What Are The Highest-Paying Jobs in the U.S.? (2024)

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Whether you’re a college student choosing your major or a working professional contemplating a career shift, many factors contribute to picking a job. But one detail can be particularly important: What career makes the most money?

The right job for you depends on more than just salary. Still, earning potential is a key concern, especially if you’ve invested time and money in higher education.

So, what are the highest-paying jobs you can get? If you’ve ever considered a career in healthcare, we have good news: Medical professions account for nearly all of the most lucrative occupations in the United States.

This article will explore high-salary jobs and how to pursue them. We’ve included data from sources like the U.S. Census Bureau and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to provide context about salary and employment trends.

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Key Statistics

To understand how the highest-paying jobs fit into the overall employment landscape, let’s start with some key facts about U.S. workers.

  • As of July 2022, the Census Bureau reported that the U.S. population stood at over 333 million people, of whom about 160 million were working.
  • As of May 2022, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the highest-earning profession in the U.S. made nearly 400% more than the median U.S. household income.
  • About two-thirds of U.S. workers do not have college degrees, limiting salary potential and job security for many Americans.
  • Asian American households make the highest median annual income at $94,903.

How Many People are Employed in the U.S.?

Broad social and economic trends affect how many people are employed in the U.S. at any time. In recent years, the Covid-19 pandemic has been one of the most dramatic factors affecting American employment.

BLS data shows that from 2010 through the beginning of 2020, the number of U.S. workers grew steadily as the country recovered from the Great Recession of 2007 to 2009. Employment rose from about 130 million in 2010 to over 152 million in February 2020. When the pandemic took hold in March of that year, employment numbers plummeted, falling back to 2010 levels by April 2020.

Today, the number of working Americans has bounced back and now exceeds pre-pandemic figures, with about 160 million people employed, according to data published by CEIC. As of February 2023, Trading Economics reported 3.6% unemployment.

Average Income in the U.S.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual U.S. income was $46,310 in 2022. Income varies depending on education, industry, location and demographic factors. Below, we’ll look at how education affects average income in the U.S. and how average household income breaks down by race and sex.

Earnings by Education

As income disparity rises in the United States, education has emerged as a significant factor affecting earning potential and employment rates. Wages rise as worker education levels increase, and individuals with professional degrees—such as medical degrees—see the highest salaries and lowest unemployment rates.

Although the Economic Policy Institute notes that 65.1% of current laborers do not have a college degree, nearly all of the top-paying jobs require advanced education.

High-level medical occupations, which make up 12 of the country’s 20 highest-paid jobs, demand advanced degrees. Non-medical occupations on this list include judges and magistrates, natural sciences managers and physicists, all of whom typically need graduate degrees as well.

Pilots, chief executives, computer and information systems managers, architectural and engineering managers, and marketing managers often hold bachelor’s degrees coupled with extensive work experience.

Highest Educational AttainmentMedian Weekly EarningsUnemployment Rate
High School Diploma$8096.2%
Bachelor's Degree $1,3343.5%
Master's Degree$1,574 2.6%
Doctorate $1,9091.8%
Professional Degree$1,9241.5%
Source: BLS

Earnings by Race and Sex

Historically, systemic racism and sexism have limited access to high-paying jobs for women and people of color.

  • The Census Bureau reports that among full-time, year-round workers, the median income for men in the United States was $61,417 in 2020, while women earned a median of $50,982.
  • White, non-Hispanic households bring in a median annual income of about $75,000, much higher than the median for Black or Hispanic households. However, Asian households earn the most, with a median household income of almost $95,000.
Household Type Median Income
Married-couple$101,517
Female, no spouse$49,214
Male, no spouse$67,307
Household Race Median Income
White$71,231
White, not Hispanic$74,912
Black$45,870
Asian$94,903
Hispanic$55,321

Highest-Paying Occupations

If you’re looking for jobs that make a lot of money, consider starting your search in the medical field. Out of the 20 highest-paying occupations according to the BLS, most are in the healthcare industry.

