20 Leading Occupations of Employed Women
2008 Annual Averages
(employment in thousands)

Occupation

Total, 16 years and older (all employed women): Total Employed Women = 67,876; Total Employed (Men and Women) = 145,362; Percent Women = 46.7; Women’s Median Weekly Earnings = $638

Secretaries and administrative assistants: Total Employed Women = 3,168; Total Employed (Men and Women) = 3,296; Percent Women = 96.1; Women’s Median Weekly Earnings = $614

Registered nurses: Total Employed Women = 2,548; Total Employed (Men and Women) = 2,778; Percent Women = 91.7; Women’s Median Weekly Earnings = $1,011

Elementary and middle school teachers: Total Employed Women = 2,403; Total Employed (Men and Women) = 2.958; Percent Women = 81.2; Women’s Median Weekly Earnings = $871

Cashiers: Total Employed Women = 2,287; Total Employed (Men and Women) = 3,031; Percent Women = 75.5; Women’s Median Weekly Earnings = $349

Retail salespersons: Total Employed Women = 1,783; Total Employed (Men and Women) = 3,416; Percent Women = 52.2; Women’s Median Weekly Earnings = $440

Nursing, psychiatric and home health aides: 1,675; Total Employed (Men and Women) = 1,889; Percent Women = 88.7; Women’s Median Weekly Earnings = $424

First-line supervisors/managers of retail sales workers: 1,505; Total Employed (Men and Women) = 3,471; Percent Women 43.3; Women’s Median Weekly Earnings = $556

Waiters and waitresses: Total Employed Women = 1,471; Total Employed (Men and Women) = 2,010; Percent Women = 73.2; Women’s Median Weekly Earnings = $367

Receptionists and information clerks: Total Employed Women = 1,323; Total Employed (Men and Women) = 1,413; Percent Women = 93.6; Women’s Median Weekly Earnings = $502

Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks: Total Employed Women = 1,311; Total Employed (Men and Women) = 1,434; Percent Women 91.4; Women’s Median Weekly Earnings = $603

Customer service representatives: Total Employed Women = 1,302; Total Employed (Men and Women) = 1,908; Percent Women = 68.3; Women’s Median Weekly Earnings = $568

Maids and housekeeping cleaners: Total Employed Women = 1,287; Total Employed (Men and Women) = 1,434; Percent Women = 89.7; Women’s Median Weekly Earnings = $371

Childcare workers: Total Employed Women = 1,256; Total Employed (Men and Women) = 1,314; Percent Women = 95.6; Women’s Median Weekly Earnings = $393

Managers, all others: Total Employed Women = 1, 244; Total Employed (Men and Women) = 3,473; Percent Women = 35.8; Women’s Median Weekly Earnings = $1,010

First-line supervisors/managers of office and
  administrative support: Total Employed Women = 1,169; Total Employed (Men and Women) = 1,641; Percent Women = 71.2; Women’s Median Weekly Earnings = $688

Accountants and auditors: Total Employed Women = 1,077; Total Employed (Men and Women) = 1,762; Percent Women = 61.1; Women’s Median Weekly Earnings = $908

Office clerks, general: Total Employed Women = 993; Total Employed (Men and Women) = 1,176; Percent Women = 84.4; Women’s Median Weekly Earnings = $582

Teacher assistants: Total Employed Women = 936; Total Employed (Men and Women) = 1,020; Percent Women = 91.8; Women’s Median Weekly Earnings = $413

Cooks: Total Employed Women = 801; Total Employed (Men and Women) = 1,997; Percent Women = 40.1; Women’s Median Weekly Earnings = $363

Personal and home care ideas: Total Employed Women = 744; Total Employed (Men and Women) = 871; Percent Women = 85.4; Women’s Median Weekly Earnings = $404

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor statistics, Annual Averages 2008.