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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 401 | Postal service clerks 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 | $62,130 | -0.3% |
| 402 | Brickmasons and blockmasons DetailsEducation: High school diploma or equivalent. Experience: None. Training: Apprenticeship. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | High school diploma or equivalent | $62,120 | 1.1% |
| 403 | Social science research assistants DetailsEducation: Bachelor's degree. Experience: None. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Bachelor's degree | $61,990 | 5.0% |
| 404 | Recreational therapists DetailsEducation: Bachelor's degree. Experience: None. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Bachelor's degree | $61,960 | 4.8% |
| 405 | Computer user support specialists DetailsEducation: Some college, no degree. Experience: None. Training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Some college, no degree | $61,860 | -3.5% |
| 406 | Continuous mining machine operators 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 | $61,810 | 3.2% |
| 407 | Sheet metal workers DetailsEducation: High school diploma or equivalent. Experience: None. Training: Apprenticeship. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | High school diploma or equivalent | $61,800 | 2.5% |
| 408 | Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine 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 | $61,770 | 3.6% |
| 408 | Pump operators, except wellhead pumpers 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 | $61,770 | 4.3% |
| 410 | Medical equipment repairers 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 | $61,660 | 12.6% |
| 411 | Occupational health and safety 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 | $61,560 | 19.4% |
| 412 | Adult basic education, adult secondary education, and english as a second language instructors DetailsEducation: Bachelor's degree. Experience: None. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Bachelor's degree | $61,540 | -13.9% |
| 413 | Explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters DetailsEducation: High school diploma or equivalent. Experience: Less than 5 years. Training: Long-term on-the-job training. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | High school diploma or equivalent | $61,390 | 0.0% |
| 414 | Refractory materials repairers, except brickmasons 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 | $61,290 | -13.7% |
| 415 | Meeting, convention, and event planners DetailsEducation: Bachelor's degree. Experience: None. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Bachelor's degree | $61,160 | 5.8% |
| 416 | Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers 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 | $61,010 | 10.9% |
| 417 | Maintenance workers, machinery 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 | $60,850 | -1.9% |
| 418 | Clergy 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 | $60,810 | 2.4% |
| 419 | Paramedics DetailsEducation: Postsecondary nondegree award. Experience: Less than 5 years. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Postsecondary nondegree award | $60,600 | 5.7% |
| 419 | Rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers 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 | $60,600 | 0.8% |
| 421 | Carpenters DetailsEducation: High school diploma or equivalent. Experience: None. Training: Apprenticeship. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | High school diploma or equivalent | $60,580 | 3.9% |
| 422 | Postal service mail carriers 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 | $60,550 | -0.3% |
| 423 | Chemical 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 | $60,390 | 4.9% |
| 424 | Mental health and substance abuse social workers DetailsEducation: Master's degree. Experience: None. Training: Internship/residency. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Master's degree | $60,280 | 10.3% |
| 425 | Farm and home management educators DetailsEducation: Master's degree. Experience: None. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Master's degree | $60,220 | -3.2% |
| 426 | Earth drillers, except oil and gas DetailsEducation: High school diploma or equivalent. Experience: Less than 5 years. Training: Long-term on-the-job training. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | High school diploma or equivalent | $60,190 | 3.6% |
| 427 | Interpreters and translators DetailsEducation: Bachelor's degree. Experience: None. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Bachelor's degree | $60,170 | 2.0% |
| 428 | Security and fire alarm systems installers 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 | $60,070 | 6.8% |
| 429 | Water and wastewater treatment plant and system 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 | $60,020 | -5.7% |
| 430 | Environmental engineering technologists and technicians DetailsEducation: Associate's degree. Experience: None. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Associate's degree | $59,920 | 3.1% |
| 431 | Operating engineers and other construction 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 | $59,850 | 4.6% |
| 432 | Production, planning, and expediting 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 | $59,650 | -1.3% |
| 433 | Broadcast technicians 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 | $59,570 | -3.1% |
| 434 | Child, family, and school social workers DetailsEducation: Bachelor's degree. Experience: None. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Bachelor's degree | $59,550 | 4.4% |
| 435 | Exercise physiologists DetailsEducation: Bachelor's degree. Experience: None. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Bachelor's degree | $59,460 | 12.8% |
| 436 | Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors DetailsEducation: Master's degree. Experience: None. Training: Internship/residency. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Master's degree | $59,350 | 18.4% |
| 437 | First-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry 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 | $59,320 | 3.8% |
| 438 | Education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycare DetailsEducation: Bachelor's degree. Experience: Less than 5 years. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Bachelor's degree | $59,300 | -3.1% |
| 439 | Firefighters 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 | $59,280 | 3.7% |
| 440 | Traffic 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 | $59,090 | 4.0% |
| 441 | Bus drivers, transit and intercity 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 | $59,050 | 4.1% |
| 442 | Reinforcing iron and rebar workers DetailsEducation: High school diploma or equivalent. Experience: None. Training: Apprenticeship. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | High school diploma or equivalent | $58,970 | -5.3% |
| 443 | Correctional officers and jailers 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 | $58,940 | -7.4% |
| 444 | Drywall and ceiling tile installers 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 | $58,930 | 2.5% |
| 445 | Tank car, truck, and ship loaders 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 | $58,870 | 2.8% |
| 446 | Embalmers 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 | $58,780 | 0.7% |
| 447 | Machinists 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 | $58,750 | 1.0% |
| 448 | Title examiners, abstractors, and searchers 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 | $58,650 | 2.1% |
| 449 | Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers 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 | $58,640 | 3.8% |
| 450 | Derrick operators, oil and gas 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 | $58,620 | 1.6% |
Wages marked + are top-coded: the published figure is the lower bound of the capped wage.
825 ranked entries.