Moorepay analyzed data from government sources and the World Bank to uncover trends in paid vacation, public holidays, and how much those days are worth based on income.

Key Findings

• Yemen offers the most paid days off globally: 30 vacation days and 16 public holidays.
• The UK comes in at 114th place with a minimum of 28 paid days, including public holidays.
• The US remains the only developed country with zero guaranteed paid leave.
• Luxembourg has the highest-paid time off, over $11,500 worth per worker annually.
• European countries dominate in both the number of days off and their financial value.

How Countries Compare on Time Off

Some countries provide a generous mix of vacation days and public holidays. Others, surprisingly, offer none by law.

Iran stands out with a total of 53 paid days off each year. San Marino and Yemen follow closely with 46 and 44 days. Andorra also offers 44. Venezuela has the highest number of public holidays—23 in total—reflecting its diverse blend of cultural and religious events.

On the other end of the spectrum, countries like the US and India have limited or no mandated vacation leave. In those cases, whether workers get time off depends heavily on individual company policies.

Europe regularly tops global rankings when it comes to paid leave. Countries like France, Austria, and Spain offer well over 30 days off annually, combining vacation with public holidays – and these benefits are protected by law.

In Austria, for example, workers are entitled to 25 vacation days and 13 public holidays. However, full leave benefits usually kick in after six months on the job; before that, days off build up gradually.

Still, not everyone uses their full allowance. In Japan, employees may be entitled to as many as 20 vacation days, depending on how long they’ve been with a company. Yet many workers don’t take all of them – concerned about disrupting their team or being perceived as less committed.

The UK takes a slightly different route: employers can include the country’s 8 public holidays within the 28-day minimum required by law. That means public holidays aren’t necessarily extra days off – depending on your contract. Only a few other countries take a similar approach, including the US, Japan, Guyana, and the Netherlands.

What Paid Time Off Is Worth

Paid leave isn’t just about how many days you get – it’s also about how well those days pay. Moorepay estimated the value of time off by looking at how much a typical worker earns per day, multiplied by the number of paid days available.

Take Luxembourg. With 37 days of paid leave and average daily earnings of about $311, a worker there receives over $11,500 in paid time off per year.

Norway, Germany, and Denmark also rank highly – not only because of the amount of leave available, but because salaries are high enough to allow people to genuinely unwind during their time off.

Country-by-Country Breakdown

Paid leave isn’t just a number in the labor code—it reflects how much a country prioritizes rest, personal time, and long-term well-being. Whether considered a basic right or an earned benefit, the way time off is handled says a lot about how a nation supports its workers.

The post How Paid Vacation Varies Around the World appeared first on Vivid Maps.

Many people feel that moving to an industry hotspot like Silicon Valley is the only way to succeed in their field. However, this can result in becoming a small fish in a large pond. It may be more beneficial to work in a town that you enjoy or to make a difference in a lesser-known, emerging industry hub. This is especially true in today’s world, where professional networks are widely dispersed.

It is worth considering regional differences in salaries when looking for a job. For instance, Bozeman, Montana, offers the highest-paying entry-level jobs, and states that increase their minimum wage slow the flow of poorer employees to neighboring markets. Moreover, salary rates can also vary for the same occupation depending on which state or metropolitan area you are in. The Career.io team has gathered data on occupational salaries from every U.S. state and major metropolitan area to help you make informed decisions.

Key findings

• In New York, Crane and Tower Operators are paid 109.03% more than the national average for the role.
• Craft Artists in California earn 89.06% more than the national average.
• Wisconsin’s Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners have the highest local wage premium, earning 216.19% more than the national average.
• Models in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim metropolitan area earn 144.02% more than the national average.

The Jobs That Offer Higher Salaries in Each State Compared to the Rest of the U.S.

Every U.S. state boasts at least one occupation that pays at least 25% more than the national average for that role. The Career.io team mapped out the first and second most disproportionately well-paid jobs in each state, revealing that some positions pay double or even triple the national average.

In Wisconsin, Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners earn a staggering +216.19% above the national average for their role — the largest disparity of any job in the U.S. The Oneida Casino in Green Bay stands as Wisconsin’s sole legal sports betting venue, employing just 40 individuals in this role statewide.

The analysis identified five of the ten states with the highest pay disparity also having the second-most disproportionately paid jobs. These states include New York, Connecticut, Alaska, New Jersey, and Louisiana. In Connecticut, Construction Helpers (+90.48%) and Bailiffs (+81.46%) enjoy the most significant wage benefits, given the state’s housing costs are around 45% higher than the national average, with only D.C., Washington, and parts of New York having a higher minimum wage.

