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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 551 | Credit authorizers, checkers, and 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 | $50,080 | -7.4% |
| 552 | Tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners 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 | $50,060 | -6.8% |
| 553 | Loan interviewers and clerks 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 | $50,020 | -2.4% |
| 554 | Agricultural inspectors DetailsEducation: Bachelor's degree. Experience: None. Training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Bachelor's degree | $49,940 | 2.3% |
| 555 | Miscellaneous construction and related workers 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 | $49,910 | 3.9% |
| 556 | Septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners 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 | $49,880 | 7.8% |
| 557 | Logging equipment operators 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 | $49,740 | -3.8% |
| 558 | Refuse and recyclable material collectors 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 | $49,690 | 2.1% |
| 559 | Dredge operators 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 | $49,640 | 0.7% |
| 560 | Agricultural technicians DetailsEducation: Associate's degree. Experience: None. Training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Associate's degree | $49,630 | 5.4% |
| 560 | Patternmakers, 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 | $49,630 | -2.0% |
| 562 | Dental laboratory 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 | $49,610 | -5.9% |
| 563 | Maintenance and repair workers, general 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 | $49,590 | 4.2% |
| 564 | Information and record 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 | $49,500 | 0.8% |
| 565 | Hazardous materials removal workers 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 | $49,450 | 1.5% |
| 566 | Painters, construction and maintenance 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 | $49,400 | 3.0% |
| 567 | Word processors and typists 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 | $49,280 | -34.4% |
| 568 | Insurance claims and policy processing 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 | $49,230 | -1.9% |
| 568 | Installation, maintenance, and repair 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 | $49,230 | 2.6% |
| 570 | Insulation workers, floor, ceiling, and wall 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 | $49,120 | 2.4% |
| 571 | First-line supervisors of housekeeping and janitorial 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 | $49,100 | 3.2% |
| 572 | Drilling and boring machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, 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 | $49,080 | -9.5% |
| 573 | Forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, 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 | $49,030 | -17.2% |
| 574 | Pipelayers 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 | $49,000 | -3.1% |
| 575 | Mixing and blending machine setters, 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 | $48,990 | -6.1% |
| 576 | Heat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders, 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 | $48,750 | -9.5% |
| 577 | Rock splitters, quarry 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 | $48,740 | 5.8% |
| 578 | Court, municipal, and license clerks 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 | $48,700 | 3.4% |
| 579 | Prepress technicians and workers DetailsEducation: Postsecondary nondegree award. Experience: None. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Postsecondary nondegree award | $48,690 | -15.3% |
| 580 | First-line supervisors of personal service 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 | $48,590 | 6.3% |
| 581 | Motorcycle mechanics 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 | $48,580 | 2.1% |
| 582 | Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers 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 | $48,570 | 2.5% |
| 583 | First-line supervisors of entertainment and recreation workers, except gambling services 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 | $48,560 | 5.3% |
| 584 | Crushing, grinding, and polishing machine setters, 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 | $48,540 | -1.7% |
| 585 | First-line supervisors of retail sales 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 | $48,520 | -3.7% |
| 586 | Billing and posting 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 | $48,500 | -0.1% |
| 587 | Models DetailsEducation: No formal educational credential. Experience: None. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | No formal educational credential | $48,470 | -2.1% |
| 588 | Healthcare support workers, all other DetailsEducation: High school diploma or equivalent. Experience: None. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | High school diploma or equivalent | $48,430 | 4.8% |
| 589 | Electronic equipment installers and repairers, motor vehicles 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 | $48,420 | -14.5% |
| 590 | Sales and related workers, all other DetailsEducation: High school diploma or equivalent. Experience: None. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | High school diploma or equivalent | $48,280 | 1.1% |
| 591 | Coating, painting, and spraying machine setters, 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 | $48,250 | 2.5% |
| 592 | Coil winders, tapers, and finishers 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 | $48,220 | -4.0% |
| 593 | Meter readers, utilities 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 | $48,150 | -10.5% |
| 594 | Foundry mold and coremakers 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 | $48,110 | -23.0% |
| 595 | Dental assistants DetailsEducation: Postsecondary nondegree award. Experience: None. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Postsecondary nondegree award | $48,070 | 7.4% |
| 596 | Furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle 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 | $48,040 | 2.6% |
| 597 | Medical appliance 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 | $48,030 | 3.5% |
| 598 | Fence erectors 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 | $47,980 | 5.6% |
| 599 | Cooks, private household DetailsEducation: Postsecondary nondegree award. Experience: Less than 5 years. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Postsecondary nondegree award | $47,940 | 5.1% |
| 600 | Welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, 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 | $47,920 | -8.9% |
Wages marked + are top-coded: the published figure is the lower bound of the capped wage.
825 ranked entries.