If you’re in the job market, knowing what the highest-paying jobs in the USA are allows you to make accurate long-term plans or to focus your job search in the right direction. While many occupations are in the medical and healthcare sectors, you can find lucrative opportunities in technology, business, law, and even aviation.
In this article, we’ll give you detailed information on some of the highest-paying jobs in the current hiring landscape. We’ll talk about the salary and projected job growth, as well as the skills, degrees, and training required to enter the field in the first place.
Key Takeaways
Many of the highest-paying jobs in the USA are in the medical field, and include roles like surgeons, anesthesiologists, obstetricians, gynecologists, psychiatrists, physicians, orthodontists, pediatricians, and dentists.
Other six-figure occupations include chief executive officers, airline and commercial pilots, information systems managers, and lawyers.
While most of these occupations require doctoral or bachelor’s degrees, you can get a job as an air traffic controller, commercial pilot, elevator repairer, nuclear power reactor operator, or transportation, storage, and distribution manager with specialized training.
High-paying jobs with the fastest growth include nurse practitioners, data scientists, information security analysts, physician assistants, and information systems managers.
13 Highest-Paying Jobs in the USA With Salaries and Requirements
From anesthesiologists to lawyers, here are some of the highest-paying jobs in the USA based on average salary and job outlook:
Position | Median Annual Salary | Projected Job Growth (by 2034) | Degree |
Anesthesiologist | $339,470 | 3% | Medical degree |
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon | $334,310 | 4% | Medical degree |
Obstetrician and Gynecologist | $278,660 | 4% | Medical degree |
Psychiatrists | $256,930 | 3% | Medical degree |
Orthodontist | $243,620 | 5% | Medical degree |
Surgeon | $239,200 | 3% | Medical degree |
Physician (General Practitioner) | $239,200 | 3% | Medical degree |
Pediatrician | $205,860 | 4% | Medical degree |
Dentist | $179,210 | 4% | Dental degree (DDS/DMD) |
Information systems manager | $171,200 | 15% | Bachelor’s degree |
Architectural and engineering managers | $167,740 | 4% | Bachelor’s degree |
Lawyer | $151,160 | 4% | Juris Doctor (JD) degree |
Chief Executive Officer | $105,350 | 4% | Bachelor’s degree |
Now, let’s examine each occupation in more detail to see which skills you need for them, employment opportunities, and more.
#1. Anesthesiologist
Median salary: $339,470 per year
Projected employment growth: 3% (33,470 new openings each year)
With a median annual salary of $339,470, the anesthesiologist occupation is the highest-paying medical job and the most lucrative career overall. It belongs to the group of physician and surgeon roles, along with a few others on the list, with a projected employment growth of 3% over the next decade.
To become an anesthesiologist, you need to acquire a pre-med bachelor’s degree, medical school diploma, residency, and licensure. As for the job description, they assist patients before, during, and after surgeries.
Overall, their primary responsibility is to manage patient safety, pain, and body functions by creating anesthesia plans, administering medications, and monitoring vital signs.
Typical hard skills required:
Anesthesia administration
Vital sign monitoring
Airway management
Pharmacology
Critical care response
Dosage calculation
Patient risk assessment
#2. Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon
Median salary: $334,310 per year
Projected employment growth: 4% (4,160 new openings each year)
As the second on the list of the highest-paying jobs in the USA, oral and maxillofacial surgeons earn $334,310 a year on average. They’re classified as dentists, with a job outlook of 4%.
An oral and maxillofacial surgeon must have a bachelor’s degree, typically in a science-related field, and a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) degree, and complete an oral and maxillofacial surgery residency. A medical degree and board certification are optional but recommended and commonly held in the field.
These specialists perform surgeries and other procedures on the hard and soft tissue of the face, mouth, and jaw to improve their appearance and functionality.
