Special Report

The Most Iconic Job in Each State

11. Hawaii
> Most iconic job:
Dancers
> Number of people employed in occupation in state: 672
> Annual median salary, iconic job: N/A

Tourism and its supporting industries are major drivers of Hawaii’s economy. The arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation, and food services industry accounted for more than 9% of Hawaii’s economic output in 2013, the second highest such contribution nationwide. This partly explains the state’s most iconic job: dancers. Nearly 6% of all professional dancers in the nation worked in Hawaii.

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12. Idaho
> Most iconic job:
Forest and Conservation Technicians
> Number of people employed in occupation in state: 2,142
> Annual median salary, iconic job: $31,320

Forest and conservation technicians were the most iconic jobs in Idaho. This means they were more concentrated compared to the national average for the profession than every other job in the state. In addition, more than 7% of all U.S. forest and conservation technicians worked in Idaho.

13. Illinois
> Most iconic job:
Grounds Maintenance Workers, All Other
> Number of people employed in occupation in state: 3,560
> Annual median salary, iconic job: $31,210

While 4.3% of the U.S. workforce was employed in Illinois, nearly 19% of all grounds maintenance workers — Illinois’ most iconic job — were employed in the state. Grounds maintenance workers in Illinois were more than four times more concentrated than the national average. While Illinois grounds keepers had a median household income of $31,210 — less than the median for all occupations in the state — the BLS projects an increasing demand for landscaping work and above average job prospects for the occupation.

14. Indiana
> Most iconic job:
Boilermakers
> Number of people employed in occupation in state: 2,192
> Annual median salary, iconic job: $66,080

Indiana’s manufacturing industry accounted for 30% of the state’s economic output, the second highest such contribution nationwide and the largest of all state industries. In keeping with the dominant sector, the most iconic job in Indiana is the boilermaker. While 2.2% of the U.S. workforce was employed in Indiana, nearly 14% of all boilermakers worked in the state.

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15. Iowa
> Most iconic job:
Soil and Plant Scientists
> Number of people employed in occupation in state: 1,897
> Annual median salary, iconic job: $63,930

The most iconic job in Iowa was the soil and plant scientist. Iowa had over 12 times more soil and plant scientists in its labor force than the average state. Such scientists are involved in research related to the production of agricultural products and their derivatives. The high concentration of plant scientists in the state is likely attributable to the large share of agricultural activity conducted in Iowa. Workers in this role had a median income of $63,930 in 2013, roughly twice the median income for all of the workers in Iowa.

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