Water Providers And Protectors In Southern Nevada Earning Big Bucks

LVVWD and SNWA salaries are higher than the national average for similar positions. In fact, if you go to the Southern Nevada Water Authority website, you’ll see “A Not-For-Profit Water Agency” at the bottom of their home page. Similarly, at the bottom of the Las Vegas Valley Water District home page it reads: “A Not-For-Profit Water Utility.” So, I was a bit shocked to learn that nearly half of their employees are earning six-figure salaries! I saw that statement in an article by Mary Hynes on ReviewJournal.com. 

After I read Hynes’ article, I had to check it out for myself. Subsequently, I found that there are websites such as TransparentNevada.com which lists regular pay, overtime pay, other pay, total pay, total benefits, and total pay and benefits. Furthermore, for the year 2022, I went over 650 employees deep before I found someone earning less than $100,000 dollars per year.

Moreover, if you go by total pay and benefits, over 1,050 employees are pulling down six-figure earnings. Not to mention, there are only 1,469 employee records found for that year. Pretty incredible.

As an illustration, I did a quick internet search and found that the average salary for Las Vegas Valley Water District employees is over $103,000. Likewise, the average pay for all SNWA employees is about $97,000. Mary Hynes checked U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data to learn that’s above the national average. Her article specifically shows that the average pay for engineers across the nation is about $90,000. By the same token, managers and professionals in this field average about $76,000 in annual pay in the U.S.

Have you ever thought to yourself: “Man, I should have chosen a different line of work for my career.” Well, after looking at these salaries for SNWA employees, that’s what I’m thinking. Now, I don’t want you to think I begrudge these people the money they earn. Generally, these managers, directors, engineers, and professionals have worked very hard to earn these positions. And the salaries that go with those jobs.

However, I’ve been a radio professional for over 40 years, and I have never earned a six-figure salary. I know people think that media professionals make big bucks. But until you get to one of the top 10 markets, there just aren’t enough advertising dollars to support huge salaries for most radio pros. I’m not complaining. I love my job and I am enjoying this career. I’m just making a comparison.

But all you have to do is compare my salary, or water agency employees’ salaries, to those of today’s professional athlete. Comparatively, pro athletes' paychecks blow us all out of the “water.”

Now, feel free to scroll down for more content that may interest you.

The current job market is a hot topic, as opportunities are flourishing in a variety of industries, including in Nevada. So, if you’re looking for a new job, what are some of the best careers to get into to ensure financial success, especially if you live in Nevada?

Indeed.com has put together a list of the highest-paying jobs in Nevada. Of course, Indeed is a popular resource for both job seekers and employers, so it makes sense that they would be on top of this topic.

"If you're interested in pursuing a career path in Nevada that offers a high average salary, you have many options to consider," Indeed.com states in the article. "The state offers high-paying jobs in many industries, including law enforcement, health care, technology, engineering and business. Exploring these careers can help you find a job that allows you to reach your financial goals."

While many of these jobs are in the medical field, some are in other disciplines. Even if these specific jobs don't interest you, seeing this list might spawn an idea to go for a similar gig. Read on for the 10 highest-paying jobs in Nevada right now. Find more information and the full list here.

According to Indeed, the average salary for this job is $195,123 per year.

So, what does this job entail? Indeed states, "A nuclear engineer is an engineer who specializes in developing processes and equipment used to create energy from radiation and nuclear power sources."

According to Indeed, the average salary for this job is $197,648 per year.

So, what does this job entail? Indeed states, "A neurologist is a physician who specializes in treating conditions of the nervous system, which includes the brain and spinal cord."

According to Indeed, the average salary for this job is $203,467 per year.

So, what does this job entail? Indeed states, "An optometrist is a vision care professional who specializes in providing preventive and corrective treatments for their patients' vision concerns."

According to Indeed, the average salary for this job is $207,373 per year.

So, what does this job entail? Indeed states, "A chief medical officer (CMO) is an executive-level professional who manages the operations of a health care organization."

According to Indeed, the average salary for this job is $217,672 per year.

So, what does this job entail? Indeed states, "A periodontist is a dentist who specializes in treating patients who have gum disease."

According to Indeed, the average salary for this job is $240,946 per year.

So, what does this job entail? Indeed states, "A cardiologist is a physician who specializes in the treatment of heart and vascular conditions."

According to Indeed, the average salary for this job is $$245,734 per year.

So, what does this job entail? Indeed states, "A dentist is a physician who specializes in treating oral health concerns. They provide patients with preventive care treatments and home care instructions to help them keep their teeth and gums healthy."

According to Indeed, the average salary for this job is $249,097 per year.

So, what does this job entail? Indeed states, "A family medicine physician is a doctor who provides medical care to patients from all ages, from birth through adulthood."

According to Indeed, the average salary for this job is $261,889 per year.

So, what does this job entail? Indeed states, "An orthopedist is a doctor who specializes in treating injuries and conditions of the musculoskeletal systems."

According to Indeed, the average salary for this job is $265,207 per year.

So, what does this job entail? Indeed states, "An orthodontist is a dentist who specializes in diagnosing and correcting the position of their patients' teeth and jaws."

Indeed.com's article on finding a high-paying job in Nevada.

Larry Martino is the long-time afternoon drive personality on 96.3 KKLZ. The views and opinions expressed in this blog are those of Larry Martino and not necessarily those of Beasley Media Group, LLC.

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