2020-2022 Critical Occupations - Oklahoma Works

These are Oklahoma’s top critical occupations. This list identifies occupations that are in high demand and are projected to have positive future growth. Several of these occupations support Oklahoma’s Ecosystems, commonly known as Industry Clusters, showing the broader impact each job had on the demand for the Oklahoma economy. Learn more about the Critical Occupations methodology here.

Download the 2020-2022 Top Critical Occupations List

SOC	Description	2019 Jobs	2025 Jobs	Change (2019 - 2025)	Median Hourly Earnings	Typical Entry Level Education	Typical On-The-Job Training	Certificate available for HS or Less.	Ecosystems
53-3032	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers	30,281	32,732	2,451	$20.01	Postsecondary nanodegree award	Short-term on-the-job training		Agriculture and Bioscience, Energy, and Transport and Distribution
29-1141	Registered Nurses	30,448	32,039	1,591	$29.69	Bachelor's degree	None
11-1021	General and Operations Managers	27,405	29,195	1,790	$39.32	Bachelor's degree	None		Aerospace and Defense, Agriculture and Bioscience, Energy, Information and Finance Services, and Transport and Distribution
49-9071	Maintenance and Repair Workers, General	17,704	18,793	1,089	$15.57	High school diploma or equivalent	Moderate-term on-the-job training	Y	Agriculture and Bioscience, and Energy
13-2011	Accountants and Auditors	15,758	17,046	1,288	$31.43	Bachelor's degree	None		Energy, Information and Finance Services, and Transport and Distribution
47-1011	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers	11,645	12,679	1,033	$29.08	High school diploma or equivalent	None	Y	Energy
51-4121	Welders, Cutters, Soldiers, and Braziers	10,830	11,662	832	$19.99	High school diploma or equivalent	Moderate-term on-the-job training	Y
43-6013	Medical Secretaries	10,258	10,994	736	$14.89	High school diploma or equivalent	Moderate-term on-the-job training	Y
41-3021	Insurance Sales Agents	10,127	10,887	760	$22.28	High school diploma or equivalent	Moderate-term on-the-job training	Y	Information and Finance Services
41-3099	Sales Representatives, Services, All Other	10,042	10,528	487	$21.69	High school diploma or equivalent	Moderate-term on-the-job training	Y	Agriculture and Bioscience and Transport and Distribution
31-9092	Medical Assistants	8,840	9,775	935	$14.52	Postsecondary nanodegree award	None
33-3051	Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers	8,630	9,311	681	$20.71	High school diploma or equivalent	Moderate-term on-the-job training	Y
47-2111	Electricians	7,764	8,493	729	$23.21	High school diploma or equivalent	Apprenticeship	Y
23-1011	Lawyers	8,277	8,437	160	$42.13	Doctoral or professional degree	None
47-2152	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters	7,546	8,357	811	$22.89	High school diploma or equivalent	Apprenticeship	Y
11-9199	Managers, All Other	7,620	8,312	692	$27.39	Bachelor's degree	None	Y	Transport and Distribution
47-2073	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators	6,928	7,776	848	$18.59	High school diploma or equivalent	Moderate-term on-the-job training	Y	Energy
49-1011	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers	7,333	7,699	367	$31.41	High school diploma or equivalent	None	Y	Agriculture and Bioscience
15-1151	Computer User Support Specialists	7,343	7,691	348	$21.17	Some college, no degree	None	Y	Agriculture and Bioscience
13-1071	Human Resources Specialists	7,272	7,611	339	$24.45	Bachelor's degree	None		Transport and Distribution
11-3031	Financial Managers	6,717	7,465	748	$46.17	Bachelor's degree	None
11-9111	Medical and Health Services Managers	6,740	7,191	451	$37.86	Bachelor's degree	None
11-3011	Administrative Services Managers	6,841	7,074	233	$39.40	Bachelor's degree	None
13-1111	Management Analysts	6,301	7,055	753	$36.28	Bachelor's degree	None		Information and Finance Services and Transport and Distribution
43-5061	Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks	6,543	6,891	347	$22.89	High school diploma or equivalent	Moderate-term on-the-job training		Aerospace and Defense
21-1021	Child, Family, and School Social Workers	6,455	6,716	262	$16.89	Bachelor's degree	None
41-9022	Real Estate Sales Agents	6,372	6,609	237	$19.51	High school diploma or equivalent	Moderate-term on-the-job training	Y
