2025-02-01
Highest vs Lowest Paying Industries: The $200K+ Wage Gap
The gap between the highest and lowest paying industries is staggering. Top-paying industries average $272K/year while the lowest pay just $20K.
According to BLS data, the wage gap between industries is enormous. An average employee in miscellaneous intermediation earns $272,351/year, while someone in motion picture theaters (except drive-ins) earns just $19,903/year — a 14x difference.
10 Highest Paying Industries
1. Miscellaneous Intermediation$272,351/year
2. Sports Teams and Clubs$265,815/year
3. Other Financial Vehicles$224,605/year
4. Crude Petroleum Extraction$221,671/year
6. Miscellaneous Financial Investment Activities$191,584/year
8. Offices of Other Holding Companies$179,688/year
10. Data Processing, Hosting, and Related Services$171,216/year
10 Lowest Paying Industries
1. Motion Picture Theaters (except Drive-Ins)$19,903/year
2. Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers$21,530/year
3. Limited-Service Restaurants$22,553/year
4. Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars$22,920/year
5. Fine Arts Schools$22,952/year
6. Sports and Recreation Instruction$23,027/year
7. Amusement Arcades$23,540/year
8. Bowling Centers$25,063/year
9. Cafeterias, Grill Buffets, and Buffets$25,941/year
10. Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages)$26,027/year
Data sources: U.S. Census Bureau Statistics of U.S. Businesses (2021), Census Business Dynamics Statistics (2023), Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW (2023), IRS Statistics of Income. Revenue figures are estimated from payroll data using industry-specific ratios.