Certain U.S. states offer a significant economic advantage for professionals in industries for which they are renowned. For instance, New York’s choreographers average $113,380, which is 93.02% above the national average, reflecting New York City’s renowned theater scene. Similarly, Colorado, boasting America’s second-largest aerospace economy, offers a +57.09% higher pay for space and planetary science-related work compared to the national average, attracting top talent with firms like Sierra Nevada Corporation and Maxar Lockheed Martin.

America’s Highest-paying Jobs in Business & Finance

The research also delved into the top-paying business and finance occupations in each U.S. state compared to the national average. Three states stand out with roles paid at a premium of more than 50% of the national average: Alaska, Nebraska, and New York. Particularly, Alaska’s personal financial advisors earn +66.79% over the average for their profession, with just 160 advisors in the state.

In New York, Credit Analysts exhibit the highest wage disparity (+50.98%). Given New York’s high concentration of extreme wealth, entities have access to higher credit, resulting in higher risks — and consequently, higher pay for credit analysts.

The Highest-paying Jobs in Metropolitan Areas

In the New York-Newark-Jersey City metropolitan area, Crane and Tower Operators earn +111.24% over the national average, mirroring the state-wide premium of +109.03% for the same job.

Similarly, in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim metro, Models make +144.02% above the national average, reflecting the region’s high demand for models in TV, film, and advertising.

In the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin metro, insurance sales agents can earn more than twice (+109.20%) the national average, reflecting Chicago’s status as a major finance and insurance hub.

In the Dallas–Fort Worth-Arlington metro, a variety of professionals enjoy higher salaries, including Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners (+76.51% over the national average) and Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders (+51.74% over the national average).

Should You be Looking for a Higher Salary?

For those at the start of their career, moving to a state with consistently higher wages in their industry could significantly impact their economic outlook. However, it’s crucial to consider that high pay often corresponds with a higher cost of living. Quality of life is interconnected with various factors beyond salary, such as environment, social connections, and the well-being of your family.

If you’re not ready to relocate for a pay increase, our national guide offers insights into the top-paying jobs with varying levels of competition, helping you find a role that suits you closer to home.

Methodology

The analysis used the latest wage estimates per occupation from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics to determine which job pays the highest average salary relative (%) to the national average salary for that job in each U.S. state and the top 10 most populated metro areas.

• May 2022 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
• May 2022 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
• May 2022 OEWS Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Definition
• May 2022 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

The Career.io team analyzed the 830 most detailed occupations, excluding any occupation that did not provide an estimate for employment numbers.

The post Comparing Each State’s Highest-Paying Job to the National Average appeared first on Vivid Maps.

In the United States, the population of full-time freelancers surged by 91%, while occasional freelancers saw a staggering increase of 132% between 2020 and 2023. Presently, approximately 72.1 million Americans—comprising roughly 45% of the workforce—engage in freelance work either part-time or as their primary occupation, as reported by MBO Partners. Many individuals have reshaped their career trajectories in response to shifting circumstances or expectations brought on by the pandemic, while others have seamlessly integrated into a landscape where freelancing represents a natural evolution.

Margaret Lilani, Vice President of Talent Solutions at Upwork, notes that younger professionals, having grown up as digital natives immersed in the internet and social media, are forging novel pathways for career advancement beyond the confines of traditional corporate structures. She explains that factors such as uncertainty surrounding higher education, internships, and the job market are aligning with a broader societal shift in how individuals perceive work.

Regrettably, alongside its normalization, freelancing has also seen the exacerbation of wage disparities. In conventional full-time employment, women in the U.S. typically earn 84 cents for every dollar earned by men. However, a recent study reveals that, on average, female freelancers charge only 79 cents for every dollar charged by their male counterparts. Our analysis encompassed advertised rates spanning all U.S. states and major freelancing sectors, providing insight into the extent of the gender pay gap among freelancers in the United States.

Key Insights

• On average, male freelancers charge 26.4% more than female freelancers.
• Wyoming exhibits the largest gap between male and female freelancer rates, with men charging $55.89/hour more than women.
• Delaware stands out as the only state where female freelancers charge more than males, surpassing them by $13.83/hour.
• Legal Writing, within the Writing category, shows the most significant disparity, with men charging $107.38/hour, or 145.4% more than women.

Freelance Gender Pay Gap Narrowly Below Full-Time Workers

In the U.S., male freelancers command an average rate of $75.44 per hour, marking a 26.4% difference from the $59.70 hourly rate for females. Notably, this gap varies across categories, with Legal services showing the widest disparity, and Translation displaying the least.

The legal sector’s disparity mirrors broader trends, where women remain underrepresented, potentially influencing hiring practices and rate negotiations.

In the analysis of eleven categories, the OnDeck team observed that women charge higher rates than men in three of them, although the difference in rates is generally smaller compared to the seven categories where men charge more. Interestingly, these categories where women charge higher rates also happen to be among the lowest paid in the study, except for translation.

