Highest-paying jobs in the US
Compare occupations by median annual pay, with education and training requirements.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment ProjectionsPeriod: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wagesRetrieved 2026-10-05T08:25:31+00:00
Ranked by the annual median wage supplied in the BLS Employment Projections dataset. National BLS detailed occupations only. Wages are median annual employee wages, not starting salaries or self-employed earnings. Missing wages are excluded from pay rankings. A “+” means a lower bound, not an exact wage; equal reported bounds share a rank. Education describes the typical entry requirement, not a guarantee of eligibility. Training, licensing, and experience may still be needed.
| Rank | Name | Typical education | Median annual wage | Projected growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 451 | Postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators DetailsEducation: No formal educational credential. Experience: None. Training: Short-term on-the-job training. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | No formal educational credential | $58,470 | -5.3% |
| 452 | Farm labor contractors DetailsEducation: No formal educational credential. Experience: Less than 5 years. Training: Short-term on-the-job training. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | No formal educational credential | $58,460 | 7.4% |
| 453 | Massage therapists DetailsEducation: Postsecondary nondegree award. Experience: None. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Postsecondary nondegree award | $58,450 | 15.3% |
| 454 | First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers DetailsEducation: High school diploma or equivalent. Experience: Less than 5 years. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | High school diploma or equivalent | $58,430 | 4.0% |
| 455 | Insulation workers, mechanical DetailsEducation: High school diploma or equivalent. Experience: None. Training: Apprenticeship. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | High school diploma or equivalent | $58,340 | 5.1% |
| 456 | Payroll and timekeeping clerks DetailsEducation: High school diploma or equivalent. Experience: None. Training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | High school diploma or equivalent | $58,260 | -15.9% |
| 457 | Aircraft cargo handling supervisors DetailsEducation: High school diploma or equivalent. Experience: Less than 5 years. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | High school diploma or equivalent | $58,170 | 9.2% |
| 458 | Service unit operators, oil and gas DetailsEducation: No formal educational credential. Experience: Less than 5 years. Training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | No formal educational credential | $58,160 | 1.1% |
| 459 | Audio and video technicians DetailsEducation: Postsecondary nondegree award. Experience: None. Training: Short-term on-the-job training. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Postsecondary nondegree award | $58,100 | 3.9% |
| 460 | Chemical equipment operators and tenders DetailsEducation: High school diploma or equivalent. Experience: None. Training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | High school diploma or equivalent | $58,040 | 3.6% |
| 461 | Patternmakers, metal and plastic DetailsEducation: High school diploma or equivalent. Experience: None. Training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | High school diploma or equivalent | $58,000 | -22.8% |
| 462 | Bridge and lock tenders DetailsEducation: High school diploma or equivalent. Experience: None. Training: Short-term on-the-job training. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | High school diploma or equivalent | $57,700 | -2.3% |
| 463 | Plasterers and stucco masons DetailsEducation: No formal educational credential. Experience: None. Training: Long-term on-the-job training. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | No formal educational credential | $57,660 | 2.8% |
| 464 | Motorboat mechanics and service technicians DetailsEducation: High school diploma or equivalent. Experience: None. Training: Long-term on-the-job training. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | High school diploma or equivalent | $57,550 | 4.9% |
| 465 | Biological technicians DetailsEducation: Bachelor's degree. Experience: None. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Bachelor's degree | $57,510 | 7.4% |
| 466 | Excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining DetailsEducation: High school diploma or equivalent. Experience: Less than 5 years. Training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | High school diploma or equivalent | $57,430 | 1.0% |
| 467 | Stonemasons DetailsEducation: High school diploma or equivalent. Experience: None. Training: Apprenticeship. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | High school diploma or equivalent | $57,390 | -5.4% |
| 467 | Tire builders DetailsEducation: High school diploma or equivalent. Experience: None. Training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | High school diploma or equivalent | $57,390 | 0.8% |
| 469 | Glaziers DetailsEducation: High school diploma or equivalent. Experience: None. Training: Apprenticeship. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | High school diploma or equivalent | $57,080 | 1.9% |
| 470 | Cement masons and concrete finishers DetailsEducation: No formal educational credential. Experience: None. Training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | No formal educational credential | $57,020 | 1.6% |
| 471 | Extraction workers, all other DetailsEducation: High school diploma or equivalent. Experience: None. Training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | High school diploma or equivalent | $57,010 | 3.4% |
| 472 | Forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists DetailsEducation: High school diploma or equivalent. Experience: Less than 5 years. Training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | High school diploma or equivalent | $56,870 | 13.1% |
| 473 | Airfield operations specialists DetailsEducation: High school diploma or equivalent. Experience: None. Training: Long-term on-the-job training. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | High school diploma or equivalent | $56,850 | 7.8% |
