America’s Most Common Jobs in 2024 — And What They Really Pay

The backbone of America’s workforce isn’t sitting in boardrooms—it’s made up of millions of hard-working men and women in health care, retail, food service, and logistics. According to the latest data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are nearly 4 million health and personal care aides across the country, making it the most common job in America as of May 2024.

These dedicated workers, who care for the elderly, disabled, and sick, earn a median annual salary of around $34,000—a modest paycheck for a role that keeps America running.

The Jobs That Keep America Working

Beyond home health aides, other popular jobs include retail sales associates, registered nurses, customer service reps, and fast food workers. But depending on where you live, the most common careers—and the money they bring in—can look very different.

For instance, in Chicago, the most typical job involves moving freight, stocking shelves, or handling luggage, earning about $40,000 per year.
In Los Angeles, manual freight movers make slightly less, around $39,200 annually, while in Phoenix, they take home just a bit more—about $39,630.

Where Workers Earn the Most

Among the five largest U.S. metro areas, registered nurses and operations managers rank among the highest-paid common occupations. In New York City, both earn well over six figures, showing just how valuable experience and leadership can be in America’s biggest city.

Below is a breakdown of the five most common jobs in each of America’s top five cities—and what they pay on average.

🗽 New York City

1. Home health and personal care aides — $37,990 (605,590 employed)
2. Retail salespersons — $37,350 (212,470 employed)
3. Registered nurses — $113,490 (195,470 employed)
4. General and operations managers — $149,260 (187,400 employed)
5. Janitors and cleaners — $40,350 (177,960 employed)

🌴 Los Angeles

1. Home health and personal care aides — $34,600 (350,610 employed)
2. Fast food and counter workers — $36,480 (153,840 employed)
3. Manual freight and stock movers — $39,200 (128,800 employed)
4. Retail salespersons — $36,580 (122,120 employed)
5. Cashiers — $36,120 (114,090 employed)

🌆 Chicago

1. Freight, stock, and material movers — $40,030 (146,710 employed)
2. Operations managers — $105,310 (121,110 employed)
3. Fast food and counter workers — $33,020 (104,270 employed)
4. Retail salespersons — $34,910 (102,320 employed)
5. Registered nurses — $96,480 (100,620 employed)

🤠 Houston

1. Operations managers — $108,090 (105,830 employed)
2. Fast food and counter workers — $26,960 (89,540 employed)
3. Retail salespersons — $30,260 (75,920 employed)
4. Registered nurses — $97,810 (65,300 employed)
5. Customer service representatives — $39,310 (64,180 employed)

🌵 Phoenix

1. Operations managers — $94,130 (73,000 employed)
2. Customer service representatives — $44,400 (69,410 employed)
3. Retail salespersons — $35,550 (64,030 employed)
4. Fast food and counter workers — $33,870 (62,150 employed)
5. Freight and stock movers — $39,630 (57,320 employed)

America’s Workforce: Essential, Undervalued, and Indispensable

From caregivers to warehouse workers, America’s most common jobs may not make headlines—but they keep the country moving every single day. And while wages vary by city, one truth remains the same: these workers are the heartbeat of the American economy.