Among these categories, Admin Support stands out as one where women hold a significant advantage, charging $57.95/hour on average — $8.28 more than the $49.67 set by men. The prevalence of women in administrative roles, occupying between 93% and 97% of permanent secretarial and administrative assistant positions throughout much of the 21st century, might reinforce the perception that administrative tasks align more closely with female freelancers’ skill sets. However, it’s important to note that despite this advantage, most permanent administrative staff earn less than the average U.S. worker, making admin support one of the lower-paid categories in our study.

What’s the Gender Pay Gap among Freelancers by U.S. State?

Across all surveyed categories, male freelancers in all but one state typically charge higher rates than their female counterparts. In 41 U.S. states, men charge over $10/hour more on average than women. The most significant discrepancy occurs in Wyoming, where the average male freelancer charges $86.09, a staggering $55.89 or 185% more than the average female rate of $30.20/hour.

Wyoming consistently ranks among the states with the most pronounced pay gap. A 2022 report from the Wyoming Women’s Foundation highlighted that the average working woman in the state loses enough money annually because of the gender wage gap to afford 108 additional weeks of food, 12 more months of mortgage and utilities payments, 21 extra months of rent, or 8,402 additional gallons of gas.

In contrast, Delaware stands out as the sole state where female freelancers earn more, averaging $66.33 compared to their male counterparts’ $52.50. Despite having a slightly below-average pay gap, with women making 86 cents for every dollar earned by men in conventional roles, the findings suggest a near reversal when considering freelancer rates. In Delaware, men charge 79 cents for every dollar charged by women.

Career Coaching Dominates the Gender Pay Gap in Accounting & Consulting

The most pronounced gender pay gap among freelancers in the accounting and consulting field occurs in Career Coaching, where men charge $136.67 per hour, nearly double the average rate of $71.27/hour charged by women.

Research indicates that 5—11% of the gender gap in prominent professions can be attributed to male overconfidence. Brooke Taylor explains, “The overconfidence gap refers to the difference between individuals’ self-perceived abilities and their actual performance. As a career coach, I assist conscientious corporate women in truly embracing their success. It’s common for women with extensive experience and impressive achievements ‘on paper’ to doubt their worthiness or potential for further advancement.”

Within this category, the OnDeck team observed only two instances where women charge higher rates, albeit by a marginal amount, in Training & Development and Recruiting & Talent Sourcing. Notably, male Financial Management/CFO freelancers command a mere $5.70/hour more than their female counterparts, despite this role being the second-highest paid within our Accounting & Consulting category. The study generally indicates that higher-paying roles exhibit wider gender pay gaps compared to lower-paying positions.

Women in Brand Strategy Rebalance the Sales & Marketing Freelancer Pay Disparity

In the realm of sales and marketing freelancing, female Marketing Automation and Brand Strategy specialists command higher rates compared to their male counterparts. Although the difference in marketing automation is marginal at just 70 cents, Brand Strategy leans significantly in favor of female freelancers, who charge an average of $150.42 — a notable $36.00 more than men’s $114.42.

This trend could be linked to the fact that women influence 70%-80% of all consumer purchases, underlining the perceived value of female perspectives in branding strategies.

Moreover, collective bargaining efforts by female marketing freelancers likely contribute to this shift. Holly Wasson, Chief Community & Marketing Officer at the marketing freelancer collective We Are Rosie, emphasizes their commitment to gender pay equity. They maintain a 99% track record of pay equity between male and female freelancers by basing compensation on the role rather than the gender of the freelancer. 

Photography and Videography: Divergent Pay Trends in the Design & Creative Freelance Sector

Within the Design & Creative category, the pay gap between male and female freelancers is relatively modest. Local Photographers, for instance, exhibit one of the lowest disparities, with men charging $25.09/hour more than women. However, this category also reveals a noteworthy trend: while ten out of 24 roles favor women in terms of pay, the most significant gap emerges in Videography, where women charge $47.42 more than men.

This disparity may stem from entrenched perceptions regarding the gender association with certain artistic mediums. Stills photography, being a traditional art form, often carries the misconception that it is primarily a male-dominated field. 

Gender Disparities in IT & Development: Male Network Administrators Charge 3x More

In the analysis of 17 roles within IT & Development, male freelancers out-earn their female counterparts in ten roles. The gap is particularly glaring in Network Administration, where men charge nearly three times as much as women, with rates at $108.50 compared to $37.50. With only 12.9% of network administrators being women, the male-dominated nature of this space not only affects its profitability but also undermines equitable expectations.