Typical hard skills required:
Dental surgery
Jaw and facial reconstruction
Complex tooth extraction
Anesthesia administration
Implantology
Radiography
Pathology diagnosis
#3. Obstetrician and Gynecologist (OB-GYN)
Median salary: $278,660 per year
Projected employment growth: 4% (19,820 new openings each year)
Obstetricians and gynecologists have a median annual wage of $278,660 and a job outlook of 4%, just like other physicians and surgeons.
Their educational requirements include a bachelor’s degree, typically in a pre-med program, a Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree, and a four-year residency in obstetrics and gynecology.
While it’s not obligatory, it’s recommended that they also have a board certification. Additionally, some pursue an additional two- to three-year fellowship in subspecialties such as maternal-fetal medicine, reproductive endocrinology, or gynecologic oncology.
As for their responsibilities, obstetricians and gynecologists deal with women’s reproductive health, including pregnancy and childbirth.
Typical hard skills required:
Prenatal and postpartum care
Labor and delivery management
Fetal monitoring
Reproductive endocrinology
Pelvic examinations
Ultrasonography
Patient health education
Prenatal and postpartum care
Labor and delivery management
Fetal monitoring
Reproductive endocrinology
Pelvic examinations
Ultrasonography
Patient health education
#4. Psychiatrist
Median salary: $256,930 per year
Projected employment growth: 3% (24,830 new openings each year)
Psychiatrists earn a median annual salary of $256,930 and have a job outlook of 3% since they, too, belong to the physicians and surgeons group.
Their education begins with a bachelor’s degree in a science-related field, such as psychology, biology, or a pre-med program. Afterward, they need to complete a four-year medical degree, either as a Doctor of Medicine (MD) or a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO), followed by another four years of psychiatry residency.
Lastly, some psychiatrists seek certification from the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN) and complete a fellowship program in one of the following subspecialties:
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Geriatric Psychiatry
Forensic Psychiatry
Addiction Psychiatry
Apart from position-specific doctor skills, psychiatrists also need to have good communication and interpersonal skills, as they’re responsible for the treatment of various mental health disorders.
Typical hard skills required:
Psychiatric evaluation
Psychopharmacology
Cognitive behavioral therapy
Differential diagnosis
Crisis intervention
Medication prescription
Addiction counseling
#5. Orthodontist
Median salary: $243,620 per year
Projected employment growth: 5% (6,400 new openings each year)
With a median annual salary of $243,620 and a job outlook of 5%, orthodontists fall among the three highest-paying jobs in the USA in the dental profession.
Once they complete four-year undergraduate studies, typically in pre-dental studies, people aiming for orthodontics need to earn either a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or a Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) degree. After that, they must complete a two- to three-year residency program in orthodontics. Finally, they may obtain a board certification, although it’s not mandatory.
An orthodontist’s job involves examining, diagnosing, and treating oral cavity anomalies and correcting teeth and jaw alignment with braces and other methods.
Typical hard skills required:
Malocclusion diagnosis
Braces and aligner installation
Dental impressions and 3D modeling
Facial growth analysis
Appliance adjustment
Hand dexterity
Dental photography
#6. Surgeon
Median salary: $239,200 per year
Projected employment growth: 3% (23,600 new openings each year)
Surgeons who aren’t categorized under specific specialties, such as cardiac and brain surgeons, have a median annual salary of $239,200 with a projected growth in employment of 3% over the next ten years.
To become a surgeon, you need to have a bachelor’s degree and a medical degree, as well as complete a minimum five-year residency. Therefore, the entire process takes at least 13 years.
Once they complete their education, surgeons are responsible for performing complex surgeries to treat various injuries, deformities, and diseases.
Typical hard skills required:
Surgical operations
Pre-op and post-op patient care
Manual dexterity
High-pressure decision-making
Surgical equipment operation
Sterilization
Diagnostic testing analysis
#7. Physician (General Practitioner)
Median salary: $239,200 per year
Projected employment growth: 3% (23,600 new openings each year)
Physicians make $239,200 a year on average and have the same job outlook as surgeons, which is 3%.
