The Most Iconic Job in Every State

[cnxvideo id=”655353″ placement=”ros”]Whether it is a gaming supervisor in Nevada, a farm worker in California, an extraction worker in North Dakota, or a petroleum engineer in Texas, one occupation is often more strongly associated with a state than any other. Such iconic occupations can be identified across the country, and often highlight each state’s unique contribution to the highly diverse U.S. economy.

Occupations such as school teachers, mail carriers, and retail workers are ubiquitous throughout the country and tend to make up the largest shares of each state’s workforce. By contrast, iconic jobs are heavily concentrated within states and relatively uncommon nationwide.

To determine the most iconic job in every state, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the location quotient of all occupations in each state. The location quotient measures the concentration of jobs by comparing how common an occupation is in a state compared to how common it is nationwide. For example, the proportion of Nevada’s workforce employed as gaming service workers is 32 times greater than the comparable share nationwide.

Click here to see the most iconic job in every state.

Several factors determine which job is the most iconic in a state, including the state’s natural resources. For instance, because oil or natural gas deposits are uneven throughout the country, the jobs that accompany them are unevenly spread as well. America’s largest oil-producing state, Texas, employs more petroleum engineers than the rest of the states combined.

The most iconic job is not necessarily part of the largest industry in a state. Washington state builds 95% of all commercial aircraft in the U.S., and aerospace engineers are the most uniquely concentrated occupation in the state. However, the publishing industry is the largest contributor to GDP in Washington. Similarly, while New York’s banking and finance sector contributes most to the state’s economy, fashion designers are New York’s most iconic job.

To identify the most iconic job in every state, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the occupation with the highest location quotient in every state using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Employment Statistics survey. Only occupations that comprised at least one of every 2,000 jobs statewide were considered. State and national employment figures and median salaries for each occupation also come from the BLS. All data are for 2015, the most recent period available.

These are the most iconic job in every state.

1. Alabama
> Most iconic job: Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
> Employed in job statewide: 2,480
> Median salary, iconic job: $31,610
> Share of U.S. employment in job: 8.9%

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2. Alaska
> Most iconic job: Mining Machine Operators, All Other
> Employed in job statewide: 420
> Median salary, iconic job: $52,620
> Share of U.S. employment in job: 19.8%

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3. Arizona
> Most iconic job: Plasterers and Stucco Masons
> Employed in job statewide: 1,520
> Median salary, iconic job: $35,510
> Share of U.S. employment in job: 6.8%

4. Arkansas
> Most iconic job: Food Processing Workers, All Other
> Employed in job statewide: 2,830
> Median salary, iconic job: $22,990
> Share of U.S. employment in job: 6.2%

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5. California
> Most iconic job: Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse
> Employed in job statewide: 178,130
> Median salary, iconic job: $21,550
> Share of U.S. employment in job: 65.4%

6. Colorado
> Most iconic job: Atmospheric and Space Scientists
> Employed in job statewide: 1,700
> Median salary, iconic job: $95,990
> Share of U.S. employment in job: 16.4%

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7. Connecticut
> Most iconic job: Actuaries
> Employed in job statewide: 980
> Median salary, iconic job: $108,340
> Share of U.S. employment in job: 5.0%

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8. Delaware
> Most iconic job: Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers
> Employed in job statewide: 3,800
> Median salary, iconic job: $23,690
> Share of U.S. employment in job: 2.4%

9. Florida
> Most iconic job: Special Education Teachers, All Other
> Employed in job statewide: 12,200
> Median salary, iconic job: $48,600
> Share of U.S. employment in job: 31.8%

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10. Georgia
> Most iconic job: Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
> Employed in job statewide: 9,490
> Median salary, iconic job: $28,440
> Share of U.S. employment in job: 34.2%

11. Hawaii
> Most iconic job: Dancers
> Employed in job statewide: 590
> Median salary, iconic job: N/A
> Share of U.S. employment in job: 5.9%

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12. Idaho
> Most iconic job: Forest and Conservation Technicians
> Employed in job statewide: 2,270
> Median salary, iconic job: $36,320
> Share of U.S. employment in job: 7.6%

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13. Illinois
> Most iconic job: Production Workers, All Other
> Employed in job statewide: 44,250
> Median salary, iconic job: $32,100
> Share of U.S. employment in job: 18.3%

14. Indiana
> Most iconic job: Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
> Employed in job statewide: 5,560
> Median salary, iconic job: $50,860
> Share of U.S. employment in job: 17.5%

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15. Iowa
> Most iconic job: Food Processing Workers, All Other
> Employed in job statewide: 6,230
> Median salary, iconic job: $25,820
> Share of U.S. employment in job: 13.7%

16. Kansas
> Most iconic job: Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic
> Employed in job statewide: 740
> Median salary, iconic job: $65,720
> Share of U.S. employment in job: 6.9%

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17. Kentucky
> Most iconic job: Continuous Mining Machine Operators
> Employed in job statewide: 970
> Median salary, iconic job: $48,990
> Share of U.S. employment in job: 8.7%

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18. Louisiana
> Most iconic job: Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels
> Employed in job statewide: 8,920
> Median salary, iconic job: $98,400
> Share of U.S. employment in job: 26.9%

19. Maine
> Most iconic job: Logging Equipment Operators
> Employed in job statewide: 1,240
> Median salary, iconic job: $36,820
> Share of U.S. employment in job: 4.5%

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20. Maryland
> Most iconic job: Court Reporters
> Employed in job statewide: 2,490
> Median salary, iconic job: $42,420
> Share of U.S. employment in job: 14.1%