A study highlights the challenges of managing gender identity in the sysadmin workplace, emphasizing the need for female administrators to excel and go beyond expectations to overcome biases. Additionally, women in this field often undertake extra responsibilities due to gender considerations and foster a supportive community in the workplace.

Writing & Translation: Legal Writers Exhibit the Widest Freelancer Pay Discrepancy

Among all roles examined in our study, male Legal Writing freelancers demonstrate the most significant pay gap, charging an average of $107.38 more than their female counterparts. This pronounced disparity underscores the enduring issue of unequal pay within the legal sphere, where legal writing, despite its higher female representation, remains plagued by inequities. Legal writing professors often receive lower compensation compared to their peers in other legal teaching positions, partly due to misconceptions surrounding the complexity and value of writing within the field.

The pay gap in legal writing surpasses that of any other writing role by more than threefold. Despite this disparity, the findings reveal that over half of the writing roles examined have pay gaps of less than $10. Notably, women charge higher rates than men in five out of 22 writing categories, with Email, Phone & Chat Support and Resume & Cover Letter Writing showcasing the most significant difference. In these instances, men charge $65.26, while women charge $11.92 more at $77.19.

Methodology

To explore the wage disparity between male and female freelancers in the United States, the OnDeck team analyzed the hourly rates charged by 9,078 freelancers based in the US who have completed over 100 work hours on Upwork.

The team proceeded by computing the mean hourly rates (in USD) for freelancers across all sectors, as well as for 11 specific sectors (Legal, Accounting & Consulting, Data Science & Analytics, Engineering & Architecture, Sales & Marketing, Writing, IT and Development, Translation, Design & Creative, Customer Service, Admin Support), before determining the variance in hourly rates between male and female freelancers.

Identification of male and female freelancers was carried out using Gender-API.com. Only freelancers with a name-to-gender classification accuracy exceeding 50% were included in the analysis.

The data for this study was collected in February 2024.

Pricing Guidelines for Freelancers

Setting your rates as a freelancer requires careful consideration, especially when starting. Use these guidelines to ensure you receive fair compensation without pricing yourself out of the market.

✓ DO research industry norms: Explore platforms like Upwork, Glassdoor, and PayScale to understand typical rates. Compare your experience and skills to those in your field when determining your rate.

⛌ DON‘T undervalue your work: While it’s essential to be competitive, ensure your rates cover your costs and allow you to make a living. Consider the value of your services and what it takes to deliver them effectively.

✓ DO factor in your experience and expertise: Base your rates on objective factors such as your education, skills, and experience rather than solely on confidence levels.

⛌ DON’T neglect rate updates: As you gain experience and success, regularly review and adjust your rates to reflect your growing expertise. This demonstrates your value to clients and ensures fair compensation.

✓ DO be transparent and flexible: Clearly communicate your rates to clients and be open to negotiation. Avoid underpricing yourself, and consider lower rates for long-term or bulk projects that offer additional benefits.

⛌ DON‘T shy away from discussing details: If certain tasks require more effort or expertise, explain this to clients and adjust your rates accordingly. Retain the option to revise pricing after a trial period if necessary.

It’s crucial to note that gender should not influence your pricing. Despite strides towards pay equality, women still face disparities in freelance and permanent roles. Ensure you value your skills appropriately, avoiding underestimation due to societal biases. Let’s strive for a freelancing landscape where fair compensation reflects true value, fostering an equitable “new normal” for all freelancers.

The post The Freelancer Pay Gap by U.S. State appeared first on Vivid Maps.

Across the United States, pursuing higher education post-high school has become a norm for many. Yet, beyond the pursuit of knowledge lies the expectation of accessing well-paying jobs, with a staggering seven in ten Americans believing that individuals with college degrees earn more than those with only a high school diploma.

While it’s undeniable that some high school graduates secure lucrative positions early on, statistics reveal that, on average, college graduates in the United States accumulate $1.2 million more in lifetime earnings than their non-college-educated peers and are 3.5 times less likely to face poverty, particularly evident among male graduates who tend to command higher salaries.

This prompted the Career.io team to ponder: In which regions of the United States do college graduates enjoy the most significant salary premiums over non-degree holders? And where do both male and female graduates surpass their non-degree-holding counterparts in earnings the most?

Employing Census data, Career.io analyzed the median earnings disparity between local college graduates and high school graduates aged 25 and above across every state and the 1,000 most populous cities in the nation.

Key Findings

• California boasts the highest salary premium for college graduates, with an impressive 96.56% increase ($37,181) compared to workers without degrees.
• In Hoboken, New Jersey, college graduates enjoy the largest wage gap, earning 305.63% more ($81,478) than local workers without degrees.
• Conversely, in Gary, Indiana, the typical college graduate earns $18,750 less (-50.22%) than their non-degree-holding counterparts, marking the largest negative premium among cities.
• Female graduates in Edina, Minnesota, experience the most significant salary premium over their non-degree counterparts, with a substantial 390.29% increase ($54,059), while male graduates in Johns Creek, Georgia, lead with a premium of 341.92% ($89,444).