To become a physician, you need to start with a bachelor’s degree, preferably in a science-related field. Afterward, you must complete medical school, earn a medical degree (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO), and complete a three-year residency program in family medicine, internal medicine, or general practice.
As general practitioners, physicians provide primary medical care, treat a wide range of medical issues, and refer patients to specialists based on their symptoms.
Typical hard skills required:
Primary healthcare
Preventative medicine
Routine check-ups
Diagnostic test interpretation
Immunization protocols
Patient history analysis
Medical specialist referrals
#8. Pediatrician
Median salary: $205,860 per year
Projected employment growth: 4% (34,870 new openings each year)
With a median annual income of $205,860, the role of the pediatrician is another lucrative option in the medical field with a growth prospect of 4%.
As for the education requirements for a pediatrician, they include a bachelor’s degree, most commonly in a science-related field, a Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree, and a three-year residency in pediatrics.
Additionally, an aspiring pediatrician may obtain a certificate from the American Board of Pediatrics (ABP) or the American Osteopathic Board of Pediatrics (AOBP) and complete a fellowship in subspecialties like pediatric cardiology, pediatric oncology, or pediatric endocrinology.
Once they complete their education, pediatricians diagnose, treat, and work on preventing injuries and diseases in children.
Typical hard skills required:
Child and adolescent development
Immunization schedules
Preventative pediatric care
Pediatric diagnostics
Infectious disease treatment
Nutritional counseling
Record management
#9. Dentist
Median salary: $179,210 per year
Projected employment growth: 4% (4,500 new openings each year)
As the final highest-paying occupations in the USA medical field, dentists have a median annual salary of $179,210. The job is expected to grow in employment by 4%, the same as oral and maxillofacial surgeons and orthodontists.
Pursuing this career path requires a bachelor’s degree, usually in a pre-dental program, a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) degree, and a license to practice dentistry. Afterward, a dentist may complete a residency in a certain specialization, such as orthodontics, oral surgery, or endodontics.
These medical professionals examine, diagnose, and treat injuries, malformations, and diseases of teeth and gums, providing advice on proper oral hygiene to their patients.
Typical hard skills required:
Restorative dentistry
Cavity filling
Root canal therapy
Radiography interpretation
Local anesthesia administration
Cosmetic dentistry
Patient comfort management
#10. Information Systems Manager
Median salary: $171,200 per year
Projected employment growth: 15% (55,600 new openings each year)
Although the role of an information systems manager is among the last highest-paying jobs in the USA on our list at $171,200 a year in median pay, its prospect is 15%, which makes it one of the best jobs for the future.
Another great benefit of this career path is that it can be done with only a bachelor’s degree, typically in one of the following fields:
Information systems
Computer science
Information technology (IT)
Management information systems (MIS)
Business administration
However, although optional, it’s beneficial to have a master’s degree as well, such as a master of business administration (MBA), a master of science in information systems, or a master of science in computer science.
Finally, information systems managers are responsible for maintaining IT infrastructure and technological safety within an organization.
Typical hard skills required:
IT infrastructure management
Cybersecurity protocols
Cloud computing
Network administration
IT budgeting
Technical project management
Agile methodologies
#11. Architectural and Engineering Managers
Median salary: $167,740 per year
Projected employment growth: 4% (14,500 new openings each year)
Architectural and engineering majors earn a median annual wage of $167,740, which makes this one of the most lucrative STEM leadership roles in the US. The job outlook is 4% (amounting to around 14,500 projected openings each year), which mirrors the overall steady growth in the engineering and construction sector.
To get the job, professionals typically need to have at least a bachelor’s degree in architecture or a relevant engineering specialty. Many of the top earners in the field also have a master’s degree in engineering management (MEM) or business administration (MBA). Beyond education, the job usually requires at least 5 years of experience in another related position.