OCCUPATION 2022 MEDIAN PAYPERCENTAGE INCREASE OVER NATIONAL MEDIAN
Psychiatrists$226,880389.90%
Neurologists$224,260384.30%
Physicians, All Other$223,410382.40%
Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric$219,810374.60%
General Internal Medicine Physicians$214,460363.10%
Dentists, All Other Specialists$212,740359.40%
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers$211,790357.30%
Family Medicine Physicians$211,300356.30%
Nurse Anesthetists$203,090338.50%
Pediatricians, General$190,350311.00%
Chief Executives$189,520309.20%
Orthodontists$174,360276.50%
Computer and Information Systems Managers$164,070254.30%
Architectural and Engineering Managers$159,920245.30%
Dentists, General$155,040234.80%
Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates$151,030226.10%
Podiatrists$148,720221.10%
Natural Sciences Managers$144,440211.90%
Physicists$142,850208.50%
Marketing Managers$140,040202.40%
Source: BLS

How to Obtain a High-Earning Job

All of the professions profiled below require state licensure and offer median annual salaries of $159,000 or more.

Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric

Ophthalmologists need a bachelor’s degree followed by four years in medical school and four to five years of specialized training. These doctors treat eye diseases and vision problems, perform eye surgery, and conduct research. The BLS projects a 6% job growth for ophthalmologists between 2021 and 2031.

Physicians, All Other

Physicians can pursue many specializations, including internal medicine, emergency medicine and cardiology. These professionals must earn a bachelor’s, attend medical school and complete three to nine years of internship and residency. The BLS projects a slower-than-average 1% job growth for these physicians from 2021 to 2031.

Architectural or Engineering Manager

These professionals oversee activities in the engineering and architecture fields. They may direct construction or manufacturing, managing production schedules, staff and budgets. To become an architectural or engineering manager, you need at a bachelor’s degree at minimum and extensive professional experience as an engineer or architect. The BLS projects a slower-than-average 2% job growth for these workers from 2021 to 2031.

Psychiatrists

These medical doctors focus on mental, emotional and behavioral health. After attending medical school, psychiatrists complete a four-year residency. Some pursue further training in subspecialties like forensic psychiatry or adolescent psychiatry, and most pursue board certification. The BLS projects faster-than-average job growth of 9% for these professionals.

Computer and Information Systems Managers

Also known as information technology (IT) project managers or IT managers, these professionals oversee an organization’s computer-related activities. Computer and information systems managers help set and meet their organizations’ IT goals. These roles call for a bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related field. Many computer and information systems managers hold MBA degrees as well.

Sources:

  • United States Census Bureau
  • Bureau of Labor Statistics
  • CEIC Data
  • Trading Economics
  • Pew Research Center
  • Economic Policy Institute
  • American Academy of Ophthalmology
  • The American College of Surgeons
  • American College of Radiology
  • American Psychiatric Association
  • Johns Hopkins Medicine
  • The American Board of Pathology
What Are The Highest-Paying Jobs in the U.S.? (2024)

FAQs

What Are The Highest-Paying Jobs in the U.S.? ›

1. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) This post comes with a lucrative salary and high authority, with an overall employment rate supposed to show an average rise of 8% between 2020 and 2030. Approximately 247,100 openings for top executives are posted on job portals each year.

What is the highest paid job in America? ›

Highest-Paying Occupations
OCCUPATION2022 MEDIAN PAYPERCENTAGE INCREASE OVER NATIONAL MEDIAN
Chief Executives$189,520309.20%
Orthodontists$174,360276.50%
Computer and Information Systems Managers$164,070254.30%
Architectural and Engineering Managers$159,920245.30%
17 more rows

What is the #1 highest paid position? ›

1. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) This post comes with a lucrative salary and high authority, with an overall employment rate supposed to show an average rise of 8% between 2020 and 2030. Approximately 247,100 openings for top executives are posted on job portals each year.

