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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 201 | Agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athletes DetailsEducation: Bachelor's degree. Experience: Less than 5 years. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Bachelor's degree | $82,890 | 9.7% |
| 201 | Aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians DetailsEducation: Associate's degree. Experience: None. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Associate's degree | $82,890 | 11.9% |
| 203 | Logisticians DetailsEducation: Bachelor's degree. Experience: None. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Bachelor's degree | $82,320 | 17.6% |
| 204 | Respiratory therapists DetailsEducation: Associate's degree. Experience: None. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Associate's degree | $82,280 | 8.5% |
| 204 | Avionics technicians DetailsEducation: Postsecondary nondegree award. Experience: None. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Postsecondary nondegree award | $82,280 | 9.4% |
| 206 | Environmental scientists and specialists, including health DetailsEducation: Bachelor's degree. Experience: None. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Bachelor's degree | $82,220 | 6.1% |
| 207 | Mathematical science occupations, all other DetailsEducation: Bachelor's degree. Experience: None. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Bachelor's degree | $81,490 | 7.1% |
| 208 | Locomotive engineers 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 | $81,410 | 0.5% |
| 209 | Cartographers and photogrammetrists DetailsEducation: Bachelor's degree. Experience: None. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Bachelor's degree | $81,390 | 7.4% |
| 210 | Insurance underwriters 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 | $81,370 | -3.8% |
| 211 | Orthotists and prosthetists DetailsEducation: Master's degree. Experience: None. Training: Internship/residency. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Master's degree | $81,110 | 12.9% |
| 212 | Financial specialists, all other DetailsEducation: Bachelor's degree. Experience: None. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Bachelor's degree | $81,100 | 4.1% |
| 213 | Fashion designers DetailsEducation: Bachelor's degree. Experience: None. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Bachelor's degree | $80,960 | 0.1% |
| 214 | Compliance officers 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 | $80,730 | 3.8% |
| 215 | Social and community service managers DetailsEducation: Bachelor's degree. Experience: Less than 5 years. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Bachelor's degree | $80,390 | 7.2% |
| 216 | Psychology teachers, postsecondary DetailsEducation: Doctoral or professional degree. Experience: None. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Doctoral or professional degree | $80,340 | 4.0% |
| 216 | Library science teachers, postsecondary DetailsEducation: Doctoral or professional degree. Experience: None. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Doctoral or professional degree | $80,340 | 2.7% |
| 218 | Philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary DetailsEducation: Doctoral or professional degree. Experience: None. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Doctoral or professional degree | $80,260 | 2.0% |
| 219 | Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary DetailsEducation: Doctoral or professional degree. Experience: Less than 5 years. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Doctoral or professional degree | $80,250 | 17.1% |
| 220 | Radiologic technologists and technicians DetailsEducation: Associate's degree. Experience: None. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Associate's degree | $80,110 | 5.0% |
| 221 | Mathematical science teachers, postsecondary DetailsEducation: Doctoral or professional degree. Experience: None. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Doctoral or professional degree | $79,940 | 1.7% |
| 222 | First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers DetailsEducation: High school diploma or equivalent. Experience: 5 years or more. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | High school diploma or equivalent | $79,920 | 5.0% |
| 223 | Landscape architects DetailsEducation: Bachelor's degree. Experience: None. Training: Internship/residency. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Bachelor's degree | $79,870 | 4.4% |
| 223 | Aircraft mechanics and service technicians DetailsEducation: Postsecondary nondegree award. Experience: None. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Postsecondary nondegree award | $79,870 | 5.4% |
| 225 | First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers 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 | $79,860 | 4.1% |
| 226 | Entertainment and recreation managers, except gambling DetailsEducation: Bachelor's degree. Experience: Less than 5 years. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Bachelor's degree | $79,520 | 6.0% |
| 227 | Foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary DetailsEducation: Doctoral or professional degree. Experience: None. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Doctoral or professional degree | $79,350 | 0.2% |
| 228 | Chiropractors DetailsEducation: Doctoral or professional degree. Experience: None. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Doctoral or professional degree | $79,200 | 8.7% |
| 229 | Soil and plant scientists DetailsEducation: Bachelor's degree. Experience: None. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Bachelor's degree | $78,850 | 6.7% |
| 230 | Funeral home managers DetailsEducation: Associate's degree. Experience: Less than 5 years. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Associate's degree | $78,790 | 4.1% |
| 231 | Market research analysts and marketing specialists DetailsEducation: Bachelor's degree. Experience: None. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Bachelor's degree | $78,760 | 7.0% |
| 231 | English language and literature teachers, postsecondary DetailsEducation: Doctoral or professional degree. Experience: None. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Doctoral or professional degree | $78,760 | 0.0% |
| 233 | Cost estimators 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 | $78,740 | -3.1% |
| 234 | Securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents 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 | $78,660 | 1.4% |
| 235 | Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary DetailsEducation: Master's degree. Experience: None. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Master's degree | $78,620 | 2.2% |
| 235 | Stationary engineers and boiler operators 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 | $78,620 | 3.1% |
| 237 | Communications teachers, postsecondary DetailsEducation: Doctoral or professional degree. Experience: None. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Doctoral or professional degree | $78,580 | 2.1% |
| 238 | Roof bolters, mining 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 | $78,540 | -18.9% |
| 239 | Engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all other DetailsEducation: Associate's degree. Experience: None. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Associate's degree | $78,350 | 2.8% |
| 240 | Insurance appraisers, auto damage DetailsEducation: Postsecondary nondegree award. Experience: None. Training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Postsecondary nondegree award | $78,240 | -8.7% |
| 241 | Compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists DetailsEducation: Bachelor's degree. Experience: Less than 5 years. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Bachelor's degree | $78,210 | 6.0% |
| 242 | Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians DetailsEducation: Associate's degree. Experience: None. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Associate's degree | $78,190 | 2.4% |
| 243 | Chemical plant and system 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 | $78,120 | -5.2% |
| 244 | Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators 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 | $78,000 | -5.5% |
| 244 | Railroad conductors and yardmasters 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 | $78,000 | 0.9% |
| 246 | First-line supervisors of correctional officers 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 | $77,970 | -2.5% |
| 247 | Therapists, all other DetailsEducation: Bachelor's degree. Experience: None. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Bachelor's degree | $77,930 | 12.6% |
| 248 | Editors DetailsEducation: Bachelor's degree. Experience: Less than 5 years. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Bachelor's degree | $77,920 | -1.1% |
| 249 | Buyers and purchasing agents 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 | $77,710 | 6.0% |
| 250 | Postsecondary teachers, all other DetailsEducation: Doctoral or professional degree. Experience: None. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Doctoral or professional degree | $77,640 | 2.0% |
Wages marked + are top-coded: the published figure is the lower bound of the capped wage.
825 ranked entries.