Overview of Common Jobs Across Major U.S. Cities
As of May 2024, nearly four million Americans work as health and personal care aides, making it the most common occupation nationwide. These workers earn a median annual salary of approximately $34,000, according to the latest U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data analyzed by CNBC Make It.
The distribution of common occupations varies by metropolitan area, reflecting regional economic structures and labor market demands. This report examines the five most populous U.S. cities—New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, and Phoenix—and identifies their top five occupations along with median wages and employment numbers.
New York City: Diverse High-Wage Roles
- Home Health and Personal Care Aides: 605,590 employed; median wage $37,990
- Retail Salespersons: 212,470 employed; median wage $37,350
- Registered Nurses: 195,470 employed; median wage $113,490
- General and Operations Managers: 187,400 employed; median wage $149,260
- Janitors and Cleaners (except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners): 177,960 employed; median wage $40,350
New York stands out for its high median salaries in healthcare and management roles, with both registered nurses and general and operations managers earning six-figure incomes.
Los Angeles: Manual and Service Sector Prevalence
- Home Health and Personal Care Aides: 350,610 employed; median wage $34,600
- Fast Food and Counter Workers: 153,840 employed; median wage $36,480
- Manual Freight and Stock Movers: 128,800 employed; median wage $39,200
- Retail Salespersons: 122,120 employed; median wage $36,580
- Cashiers: 114,090 employed; median wage $36,120
Los Angeles features a strong presence of manual labor and service jobs, with median wages clustered in the mid-$30,000 range.
Chicago: Manual Labor Dominates
- Manual Freight and Stock Movers: 146,710 employed; median wage $40,030
- General and Operations Managers: 121,110 employed; median wage $105,310
- Fast Food and Counter Workers: 104,270 employed; median wage $33,020
- Retail Salespersons: 102,320 employed; median wage $34,910
- Registered Nurses: 100,620 employed; median wage $96,480
Manual freight and stock movers lead employment in Chicago, with a median wage exceeding $40,000. Management and nursing roles also command substantial salaries.
Houston: Management and Service Roles
- General and Operations Managers: 105,830 employed; median wage $108,090
- Fast Food and Counter Workers: 89,540 employed; median wage $26,960
- Retail Salespersons: 75,920 employed; median wage $30,260
- Registered Nurses: 65,300 employed; median wage $97,810
- Customer Service Representatives: 64,180 employed; median wage $39,310
Houston’s employment landscape is characterized by a strong managerial presence, while fast food and retail roles show lower median wages compared to other cities.
Phoenix: Balanced Mix of Management and Service
- General and Operations Managers: 73,000 employed; median wage $94,130
- Customer Service Representatives: 69,410 employed; median wage $44,400
- Retail Salespersons: 64,030 employed; median wage $35,550
- Fast Food and Counter Workers: 62,150 employed; median wage $33,870
- Manual Freight and Stock Movers: 57,320 employed; median wage $39,630
Phoenix displays a diversified employment profile with moderate wages across management, customer service, and manual labor occupations.
FinOracleAI — Market View
The data reveals persistent demand for healthcare support and manual labor roles across the largest U.S. cities, highlighting sectors with stable employment despite economic fluctuations. High median wages for registered nurses and general managers emphasize the value of skilled and supervisory positions in urban labor markets.
- Opportunities: Growth in healthcare aide roles aligns with an aging population, suggesting expanding demand.
- Risks: Lower wages in fast food and retail sectors may challenge worker retention amid inflationary pressures.
- Geographic wage disparities indicate potential for targeted workforce development and upskilling initiatives.
- Automation and labor efficiency trends could impact manual freight and stock mover roles in coming years.
Impact: The labor market in major U.S. cities continues to show resilience in healthcare and management sectors, while service and manual labor roles face wage pressures and evolving demand dynamics.