13-1161	Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists	5,360	6,088	727	$25.73	Bachelor's degree	None		Information and Finance Services and Transport and Distribution
51-4041	Machinists	5,429	5,896	467	$20.66	High school diploma or equivalent	Long-term on-the-job training	Y	Aerospace and Defense and Energy
49-3011	Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians	5,613	5,870	257	$28.59	Postsecondary nanodegree award	None		Aerospace and Defense
49-9041	Industrial Machinery Mechanics	4,996	5,630	634	$24.71	High school diploma or equivalent	Long-term on-the-job training	Y	Energy
15-1132	Software Developers, Applications	4,801	5,613	812	$40.68	Bachelor's degree	None		Aerospace and Defense, Information and Finance Services, and Transport and Distribution
53-1048	First-line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors	5,105	5,531	426	$24.41	High school diploma or equivalent	None		Transport and Distribution
13-1151	Training and Development Specialists	4,817	5,021	203	$24.97	Bachelor's degree	None
49-9021	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers	4,417	4,863	446	$19.40	Postsecondary nondegree award	Long-term on-the-job training
49-9043	Maintenance Workers, Machinery	4,360	4,638	278	$23.26	High school diploma or equivalent	Long-term on-the-job training	Y
31-9091	Dental Assistants	4,174	4,490	316	$17.40	Postsecondary nondegree award	None
49-3031	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists	4,188	4,464	276	$20.00	High school diploma or equivalent	Long-term on-the-job training	Y	Transport and Distribution
29-2018	Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians	4,078	4,414	337	$22.48	Bachelor's degree	None
43-4131	Loan Interviewers and Clerks	4,178	4,351	174	$15.48	High school diploma or equivalent	Short-term on-the-job training	Y	Information and Finance Services
13-1081	Logisticians	4,086	4,337	250	$35.14	Bachelor's degree	None		Aerospace and Defense
13-1041	Compliance Officers	4,098	4,283	184	$26.24	Bachelor's degree	Moderate-term on-the-job training
21-1018	Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors	3,725	4,245	520	$22.23	Bachelor's degree	None
13-2072	Loan Officers	3,966	4,135	169	$29.41	Bachelor's degree	Moderate-term on-the-job training		Information and Finance Services
33-2011	Firefighters	3,704	4,045	342	$20.18	Postsecondary nondegree award	Long-term on-the-job training
29-2041	Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics	3,627	3,967	340	$14.65	Postsecondary nondegree award	None
21-1012	Educational, Guidance, School, and Vocational Counselors	3,847	3,899	52	$20.43	Master's degree	None
11-3021	Computer and Information Systems Managers	3,562	3,782	219	$51.85	Bachelor's degree	None
29-2071	Medical Records and Health Information Technicians	3,437	3,616	179	$16.97	Postsecondary nondegree award	None
25-3097	Teachers and Instructors, All Other	3,358	3,596	239	$17.50	Bachelor's degree	None
11-9141	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers	3,348	3,515	167	$30.97	High school diploma or equivalent	None	Y
15-1199	Computer Occupations, All Other	3,091	3,340	250	$37.48	Bachelor's degree	None		Agriculture and Bioscience
51-4011	Computer-Controlled Machine Tool Operators, Metal and Plastic	3,233	3,339	106	$18.42	High school diploma or equivalent	Moderate-term on-the-job training	Y	Aerospace and Defense
11-9032	Education Administrators, Elementary and Secondary School	3,315	3,336	21	$33.81	Master's degree	None
23-2011	Paralegals and Legal Assistants	3,092	3,315	223	$21.82	Associate's degree	None
17-2141	Mechanical Engineers	2,978	3,288	309	$40.47	Bachelor's degree	None		Aerospace and Defense
51-2028	Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers	3,137	3,226	89	$15.24	High school diploma or equivalent	Moderate-term on-the-job training		Aerospace and Defense and Energy
47-4051	Highway Maintenance Workers	3,009	3,192	184	$15.85	High school diploma or equivalent	Moderate-term on-the-job training	Y
15-1142	Network and Computer Systems Administrators	3,072	3,175	103	$32.97	Bachelor's degree	None
11-2022	Sales Managers	2,939	3,145	207	$43.98	Bachelor's degree	None
29-1069	Physicians and Surgeons, All Other	2,913	3,122	208	$57.86	Doctoral or professional degree	Internship/residency
29-1062	Family and General Practitioners	2,800	2,888	87	$101.88	Doctoral or professional degree	Internship/residency