Which career makes the most money? ›

The highest paying jobs in the U.S. are all in medicine, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Chief executives and airline pilots are also among the highest paid professions.

What are top 5 most paying jobs? ›

Get Matched!
  • Anesthesiologist. #1 in Best Paying Jobs. ...
  • Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon. #2 in Best Paying Jobs. ...
  • Obstetrician and Gynecologist. #3 in Best Paying Jobs. ...
  • Surgeon. #4 in Best Paying Jobs. ...
  • Orthodontist. #5 in Best Paying Jobs. ...
  • Physician. #6 in Best Paying Jobs. ...
  • Psychiatrist. #7 in Best Paying Jobs. ...
  • Nurse Anesthetist.

What jobs pay a million a year? ›

The jobs of millionaires
  • Investment banker.
  • Certified public accountant.
  • Entrepreneur.
  • Day trader.
  • Real estate agent.
  • Engineer.
  • Lawyer.
  • Actuary.
Apr 14, 2023

How to make 300k a year? ›

If you want to earn a high salary, look at some of the jobs that pay $300,000 a year to the top earners.
  1. Radiologist. ...
  2. Chief executive officer (CEO) ...
  3. Chief financial officer (CFO) ...
  4. Principal software architect. ...
  5. Obstetrics and gynecology physician. ...
  6. Emergency medicine physician. ...
  7. Psychiatrist. ...
  8. Physician.
Mar 10, 2023

What is a top 5 salary? ›

Top 5% income

You'll start to see dramatic shifts in the top 5%, where the EPI found the average earners significantly increased to $343,000 in 2020, up from $324,000 the year before. While that's certainly a lot, there's a growing trend of even more cash flowing to — flooding even — those at the top of the heap.

What is the highest paying easiest job? ›

Top 18 Highest Paying Easy Jobs
  1. House Sitter. If you're looking for easy high paying jobs, don't discount house sitter. ...
  2. Personal Trainer. ...
  3. Optometrist. ...
  4. Flight Attendant. ...
  5. Dog Walker. ...
  6. Toll Booth Attendant. ...
  7. Massage Therapist. ...
  8. Librarian.

What job pays the least? ›

Here are the 10 lowest-paying jobs in the United States and their average salaries as of 2021:
  • Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers: $26,390.
  • Cashiers: $26,770.
  • Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers: $27,320.
  • Dishwashers: $27,350.
  • Childcare workers: $27,860.
Jan 1, 2023

What job has the most millionaires? ›

In broader terms, the finance and investment profession has the most millionaires. It also has the most billionaires, with 371. Here's a list of the seven best careers if you want to be a millionaire.

What is the least stressful job? ›

These are the best low-stress jobs:
  • Landscaper and Groundskeeper.
  • Orthodontist.
  • Software Developer.
  • Web Developer.
  • Dentist.
  • Occupational Therapy Assistant.
  • Computer Systems Analyst.
  • Data Scientist.
Feb 16, 2023

How to get a high paying job? ›

8 Ways to achieve a higher paying job you love
  1. Invest in education. ...
  2. Audit your social media accounts. ...
  3. Establish yourself as an expert in your field. ...
  4. Take advantage of cross-training opportunities. ...
  5. Make sure to network. ...
  6. Excel in your current position. ...
  7. Develop leadership skills. ...
  8. Don't Limit Your Search.
May 11, 2022

Who is the highest paid employee in world? ›

Tesla's CEO Elon Musk is the highest paid CEO in the world. His salary was USD 23.5 billion approximately in the year 2022.

What's a good salary in 2023? ›

If a worker works 52 weeks a year, this equates to a national annual salary of $51,168, up 5.1 per cent from the previous year. Any sum beyond that should be regarded as a good salary; however, this is not always the case.

