Critical Thinking Skills and Careers

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.

910 occupations report this skill · Category: Essential Skills · O*NET element 2.A.2.a

Occupations reporting Critical Thinking

Importance and level are O*NET scale values. Ordered by reported importance. A skill rating does not indicate hiring outcomes.

Occupation	Importance	Level	National median wage
Nurse Midwives	4.1	4.4	$134,040
Molecular and Cellular Biologists	4.1	4.9	$98,920
Nurse Anesthetists	4.1	4.0	$236,590
Dermatologists	4.1	4.3	$328,730
Speech-Language Pathologists	4.1	4.1	$97,870
Marine Engineers and Naval Architects	4.1	4.4	$112,230
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons	4.1	5.0	$352,220
Acute Care Nurses	4.1	4.0	$97,550
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Physicians	4.1	4.8	$265,930
Nurse Practitioners	4.1	4.1	$132,300
Medical and Health Services Managers	4.1	4.1	$123,860
Aerospace Engineers	4.1	4.9	$134,960
Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary	4.1	4.1	$76,590
Media Programming Directors	4.1	4.1	$90,360
Fundraising Managers	4.1	3.9	$125,470
Child, Family, and School Social Workers	4.1	4.3	$59,550
News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists	4.1	4.3	$62,200
School Psychologists	4.1	4.3	$95,990
Chemical Engineers	4.1	5.0	$125,040
Computer Network Architects	4.1	4.1	$134,050
Education Administrators, Postsecondary	4.1	4.3	$104,590
Historians	4.1	4.4	$76,750
Coroners	4.1	4.0	$80,730
Hydrologists	4.1	4.8	$96,600
Economists	4.1	4.8	$124,720
Management Analysts	4.1	4.1	$101,860
Industrial-Organizational Psychologists	4.1	4.5	$193,950
Anthropologists and Archeologists	4.1	4.8	$70,770
Dentists, General	4.1	4.3	$170,950
Automotive Engineers	4.1	4.8	$104,110
Environmental Compliance Inspectors	4.0	4.3	$80,730
Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare	4.0	4.0	$59,300
Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators	4.0	4.3	$78,000
Investment Fund Managers	4.0	4.0	$166,570
Construction Managers	4.0	4.4	$114,990
Wholesale and Retail Buyers, Except Farm Products	4.0	4.0	—
Biologists	4.0	4.9	$98,920
Treasurers and Controllers	4.0	4.9	$166,570
Foresters	4.0	4.1	$76,400
Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists	4.0	4.8	$103,410
Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers	4.0	4.3	$141,900
Wind Energy Development Managers	4.0	4.3	$141,900
Human Resources Managers	4.0	4.3	$149,280
Microbiologists	4.0	4.6	$87,990
Bioinformatics Scientists	4.0	4.8	$98,920
Compliance Managers	4.0	4.3	$141,900
Financial Managers	4.0	4.3	$166,570
Soil and Plant Scientists	4.0	4.4	$78,850
Nanotechnology Engineering Technologists and Technicians	4.0	3.9	$66,120
Solar Energy Systems Engineers	4.0	4.0	$122,930

Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.