These are national median annual wages — half of workers earn more, half earn less — as published by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2023 release, the standard reference employers themselves use), rounded to the nearest hundred. Check the current figures at bls.gov before a negotiation; metros like San Francisco, New York and Seattle run well above these numbers, and rural areas below.
| Occupation | US median pay |
|---|---|
| Software Developers | $132,300 |
| Data Scientists | $108,000 |
| Registered Nurses | $86,100 |
| Accountants & Auditors | $79,900 |
| Elementary School Teachers | $63,700 |
| Electricians | $61,600 |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $69,200 |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $54,300 |
| Customer Service Representatives | $39,700 |
| Retail Salespersons | $33,700 |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $29,500 |
| Home Health & Personal Care Aides | $33,500 |
What moves a specific offer off the median
Location is the biggest lever — the same nursing job can differ by $40,000 between states. Experience and certifications stack: licensed, specialized and supervisory versions of every row above pay more than the base role. Industry matters inside a role — accountants in finance out-earn accountants in retail. Shift and setting (nights, hospitals vs clinics, union shops) quietly add 10–30%.
How to use this table
Find your role's median, then adjust: your metro's cost and demand, your years, your certifications. That builds the researched range our negotiation guide asks for — the difference between “I feel I deserve more” and “the data says this role pays X here,” which is the difference between a guess and a raise.
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2023), national medians, rounded. Figures are medians, not offers or guarantees; always verify current data for your state and metro at bls.gov.