What's the highest paying job in the world per hour? ›

Highest-Paying Careers
RankOccupation2022 Median Wages
Employment column one Hourly
1Anesthesiologists$115.00+
1Cardiologists$115.00+
1Dermatologists$115.00+
7 more rows

What job makes you a billionaire? ›

Undoubtedly, working as an entrepreneur is one of the best careers that can make you a billionaire. From tech to media and retail to healthcare, 10-digit fortunes have been forged in numerous industries.

What is the hourly salary of a millionaire? ›

How much does a Millionaire make? As of May 30, 2023, the average annual pay for the Millionaire jobs category in the United States is $47,712 a year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $22.94 an hour.

How to become a millionaire in 5 years? ›

  1. 10 Steps to Become a Millionaire in 5 Years (or Less) ...
  2. Create a wealth vision. ...
  3. Develop a 90-day system for measuring progress/future pacing. ...
  4. Develop a daily routine to live in a flow/peak state. ...
  5. Design your environment for clarity, recovery, and creativity. ...
  6. Focus on results, not habits or processes.

Is 500K a year rich? ›

Based on that figure, an annual income of $500,000 or more would make you rich. The Economic Policy Institute uses a different baseline to determine who constitutes the top 1% and the top 5%. For 2021, you're in the top 1% if you earn $819,324 or more each year. The top 5% of income earners make $335,891 per year.

Who can make 500K a year? ›

Working as an entrepreneur is one of the best careers that can help people earn over $500,000 a year because a lucrative business established in the right market at the right time can turn into a multi-million-dollar success.

Is $100 000 a year good? ›

Earning more than $100,000 per year would put you well ahead of the median American household, which brings in $74,784 as of 2021. Assuming you're an individual without dependents, that salary would qualify you as upper class, according to three different definitions (Brookings, Urban Institute and Pew Research).

What is the top 1% income in the world? ›

According to Credit Suisse, individuals with more than $1 million in wealth sit in the top 1 percent bracket. The billionaire class is $2.6 trillion richer than before the pandemic, even if billionaire fortunes slightly fell in 2022 after their record-smashing peak in 2021.

What salary is top 20% in US? ›

They found that the top 20% of all Americans earn over $130,000 in income. Thats over 5 times more than the bottom 20%.

What salary puts you in the top 10%? ›

How Does Income Change with Age?
Age RangeTop 10%Top 5%
20-24$71,268$86,540
25-29$105,884$134,392
30-34$146,609$175,116
35-39$185,297$247,403
7 more rows
Jan 17, 2023

Is $40 an hour good? ›

What is this? So at $40 an hour of full-time work, you make more than the average person in the US. That means you still need to be mindful of where you live (cost of living), either the city as a whole or your specific neighborhood, as your housing is where you'll spend most of your paycheck.

What jobs make 6 figures without a degree? ›

14 six-figure jobs without a college degree requirement
  • Data Scientist. Data Scientists analyze raw data and draw meaningful insights that can improve business performance. ...
  • Data Engineer. ...
  • Business Analyst. ...
  • Software Engineer. ...
  • Engineering Manager. ...
  • Test Engineer. ...
  • Cybersecurity Engineer. ...
  • Technical Program Manager.
Feb 6, 2023

Which is the most stressful job in the world? ›

The List: Top 5 Most Stressful Careers, According to Experts
  1. Surgeon. It's no surprise that this career sits atop the list. ...
  2. Police Officer. This profession that has become even more stress-filled in the last few years. ...
  3. Firefighter. ...
  4. Social Worker. ...
  5. Paramedic.
Mar 19, 2023

What are easy but good paying jobs? ›

12 high-paying simple jobs
  • Groundskeeper. National average salary: $50,475 per year. ...
  • Accounting clerk. National average salary: $51,352 per year. ...
  • Librarian. National average salary: $52,591 per year. ...
  • Massage therapist. ...
  • Customer service representative. ...
  • Sales representative. ...
  • Truck driver. ...
  • Dispatcher.
May 4, 2023

What is the good salary in USA? ›

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual wage across all occupations in 2021 was $58,260 [1]. For a person living in Phoenix, Arizona, where the median wage is $56,610, earning above the national average may be considered very good.

