Want to be among the highest-paid workers in the country? Get trained to become an air traffic controller--individuals in this occupation are receiving a median hourly wage that is head and shoulders above that of any other occupation requiring work experience or on-the-job training, according to a report by the Office of Occupational Statistics and Employment Projections at the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The median hourly wage in 2006 for air traffic controllers was $56.37, over $16 higher than any other occupation requiring work experience or on-the-job training.
Ten of the highest-paying occupations on the list are managerial or supervisory positions, including industrial production managers (3rd on the list), transportation, storage, and distribution managers (4), first-line supervisors/managers of police and detectives (6), and first-line supervisors/managers of non-retail sales workers (7).
Other occupations of note that made the list were elevator operators and repairers (9th on the list with a median wage of $30.59 per hour), post masters and mail superintendents (16, $28.62/hour) and captains, mates and pilots of water vessels (23, $25.69/hour).
The chart below reflects the median hourly and annual wages in 2006 for the highest-paid occupations requiring work experience or on-the-job training.
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Occupation
Median wages, 2006
Hourly
Annual
1
Air Traffic Controllers
$56.37
$117,200
2
Managers, All Other
$39.66
$82,500
3
Industrial Production Managers
$37.34
$77,700
4
Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers
$35.14
$73,100
5
Nuclear Power Reactor Operators
$33.35
$69,400
6
First-Line Supervisors/Managers of Police and Detectives
$33.32
$69,300
7
First-Line Supervisors/Managers of Non-Retail Sales Workers
$31.49
$65,500
8
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products
$30.98
$64,400
9
Elevator Installers and Repairers
$30.59
$63,600
10
First-Line Supervisors/Managers of Fire Fighting and Prevention Workers
$30.24
$62,900
11
Gaming Managers
$30.20
$62,800
12
Power Distributors and Dispatchers
$30.09
$62,600
13
Real Estate Brokers
$29.23
$60,800
14
Detectives and Criminal Investigators
$28.01
$58,300
15
Locomotive Engineers
$27.88
$58,000
16
Postmasters and Mail Superintendents
$26.82
$55,800
17
Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters
$26.70
$55,500
18
Power Plant Operators
$26.44
$55,000
19
First-Line Supervisors/Managers of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers
$25.91
$53,900
20
First-Line Supervisors/Managers of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers
$25.89
$53,900
21
Flight Attendants
N/A
$53,800
22
Gas Plant Operators
$25.80
$53,700
23
Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels
$25.69
$53,400
24
Cost Estimators
$25.45
$52,900
25
First-Line Supervisors/Managers of Correctional Officers
