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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600 | Bus drivers, school 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 | $47,920 | 0.7% |
| 602 | Outdoor power equipment and other small engine mechanics 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 | $47,880 | 2.3% |
| 603 | Computer, automated teller, and office machine repairers DetailsEducation: Some college, no degree. Experience: None. Training: Short-term on-the-job training. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Some college, no degree | $47,810 | -3.0% |
| 604 | Helpers--extraction 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 | $47,730 | 1.7% |
| 605 | Extruding and drawing 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 | $47,720 | 0.7% |
| 606 | Medical equipment 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 | $47,700 | 10.8% |
| 607 | New accounts 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 | $47,670 | -6.5% |
| 608 | Automotive glass installers and 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 | $47,630 | 5.7% |
| 609 | Helpers--brickmasons, blockmasons, stonemasons, and tile and marble setters 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 | $47,550 | -11.7% |
| 610 | Secretaries and administrative assistants, except legal, medical, and executive 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 | $47,540 | -6.0% |
| 611 | Motorboat operators DetailsEducation: Postsecondary nondegree award. Experience: Less than 5 years. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Postsecondary nondegree award | $47,520 | 4.9% |
| 612 | Coin, vending, and amusement machine servicers and repairers 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 | $47,450 | -3.4% |
| 613 | Veterinary technologists and technicians DetailsEducation: Associate's degree. Experience: None. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Associate's degree | $47,380 | 9.4% |
| 614 | Broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys DetailsEducation: Bachelor's degree. Experience: None. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Bachelor's degree | $47,340 | -7.6% |
| 615 | Coaches and scouts DetailsEducation: Bachelor's degree. Experience: None. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Bachelor's degree | $47,320 | 6.1% |
| 616 | Opticians, dispensing 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 | $47,260 | 4.2% |
| 617 | Multiple 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 | $47,180 | 0.6% |
| 618 | Exercise trainers and group fitness instructors 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 | $47,160 | 7.3% |
| 619 | Construction laborers 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 | $47,120 | 7.3% |
| 620 | Bill and account collectors 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 | $47,030 | -10.4% |
| 621 | Roustabouts, oil and gas 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 | $46,960 | 3.6% |
| 622 | Fiberglass laminators and fabricators 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 | $46,880 | 4.6% |
| 623 | Grounds maintenance workers, all other 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 | $46,860 | 3.7% |
| 624 | Rehabilitation counselors DetailsEducation: Master's degree. Experience: None. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Master's degree | $46,850 | 2.2% |
| 625 | Self-enrichment teachers 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 | $46,800 | 3.5% |
| 625 | Correspondence 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 | $46,800 | -5.6% |
| 627 | Parking enforcement workers 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 | $46,730 | -1.1% |
| 628 | Cabinetmakers and bench carpenters 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 | $46,680 | -2.9% |
| 629 | Cutting and slicing 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 | $46,570 | -0.9% |
| 630 | Grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing 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 | $46,550 | -10.8% |
| 631 | Adhesive bonding machine 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 | $46,460 | 1.3% |
| 632 | Musical instrument repairers and tuners DetailsEducation: High school diploma or equivalent. Experience: None. Training: Apprenticeship. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | High school diploma or equivalent | $46,420 | 1.9% |
| 632 | Industrial truck and tractor 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 | $46,420 | 1.5% |
| 634 | Weighers, measurers, checkers, and samplers, recordkeeping 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 | $46,380 | -4.8% |
| 635 | Extruding and forming machine setters, operators, and tenders, synthetic and glass fibers 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 | $46,350 | -3.3% |
| 636 | Pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators, vegetation 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 | $46,340 | 3.9% |
| 636 | Upholsterers 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 | $46,340 | -2.3% |
| 638 | Log graders and scalers 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 | $46,330 | -2.2% |
| 638 | Cutting, punching, and press 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 | $46,330 | -10.5% |
| 640 | Order clerks DetailsEducation: Some college, no degree. Experience: None. Training: Short-term on-the-job training. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Some college, no degree | $46,170 | -17.5% |
| 640 | Molders, shapers, and casters, except metal and plastic 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 | $46,170 | 5.8% |
| 642 | Craft artists 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 | $46,080 | 2.0% |
| 643 | Manufactured building and mobile home installers 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 | $45,990 | 5.8% |
| 644 | Metal workers and plastic 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 | $45,950 | -7.1% |
| 645 | Social and human service assistants 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 | $45,930 | 7.4% |
| 645 | Medical 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 | $45,930 | 4.8% |
| 647 | Interviewers, except eligibility and loan 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 | $45,920 | -10.4% |
| 648 | Electrical, electronic, and electromechanical assemblers, except 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 | $45,850 | 5.0% |
| 649 | Printing press 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 | $45,780 | -8.7% |
| 650 | Extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting 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 | $45,760 | 1.5% |
Wages marked + are top-coded: the published figure is the lower bound of the capped wage.
825 ranked entries.