Table 1
Immigrants comprise a significant share of workers in both high- and low-paying major occupations: Top-10 occupations for immigrants by share of employment in the occupation, number of immigrants employed in each occupation, median hourly wage for the occupation, and difference from national median wage for all workers
| Occupation | Number of immigrants employed | Immigrant share of total employment in occupation | Median wage for the occupation | Difference from national median wage for all workers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Farming, fishing, and forestry | 386,000 | 40% | $16.64 | −34% |
| Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance | 2,285,000 | 40% | $17.95 | −29% |
| Construction and extraction | 3,037,000 | 36% | $24.83 | −2% |
| Computer and mathematical science | 1,695,000 | 27% | $47.36 | 87% |
| Food preparation and serving related | 2,043,000 | 25% | $16.21 | −36% |
| Production occupations | 1,960,000 | 25% | $22.14 | −12% |
| Healthcare support | 1,311,000 | 24% | $18.33 | −28% |
| Transportation and material moving | 2,838,000 | 24% | $19.98 | −21% |
| Personal care and service | 892,000 | 22% | $17.74 | −30% |
| Life, physical, and social science | 405,000 | 22% | $37.95 | 50% |
Notes: Occupational group median wages are for all workers in that occupation, including both U.S.- and foreign-born workers. The national median wage for all workers in 2024 was $25.28.
Source: EPI analysis of the outgoing rotation groups of the Current Population Survey microdata, accessed via EPI Current Population Survey Extracts, Version 1.0.61 (2025), https://microdata.epi.org.
This chart appears in:
- Immigration FAQ 2024
- Immigration report 2024
- Teacher pay rises in 2023—but not enough to shrink pay gap with other college graduates
- The U.S. benefits from immigration but policy reforms needed to maximize gains: Recommendations and a review of key issues to ensure fair wages and labor standards for all workers
- Immigration FAQ 2025 – for updates
- Immigrants and the economy
- Unauthorized immigrants and the economy