16 jobs where people make far more now than they would have 10 years ago
- Some workers are earning more than employees in the same profession did 10 years earlier.
- Business Insider decided to look at wage data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics to find jobs with higher pay than they had a decade earlier, after adjusting for inflation.
- Advertising managers, airline pilots, and survey researchers are among the occupations where people are earning over 20% more in 2019 than workers in these jobs in 2009.
- Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.
It's to be expected that with the rising cost of living, pay increases would follow suit, but some occupations have seen a higher wage boost over the last decade than others.
To find the careers with the biggest salary increases over a decade, we took a look at occupational-employment and wages data from 2009 and 2019 from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Employment Statistics program. We adjusted the 2009 wages for inflation and calculated the percent increase in average annual wages over that decade.
Some occupations in each of the two years did not have a corresponding or similar job title in the other because of changes and additions to the BLS' Standard Occupational Classification system, so we excluded jobs without comparable wage data. We also excluded catchall category occupational groups listed by BLS, such as "designers, all other."
While the average annual wage increase for occupations overall — adjusted for inflation — since 2009 is about 3.28%, here are 16 jobs where people make at least 20% more now than they would have 10 years ago.
16. Signal and track switch repairers
Percent increase in wages: 20.74%
Annual average wage in 2009, adjusted for inflation: $60,205
Annual average wage 2019: $72,690
Dollar increase in wages: $12,485
People who held this job in 2009: 6,450
People who held this job in 2019: 6,860
15. Emergency management directors
Percent increase in wages: 21.71%
Annual average wage in 2009, adjusted for inflation: $67,808
Annual average wage 2019: $82,530
Dollar increase in wages: $14,722
People who held this job in 2009: 13,060
People who held this job in 2019: 10,060
14. Advertising and promotions managers
Percent increase in wages: 21.91%
Annual average wage in 2009, adjusted for inflation: $116,393
Annual average wage 2019: $141,890
Dollar increase in wages: $25,497
People who held this job in 2009: 35,760
People who held this job in 2019: 25,100
13. Rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers
Percent increase in wages: 22.51%
Annual average wage in 2009, adjusted for inflation: $43,008
Annual average wage 2019: $52,690
Dollar increase in wages: $9,682
People who held this job in 2009: 5,360
People who held this job in 2019: 5,400
12. Airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers
Percent increase in wages: 25.35%
Annual average wage in 2009, adjusted for inflation: $139,500
Annual average wage 2019: $174,870
Dollar increase in wages: $35,370
People who held this job in 2009: 74,420
People who held this job in 2019: 84,520
11. Hoist and winch operators
Percent increase in wages: 26.39%
Annual average wage in 2009, adjusted for inflation: $49,599
Annual average wage 2019: $62,690
Dollar increase in wages: $13,091
People who held this job in 2009: 2,990
People who held this job in 2019: 4,800
10. Costume attendants
Percent increase in wages: 27.70%
Annual average wage in 2009, adjusted for inflation: $38,349
Annual average wage 2019: $48,970
Dollar increase in wages: $10,621
People who held this job in 2009: 5,150
People who held this job in 2019: 7,460
9. Survey researchers
Percent increase in wages: 30.36%
Annual average wage in 2009, adjusted for inflation: $50,445
Annual average wage 2019: $65,760
Dollar increase in wages: $15,315
People who held this job in 2009: 20,300
People who held this job in 2019: 9,930
8. Funeral home managers
Percent increase in wages: 32.31%
Annual average wage in 2009, adjusted for inflation: $71,967
Annual average wage 2019: $95,220
Dollar increase in wages: $23,253
People who held this job in 2009: 25,820
People who held this job in 2019: 9,400
6. Private household cooks
Percent increase in wages: 38.04%
Annual average wage in 2009, adjusted for inflation: $33,034
Annual average wage 2019: $45,600
Dollar increase in wages: $12,566
People who held this job in 2009: 770
People who held this job in 2019: 390
5. Wood patternmakers
Percent increase in wages: 38.24%
Annual average wage in 2009, adjusted for inflation: $45,928
Annual average wage 2019: $63,490
Dollar increase in wages: $17,562
People who held this job in 2009: 1,540
People who held this job in 2019: 370
4. Wood model makers
Percent increase in wages: 41.59%
Annual average wage in 2009, adjusted for inflation: $40,482
Annual average wage 2019: $57,320
Dollar increase in wages: $16,838
People who held this job in 2009: 1,900
People who held this job in 2019: 810
3. Farm labor contractors
Percent increase in wages: 44.14%
Annual average wage in 2009, adjusted for inflation: $43,056
Annual average wage 2019: $62,060
Dollar increase in wages: $19,004
People who held this job in 2009: 1,000
People who held this job in 2019: 160
2. Prosthodontists
Percent increase in wages: 47.78%
Annual average wage in 2009, adjusted for inflation: $149,439
Annual average wage 2019: $220,840
Dollar increase in wages: $71,401
People who held this job in 2009: 660
People who held this job in 2019: 490
1. Theatrical and performance makeup artists
Percent increase in wages: 52.13%
Annual average wage in 2009, adjusted for inflation: $53,638
Annual average wage 2019: $81,600
Dollar increase in wages: $27,962
People who held this job in 2009: 1,930
People who held this job in 2019: 3,400