What is a low salary in the US? ›

The federal minimum wage for covered nonexempt employees is $7.25 per hour.

What do 90% of millionaires make? ›

It is a well-known fact that 90% of the world's millionaires have made their fortunes through their timeous investments when buying, selling and renting out properties.

What do 90% of millionaires do? ›

“90% of all millionaires become so through owning real estate.” This famous quote from Andrew Carnegie, one of the wealthiest entrepreneurs of all time, is just as relevant today as it was more than a century ago.

What is the most successful job in the world? ›

Top 25 Highest Paying Jobs in the World-2023
  • Data Scientist. How to Become a Data Scientist? ...
  • Senior Software Engineer. How to become a Senior Software Engineer? ...
  • Investment Banker. How to become an Investment Banker? ...
  • Chief Executive Officer. How to become a CEO? ...
  • Surgeon. ...
  • Anaesthesiologist. ...
  • Physician. ...
  • Neurosurgeon.

What is a low stress high pay job? ›

A low-stress high-paying job is a role that offers above-average compensation without requiring large time or emotional commitments from employees. Even though these jobs might be challenging, they typically offer highly skilled individuals opportunities to complete specific tasks on a more relaxed timeline.

Which is the most peaceful job? ›

37 Best Low-Stress Jobs To Keep You Calm At Work (2023)
  1. Massage Therapist. Average Annual Salary: $43,000. ...
  2. Orthotist or Prosthetist. Average Annual Salary: $73,000. ...
  3. Technical Writer. Average Annual Salary: $78,500. ...
  4. Librarian. Average Annual Salary: $60,800. ...
  5. Astronomer. ...
  6. Genetic Counselor. ...
  7. Geoscientist. ...
  8. Cartographer.
Jan 4, 2023

What jobs are in low demand? ›

Fastest declining occupations
2021 National Employment Matrix title2021 National Employment Matrix codeMedian annual wage, 2021(1)
Nuclear power reactor operators51-8011$104,260
Print binding and finishing workers51-5113$36,590
Watch and clock repairers49-9064$44,250
Data entry keyers43-9021$35,630
28 more rows
Sep 8, 2022

How can I make 75k a year without a degree? ›

The following are jobs that pay 75k a year without a degree:
  1. Registered nurse. National average salary: $78,905 per year. ...
  2. Senior consultant. National average salary: $91,805 per year. ...
  3. Risk manager. National average salary: $88,879 per year. ...
  4. 4. Development director. ...
  5. IT manager. ...
  6. Professional athlete. ...
  7. Detective. ...
  8. Sales director.
Feb 20, 2023

How to make 80K a year? ›

Jobs that pay at least $80,000 per year
  1. Occupational therapist.
  2. Real estate agent.
  3. Biomedical engineer.
  4. Physical therapist.
  5. Construction manager.
  6. Management analyst.
  7. IT manager.
  8. Mechanical engineer.
Dec 21, 2022

How to make 80 000 a year without a degree? ›

Some of the best jobs without a degree that pay $80K are tech roles such as software developer, database administrator, and information security analyst. These are great options because you can gain the necessary skills through a bootcamp or independent study over a short period of time.

Who is richest CEO in the world? ›

Figures for 2022 are expected to be released later this year.
  1. Elon Musk – US$10.1 billion. ...
  2. Robert Scaringe – US$2.3bn. ...
  3. Tim Cook – US$853 million. ...
  4. Peter Rawlinson – US$575m. ...
  5. Tom Siebel – $343 million. ...
  6. Sue Nabi – $283 million. ...
  7. Joe Bae – $279 million. ...
  8. Tomer Weingarten – $275 million.
Apr 12, 2023

Who is the richest CEO in America? ›

1. Elon Musk, Tesla: $23.5 billion. Tesla CEO Elon Musk. Musk, the founder and CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, “realized” compensation worth almost $23.5 billion in 2021, from exercising some Tesla stock options awarded in a 2018.

