Average Salaries in Oklahoma
Explore salaries across 719 occupations in Oklahoma. The average median wage across all tracked occupations is $63.9K, -2.9% 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 2025 estimates. Coverage: 719 occupations and 1,700,930 total jobs in Oklahoma.
How the state compares
Wages in Oklahoma track close to the national average. Pay for most occupations here is similar to what workers earn nationally.
Oklahoma 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 Surgeons, All Other. 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 Oklahoma
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.
Highest-paid occupations in Oklahoma
| Occupation | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Surgeons, All Other | $553.8K | 80 |
| Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric | $530.1K | 30 |
| Obstetricians And Gynecologists | $370.3K | 60 |
| Family Medicine Physicians | $361.4K | 2,170 |
| Emergency Medicine Physicians | $348.5K | 60 |
| Physicians, Pathologists | $317.9K | 130 |
| Psychiatrists | $271.6K | 80 |
| Physicians, All Other | $259.2K | 2,520 |
| Podiatrists | $253.4K | 60 |
| Pediatricians, General | $236.8K | 280 |
Largest occupations in Oklahoma
| Occupation | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food And Counter Workers | 52,520 | $23.4K |
| General And Operations Managers | 43,890 | $90.4K |
| Retail Salespersons | 43,830 | $29.7K |
| Cashiers | 41,140 | $28.2K |
| Registered Nurses | 38,270 | $82.9K |
| Laborers And Freight, Stock, And Material Movers, Hand | 38,210 | $37K |
| Customer Service Representatives | 34,460 | $38.7K |
| Stockers And Order Fillers | 32,910 | $34.8K |
| Office Clerks, General | 31,870 | $37.2K |
| Heavy And Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 27,840 | $54.4K |
What Oklahoma 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 Oklahoma than in the country as a whole, which signals what this state is known for.
Most concentrated occupations in Oklahoma
| Occupation | Location quotient | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Gambling Surveillance Officers And Gambling Investigators | 12.50 | $36K |
| Rotary Drill Operators, Oil And Gas | 12.32 | $55.2K |
| Forest Fire Inspectors And Prevention Specialists | 10.21 | $61.7K |
| Gambling Cage Workers | 9.72 | $30.6K |
| Agricultural Engineers | 7.50 | $87K |
| Petroleum Engineers | 7.29 | $153K |
| Service Unit Operators, Oil And Gas | 6.30 | $56.7K |
| Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, And Blasters | 5.98 | $55.2K |
| Aircraft Mechanics And Service Technicians | 5.64 | $74.4K |
| Rock Splitters, Quarry | 5.61 | $45K |
Comparable states
| State | Average median | Highest-paid occupation |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $89.7K | Neurologists |
| Washington | $86.5K | Cardiologists |
| New York | $83.2K | Cardiologists |
| California | $83.2K | Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric |
| Massachusetts | $81.2K | Radiologists |
| New Jersey | $80.4K | Radiologists |
| Minnesota | $79.9K | Radiologists |
| Alaska | $79.6K | Emergency Medicine Physicians |
Metros inside Oklahoma
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.
Major metros in Oklahoma
| Metro | Average median | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma City, OK | $63.8K | 668,800 |
| Tulsa, OK | $61.5K | 451,820 |
| Lawton, OK | $56.9K | 36,470 |
| Enid, OK | $51K | 17,960 |
Common salary questions for Oklahoma
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.