| 474 | Community and social service specialists, all other DetailsEducation: Bachelor's degree. Experience: None. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Bachelor's degree | $56,730 | 5.5% |
| 475 | Bailiffs DetailsEducation: High school diploma or equivalent. Experience: None. Training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | High school diploma or equivalent | $56,600 | -1.9% |
| 476 | Farm equipment mechanics and service technicians DetailsEducation: High school diploma or equivalent. Experience: None. Training: Long-term on-the-job training. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | High school diploma or equivalent | $56,550 | 10.7% |
| 476 | Model makers, wood DetailsEducation: High school diploma or equivalent. Experience: None. Training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | High school diploma or equivalent | $56,550 | -3.3% |
| 478 | Floor layers, except carpet, wood, and hard tiles DetailsEducation: No formal educational credential. Experience: None. Training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | No formal educational credential | $56,460 | 9.0% |
| 479 | Hoist and winch operators DetailsEducation: No formal educational credential. Experience: None. Training: Short-term on-the-job training. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | No formal educational credential | $56,450 | 0.2% |
| 480 | Rail transportation workers, all other DetailsEducation: High school diploma or equivalent. Experience: None. Training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | High school diploma or equivalent | $56,360 | 4.4% |
| 481 | Electric motor, power tool, and related repairers DetailsEducation: High school diploma or equivalent. Experience: Less than 5 years. Training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | High school diploma or equivalent | $56,210 | 4.4% |
| 482 | First-line supervisors of security workers DetailsEducation: High school diploma or equivalent. Experience: Less than 5 years. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | High school diploma or equivalent | $55,940 | 3.7% |
| 483 | Mechanical door repairers DetailsEducation: High school diploma or equivalent. Experience: None. Training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | High school diploma or equivalent | $55,720 | 6.4% |
| 484 | Tile and stone setters DetailsEducation: No formal educational credential. Experience: None. Training: Long-term on-the-job training. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | No formal educational credential | $55,690 | 9.8% |
| 485 | Legal secretaries and administrative assistants DetailsEducation: High school diploma or equivalent. Experience: None. Training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | High school diploma or equivalent | $55,570 | -5.2% |
| 486 | Fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators DetailsEducation: Bachelor's degree. Experience: None. Training: Long-term on-the-job training. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Bachelor's degree | $55,490 | -2.9% |
| 487 | Roofers DetailsEducation: No formal educational credential. Experience: None. Training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | No formal educational credential | $55,440 | 5.3% |
| 488 | Choreographers DetailsEducation: High school diploma or equivalent. Experience: 5 years or more. Training: Long-term on-the-job training. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | High school diploma or equivalent | $55,310 | 3.1% |
| 489 | Desktop publishers DetailsEducation: Associate's degree. Experience: None. Training: Short-term on-the-job training. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Associate's degree | $55,290 | -14.5% |
| 490 | Environmental science and protection technicians, including health DetailsEducation: Associate's degree. Experience: None. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Associate's degree | $55,090 | 6.9% |
| 491 | Morticians, undertakers, and funeral arrangers DetailsEducation: Associate's degree. Experience: None. Training: Long-term on-the-job training. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Associate's degree | $55,010 | 3.0% |
| 492 | Tax preparers DetailsEducation: High school diploma or equivalent. Experience: None. Training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | High school diploma or equivalent | $54,920 | 4.7% |
| 493 | Automotive body and related repairers DetailsEducation: High school diploma or equivalent. Experience: None. Training: Long-term on-the-job training. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | High school diploma or equivalent | $54,890 | 3.7% |
| 494 | Communications equipment operators, all other DetailsEducation: High school diploma or equivalent. Experience: None. Training: Short-term on-the-job training. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | High school diploma or equivalent | $54,680 | 1.0% |
| 495 | Forest and conservation technicians DetailsEducation: Associate's degree. Experience: None. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Associate's degree | $54,560 | -2.1% |
| 496 | Metal-refining furnace operators and tenders DetailsEducation: High school diploma or equivalent. Experience: None. Training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | High school diploma or equivalent | $54,430 | -2.9% |
| 497 | Surveying and mapping technicians DetailsEducation: High school diploma or equivalent. Experience: None. Training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | High school diploma or equivalent | $54,240 | 5.8% |
| 498 | Eligibility interviewers, government programs DetailsEducation: High school diploma or equivalent. Experience: None. Training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | High school diploma or equivalent | $54,210 | 1.6% |
| 499 | Financial clerks, all other DetailsEducation: High school diploma or equivalent. Experience: None. Training: Short-term on-the-job training. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | High school diploma or equivalent | $53,830 | 0.0% |
| 500 | Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers DetailsEducation: High school diploma or equivalent. Experience: None. Training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | High school diploma or equivalent | $53,750 | 2.4% |
Wages marked + are top-coded: the published figure is the lower bound of the capped wage.
825 ranked entries.