Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics 2023 Data Release

In 2023, national employment totaled over 151.9 million people in the United States, reflecting an increase of 2.7% from 2022. The annual mean wage in 2023 was $65,470, and the median wage was $48,060.

Industry Sub-Groups

Among the industry sub-groups, Health Care and Social Assistance held the largest number of jobs, employing over 22.1 million people in 2023. The annual mean wage in this industry was $67,320, with a median wage of $46,810. There was a decrease in wage variance to the national average compared to 2022, with the variance shifting from 2.9% to 2.8%, indicating industry wages lagged national wage trends.

Retail Trade accounted for a substantial employment share, with 15.6 million people employed in 2023. The annual mean wage for this industry was $42,720, and the median wage was $35,330. In terms of wage variance to the national average, there was no change compared to 2022, with a variance of -34.7%.

The Accommodation and Food Services industry also had considerable employment, with approximately 13.9 million people employed in 2023. The annual mean wage in this sub-group was $36,220 and the median wage was $32,540. The wage variance to the national average experienced an increase compared to 2022, with the variance shifting from -45.6% to -44.7%.

Highest Employment Occupations

When we examine the top occupations in terms of employment within the United States, we find that General and Operations Managers had the highest annual mean wage in 2023, at $129,330, and a median wage of $101,280. Registered Nurses had an annual mean wage of $94,480 and a median wage of $86,070. Office Clerks, General had an annual mean wage of $43,560 and a median wage of $40,480.

Conversely, notable occupations with lower wages within the United States included Fast Food and Counter Workers, with an annual mean wage of $30,110 and a median wage of $29,540. Cashiers had an annual mean wage of $30,710 and a median wage of $29,720. Home Health and Personal Care Aides had an annual mean wage of $33,380 and a median wage of $33,530.

Summary

In 2023, total U.S. employment reached over 151.9 million people, a 2.7% increase from 2022. The annual mean wage was $65,470, and the median wage was $48,060. The Health Care and Social Assistance industry employed the largest share, with over 22.1 million workers earning an annual mean wage of $67,320, slightly above the national average. Retail Trade employed 15.6 million people with a mean wage of $42,720, while Accommodation and Food Services employed 13.9 million with a mean wage of $36,220, both lagging significantly behind the national wage average. Among top occupations, General and Operations Managers earned the highest mean wage at $129,330, followed by Registered Nurses at $94,480. In contrast, lower-wage roles like Fast Food Workers and Cashiers earned mean wages of $30,110 and $30,710, respectively. These figures highlight the wide range of earnings across industries and occupations, reflecting the diverse dynamics of the U.S. labor market.

Utilize our Salary and Location Databases to retrieve data for 2023, or download our free comprehensive 2023 National Report.