Average Salaries in Utah
Explore salaries across 717 occupations in Utah. The average median wage across all tracked occupations is $63.0K, +2.4% 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: 717 occupations and 1,699,940 total jobs in Utah.
How the state compares
Wages in Utah track close to the national average. Pay for most occupations here is similar to what workers earn nationally.
Utah 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 Physicians, 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 Utah
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 Utah
| Occupation | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Physicians, All Other | $232.7K | 3,500 |
| Pediatricians, General | $194.2K | 250 |
| Athletes And Sports Competitors | $178.9K | 290 |
| Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric | $168.5K | 60 |
| Petroleum Engineers | $166.6K | 380 |
| Chief Executives | $164.0K | 3,980 |
| Computer And Information Systems Managers | $162.4K | 8,090 |
| Air Traffic Controllers | $156.1K | 350 |
| Architectural And Engineering Managers | $150.0K | 2,480 |
| Podiatrists | $146.3K | 90 |
Most jobs
Largest occupations in Utah
| Occupation | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food And Counter Workers | 50,980 | $28.7K |
| Customer Service Representatives | 48,770 | $40.2K |
| General And Operations Managers | 45,910 | $91.2K |
| Retail Salespersons | 39,580 | $34.3K |
| Office Clerks, General | 36,950 | $41.5K |
| Laborers And Freight, Stock, And Material Movers, Hand | 29,750 | $39.6K |
| Software Developers | 29,160 | $127.4K |
| Cashiers | 27,810 | $30.3K |
| Stockers And Order Fillers | 26,990 | $37.8K |
| Registered Nurses | 25,780 | $82.3K |
What Utah 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 Utah than in the country as a whole, which signals what this state is known for.
Location quotient
Most concentrated occupations in Utah
| Occupation | Location quotient | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Door-To-Door Sales Workers, News And Street Vendors, And Related Workers | 10.63 | $33.2K |
| Subway And Streetcar Operators | 8.81 | $57.2K |
| Continuous Mining Machine Operators | 8.80 | $67.9K |
| Family And Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | 6.14 | $74.8K |
| Umpires, Referees, And Other Sports Officials | 5.75 | $29.9K |
| Tax Examiners And Collectors, And Revenue Agents | 5.38 | $48.5K |
| Plasterers And Stucco Masons | 5.16 | $53.2K |
| Tile And Stone Setters | 4.53 | $48.8K |
| Choreographers | 4.29 | $37.7K |
| Judicial Law Clerks | 4.05 | $50.5K |
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 Utah
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 Utah
| Metro | Average median | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $65.4K | 797,980 |
| Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT | $58.3K | 290,320 |
| Ogden, UT | $60.4K | 262,670 |
| St. George, UT | $56.7K | 80,330 |
| Logan, UT-ID | $56.2K | 58,800 |
Common salary questions for Utah
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.