California College Graduates Earn 96.56% More Than High School Graduates

No matter which state you reside in, holding a bachelor’s degree significantly boosts your earning potential compared to those without higher education credentials. Our research highlights that across all states, individuals with degrees command substantial salary premiums over their non-degree-holding counterparts, with California leading the pack. In the Golden State, college graduates enjoy an impressive 96.56% increase (equivalent to $37,181) compared to high school graduates.

In both college graduates and non-degree holders, a common concern emerges – the exorbitant cost of living, which forces many workers to leave excessively expensive metropolitan areas such as Los Angeles and San Francisco. Following California, New York presents a similar trend, with a typical graduate earning 91.47% more (equivalent to $34,190) than someone without a college degree. Similarly, New Jersey showcases a substantial price premium of 90.89% (or $36,532).

Female Graduates in New Jersey Earn 105.27% More Than Non-Degree Counterparts

Despite comprising over half of the college-educated workforce in the U.S., where do women with degrees outstrip their non-degree-holding counterparts the most? New Jersey claims the top spot in this regard, with the average female employee holding a bachelor’s degree earning $33,170 more than a female high school graduate, marking a significant 105.27% salary premium.

The Institute for Women’s Policy Research notes, ‘A growing portion of employed women in New Jersey are occupying managerial or professional roles.’ These positions, constituting approximately 45% of women’s employment, typically demand a four-year degree and offer higher wages and employment benefits.

Male college graduates in California earn $43,953 more than their high school graduate counterparts, resulting in a 102.91% increase in salary. Notably, in Big Tech firms of Silicon Valley, men occupy 70% of managerial and professional roles, highlighting a significant gender disparity. Following California, Maryland presents a substantial premium of 91.27% (or $42,951).

In both states, individuals, regardless of gender, holding a bachelor’s degree can anticipate lifetime earnings reaching $3.1 million, marking one of the highest totals nationwide.

The City in Each U.S. State Boasting the Highest Salary Premium for College Graduates

Following that, the career.io team identified the city in each state where college graduates enjoy the most significant salary premiums compared to high school graduates. Novi, Michigan, stands out prominently in this regard, with an astounding difference: on average, a college graduate earns approximately $57,703 more (a premium of 258.19%) than someone without a degree. In late 2023, the state’s governor announced the creation of 200 “high-paying” engineering jobs in Novi, a sector typically requiring a bachelor’s degree.

Palo Alto leads the way in California, boasting a staggering salary premium for degree holders of $81,503 (equivalent to 256.03%) over workers without degrees. Historically, Palo Alto has been synonymous with a highly educated populace; during the 1950s, over one in three local men held a degree, a notable feat considering only 7% of American adults had completed four years of college at the time. The city’s association with exceptional salaries is further amplified by its integration into Silicon Valley, where in 2022, the top 5% of earners in the region averaged nearly $700k in annual salaries.

Hoboken, New Jersey, and Silicon Valley cities are home to the highest salary premiums

When assessing the top 10 cities with the highest salary premiums for graduates, two additional Silicon Valley locales emerge alongside Palo Alto: Cupertino, where college graduates enjoy a premium of 232.50% (or $96,295), and Mountain View, where the premium stands at 226.96% (or $90,928). Interestingly, despite the tech-driven nature of Silicon Valley careers, industry giants like Google and Apple are progressively less reliant on requiring degrees for employment.

However, towering above all others is Hoboken, New Jersey, where the average college graduate commands an astounding premium of 305.63% (or $81,478) over their non-degree-holding counterparts. Notably, graduates from the city’s Stevens Institute of Technology out-earn their peers from any other college in New Jersey, including the esteemed Princeton University.

Conversely, the situation contrasts sharply in other U.S. cities. In Gary, Indiana, the average degree holder earns $18,750 less than a non-degree worker, resulting in a negative premium of -50.22% — the highest across any city in the nation. The most prevalent job categories in Gary include Office & Administrative Support Occupations (3,251 individuals), Material Moving Occupations (2,092 individuals), and Sales & Related Occupations (1,895 individuals).

Male College Graduates in a Georgia City Earn 341.92% More Than Non-Degree Counterparts

In Johns Creek, one of Georgia’s most affluent cities, male college graduates enjoy a remarkable premium of 341.92% (equivalent to $89,444) over their non-degree-holding counterparts. This city’s primary industries revolve around life sciences and healthcare. Similarly, in Newton, Massachusetts, male college graduates also reap significant rewards, boasting a healthy premium of 310.04% (or $104,699) over men without degrees. Notably, Newton is home to two of the wealthiest men in America, both of whom hold college degrees.

Shifting focus to female graduates, Edina, Minnesota, emerges as the city with the highest salary premium, where women with college degrees earn a staggering 390.29% more (or $54,059) than those without degrees. In Edina, women command substantial earnings in agriculture, forestry, fishing, hunting, and mining, with the median salary for women in this industry reaching a quarter of a million dollars.

Big Earnings Aren’t Guaranteed by College Degrees

The research uncovers instances where individuals with degrees potentially earn several times the salary of their counterparts without degrees. However, it doesn’t guarantee that obtaining a degree ensures substantial earnings. Even within the most prestigious universities in the U.S., certain majors are associated with annual salaries of less than $30,000.

It also fails to indicate that forgoing college will permanently hinder your earning potential. Many of the world’s largest and highest-paying companies are beginning to relax their requirements for a college degree. Take Google, for example, where employees can earn hundreds of thousands of dollars annually. The proportion of Google job postings mandating a bachelor’s degree decreased from 93% to 77% between 2017 and 2021. Similarly, at Apple, this requirement decreased by 18%.

In a country where 51% of individuals are forced to drop out of college due to financial constraints and where 34% of young adults cannot attend college at all due to prohibitive costs, these developments signify positive news.

Methodology

To determine where college graduates earn the most significant salary premium in the United States, the career.io team concentrated on the 1,000 most populous cities and each state.

For each city and state, the team utilized data from the U.S. Census American Community Survey (2022) to identify the median earnings over the past 12 months (adjusted for inflation) for individuals aged 25 and older among High School Graduates, High School Graduate Males, High School Graduate Females, Bachelor’s Degree Holders, Bachelor’s Degree Holding Males, and Bachelor’s Degree Holding Females.

The career.io team computed the percentage difference in earnings for each location between high school graduates and bachelor’s degree holders. This analysis was then repeated for male and female high school graduates versus bachelor’s degree holders of the same gender.

Subsequently, the team ranked the cities, cities within each state, and states based on the highest salary premium (%) for bachelor’s degree holders.

The analysis of this data is accurate as of February 2024.

The post Top Locations in the United States Where College Graduates Earn the Highest Salary Premium appeared first on Vivid Maps.

In more extreme situations, a co-worker’s toxic behavior can destroy morale, decline productivity, and increase conflicts in the workplace. It can make life very painful for colleagues who work with these people, as they cannot control who they work with.

But it’s sometimes hard to pinpoint exactly why a colleague is toxic…

To help, Brother UK decided that because it is so crucial to find out how to deal with difficult co-workers of all kinds, there should be a guidebook to help with how you interact with more challenging team members.

Whether an office gossip who transmits rumors about teammates or a manipulative bully who alienates everybody in their path. Brother UK has produced a handy guidebook full of practical advice to help.

The Brother UK team also analyzed data from social media sites to discover where in the United Kingdom and the United States cities which have the worst workmates.

Methodology

To find out which places have the worst co-workers in the United States and the United Kingdom, Brother UK has analyzed over 1.3 million Tweets and used the Hugging Face sentiment analysis AI tool to find out whether posts about coworkers were negative or positive.

The Brother UK team gathered the posts by geolocation to determine which areas have high proportions of negative sentiment towards colleagues.

The team created a comprehensive infographic to help you identify the signs of a lousy co-worker and how to take action should a coworker affect your day-to-day work.

The U.S. States with the Worst Co-Workers

From bustling offices in NYC to remote enterprises in the Midwest, nasty co-workers can be found anywhere in the United States. Whether you’ve worked with the loose-lipped office gossip or a narcissistic manipulator, the Brother UK team researched all U.S. 50 states to find where colleagues are at their worst.

The data shows that 43.2% of Twitter posts in Alaska about co-workers are negative. Residents of Wyoming (39.5%) and Louisiana (39.4%) also aired grievances with their co-workers online.

The U.S. Cities with the Worst Co-Workers

After analyzing over 1 million Tweets, the team found that Mesa, Arizona, has the worst co-workers in the United States. Labeled as the country’s most conservative city by the Pew Research Center, 41.4% of posts about colleagues in the city are negative, more than Detroit, Michigan (40.6%) and Tulsa, Oklahoma (39%).

The Top and Bottom U.S. Cities with the Worst Co-Workers

A recent Gallup poll found that 75% of workers quit their jobs because of a terrible boss. However, any toxic colleague can make working life a struggle. According to our research, 41.4% of negative tweets, residents of Mesa, Arizona, find their teammates most challenging to work with. However, workers in Washington, DC, are the most positive about their colleagues – 43.8% of posts supported co-workers in the nation’s capital.

The UK Counties with the Worst Co-Workers

Now it’s time to find out where Brits struggle most with their colleagues.

While cities are known for busy offices with large teams, bad co-workers can also crop up outside of town. Workers in the Glasgow area are clearly struggling with their teammates. Three local authorities – South Ayrshire (32.9%), Inverclyde (32.8%), and West Dunbartonshire (32.7%) all had high proportions of negative Tweets about their co-workers.

The UK Cities with the Worst Co-Workers

Brother UK team found out that Britain’s worst co-workers can be found in Southend-on-Sea. Data from over 1 million Tweets suggest the Essex seaside town is home to team members that people can’t stand, with 30.3% of negative posts about them.

The Top and Bottom UK Cities with the Worst Co-Workers

The analysis of Twitter posts shows that Southend-on-Sea has the worst colleagues, with negative sentiment in 30.3% of tweets about co-workers. Meanwhile, workers in Bradford love their team members, with a whopping 60% positive post rate.

How to deal with 6 types of bad colleagues

Regardless of the industry, you work in, any workplace can have difficult colleagues that can make your job more challenging to perform. According to a study by Olivet Nazarene University, the tension between colleagues is the number one source of conflict in a business, and 36% of people reported changing jobs because of difficult or arrogant co-workers.

However, it is essential to understand how to deal with difficult coworkers of all kinds, whether an office gossiper who spreads rumors about colleagues or a manipulative bully who alienates everyone in their path.

Key Findings

– The Essex seaside town of Southend-on-Sea has the United Kingdom’s worst colleagues, with negative sentiment in 30.3 percent of tweets.

– Mesa, Arizona, has America’s worst co-workers. 41.6 percent of tweets about colleagues in this suburb of Phoenix are negative, more than Detroit, Michigan (40.6%) and Tulsa, Oklahoma (39%).

– Three local authority territories in the Glasgow area–South Ayrshire (32.9%), Inverclyde (32.8%), and West Dunbartonshire (32.7%) have the highest percentages of negative Tweets about their colleagues anywhere in the United Kingdom.

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But what are the occupations that people complain about the most?

This new study from Resume.io gathered hundreds of thousands of tweets about various professions and studied the language used by Twitter users to discover the occupations that people love and hate the most.

Resume.io used sources like Indeed, MySalary, TheBalanceCareers, and CVLibrary to make a list of the most common occupations and trades, including ones that people had strong opinions about.

Tweets for each occupation were gathered using the Twitter API, georeferenced, and analyzed for sentiment using the AFINN lexicon, which classifies the sentiment of text from -5 (negative) and +5 (positive). Resume.io only looked at tweets that referenced the occupations plus “are,” so it was clear they gave an opinion on the professions.

Tweets where the aggregate score was less than 0, were deemed negative, and each occupation was then ranked on the percentage of negative tweets in all the tweets mentioning that occupation. Occupations with the highest percentage of negative tweets were deemed “least loved,” while those where that % was lowest were considered to be “most loved.”

Data was gathered in Nov 2021.

The Most Loved occupation in the United States

Receptionists are the most loved occupation in the United States. Only 5% of Tweets about Receptionists were negative, making it the most loved occupation in the United States.

Students get the most love, with 12 U.S. states tweeting positively about them – only an average of 19% of Tweets in those states about them were negative. Coming in second are Chefs. It’s often said that the way to someone’s heart is through their stomach, and seemingly, in seven states, they say rings true.

The Least Loved occupation in the United States

The United States might be the lawsuit capital of the world, but Lawyers are very disliked as 61% of Tweets about them were negative.

Lawyers are guilty of being the most unpopular occupation in 15 U.S. states – an average of 66% of Tweets about them in those states are negative.

The most and least loved occupations in the United Kingdom

Only 15% of tweets about Receptionists were negative, making them the most loved occupation in the United Kingdom. A role that’s integral to any company, Receptionists have the power to influence the mood and experience of all those they come into contact with and visitors alike. On the contrary, real estate agents the least loved occupations in the United Kingdom – 68% of Tweets about them were negative.

