computer, automated teller, and office machine repairers
State median annual pay: $59,770
National median annual pay: $40,970
State employment: 3,300
The state median pay is 46% higher than the national median pay for this occupation.
Connecticut: Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists
State median annual pay: $97,760
National median annual pay: $60,250
State employment: 1,180
The state median pay is 62% higher than the national median pay for this occupation.
Delaware: Chemists
State median annual pay: $104,940
National median annual pay: $79,430
State employment: 1,300
The state median pay is 32% higher than the national median pay for this occupation.
District of Columbia: Motor vehicle operators (all other)
State median annual pay: $62,900
National median annual pay: $30,600
State employment: 1,100
The state median pay is 106% higher than the national median pay for this occupation.
Florida: Athletes and sports competitors
State median annual pay: $124,490
National median annual pay: $77,300
State employment: 2,010
The state median pay is 61% higher than the national median pay for this occupation.
Georgia: Postsecondary teaching assistants
State median annual pay: $62,260
National median annual pay: $38,040
State employment: 1,440
The state median pay is 64% higher than the national median pay for this occupation.
Hawaii: Flight attendants
State median annual pay: $103,580
National median annual pay: $61,640
State employment: 1,460
The state median pay is 68% higher than the national median pay for this occupation.
Idaho: Parts salespersons
State median annual pay: $37,150
National median annual pay: $34,260
State employment: 1,780
The state median pay is 8% higher than the national median pay for this occupation.
Illinois: Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
State median annual pay: $78,760
National median annual pay: $48,360
State employment: 11,530
The state median pay is 63% higher than the national median pay for this occupation.
Indiana: Postsecondary teaching assistants
State median annual pay: $49,010
National median annual pay: $38,040
State employment: 2,000
The state median pay is 29% higher than the national median pay for this occupation.
Iowa: Eligibility interviewers, government programs
State median annual pay: $60,200
National median annual pay: $47,420
State employment: 1,020
The state median pay is 27% higher than the national median pay for this occupation.
Kansas: Meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers
State median annual pay: $37,820
National median annual pay: $29,730
State employment: 5,230
The state median pay is 27% higher than the national median pay for this occupation.
Kentucky: Separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders
State median annual pay: $58,020
National median annual pay: $46,030
State employment: 1,290
The state median pay is 26% higher than the national median pay for this occupation.
Louisiana: Chemical equipment operators and tenders
State median annual pay: $76,150
National median annual pay: $48,090
State employment: 2,510
The state median pay is 58% higher than the national median pay for this occupation.
Maine: Bartenders
State median annual pay: $36,640
National median annual pay: $26,350
State employment: 2,510
The state median pay is 39% higher than the national median pay for this occupation.
Maryland: Healthcare practitioners and technical workers (all other)
State median annual pay: $97,990
National median annual pay: $58,750
State employment: 2,190
The state median pay is 67% higher than the national median pay for this occupation.
Massachusetts: Real estate sales agents
State median annual pay: $79,310
National median annual pay: $48,340
State employment: 3,370
The state median pay is 64% higher than the national median pay for this occupation.
Michigan: Psychiatric aides
State median annual pay: $43,470
National median annual pay: $30,260
State employment: 1,260
The state median pay is 44% higher than the national median pay for this occupation.
Minnesota: Telemarketers
State median annual pay: $45,460
National median annual pay: $28,910
State employment: 1,010
The state median pay is 57% higher than the national median pay for this occupation.
Mississippi: Postsecondary health specialties teachers
State median annual pay: $127,720
National median annual pay: $102,720
State employment: 1,750
The state median pay is 24% higher than the national median pay for this occupation.
Missouri: Tutors
State median annual pay: $46,450
National median annual pay: $36,470
State employment: 1,950
The state median pay is 27% higher than the national median pay for this occupation.
Montana: Industrial truck and tractor operators
State median annual pay: $48,790
National median annual pay: $38,380
State employment: 1,490
The state median pay is 27% higher than the national median pay for this occupation.
Nebraska: Short-term substitute teachers
State median annual pay: $45,980
National median annual pay: $30,100
State employment: 3,560
The state median pay is 53% higher than the national median pay for this occupation.
