Employment and wages of the largest occupations, May 2008
Occupation Employment Percent of total employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage

Retail salespersons

 4,426,280 3.3% $12.04 $25,050

Cashiers

 3,545,610 2.6 9.08 18,880

Office clerks, general

 2,906,600 2.2 12.90 26,830

Combined food preparation and serving workers, including fast food

 2,708,840 2.0 8.36 17,400

Registered nurses

 2,542,760 1.9 31.31 65,130

Waiters and waitresses

 2,371,750 1.8 9.41 19,580

Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand

 2,335,510 1.7 11.87 24,690

Customer service representatives

 2,233,270 1.7 15.28 31,790

Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners

 2,145,320 1.6 11.30 23,500

Stock clerks and order fillers

 1,873,390 1.4 11.13 23,140

Secretaries, except legal, medical, and executive

 1,872,070 1.4 14.42 29,990

Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks

 1,855,010 1.4 16.25 33,800

General and operations managers

 1,697,690 1.3 51.91 107,970

Truck drivers, heavy and tractor-trailer

 1,672,580 1.2 18.62 38,720

Elementary school teachers, except special education

 1,544,270 1.1 (4) 52,240

(4) 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: April 30, 2010