Oklahoma City's health and education sector is adding jobs fast while unemployment has edged up. Here is what that means for pay, sourcing and speed when you hire in the metro.
Private education and health services is the largest sector in the Oklahoma City metro at 18.2% of nonfarm jobs, and it grew +6.3% over the year. Total nonfarm employment grew only +0.7%. One sector is pulling far more than its share of new hires, and clinics, care agencies and schools are competing hard for the same aides, medical assistants and support staff.
At the same time, unemployment rose from 3.4% to 3.9%. That is still below the national rate of 4.2%. The market has loosened a little but is not slack. More people are looking, yet good candidates still take the first solid offer they get.
Local pay sits below national medians in every role in the table. That gives employers room on cost. It also means candidates will notice small differences in pay and responsiveness. The sections below read each table and turn it into recruiting steps that fit this market.
A labor force of 777,001 and unemployment of 3.9%, up from 3.4%, point to a slightly larger applicant pool than last year. With the rate still under the U.S. figure of 4.2%, speed to contact still decides who you hire.
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (LAUS, CES). "Preliminary" figures may be revised. Retrieved October 23, 2026.
| Occupation | 10th pct. | Median | 90th pct. | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sales representatives of services | $14.59 | $26.54 | $51.87 | 4,350 |
| Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing | $15.37 | $30.73 | $72.61 | 5,700 |
| Telemarketers | $12.51 | $14.11 | $19.48 | 200 |
| Customer service representatives | $14.00 | $18.91 | $27.93 | 15,610 |
| Retail salespersons | $11.02 | $14.50 | $21.96 | 18,370 |
| Cashiers | $10.69 | $13.79 | $17.22 | 14,120 |
| Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers | $14.41 | $17.79 | $23.22 | 18,320 |
| Fast food and counter workers | $10.25 | $12.00 | $14.33 | 22,970 |
| Janitors and cleaners | $11.06 | $15.36 | $20.32 | 8,020 |
| Sales managers | $31.12 | $61.11 | $134.15 | 1,470 |
Medians here run below national levels, for example $18.91 for customer service reps versus $18.91 locally against $21.53 nationally. Wide gaps between the 10th and 90th percentiles, especially in sales roles, mean the number you post shapes who applies.
129,100 jobs · 18.2% of nonfarm employment · August 2026
With +6.3% growth on top of a 18.2% share, aides and clinic staff have options, so build a standing pipeline and contact applicants the same day.
126,200 jobs · 17.8% of nonfarm employment · August 2026
Trade, transportation and utilities holds 17.8% of jobs but grew only +0.4%, so warehouse and driver hiring is mostly replacement volume that rewards fast, repeatable screening.
92,700 jobs · 13.1% of nonfarm employment · August 2026
Professional and business services contracted −0.6%, which may free up experienced contact-center, sales and admin candidates worth re-engaging from past applicant lists.
80,700 jobs · 11.4% of nonfarm employment · August 2026
Leisure and hospitality is 11.4% of jobs and roughly flat at +0.2%, so turnover, not expansion, drives most server, cook and housekeeping openings.
38,100 jobs · 5.4% of nonfarm employment · August 2026
Financial activities grew +1.3% from a 5.4% base, so teller and claims roles see steady demand where clear schedules and reliable follow-up help you stand out.
Health and education leads in both size and growth, while professional and business services slipped −0.6%. Expect the toughest competition for care and clinic roles and a looser pool for office, contact-center and admin candidates.
Oklahoma's minimum wage is tied to the federal rate at $7.25, and Oklahoma City cannot set its own wage or leave rules; the table also covers sealed and expunged records, non-competes and pay transparency. This is general information, not legal advice, so confirm current requirements with the relevant state agency or your own counsel.
Oklahoma bars employers from requiring applicants to disclose information in sealed or expunged criminal records; no state credit-check ban or consumer-report statute was found.
Source: Oklahoma Legislature, Oklahoma Statutes Title 22 (section 19, sealing and expungement of records) · checked October 15, 2026No statewide ban-the-box / fair chance requirement was identified in the sources we reviewed.