Nevada: Crushing, grinding, and polishing machine setters, operators, and tenders
State median annual pay: $59,720
National median annual pay: $38,760
State employment: 1,070
The state median pay is 54% higher than the national median pay for this occupation.
New Hampshire: Institution and cafeteria cooks
State median annual pay: $38,330
National median annual pay: $29,910
State employment: 1,400
The state median pay is 28% higher than the national median pay for this occupation.
New Jersey: Pipelayers
State median annual pay: $96,500
National median annual pay: $45,980
State employment: 1,180
The state median pay is 110% higher than the national median pay for this occupation.
New Mexico: Oil and gas service unit operators
State median annual pay: $61,850
National median annual pay: $48,410
State employment: 1,360
The state median pay is 28% higher than the national median pay for this occupation.
New York: Legislators
State median annual pay: $92,570
National median annual pay: $37,270
State employment: 4,370
The state median pay is 148% higher than the national median pay for this occupation.
North Carolina: Soil and plant scientists
State median annual pay: $99,950
National median annual pay: $66,750
State employment: 1,960
The state median pay is 50% higher than the national median pay for this occupation.
North Dakota: Driver/sales workers
State median annual pay: $45,670
National median annual pay: $29,280
State employment: 2,420
The state median pay is 56% higher than the national median pay for this occupation.
Ohio: Conveyor operators and tenders
State median annual pay: $46,350
National median annual pay: $36,420
State employment: 1,380
The state median pay is 27% higher than the national median pay for this occupation.
Oklahoma: Slaughterers and meat packers
State median annual pay: $36,670
National median annual pay: $29,900
State employment: 1,920
The state median pay is 23% higher than the national median pay for this occupation.
Oregon: Short-term substitute teachers
State median annual pay: $48,140
National median annual pay: $30,100
State employment: 3,460
The state median pay is 60% higher than the national median pay for this occupation.
Pennsylvania: Legislators
State median annual pay: $59,000
National median annual pay: $37,270
State employment: 1,360
The state median pay is 58% higher than the national median pay for this occupation.
Rhode Island: Teachers and instructors (all other)
State median annual pay: $97,620
National median annual pay: $50,540
State employment: 1,320
The state median pay is 93% higher than the national median pay for this occupation.
South Carolina: Metal and plastic multiple machine tool setters, operators, and tenders
State median annual pay: $51,300
National median annual pay: $37,630
State employment: 5,760
The state median pay is 36% higher than the national median pay for this occupation.
South Dakota: Meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers
State median annual pay: $37,820
National median annual pay: $29,730
State employment: 2,180
The state median pay is 27% higher than the national median pay for this occupation.
Tennessee: Protective service workers (all other)
State median annual pay: $49,590
National median annual pay: $38,210
State employment: 2,000
The state median pay is 30% higher than the national median pay for this occupation.
Texas: Geoscientists (except hydrologists and geographers)
State median annual pay: $130,030
National median annual pay: $83,680
State employment: 4,960
The state median pay is 55% higher than the national median pay for this occupation.
Utah: Postsecondary health specialties teachers
State median annual pay: $131,210
National median annual pay: $102,720
State employment: 2,390
The state median pay is 28% higher than the national median pay for this occupation.
Vermont: Teaching assistants (except postsecondary)
State median annual pay: $36,360
National median annual pay: $29,360
State employment: 4,950
The state median pay is 24% higher than the national median pay for this occupation.
Virginia: Legal support workers (all other)
State median annual pay: $137,380
National median annual pay: $59,790
State employment: 6,360
The state median pay is 130% higher than the national median pay for this occupation.
Washington: Legislators
State median annual pay: $96,790
National median annual pay: $37,270
State employment: 1,320
The state median pay is 160% higher than the national median pay for this occupation.
West Virginia: Short-term substitute teachers
State median annual pay: $37,720
National median annual pay: $30,100
State employment: 2,390
The state median pay is 25% higher than the national median pay for this occupation.
Wisconsin: Insurance sales agents
State median annual pay: $74,200
National median annual pay: $49,840
State employment: 7,600
The state median pay is 49% higher than the national median pay for this occupation.
Wyoming: First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
State median annual pay: $95,570
National median annual pay: $61,790
State employment: 1,290
The state median pay is 55% higher than the national median pay for this occupation.
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