The United States has the most dynamic economy in the world. Where it once was symbolized by the automotive and steel industries, the American economy is now the world’s technology colossus. But the U.S. economy is more than that. It is a unique sum of the parts of 50 states whose identities are often tied to a particular job or industry. (And domestic workers hold the most jobs in these 12 states.)

Using data on employment by state for all detailed occupations from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Wage and Employment Statistics survey for May 2022, 24/7 Wall St. identified the most unique job in every state.

Based on location quotient – the ratio of the concentration of an occupation’s employment in a state relative to its concentration nationwide – motorboat operators ranks as the most unique occupation in Hawaii. With 570 jobs in the field out of 594,880 jobs in the state, the occupation is 45.4 times more concentrated in Hawaii than it is nationwide.

The average annual wage for workers in the occupation across the state is $52,930, compared to $47,300 nationwide.

 

State	Most unique job	Occupation’s location quotient	Occupation employment in state	Occupation’s avg. annual wage in state ($)
Alabama	Textile winding, twisting, and drawing out machine setters, operators, and tenders	6.2	1,990	37,270
Alaska	Zoologists and wildlife biologists	20.7	740	81,320
Arizona	Continuous mining machine operators	6.8	1,880	51,800
Arkansas	Agricultural product graders and sorters	7.6	1,470	33,470
California	Crop, nursery, and greenhouse farmworkers and laborers	5.6	188,580	34,790
Colorado	Atmospheric and space scientists	5.7	1,050	107,220
Connecticut	Methal and plastic lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders	5.4	1,160	48,140
Delaware	Meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers	8.3	3,400	31,190
Florida	Bridge and lock tenders	3.6	820	32,040
Georgia	Textile winding, twisting, and drawing out machine setters, operators, and tenders	11.5	8,570	34,890
Hawaii	Motorboat operators	45.4	570	52,930
Idaho	Nuclear engineers	9.0	590	149,100
Illinois	Misc. mathematical science occupations	6.3	960	79,540
Indiana	Metal-refining furnace operators and tenders	10.6	4,290	67,860
Iowa	Agricultural technicians	9.2	1,250	49,630
Kansas	Aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers	19.2	5,760	56,560
Kentucky	Metal and plastic forging machine setters, operators, and tenders	7.3	1,000	52,490
Louisiana	Sailors and marine oilers	19.1	6,790	52,910
Maine	Logging equipment operators	7.4	760	43,240
Maryland	Astronomers	18.0	690	141,880
Massachusetts	Biochemists and biophysicists	10.5	8,250	117,830
Michigan	Metal and plastic patternmakers	9.3	590	64,050
Minnesota	Misc. gambling service workers	13.2	3,090	30,520
Mississippi	Upholsterers	17.0	3,500	37,280
Missouri	Cooling and freezing equipment operators and tenders	6.8	830	48,000
Montana	Gambling and sports book writers and runners	21.7	570	20,020
Nebraska	Transportation equipment electrical and electronics installers and repairers	8.9	500	73,550
Nevada	Gambling managers	31.8	1,460	90,350
New Hampshire	Misc. metal and plastic workers	6.5	610	40,520
New Jersey	Shampooers	7.8	1,620	29,190
New Mexico	Extraction worker helpers	17.5	670	43,760
New York	Transit and railroad police	7.0	1,460	76,290
North Carolina	Textile bleaching and dyeing machine operators and tenders	7.4	1,550	30,030
North Dakota	Wellhead pumpers	30.6	1,220	64,350
Ohio	Engine and other machine assemblers	4.2	7,660	56,370
Oklahoma	Gambling surveillance officers and investigators	14.9	1,700	31,310
Oregon	Misc. personal care and service workers	24.2	18,430	34,900
Pennsylvania	Metal pourers and casters	4.5	1,070	42,690
Rhode Island	Jewelers and precious stone and metal workers	7.5	640	45,750
South Carolina	Tire builders	15.4	4,120	52,610
South Dakota	Forest and conservation workers	34.4	610	33,250
Tennessee	Statistical assistants	12.0	1,690	51,840
Texas	Oil and gas derrick operators	7.2	6,930	51,570
Utah	Continuous mining machine operators	7.2	1,070	63,690
Vermont	Misc. community and social service specialists	5.0	940	48,080
Virginia	Metal and plastic layout workers	12.6	2,260	57,530
Washington	Tapers	7.4	2,420	75,320
West Virginia	Mining roof bolters	87.5	680	66,080
Wisconsin	Foundry mold and coremakers	5.3	1,150	43,410
Wyoming	Oil and gas roustabouts	28.5	2,020	48,120