21. Massachusetts
> Most iconic job: Biomedical Engineers
> Employed in job statewide: 2,530
> Median salary, iconic job: $93,020
> Share of U.S. employment in job: 12.1%

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22. Michigan
> Most iconic job: Commercial and Industrial Designers
> Employed in job statewide: 6,030
> Median salary, iconic job: $78,120
> Share of U.S. employment in job: 19.2%

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23. Minnesota
> Most iconic job: Food Scientists and Technologists
> Employed in job statewide: 1,570
> Median salary, iconic job: $81,740
> Share of U.S. employment in job: 10.7%

24. Mississippi
> Most iconic job: Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic
> Employed in job statewide: 1,340
> Median salary, iconic job: $46,100
> Share of U.S. employment in job: 12.6%

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25. Missouri
> Most iconic job: Locker Room, Coatroom, and Dressing Room Attendants
> Employed in job statewide: 1,470
> Median salary, iconic job: $19,680
> Share of U.S. employment in job: 8.4%

26. Montana
> Most iconic job: Forest and Conservation Technicians
> Employed in job statewide: 2,070
> Median salary, iconic job: $35,650
> Share of U.S. employment in job: 6.9%

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27. Nebraska
> Most iconic job: Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers
> Employed in job statewide: 11,030
> Median salary, iconic job: $29,060
> Share of U.S. employment in job: 7.1%

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28. Nevada
> Most iconic job: Gaming Service Workers, All Other
> Employed in job statewide: 3,470
> Median salary, iconic job: $26,650
> Share of U.S. employment in job: 28.3%

29. New Hampshire
> Most iconic job: Metal Workers and Plastic Workers, All Other
> Employed in job statewide: 840
> Median salary, iconic job: $33,340
> Share of U.S. employment in job: 3.8%

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30. New Jersey
> Most iconic job: Shampooers
> Employed in job statewide: 2,090
> Median salary, iconic job: $19,970
> Share of U.S. employment in job: 13.8%

31. New Mexico
> Most iconic job: Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas
> Employed in job statewide: 1,420
> Median salary, iconic job: $46,240
> Share of U.S. employment in job: 7.3%

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32. New York
> Most iconic job: Fashion Designers
> Employed in job statewide: 7,440
> Median salary, iconic job: $79,610
> Share of U.S. employment in job: 39.1%

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33. North Carolina
> Most iconic job: Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
> Employed in job statewide: 7,080
> Median salary, iconic job: $24,610
> Share of U.S. employment in job: 25.5%

34. North Dakota
> Most iconic job: Extraction Workers, All Other
> Employed in job statewide: 720
> Median salary, iconic job: $68,730
> Share of U.S. employment in job: 13.3%

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35. Ohio
> Most iconic job: Engine and Other Machine Assemblers
> Employed in job statewide: 5,940
> Median salary, iconic job: $46,040
> Share of U.S. employment in job: 15.3%

36. Oklahoma
> Most iconic job: Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas
> Employed in job statewide: 3,170
> Median salary, iconic job: $51,720
> Share of U.S. employment in job: 12.7%

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37. Oregon
> Most iconic job: Logging Workers, All Other
> Employed in job statewide: 1,580
> Median salary, iconic job: $37,550
> Share of U.S. employment in job: 55.8%

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38. Pennsylvania
> Most iconic job: Dietetic Technicians
> Employed in job statewide: 3,040
> Median salary, iconic job: $26,240
> Share of U.S. employment in job: 10.5%

39. Rhode Island
> Most iconic job: Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers
> Employed in job statewide: 720
> Median salary, iconic job: $43,120
> Share of U.S. employment in job: 2.8%

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40. South Carolina
> Most iconic job: Tire Builders
> Employed in job statewide: 3,160
> Median salary, iconic job: $40,550
> Share of U.S. employment in job: 17.8%

41. South Dakota
> Most iconic job: Forest and Conservation Workers
> Employed in job statewide: 440
> Median salary, iconic job: $25,410
> Share of U.S. employment in job: 6.4%

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42. Tennessee
> Most iconic job: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Workers, All Other
> Employed in job statewide: 2,650
> Median salary, iconic job: $49,790
> Share of U.S. employment in job: 6.7%

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43. Texas
> Most iconic job: Petroleum Engineers
> Employed in job statewide: 17,900
> Median salary, iconic job: $164,340
> Share of U.S. employment in job: 51.7%

44. Utah
> Most iconic job: Telephone Operators
> Employed in job statewide: 1,310
> Median salary, iconic job: $32,740
> Share of U.S. employment in job: 13.4%

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45. Vermont
> Most iconic job: Building Cleaning Workers, All Other
> Employed in job statewide: 200
> Median salary, iconic job: $38,400
> Share of U.S. employment in job: 1.2%

46. Virginia
> Most iconic job: Legal Support Workers, All Other
> Employed in job statewide: 8,880
> Median salary, iconic job: $101,660
> Share of U.S. employment in job: 19.5%

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47. Washington
> Most iconic job: Aerospace Engineers
> Employed in job statewide: 8,620
> Median salary, iconic job: N/A
> Share of U.S. employment in job: 12.9%

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48. West Virginia
> Most iconic job: Roof Bolters, Mining
> Employed in job statewide: 2,140
> Median salary, iconic job: $55,580
> Share of U.S. employment in job: 41.0%

49. Wisconsin
> Most iconic job: Foundry Mold and Coremakers
> Employed in job statewide: 1,710
> Median salary, iconic job: $35,420
> Share of U.S. employment in job: 13.3%

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50. Wyoming
> Most iconic job: Wellhead Pumpers
> Employed in job statewide: 840
> Median salary, iconic job: $53,330
> Share of U.S. employment in job: 6.5%