Engineers at work on a drilling platform of a shale fracking operation.
Matthew Lloyd / Getty Images
May 11, 2012 | 10:54 am
The 10 Best and Worst Jobs in Oklahoma
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Joe Wertz
Matthew Lloyd / Getty Images
Engineers at work on a drilling platform of a shale fracking operation.
The energy industry has been good to Oklahoma — especially for engineers.
For the men and women who work on oil rigs? Not so much.
Petroleum engineers have the best job in Oklahoma, according to a report by CareerCast. The online jobs database ranked career paths through several measures, including income, employment outlook, stress, physical demands and working environment.
Oklahoma’s expanding oil and gas sector is hiring a lot of petroleum engineers, jobs with high pay and ideal working conditions, according to the report.
The No. 1 worst job? Newspaper reporters.
The oil and gas industry is tied to a lot of the best Oklahoma jobs, including civil engineers and geologists, but medical professions — physicians, pharmacists and nurses — occupy a lot of top spots.
The No. 2 best job, according to CareerCast: software engineer.
“Opportunities for Computer Software Engineers are growing two to three times faster than the overall economy in Oklahoma,” Lynn Gray, Chief Economist for the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission tells CareerCast.
10 Best Jobs in Oklahoma
| Rank | Job | Annual Mean Wage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Petroleum Engineer | $114,148 |
| 2 | Software Engineer | $88,142 |
| 3 | Human Resources Manager | $99,102 |
| 4 | Civil Engineer | $78,133 |
| 5 | Physician | $205,029 |
| 6 | Veterinarian | $82,190 |
| 7 | Market Research Analyst | $61,236 |
| 8 | Pharmacist | $112,070 |
| 9 | Geologist | $83,266 |
| 10 | Registered Nurse | $65,116 |
Source: CareerCast
The information industry is the only sector that hasn’t grown in Oklahoma, Gray tells CareerCast. Newspaper reporter is the worst job in Oklahoma; Broadcaster is No. 5 according to the report.
On the other end of the energy employment spectrum is oil rig worker, a dangerous job that comes with long hours, harsh working conditions and low pay. Oklahoma is a big military state, but enlisted soldier is the No. 2 worst job here, CareerCast reports.
10 Worst Jobs in Oklahoma
| Rank | Job | Annual Mean Wage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Newspaper Reporter | $35,275 |
| 2 | Enlisted Military Soldier | $36,261 |
| 3 | Drill Press Operator | $32,129 |
| 4 | Mail Carrier | $54,047 |
| 5 | Broadcaster | $27,324 |
| 6 | Shipping-Receiving Clerk | $28,132 |
| 7 | Dressmaker/Tailor | $27,133 |
| 8 | Farmer | $61,269 |
| 9 | Maid | $19,088 |
| 10 | Oil Rig Worker | $32,132 |
Source: CareerCast
Look at the list of the best jobs in Oklahoma and you’ll see one unifying trend: They all require a high level of education.