Who has the most employees hired? ›

Walmart had about 2.3 million employees in 2022, the highest of all companies worldwide that year.

What salary is middle class? ›

According to a Pew study released last fall, the median income of middle-class American households is $70,784, based on Census data from 2021, the latest available. (Pew defines middle class as two-thirds to twice the U.S. median household income, adjusted for household size.)

What is average US salary? ›

Salary by Age and Gender in the U.S.
AgeFemale Median Annual WageMale Median Average Hourly Wage
25 to 34 years old$50,440$27.13
35 to 44 years old$57,824$33.23
45 to 54 years old$57,096$34.73
55 to 64 years old$54,288$34.83
3 more rows
May 23, 2023

Is 23 dollars an hour livable? ›

Can I Live off $23 Per Hour? At this $23 hourly wage, you are close to double the minimum wage. Things should be easy to live on this $23 hourly salary or just above $47,000 a year.

How much a year is $1000 an hour? ›

No mater how you cut it, though, $1,000 an hour is impressive. Bill the annual average of 2,200 hours and that's a nice $2.2 million in gross pay.

How much is $50 an hour annually? ›

$50 an hour is how much a year? If you make $50 an hour, your yearly salary would be $104,000.

What is $100 000 a year hourly? ›

$100,000 is $48.08 an hour without vacation time.

If you work a full 40-hour week for 52 weeks, that amounts to 2,080 hours of work. So $100,000 a year in income divided by 2,080 is a $48.08 hourly wage.

What is the top 5 salary in the US? ›

In 2021, the top 1% earned more than twice the income of the top 5% nationwide. While the top 1% earned almost $600,000, you only needed to pull in $240,712 to crack the top 5% of U.S. earners, according to SmartAsset.

What salary is top 10 in US? ›

Top 10% income

The average earnings of those in the top 10% were roughly $173,000 in 2020, according to a study by the Economic Policy Institute (EPI). Landing in the top 10% is a fairly attainable goal for upwardly mobile Americans.

What is the highest paying job per hour in the US? ›

Highest-Paying Careers
RankOccupation2022 Median Wages
Employment column one Hourly
1Anesthesiologists$115.00+
1Cardiologists$115.00+
1Dermatologists$115.00+
7 more rows

What is the happiest salary USA? ›

One study said happiness peaked at $75,000 in income.

What city jobs pay the most? ›

High Paying Local Government Jobs
  • City Director. ...
  • Deputy City Clerk. ...
  • City Dispatch Supervisor. ...
  • City Dispatcher. ...
  • Town Clerk. ...
  • Deputy Clerk. Salary range: $31,500-$45,500 per year. ...
  • Program Technician. Salary range: $33,000-$38,000 per year. ...
  • County Program Technician. Salary range: $34,500-$34,500 per year.

What is the 1% income in the US? ›

In fact, the average American household earns a median income of under $70,000, but in some places, the top 1% can earn as much as $955,000. Those annual earnings can seem far out of reach in a country where less than 10% of all households earn more than $200,000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Is $10,000 a good salary in usa? ›

Is making $10,000 a month good? Yes, most people would consider $10,000 a month to be a good income. If you earn $10,000 a month, your gross income will be $120,000 a year. For the average person, that's more than enough to live on, and you'll likely be able to build a healthy savings with that income as well.

What are middle class jobs? ›

A middle class job is a term used to describe the professional, non-manual jobs that are thought to be responsible for most of America's economic growth. Middle class jobs require at least an associate's degree, if not a bachelor's degree (or higher), and they pay relatively well compared to lower-class jobs.

How much is $20 an hour annually? ›

How much does a $20 An Hour make? As of May 30, 2023, the average annual pay for a $20 An Hour in the United States is $40,760 a year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $19.60 an hour. This is the equivalent of $783/week or $3,396/month.

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