Most popular jobs and average local salary*:
Registered nurses -- $50,496
Wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives -- $37,236
Elementary school teachers -- $34,374

Jobs more common near New Orleans than other U.S. cities and average local salary:
Pump operators -- $38,149
Sailors and marine oilers -- $27,807
Bridge and lock tenders -- $25,469

San Jose, Calif.
Population: 1,774,000

Most popular jobs and average local salary:
Computer applications software engineers -- $78,822
Computer systems software engineers -- $88,659
Registered nurses -- $79,649

Jobs more common near San Jose than other U.S. cities and average local salary:
Semiconductor processors -- $34,169
Oral and maxillofacial surgeons -- $186,196
Computer hardware engineers -- $88,163

Hickory, N.C.
Population: 358,000

Most popular jobs and average local salary:
Registered nurses -- $45,244
Wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives -- $43,338
Elementary school teachers -- $32,390

Jobs more common near Hickory than other U.S. cities and average local salary:
Wood model makers -- $24,799
Wood patternmakers -- $25,750
Upholsterers -- $34,240

San Francisco, Calif.
Population: 1,692,000

Most popular jobs and average local salary:
Registered nurses -- $71,408
Accountants and auditors -- $51,435
Computer applications software engineers --$70,426

Jobs more common near San Francisco than other U.S. cities and average local salary:
Mathematical scientists -- $69,664
Graduate teaching assistants -- $26,324
Biochemists and biophysicists -- $76,807

Detroit, Mich.
Population: 1,977,000

Most popular jobs and average local salary:
Registered nurses -- $53,194
Elementary school teachers -- $50,238
Wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives -- $54,024

Jobs more common near Detroit than other U.S. cities and average local salary:
Septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners --$24,689
Drilling and boring machine tool setters, operators and tenders -- $45,476
Power plant operators -- $55,733

Cambridge, Mass.
Population: 1,471,000

Most popular jobs and average local salary:
Registered nurses -- $65,598
Accountants and auditor -- $47,239
Computer applications software engineers -- $69,912

Jobs more common near the Cambridge area than other U.S. cities and average local salary:
Nuclear technicians -- $55,952
Oral and maxillofacial surgeons -- $193,462
Atmospheric and space scientists -- $62,651

Flint, Mich.
Population: 444,000

Most popular jobs and average local salary:
Registered nurses -- $48,594
Elementary school teachers -- $50,475
Secondary school teachers -- $48,177

Jobs more common near Flint than other U.S. cities and average local salary:
Postsecondary teachers -- $60,113
Education, training and library workers -- $51,530
Elementary and secondary education administrators -- $71,703

Binghamton, N.Y.
Population: 248,000

Most popular jobs and average local salary:
Registered nurses -- $41,437
Secondary school teachers -- $40,957
Elementary school teachers -- $36,611

Jobs more common near Binghamton than other U.S. cities and average local salary:
Coil winders, tapers and finishers -- $16,525
Judges and magistrates -- $70,856
Legislators -- $102,050

Canton, Ohio
Population: 411,000

Most popular jobs and average local salary:
Registered nurses -- $47,910
Wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives -- $41,607
Secondary school teachers -- $45,051

Jobs more common near Canton than other U.S. cities and average local salary:
Metal and plastic forging machine operators -- $45,255
Welding operators -- $27,655
Heat treating equipment operators -- $23,888

Dayton, Ohio
Population: 846,000

Most popular jobs and average local salary:
Registered nurses -- $45,867
Wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives -- $48,827
Secondary school teachers -- $44,184

Jobs more common near Dayton than other U.S. cities and average local salary:
Metal and plastic workers -- $32,182
Materials engineers -- $76,952
Postsecondary engineering teachers -- $50,824

*Salary information provided by CBsalary.com. All other data from Forbes.com and CityTownInfo.com.
**Population numbers based on metro area.

Last Updated: Monday, October 22, 2007 - 11:47 AM