Current Employment Patterns and Salary Insights in Major U.S. Cities for 2024
Health and personal care aides represent the largest occupational group in the United States, with nearly four million individuals employed nationwide. As of May 2024, these workers earn a median annual salary close to $34,000, underscoring their vital role in the country’s labor market.
Beyond healthcare support roles, other common jobs include retail sales associates, registered nurses, customer service representatives, and fast food workers. The prominence of these occupations varies significantly across metropolitan areas due to differing economic drivers and industry concentrations.
Chicago’s Workforce: A Hub for Manual Labor Positions
In Chicago-the third-largest metro area in the nation-manual labor jobs such as freight movers and stock handlers dominate employment figures. These positions offer a median yearly wage around $40,030, reflecting Chicago’s status as a central logistics and transportation hub supporting Midwestern commerce.
Salaries for Freight Movers Across Key Cities
- Los Angeles: Freight movers earn approximately $39,200 annually.
- Phoenix: These roles provide slightly higher compensation at about $39,630.
The Top-Earning Common Professions in Urban centers
The highest salaries among frequently held jobs are found within registered nursing and general or operations management roles. In New York City-the largest U.S. city-both professions report median incomes exceeding six figures per year, highlighting opportunities for advanced career paths amid essential frontline occupations.
Main Occupations by Metropolitan Area with Median Salaries (2024)
New York City Overview
- Home health & personal care aides:
Median salary: $37,990
Employed: 605,590 individuals - Retail salespersons:
Median salary: $37,350
employed: 212,470 individuals - < strong >Registered nurses:< / strong >< br /> Median salary :< strong >$113 ,490< / strong >< br /> Employed :195 ,470 li >
- < strong >General & operations managers:< / strong >< br /> Median salary :< strong >$149 ,260< / strong >< br /> Employed :187 ,400 li >
- < strong >Janitors & cleaners (excluding maids):< / strong >< br /> Median salary :< strong >$40 ,350< / strong >< br /> Employed :177 ,960 li >
New York City remains a powerhouse offering both high-volume employment in caregiving roles alongside lucrative managerial careers that surpass $140K annually.
The Los angeles Metropolitan Area Job Market Snapshot:
- Home health & personal care aides:
- Home health & personal care aides:


