The Occupations Americans Can’t Live Without

This Independence Day, CareerBuilder is celebrating America’s everyday heroes with a list of occupations you may not think about every day, but that provide critical services to day-to-day life in America.

“There are more than 323 million people in America today,” said Rosemary Haefner, chief human resources officer at CareerBuilder. “While every job plays an important role in making America a successful, thriving nation, our study focuses on 12 careers that provide for our most basic needs: food, clean water, health, shelter, safety and communication. These workers impact our lives every day, so today we’re taking our hats off to celebrate our often unsung heroes.”

Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers –

• Number employed: 494,879
• Ratio to U.S. population: 1 farmer for every 654 people
• Median income: $30,597

Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators

• Number employed: 113,370
• Ratio to U.S. population: 1 operator for every 2,856 people
• Median income: $45,968

Teachers

• Number employed: 4,031,658
• Ration to U.S. population: 1 teacher for every 80 people
• Median income: $55,557

Construction Laborers

• Number employed: 1,335,944
• Ratio to U.S. population: 1 construction worker for every 242 people
• Median income: $31,658

Electrical and Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers

• Number employed: 238,922
• Ratio to U.S. population: 1 line worker for every 1,355 people
• Median income: $60,965

Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors

• Number employed: 134,250
• Ratio to U.S. population: 1 collector for every 2,412 people
• Median income: $34,258

Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers

• Number employed: 675,939
• Ratio to U.S. population: 1 officer for every 479 people
• Median income: $60,466

Firefighters

• Number employed: 314,928
• Ratio to U.S. population: 1 firefighter for every 1,028 people
• Median income: $48,859

EMTs, Paramedics and Ambulance Drivers

• Number employed: 266,853
• Ratio to U.S. population: 1 worker for every 1,214 people
• Median income: $32,510

Registered Nurses

• Number employed: 2,870,340
• Ratio to U.S. population: 1 nurse for every 113 people
• Median income: $69,077

Military Occupations

• Number employed: 2,098,652
• Ratio to U.S. population: 1 military member for every 154 people
• Median income: $35,194

Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers

• Number employed: 1,926,886
• Ratio to U.S. population: 1 truck driver for every 168 people
• Median income: $39,312