Salary Growth Trends by Job Level and Job Family

With the job market constantly evolving, job seekers are prioritizing not only roles in high demand but also those offering competitive salaries and long-term growth. ERI SalaryExpert examines three-year average salary trends, observing compensation growth for occupations by job level and job family. Below are the average salaries of occupations in ten popular job families that have demonstrated salary growth between 2022 and 2024.  

1. Health Care 

There are a wide range of careers to consider when entering health care. Whether you want to pursue a career as a health care practitioner or a role in health care support, you should expect opportunities for growth.  

For Health Care Practitioners, occupations at the Supervisors - Professional level are growing the fastest of all job levels, with a 3-year average of 4.52%. 

Consider these examples of average salaries for Health Care Practitioners at the Supervisors - Professional level:   

• • Case Manger – $88,811 
  • Charge Nurse – $95,500 
  • Nursing Supervisor – $108,669 

For Health Care Support, occupations at the Entry Professionals level are growing the fastest of all job levels, with a 3-year average of 4.19%. 

Here are average salaries in Health Care Support for popular jobs at the Entry Professionals level:   

• • Medical Scribe – $36,801 
  • Dental Assistant – $48,610 
  • Physical Therapy Assistant – $69,543 

2. Construction and Extraction

Occupations in the Construction and Extraction job family generally lay out, cut, and place segmental paving units. This includes installers of bedding and restraining materials for the paving units. Construction and Extraction jobs at the Advanced Professionals level are growing the fastest, with a 3-year average of 4.17%. 

Examples of average salaries in Construction and Extraction at the Advanced Professionals level are shown below:   

• • Operating Engineer – $61,681 
  • Electrical Inspector – $63,100 
  • Construction Consultant – $77,480 

3. Computer and Mathematics

Computer and Mathematics careers typically apply technical knowledge in specialized areas of IT and standardized mathematical formulas, principles, and methodology to technological problems in engineering and physical sciences in relation to specific industrial and research objectives, processes, equipment, and products. In this job family, the Tech Professionals level is growing at the second fastest rate, following Entry Professionals in the lead, at a 3-year average of 4.48%, with compensation growth fairly consistent across all job levels.

Average salaries for Computer and Math jobs at the Tech Professionals level follow:  

• • Web Developer – $101,879 
  • Webmaster – $108,624 
  • Software Engineer – $124,263 

4. Architecture and Engineering

Architecture and Engineering occupations plan and design structures or land areas. They apply scientific knowledge and mathematics to develop solutions to technical, natural, and social problems. Occupations at the Intermediate Professionals level in this job family are growing at the fastest rate, with a 3-year average of 4.82%. 

Consider these average salaries in Architecture and Engineering at the Intermediate Professionals level:  

• • Data Center Technician – $61,105 
  • Environmental Designer – $80,860 
  • Associate Engineer – $92,344 

5. Business and Financial Operations 

Roles in Business and Financial Operations conduct programs related to business operations and quantitative analyses of information affecting investment programs of public or private institutions. Business and Financial Operations jobs at the Advanced Professionals level are growing at the fastest rate, with a 3-year average of 4.80%. Generally, compensation growth appears to be more prominent in this job family for lower-level jobs on the hierarchy. 

Examples of average salaries in Business and Financial Operations at the Advanced Professionals level are reported below: 

• • Talent Acquisition Consultant – $84,141 
  • Security Engineer – $120,781 
  • Business Architect – $124,528  

6. Sales

Sales and related occupations supervise, sell, or assist in the selling of a product or service. Jobs in Sales at the Clerical Workers level are growing the fastest, with a 3-year average of 5.36%. 

Here are average salaries for popular jobs in Sales at the Clerical Workers level:   

• • Sales Coordinator – $59,376 
  • Advertising Agent – $69,057 
  • Floor Broker – $135,553 

7. Food Preparation and Serving 

Food preparation and serving-related occupations perform a variety of food preparation duties and serve food to individuals. Food Preparation and Serving occupations at the Line Workers level are growing the fastest, with a 3-year average of 5.36%. Compensation growth is relatively high across all levels, likely due to the recent legislative changes in minimum wage throughout the United States. For example, as of April 1, 2024, California has raised the minimum wage for fast food employees to $20 per hour, a $4.50 increase—or a nearly 30% increase—over the state’s minimum wage of $15.50 in 2023. 

Examples of average salaries in Food Preparation and Serving at the Line Workers level are provided below:   

• • Line Cook – $30,885 
  • Food Service Worker – $31,821 
  • Cook – $33,871 

8. Education, Training, and Library Science 

Education, Training, and Library Science occupations teach, educate, instruct, or assist in the educational process. Jobs in this family at the Coordinators level are growing the fastest, with a 3-year average of 5.28%. 

Average salaries in Education, Training, and Library Science at the Coordinators level are reported below for popular jobs:   

• • Accounts Payable Assistant - $46,792 
  • Instructional Developer – $57,380 
  • Work Study Coordinator – $65,959 

9. Office and Administrative Support 

Office and Administrative Support occupations provide office and administrative support, such as answering calls, managing correspondence, data entry, and more. Overall, jobs in Office and Administrative Support at the Sales level are growing the fastest, with a 3-year average of 4.69%. 

Examples of average salaries in Office and Administrative Support at the Sales level follow:   

• • Guest Services Representative – $38,967 
  • Call Center Representative – $40,216 
  • Client Services Representative – $46,022 

10. Transportation and Material Moving 

Transportation and Material Moving occupations operate or support the transportation of equipment, services, or material using special equipment. Jobs in this family at the Advanced Professionals level are growing the fastest, with a 3-year average of 5.02%. 

Here are the average salaries for three Transportation and Material Moving jobs at the Advanced Professionals level:    

• • Cargo Pilot – $99,291 
  • Port Engineer – $109,643 
  • Airline Captain – $135,212 

How to Find Your Dream Career 

When looking for your ideal job, you should consider industries that not only align with your interests but also those that offer competitive salaries and long-term growth. Researching salary trends, understanding industry demands, and acquiring the right skills are key to securing a thriving career. Here are some tips to help you get started:  

1. Invest in Skills: Improve your skills through online courses, certifications, and/or workshops. Fine-tuning your skills will make you stand out and give you the upper hand to increase your earning potential. Use ERI’s Assessor Platform to evaluate pay premiums for popular skills, certifications, and education.  
2. Find Your Salary in the Market: Use a salary calculator for a custom report to see how much you should get paid in your current role or a role that you are pursuing to help with salary negotiation. For instance, ERI SalaryExpert’s salary calculator will estimate your salary worth by comparing your information to our salary database, helping you understand what someone in your area, with similar experience, should receive. To get a more in-depth analysis of competitive market rates for jobs in your industry, customized by years of experience, organization size, or level, try a free demo of our Assessor Platform. 
3. Network Strategically: Attend industry-specific events and connect with professionals, especially if you are trying to get into a new industry. 
4. Be Adaptable: Don’t be afraid to explore opportunities in similar roles or industries experiencing growth. 

With the right tools, you can get a better idea of what you should be earning to help you negotiate the salary that you deserve. 

How ERI SalaryExpert Can Help You Plan Compensation 

If you are a compensation professional, staying proactive and offering competitive salaries will help you attract top talent and increase employee retention. With the right compensation management platform, you can reduce administrative overhead, maintain compliance, and ensure that your compensation strategy is both market competitive and internally equitable.  

Try a free demo of our Assessor Platform, which allows for advanced searches of our extensive salary survey database by job family and job level. For definitions of job levels used in our Assessor Platform, see this useful reference.