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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 251 | Social work teachers, postsecondary DetailsEducation: Doctoral or professional degree. Experience: None. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Doctoral or professional degree | $77,570 | 2.6% |
| 252 | Instructional coordinators DetailsEducation: Master's degree. Experience: 5 years or more. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Master's degree | $77,440 | 1.6% |
| 253 | Gas compressor and gas pumping station 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 | $77,320 | 2.1% |
| 254 | Recreation and fitness studies teachers, postsecondary DetailsEducation: Doctoral or professional degree. Experience: None. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Doctoral or professional degree | $77,270 | 2.2% |
| 255 | Writers and authors 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 | $76,910 | -0.3% |
| 256 | Electrical and electronics drafters DetailsEducation: Associate's degree. Experience: None. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Associate's degree | $76,870 | -3.4% |
| 257 | Zoologists and wildlife biologists DetailsEducation: Bachelor's degree. Experience: None. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Bachelor's degree | $76,780 | 3.6% |
| 258 | Historians DetailsEducation: Master's degree. Experience: None. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Master's degree | $76,750 | 3.0% |
| 259 | Loan officers DetailsEducation: Bachelor's degree. Experience: Less than 5 years. Training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Bachelor's degree | $76,690 | 1.1% |
| 260 | Criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary DetailsEducation: Doctoral or professional degree. Experience: None. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Doctoral or professional degree | $76,590 | 1.5% |
| 260 | Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants 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 | $76,590 | 0.0% |
| 262 | Special education teachers, all other DetailsEducation: Bachelor's degree. Experience: None. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Bachelor's degree | $76,580 | 1.9% |
| 263 | Boilermakers DetailsEducation: High school diploma or equivalent. Experience: None. Training: Apprenticeship. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | High school diploma or equivalent | $76,410 | -1.8% |
| 264 | Foresters DetailsEducation: Bachelor's degree. Experience: None. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Bachelor's degree | $76,400 | 2.2% |
| 264 | Dietitians and nutritionists DetailsEducation: Bachelor's degree. Experience: None. Training: Internship/residency. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Bachelor's degree | $76,400 | 7.7% |
| 264 | First-line supervisors of protective service workers, all other 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 | $76,400 | 1.9% |
| 267 | Computer network support specialists 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 | $76,220 | 1.2% |
| 268 | Police and sheriff's patrol officers 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 | $76,210 | 3.5% |
| 269 | Terrazzo workers and finishers DetailsEducation: High school diploma or equivalent. Experience: None. Training: Apprenticeship. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | High school diploma or equivalent | $76,170 | -13.0% |
| 270 | Acupuncturists DetailsEducation: Master's degree. Experience: None. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Master's degree | $76,040 | 8.6% |
| 271 | Human resources specialists DetailsEducation: Bachelor's degree. Experience: None. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Bachelor's degree | $75,940 | 6.4% |
| 272 | Fire inspectors and investigators DetailsEducation: Postsecondary nondegree award. Experience: 5 years or more. Training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Postsecondary nondegree award | $75,920 | 4.2% |
| 273 | Family and consumer sciences teachers, postsecondary DetailsEducation: Doctoral or professional degree. Experience: None. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Doctoral or professional degree | $75,870 | 2.4% |
| 274 | Arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators DetailsEducation: Bachelor's degree. Experience: Less than 5 years. Training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Bachelor's degree | $75,530 | 4.7% |
| 275 | Surveyors DetailsEducation: Bachelor's degree. Experience: None. Training: Internship/residency. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Bachelor's degree | $75,440 | 5.8% |
| 276 | Film and video editors DetailsEducation: Bachelor's degree. Experience: None. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Bachelor's degree | $75,420 | 3.7% |
| 277 | Education 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 | $75,350 | 2.5% |
| 278 | Set and exhibit designers DetailsEducation: Bachelor's degree. Experience: None. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Bachelor's degree | $75,240 | 1.4% |
| 279 | Camera operators, television, video, and film DetailsEducation: Bachelor's degree. Experience: None. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Bachelor's degree | $74,990 | 1.3% |
| 280 | Public relations specialists DetailsEducation: Bachelor's degree. Experience: None. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Bachelor's degree | $74,750 | 1.8% |
| 281 | Construction and building inspectors DetailsEducation: High school diploma or equivalent. Experience: 5 years or more. Training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | High school diploma or equivalent | $74,690 | 0.0% |
| 282 | Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians DetailsEducation: Associate's degree. Experience: None. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Associate's degree | $74,510 | 1.3% |
| 283 | Loading and moving machine operators, underground mining 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 | $74,500 | -15.8% |
| 284 | First-line supervisors of production and operating 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 | $74,450 | 1.8% |
| 285 | Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door 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 | $74,340 | 4.3% |
| 286 | Telecommunications line installers and 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 | $74,330 | -3.4% |
| 287 | Cardiovascular technologists and technicians DetailsEducation: Associate's degree. Experience: None. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Associate's degree | $74,310 | 3.7% |
| 288 | Special education teachers, secondary school DetailsEducation: Bachelor's degree. Experience: None. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Bachelor's degree | $74,260 | -0.2% |
| 289 | Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment DetailsEducation: Postsecondary nondegree award. Experience: None. Training: Long-term on-the-job training. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Postsecondary nondegree award | $74,090 | 0.3% |
| 290 | Fish and game wardens 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 | $74,060 | -5.7% |
| 291 | Electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologists and technicians DetailsEducation: Associate's degree. Experience: None. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Associate's degree | $73,900 | 2.6% |
| 292 | Music directors and composers DetailsEducation: Bachelor's degree. Experience: Less than 5 years. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Bachelor's degree | $73,710 | 1.2% |
| 293 | Media and communication workers, 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 | $73,620 | 3.9% |
| 294 | Pile driver 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 | $73,300 | -5.7% |
| 295 | Real estate brokers 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 | $73,220 | 0.8% |
| 296 | Sound engineering 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 | $73,130 | -3.1% |
| 297 | Conservation scientists DetailsEducation: Bachelor's degree. Experience: None. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Bachelor's degree | $73,010 | 5.3% |
| 298 | Social sciences teachers, postsecondary, all other DetailsEducation: Doctoral or professional degree. Experience: None. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Doctoral or professional degree | $72,990 | 1.6% |
| 298 | Commercial divers 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 | $72,990 | 4.8% |
| 300 | Fundraisers DetailsEducation: Bachelor's degree. Experience: None. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Bachelor's degree | $72,550 | 5.5% |
Wages marked + are top-coded: the published figure is the lower bound of the capped wage.
825 ranked entries.