Careers Where Wages Beat Inflation
Not all wage growth is real growth. After adjusting for 23.0% inflation from 2019 to 2024, which careers actually gave workers more purchasing power?
Understanding Real vs. Nominal Wages
Nominal Growth
The raw percentage increase in salary from 2019 to 2024. This is the number you see on your paycheck.
Real Growth
Wage growth after adjusting for inflation. This shows whether you can actually buy more with your salary.
Inflation Rate
23.0% - The increase in consumer prices from 2019 to 2024 (CPI-U).
Top 10 Careers with Highest Real Wage Growth
Inflation-adjusted salary growth from 2019 to 2024
Careers That Beat Inflation (400)
These careers had wage growth exceeding 23.0% inflation, giving workers more purchasing power.
| Rank | Occupation | 2019 Salary | 2024 Salary | Nominal Growth | Real Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Models | $28,350 | $89,990 | +217.4% | +158.1% |
| 2 | Aircraft Pilots and Flight Engineers | $121,430 | $198,100 | +63.1% | +32.6% |
| 3 | Gambling Dealers | $21,260 | $33,280 | +56.5% | +27.3% |
| 4 | Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | $147,220 | $226,600 | +53.9% | +25.1% |
| 5 | Dentists, All Other Specialists | $147,220 | $225,770 | +53.4% | +24.7% |
| 6 | Gambling Services Workers | $21,730 | $33,280 | +53.2% | +24.5% |
| 7 | Legislators | $29,270 | $44,810 | +53.1% | +24.5% |
| 8 | Motion Picture Projectionists | $25,150 | $38,180 | +51.8% | +23.4% |
| 9 | Transportation Security Screeners | $41,770 | $63,360 | +51.7% | +23.3% |
| 10 | Media and Communication Workers, All Other | $47,580 | $71,770 | +50.8% | +22.6% |
| 11 | Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers | $---,--- | $---,--- | +--.-% | +--.-% |
| 12 | Waiters and Waitresses | $---,--- | $---,--- | +--.-% | +--.-% |
| 13 | Miscellaneous Sales and Related Workers | $---,--- | $---,--- | +--.-% | +--.-% |
Careers That Lost to Inflation (628)
These careers had wage growth below 23.0% inflation, meaning workers can buy less with their salary today.
| Rank | Occupation | 2019 Salary | 2024 Salary | Nominal Growth | Real Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance | $75,730 | $50,280 | -33.6% | -46.0% |
| 2 | Farm Labor Contractors | $61,910 | $48,690 | -21.4% | -36.1% |
| 3 | Patternmakers, Wood | $64,880 | $52,520 | -19.1% | -34.2% |
| 4 | Model Makers and Patternmakers, Wood | $61,130 | $51,920 | -15.1% | -30.9% |
| 5 | Model Makers, Wood | $59,260 | $51,850 | -12.5% | -28.9% |
| 6 | Hoist and Winch Operators | $59,720 | $52,310 | -12.4% | -28.8% |
| 7 | Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers | $54,150 | $49,800 | -8.0% | -25.2% |
| 8 | Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators | $60,140 | $56,530 | -6.0% | -23.6% |
| 9 | Miscellaneous Rail Transportation Workers | $51,600 | $49,330 | -4.4% | -22.3% |
| 10 | Rail Transportation Workers, All Other | $51,600 | $49,330 | -4.4% | -22.3% |
| 11 | Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $---,--- | $---,--- | +--.-% | --.-% |
| 12 | Funeral Home Managers | $---,--- | $---,--- | +--.-% | --.-% |
| 13 | Life Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | $---,--- | $---,--- | +--.-% | --.-% |
Methodology
This analysis uses the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) to adjust wages for inflation:
- 2019 CPI: Used as base year
- 2024 CPI: Latest year for comparison
- Inflation Rate: 23.0% over 5 years
- Real Growth Formula: (2024 Salary × CPI2019/CPI2024) / 2019 Salary - 1
Careers that "beat inflation" had nominal wage growth higher than 23.0%, meaning workers in those fields can buy more with their salary today than they could in 2019.