Reading Comprehension Skills and Careers

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.

910 occupations report this skill · Category: Essential Skills · O*NET element 2.A.1.a

Occupations reporting Reading Comprehension

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

OccupationImportanceLevelNational median wage
Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters3.13.6$61,390
Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators3.13.1$77,320
Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers3.13.0$61,770
Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers, Transportation Equipment3.13.1$84,890
Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment3.14.0$74,090
Electronic Equipment Installers and Repairers, Motor Vehicles3.13.1$48,420
Audiovisual Equipment Installers and Repairers3.13.3$52,600
Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers3.13.3$60,070
Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines3.13.4$65,510
Home Appliance Repairers3.12.9$50,990
Camera and Photographic Equipment Repairers3.13.5$52,720
Medical Equipment Repairers3.13.6$61,660
Commercial Divers3.13.5$72,990
Manufactured Building and Mobile Home Installers3.13.1$45,990
Riggers3.12.4$62,640
Electrical and Electronic Equipment Assemblers3.13.0—
Engine and Other Machine Assemblers3.13.1$53,710
Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders3.12.9$44,810
Food Batchmakers3.13.0$42,290
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders3.12.8$41,590
Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic3.13.0$49,080
Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic3.13.0$58,000
Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic3.12.9$43,960
Printing Press Operators3.13.1$45,780
Print Binding and Finishing Workers3.12.9$42,290
Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders3.12.9$35,650
Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers3.13.3$62,750
Upholsterers3.13.0$46,340
Patternmakers, Wood3.13.0$49,630
Power Plant Operators3.13.1$102,040
Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators3.13.1$78,620
Chemical Plant and System Operators3.13.4$78,120
Gas Plant Operators3.13.1$87,820
Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders3.13.0$58,040
Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders3.13.0$48,990
Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders3.12.9$46,570
Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders3.13.0$48,040
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers3.13.0$48,570
Etchers and Engravers3.12.9$43,310
First-Line Supervisors of Helpers, Laborers, and Material Movers, Hand3.13.5—
Flight Attendants3.13.5$63,580
Light Truck Drivers3.13.0$44,860
Locomotive Engineers3.13.4$81,410
Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers3.13.1$60,600
Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters3.13.3$78,000
Subway and Streetcar Operators3.13.1$86,380
Ship Engineers3.13.4$109,530
Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic3.03.0$47,180
Massage Therapists3.03.1$58,450
Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors3.03.1$47,160

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