Source: Oklahoma State Courts Network (Oklahoma Statutes, Title 40 Labor) · checked October 15, 2026Oklahoma's minimum wage is $7.25 an hour, tied by state law to the federal rate; cities are barred from setting their own.
Source: Oklahoma Department of Labor, Wage and Hour FAQs; Oklahoma Statutes Title 40; U.S. Department of Labor · checked October 15, 2026Oklahoma law lets a former employee work for a competitor and permits only a ban on directly soliciting the former employer's established customers.
Source: Oklahoma Legislature, Oklahoma Statutes Title 15 (sections 217 to 219B) · checked October 15, 2026No statewide pay transparency requirement was identified in the sources we reviewed.
Source: Oklahoma State Courts Network (Oklahoma Statutes, Title 40 Labor) · checked October 15, 2026Oklahoma City cannot set its own minimum wage or require paid or unpaid vacation or sick leave; state law occupies the field and voids local rules.
Full detail on the state rules is on the Oklahoma hiring page.
General information, not legal advice.
Employment rules change and have exceptions that depend on employer size, industry and facts. This summary reflects the sources shown as of the dates shown (legal sources checked October 15, 2026). Confirm requirements with the relevant agency or qualified counsel before acting.
Health and education is growing at +6.3%, far faster than the overall market. Keep requisitions for aides and medical assistants open and keep a warm list of qualified applicants. Text new applicants within hours and offer self-booked interview slots so they do not drift to the next employer.
Professional and business services fell −0.6%. People leaving contact centers and admin roles bring customer service and scheduling skills that fit front-desk, claims and clinic coordinator jobs. Segment past applicants by role history and send them a targeted message about openings that match.
Services sales pay runs from $14.59 to $51.87 an hour, with a median of $26.54. A single number hides that spread. Post the base and a realistic range for typical earners, and explain how commission is paid, so applicants can judge the offer quickly.
Fast food workers at the 10th percentile earn $10.25, already above the $7.25 state minimum. Advertising near the floor signals a below-market offer. Use the local median, such as $12.00 for that role, as your reference point for entry-level postings.
Warehouse, retail and hospitality sectors are near flat, so most openings come from turnover. Set automations that send a text on application, a screening step, and reminders before interviews. Run the same flow every week instead of rebuilding it for each wave of openings.
Oklahoma City's mix of fast-growing care roles and steady turnover hiring rewards speed and repetition. Conversational SMS and automations let you text applicants from one inbox and trigger follow-ups by status or time, so new care applicants hear back quickly. Self-service interview scheduling lets candidates book a slot and get automated reminders without back-and-forth. When professional services talent becomes available, audience segmentation helps you build filtered lists of past applicants and send targeted outreach for roles that match their experience.
Every role in the wage table has a local median below the national median. For example, customer service reps earn a median of $18.91 locally against $21.53 nationally. Use local percentiles, not national figures, to set competitive ranges.
Somewhat. Unemployment rose from 3.4% to 3.9%, so more people are looking. It is still below the U.S. rate of 4.2%, and health and education roles remain competitive, so fast contact still matters.
No. According to the rules on this page, Oklahoma's minimum wage is $7.25, tied to the federal rate, and cities are barred from setting their own wage or leave requirements. Confirm current rules with the state agency or your counsel.
Oklahoma bars employers from requiring applicants to disclose information in sealed or expunged criminal records. No statewide ban-the-box requirement was identified in the sources reviewed. This is general information, so check with counsel before changing your application or background check process.
Texting is a fast way to reach hourly applicants, but get clear opt-in consent before you send recruiting messages. Honor STOP and other opt-out replies right away, and keep a record of consent. Ask your counsel about the specific requirements that apply to your outreach.
These sectors are roughly flat, so most openings come from turnover. Build one repeatable flow: capture applications, send an automatic text, screen, and let candidates self-book interviews. Bulk messaging and status moves keep large applicant groups from stalling.
Sources and data currency
Labor data as of August 2026; wage data May 2025; rules checked October 15, 2026. Next scheduled review: January 21, 2027. This page is educational market information for employers.
Text applicants, automate follow-ups and let candidates book interviews. Start a free trial or book a demo to see how it fits.
30-day free trial · No setup fees · No long-term contracts
