Average Salaries in Nevada
Explore salaries across 680 occupations in Nevada. The average median wage across all tracked occupations is $64.2K, +4.4% vs the national average. See the highest-paying roles, where the jobs are, and how local wages compare to the rest of the country.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, May 2024 estimates. Coverage: 680 occupations and 1,513,600 total jobs in Nevada.
How the state compares
Wages in Nevada track close to the national average. Pay for most occupations here is similar to what workers earn nationally.
Nevada has a mid-sized labor market, with strong representation in some occupations but thinner coverage in niche roles.
The highest-paid occupation tracked here is Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric. Drill into any occupation below to see its local pay distribution, employment, and how it compares to the national market.
Top-paying and largest occupations in Nevada
Two different lenses on the local labor market: which occupations pay the most, and which employ the most workers. The highest-paid list tends to favor specialized professional and technical roles. The largest list reflects where the everyday jobs actually are.
Top wages
Highest-paid occupations in Nevada
| Occupation | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric | $219.8K | 50 |
| Podiatrists | $216.9K | 40 |
| Psychiatrists | $202.9K | 60 |
| Airline Pilots, Copilots, And Flight Engineers | $180.6K | 1,710 |
| General Internal Medicine Physicians | $154.0K | 400 |
| Architectural And Engineering Managers | $153.3K | 800 |
| Air Traffic Controllers | $147.7K | 210 |
| Optometrists | $146.8K | 360 |
| Psychologists, All Other | $144.4K | 100 |
| Pharmacists | $138.7K | 2,330 |
Most jobs
Largest occupations in Nevada
| Occupation | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Laborers And Freight, Stock, And Material Movers, Hand | 53,660 | $38.4K |
| Fast Food And Counter Workers | 44,110 | $29.2K |
| General And Operations Managers | 42,130 | $95.0K |
| Retail Salespersons | 41,880 | $33.4K |
| Waiters And Waitresses | 39,910 | $25.0K |
| Janitors And Cleaners, Except Maids And Housekeeping Cleaners | 33,650 | $36.5K |
| Cashiers | 30,660 | $29.1K |
| Customer Service Representatives | 29,900 | $39.0K |
| Registered Nurses | 27,570 | $102.0K |
| Cooks, Restaurant | 25,960 | $37.2K |
What Nevada specializes in
The location quotient measures how concentrated an occupation is here compared to the national average. A value above 1.00 means the occupation is more common in Nevada than in the country as a whole, which signals what this state is known for.
Location quotient
Most concentrated occupations in Nevada
| Occupation | Location quotient | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors Of Gambling Services Workers | 22.29 | $62.9K |
| Gambling Dealers | 21.51 | $24.1K |
| Taxi Drivers | 20.75 | $49.1K |
| Gambling Managers | 16.62 | $87.8K |
| Gambling Cage Workers | 15.86 | $36.9K |
| Gambling And Sports Book Writers And Runners | 13.76 | $30.5K |
| Loading And Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining | 13.39 | $80.8K |
| Entertainers And Performers, Sports And Related Workers, All Other | 13.05 | N/A |
| Gambling Service Workers, All Other | 12.67 | $36.5K |
| Gambling Change Persons And Booth Cashiers | 12.66 | $32.0K |
Peer markets
Comparable states
| State | Average median | Highest-paid occupation |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $86.2K | Obstetricians And Gynecologists |
| California | $77.6K | Chief Executives |
| Washington | $77.0K | Podiatrists |
| New York | $76.7K | Physicians, All Other |
| Massachusetts | $75.6K | Dentists, All Other Specialists |
| New Jersey | $73.7K | Physicians, All Other |
| Alaska | $73.0K | Dentists, General |
| Connecticut | $72.7K | Nurse Anesthetists |
Metros inside Nevada
Salaries can vary a lot within a single state. Urban metro areas typically pay more than rural regions, and specific industries cluster in particular cities. Drill into any metro below for its own full salary breakdown.
Inside this state
Major metros in Nevada
| Metro | Average median | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $63.4K | 1,105,730 |
| Reno, NV | $63.8K | 266,200 |
| Carson City, NV | $60.7K | 24,790 |
Common salary questions for Nevada
What does "average median" mean? +
It is the average of all occupation-level medians in this area. It gives a rough sense of the overall wage level here compared to other states or metros, but it is not the same as a household income figure or a single blended salary.
What is a location quotient? +
A location quotient (LQ) compares how concentrated an occupation is in this area versus the national average. An LQ of 2.0 means the occupation is twice as concentrated here as it is nationally. High-LQ occupations are what this area specializes in.
How are comparable areas selected? +
Peer areas are other states with a similar overall wage level and employment size. They give you a quick sense of how this area ranks among places with a comparable labor market.