51-2011	Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers	2,382	2,816	435	$22.86	High school diploma or equivalent	Moderate-term on-the-job training	Y	Aerospace and Defense
17-2051	Civil Engineers	2,649	2,813	163	$40.47	Bachelor's degree	None
49-3042	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines	2,543	2,787	243	$22.47	High school diploma or equivalent	Long-term on-the-job training	Y
29-1123	Physical Therapists	2,511	2,781	269	$41.50	Doctoral or professional degree	None
33-1012	First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives	2,507	2,653	147	$35.25	High school diploma or equivalent	Moderate-term on-the-job training	Y
29-2034	Radiologic Technologists	2,486	2,608	121	$26.12	Associate's degree	None
29-2021	Dental Hygienists	2,372	2,570	198	$37.08	Associate's degree	None
47-4011	Construction and Building Inspectors	2,329	2,486	157	$23.44	High school diploma or equivalent	Moderate-term on-the-job training
43-5032	Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance	2,307	2,443	136	$18.05	High school diploma or equivalent	Moderate-term on-the-job training		Transport and Distribution
43-9041	Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks	2,309	2,343	34	$18.79	High school diploma or equivalent	Moderate-term on-the-job training	Y	Information and Finance Services
51-4081	Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic	2,162	2,304	143	$16.31	High school diploma or equivalent	Moderate-term on-the-job training	Y
13-1051	Cost Estimators	2,083	2,263	180	$28.97	Bachelor's degree	Moderate-term on-the-job training
11-9041	Architectural and Engineering Managers	2,044	2,223	179	$60.08	Bachelor's degree	None		Aerospace and Defense
49-9051	Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers	2,105	2,221	115	$26.89	High school diploma or equivalent	Long-term on-the-job training	Y
17-2112	Industrial Engineers	1,792	2,178	386	$39.56	Bachelor's degree	None		Aerospace and Defense and Energy
29-1127	Speech-Language Pathologists	1,905	2,156	251	$31.89	Master's degree	Internship/residency
21-1022	Healthcare Social Workers	2,026	2,128	103	$22.27	Master's degree	Internship/residency
27-1024	Graphic Designers	2,056	2,111	55	$18.23	Bachelor's degree	None
51-9121	Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders	1,967	2,084	116	$16.36	High school diploma or equivalent	Moderate-term on-the-job training
17-2171	Petroleum Engineers	1,946	2,062	117	$62.05	Bachelor's degree	None		Energy
11-3051	Industrial Production Managers	1,916	2,053	137	$45.93	Bachelor's degree	None
51-8031	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators	1,974	2,041	67	$16.46	High school diploma or equivalent	Long-term on-the-job training
41-3031	Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents	1,916	2,021	107	$22.10	Bachelor's degree	Moderate-term on-the-job training		Information and Finance Services
13-2082	Tax Preparers	1,809	1,954	146	$19.87	High school diploma or equivalent	Moderate-term on-the-job training	Y
29-1171	Nurse Practitioners	1,680	1,929	249	$50.05	Master's degree	None
13-2051	Financial Analysts	1,740	1,906	166	$30.35	Bachelor's degree	None		Information and Finance Services
13-2052	Personal Financial Advisors	1,696	1,830	134	$30.78	Bachelor's degree	Long-term on-the-job training		Information and Finance Services
11-3121	Human Resources Managers	1,724	1,825	101	$40.90	Bachelor's degree	None
31-9097	Phlebotomists	1,516	1,799	283	$14.60	Postsecondary nondegree award	None
11-3071	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers	1,647	1,770	124	$34.90	High school diploma or equivalent	None	Y
49-9099	Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other	1,572	1,695	124	$19.70	High school diploma or equivalent	Moderate-term on-the-job training	Y	Agriculture and Bioscience
29-9011	Occupational Health and Safety Specialists	1,561	1,673	112	$31.31	Bachelor's degree	None
29-1071	Physician Assistants	1,446	1,669	223	$49.95	Master's degree	None
31-2021	Physical Therapist Assistants	1,470	1,648	178	$28.95	Associate's degree	None
17-2071	Electrical Engineers	1,474	1,638	164	$46.03	Bachelor's degree	None		Aerospace and Defense
29-1131	Veterinarians	1,449	1,625	176	$38.01	Doctoral or professional degree	None
11-2021	Marketing Managers	1,469	1,621	151	$46.72	Bachelor's degree	None
15-1141	Database Administrators	1,528	1,565	36	$31.84	Bachelor's degree	None
Source: EMSI 2020.3