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Get Your Report Now!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.
# |
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 |
$25.28 |
$52,600 |