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10 most common jobs in the United States

1. Retail Salespersons (Number employed: 3.66 million; Annual mean wage: $30,940; Median hourly wage: $13.02)
2. Fast Food and Counter Workers (Number employed: 3.45 million; Annual mean wage: $24,540; Median hourly wage: $11.47)
3. Cashiers (Number employed: 3.33 million; Annual mean wage: $25,710; Median hourly wage: $12.03)
4. Registered Nurses (Number employed: 2.99 million; Annual mean wage: $80,010; Median hourly wage: $36.22)
5. Customer Service Representatives (Number employed: 2.83 million, Annual mean wage: $38,510; Median hourly wage: $17.23)
6. Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand (Number employed: 2,81 million; Annual mean wage: $33,710; Median hourly wage: $14.96)
7. Office Clerks (Number employed: 2,79 million, Annual mean wage: $37,770, Median hourly wage: $16.98)
8. General and Operations Managers (Number employed: 2,35 million; Annual mean wage: $125,740; Median hourly wage: $49.83)
9. Stockers and Order Fillers (Number employed: 2,21 million; Annual mean wage: $31,010; Median hourly wage: $14.03)
10. Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners (Number employed: 2 million; Annual mean wage: $31,410; Median hourly wage: $13.98)

These 10 largest occupations in America employ some 30 million workers.

Most common jobs by U.S. State

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the retail industry is regular in 33 out of the 50 US states.

Below is the map created by  FlowingData, using Current Population Survey data.

If a job was in the five most common for a state out of a possible 569, it appears here. Every unique position gets a map. Jobs were ranged from most national to most state-specific from top to bottom.

The Most Common Jobs By U.S. County

The map below shows US counties’ most common job types using data from the County Business Patterns survey. Counties are colored by North American Industry Classification System codes.

Health care and social assistance jobs are the most common at the county level in more than 1200 counties, followed by manufacturing and retail trade.

The Most Common Jobs By US County (1998 -2017)

Taken together, 20 years of County Business Patterns survey estimates show an American economy that has changed dramatically. Estimates in 1998 show a majority of American workers employed in manufacturing and less than 20% in health care and social assistance jobs. Twenty years later, this percentage has flipped.

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Color intensity represents the distance from the median, with the darkest countries having both bachelor’s degree attainment and unemployment levels both more than one standard deviation (SD) from the median, medium colored U.S. counties having one of those two measures over one SD from the median, and light-colored counties being within one SD from the median on both measures.

Data comes from the USDA Economic Research Service.

The U.S. is more educated than ever: In 1973, workers with postsecondary education held only 28% of jobs; by contrast, they held 59% of jobs in 2010 and will save 65% of employment in 2020.

The United States economy will rise from 140 million to 165 million jobs by 2020. By 2020, 65% of all jobs in the economy will need postsecondary education and training beyond high school. 35% of job opportunities will need at least a bachelor’s degree, 30% of the job opening will need some college or an associate’s degree, 36% of the job opening will not require education beyond high school.

Job openings in healthcare, community services, and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) will grow the fastest among occupational clusters. Between 2003 and 2015, the number of bachelor’s degrees awarded in STEM increased from 470 thousand to 681 thousand.

The map below, created by a Reddit user, Academiaadvice, shows where STEM degrees are most common in the United States.

American adults hold approximately 16.7 million bachelor’s degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (75 degrees per 1,000). The U.S. counties with the highest concentration of STEM degrees are Santa Clara in California and Los Alamos in New Mexico.

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Below are the maps created by howmuch.net using GoBankingRates data that show how much money you need to save to retire early in every American State.

The average retirement age in the United States is 61. That means about 40 years in the workforce for the average retiree. But what if you wanted to cash out earlier?

Savings needed to retire by 35 years old

Savings needed to retire by 45 years old

Savings needed to retire by 55 years old

According to these maps, you might not require as much money as you think to retire early. If you’re 35 years old, you may be able to retire with only $1.5 million, depending on your location.

Mississippi is the ideal state for early retirees, but Hawaii, California, and New York are too costly.

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Solar panel installer becoming the fastest-growing job in 8 states, and wind turbine service technicians becoming a popular job in 4 states.

When you look beyond the green job, the map below contains some surprises.

The gambling industry is the fastest-growing industry in New York and animal trainer is the fastest-growing job in Oregon.

Top 5 fastest-growing jobs in the U.S.

1. Solar panel installer (California, New Mexico, Minnesota, Missouri, Florida, North Carolina, New Jersey, Hawaii)
2. Wind turbine service technician (Texas, Colorado, Iowa, Nebraska)
3. Statistician (Wisconsin, Illinois, Kentucky, Massachusetts)
4. Home health aide (Pennsylvania, Delaware)
5. Biomedical engineer (Mane, Louisiana) Companies With the Most Software Job Postings in Each U.S State

Software jobs are highly popular and in-demand in the United States. Over the past several years, the technology sector has experienced significant growth, leading to an increased need for skilled software professionals.

The map below created by Reddit user Slates77 shows companies with the most software job postings in each U.S. state.

To learn more about job fields in the United States, have a look at:

• Power Ties: The International Student’s Guide to Finding a Job in the United States
• The Professor Is In: The Essential Guide To Turning Your Ph.D. Into a Job
• The Hardest Job in the World: The American Presidency

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