Most common occupations and industries for state and local government workers, overall and for select demographic groups
| Occupation | Share | Industry | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| All state and local government workers | |||
| Elementary and middle school teachers | 15.0% | Elementary and secondary schools | 39.6% |
| Secondary school teachers | 4.5% | Justice, public order, and safety activities | 14.7% |
| Postsecondary teachers | 4.1% | Colleges and universities, including junior colleges | 10.8% |
| Police and sheriff’s patrol officers | 3.8% | Executive offices and legislative bodies (mayors, county executives, etc.) | 6.4% |
| Teacher assistants | 3.8% | Human resource programs (e.g., unemployment insurance, workers’ comp, Medicare/Medicaid) | 4.4% |
| Secretaries and administrative assistants | 2.8% | Hospitals and outpatient care centers | 3.5% |
| Firefighters, EMTs, paramedics, and dispatchers | 2.6% | Public finance, econ. programs (e.g., small biz and economic development, tourism agencies) | 2.8% |
| Education administrators | 2.5% | Individual and family services (e.g., family welfare services, crisis intervention, suicide hotlines) | 2.0% |
| Janitors and building cleaners | 2.5% | Construction | 1.9% |
| Managers, all other | 2.4% | Libraries, museums, art galleries, historical sites, and similar institutions | 1.9% |
| Bailiffs, correctional officers, and jailers | 2.1% | Bus service, urban transit, and other transportation services | 1.4% |
| Social workers | 1.8% | Electric power, gas, water, steam, air conditioning, and irrigation systems | 1.1% |
| Counselors | 1.8% | Environmental and housing programs administration | 1.0% |
| Special education teachers | 1.8% | Waste management, sewage treatment, and remediation services | 0.9% |
| Office clerks, general | 1.7% | Home health care, and other health care services | 0.8% |
| Bus drivers | 1.6% | Child day care services, other misc. schools, instruction, and educational support services | 0.7% |
| Registered nurses | 1.6% | Other amusement and recreation industries (e.g., fitness and rec centers, youth sports teams, day camps) | 0.7% |
| Personal and home care aides | 1.5% | Nursing and residential care facilities | 0.6% |
| Lawyers, judges, magistrates, and other judicial workers | 1.2% | Other general government and support | 0.6% |
| Preschool and kindergarten teachers | 1.1% | Real estate | 0.4% |
| Women | |||
| Elementary and middle school teachers | 20.1% | Elementary and secondary schools | 50.0% |
| Teacher assistants | 5.6% | Colleges and universities, including junior colleges | 9.6% |
| Secretaries and administrative assistants | 4.5% | Justice, public order, and safety activities | 8.3% |
| Secondary school teachers | 4.4% | Human resource programs (e.g., unemployment insurance, workers’ comp, Medicare/Medicaid) | 5.7% |
| Postsecondary teachers | 3.1% | Executive offices and legislative bodies (mayors, county executives, etc.) | 5.6% |
| Education administrators | 2.6% | Hospitals and outpatient care centers | 4.1% |
| Special education teachers | 2.5% | Individual and family services (e.g., family welfare services, crisis intervention, suicide hotlines) | 2.7% |
| Social workers | 2.5% | Public finance, econ. programs (e.g., small biz and economic development, tourism agencies) | 2.5% |
| Office clerks, general | 2.4% | Libraries, museums, art galleries, historical sites, and similar institutions | 1.8% |
| Registered nurses | 2.4% | Home health care, and other health care services | 1.1% |
| Black women | |||
| Elementary and middle school teachers | 13.5% | Elementary and secondary schools | 37.4% |
| Social workers | 4.9% | Justice, public order, and safety activities | 12.3% |
| Teacher assistants | 4.4% | Human resource programs (e.g., unemployment insurance, workers’ comp, Medicare/Medicaid) | 8.3% |
| Secretaries and administrative assistants | 3.6% | Colleges and universities, including junior colleges | 7.0% |
| Office clerks, general | 3.4% | Executive offices and legislative bodies (mayors, county executives, etc.) | 6.7% |
| Bailiffs, correctional officers, and jailers | 3.2% | Hospitals and outpatient care centers | 6.0% |
| Counselors | 3.1% | Individual and family services (e.g., family welfare services, crisis intervention, suicide hotlines) | 3.9% |
| Registered nurses | 2.8% | Public finance, econ. programs (e.g., small biz and economic development, tourism agencies) | 2.7% |
| Bus drivers | 2.6% | Bus service, urban transit, and other transportation services | 1.8% |
| Education administrators | 2.5% | Home health care, and other health care services | 1.7% |
| Hispanic women | |||
| Elementary and middle school teachers | 15.2% | Elementary and secondary schools | 48.9% |
| Teacher assistants | 7.0% | Justice, public order, and safety activities | 7.8% |
| Personal and home care aides | 4.9% | Colleges and universities, including junior colleges | 7.6% |
| Secretaries and administrative assistants | 4.5% | Human resource programs (e.g., unemployment insurance, workers’ comp, Medicare/Medicaid) | 7.3% |
| Office clerks, general | 3.9% | Executive offices and legislative bodies (mayors, county executives, etc.) | 5.4% |
| Janitors and building cleaners | 3.0% | Individual and family services (e.g., family welfare services, crisis intervention, suicide hotlines) | 4.6% |
| Social workers | 3.0% | Hospitals and outpatient care centers | 4.0% |
| Secondary school teachers | 2.8% | Public finance, econ. programs (e.g., small biz and economic development, tourism agencies) | 2.3% |
| Education administrators | 2.4% | Home health care, and other health care services | 1.8% |
| Child care workers | 2.4% | Libraries, museums, art galleries, historical sites, and similar institutions | 1.4% |
Source: EPI analysis of 2017–2019 Current Population Survey microdata.