In their day-to-day operations, architectural and engineering managers plan, coordinate, and direct complex projects and activities, oversee budgets, and lead teams to ensure successful project execution.
Typical hard skills required:
Project management
Budget forecasting
Regulatory compliance
Engineering software proficiency
Cross-functional team leadership
Vendor management
Quality assurance and control
#12. Lawyer
Median salary: $151,160 per year
Projected employment growth: 4% (31,500 new openings each year)
As another high-paying non-medical occupation, the lawyer position has a median annual salary of $151,160 and a job outlook of 4%.
The path to becoming a lawyer starts with a bachelor’s degree, typically in one of the following fields:
Business
Philosophy
Political science
Sociology
History
The next step is to obtain a law school degree—Juris Doctor (JD)—after which comes the bar exam. Additionally, all lawyers must periodically complete continuing legal education courses (CLE) to stay up to date with changes in the law and maintain their licenses.
Optional education for lawyers includes a Master of Law (LL.M.) and Doctor of Juridical Science (S.J.D.) or PhD.
Finally, a lawyer’s job includes representing and advising clients on various legal proceedings.
Typical hard skills required:
Legal research
Contract drafting
Dispute resolution
Civil or criminal litigation
Regulatory compliance
Client advocacy
Documentation management
#13. Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Median salary: $105,350 per year
Projected employment growth: 4% (331,000 new openings each year)
As the final of the highest-paying careers in the USA, the role of a chief executive officer brings a median annual pay of $105,350. In addition to being quite lucrative, it also has good prospects for the future, as it’s expected to grow in employment by 4% over the next ten years, which is faster than average.
CEO roles don’t require specific education, although most people in these positions hold a bachelor’s degree in business administration, economics, management, or finance. Other common degrees for CEOs include a master’s degree in business administration (MBA) or a specialized master’s degree, typically in finance, accounting, or engineering.
Beyond degrees, CEOs have extensive experience in various C-suite positions. This helps them improve various interpersonal abilities and soft skills required for the role, like decision-making, problem-solving, and leadership.
Typical hard skills required:
Strategic planning
Financial management
Corporate governance
Business development
Team leadership
Risk management
Stakeholder and board relations
Top 5 Highest Paying Jobs Without a Degree
Some of the highest-paying jobs with six-figure salaries don’t require degrees or years in college. Here are five alternative career paths that primarily rely on apprenticeships, certifications, and hands-on training:
Air traffic controller. Air traffic controllers are responsible for coordinating the movement of aircraft to ensure their safety. Apart from entering this field with a bachelor’s or associate’s degree, you can also do so with progressive training and work experience. Median annual salary is $144,580, and projected job growth is 1%.
Commercial pilot. While airline pilots typically need a bachelor’s degree, commercial pilots usually only need flight training to receive their commercial pilot licence (CPL). Note that both need to meet FAA requirements. Commercial pilots have a median annual salary of $122,670 and a 4% expected job outlook until 2034.
Elevator and escalator installer and repairer. Installing, maintaining, and fixing lift systems is a high-paying job due to its physically and technically demanding nature. You can enter this field with a high school diploma and an apprenticeship. This can net you a median annual salary of $106,580, while the job outlook is 5%.
Nuclear power reactor operator. Nuclear power reactor operators are responsible for various sensitive processes, like starting up or shutting down reactors and adjusting control rods. Entering the field requires extensive on-the-job training instead of a degree. Median annual wage is $121,240, but the expected job growth is -10%.
Transportation, storage, and distribution manager. Professionals in this occupation oversee supply chains, logistics operations, shipping strategies, and similar processes. This typically requires at least five years of experience in addition to a high school diploma, and can net you a median annual wage of $102,010 with a 6% job growth.
Highest-Paying Jobs with the Fastest Growth
Landing a high-paying job is much easier if you’re searching for it in a fast-growing industry. Due to the advances in technology and an aging population, many of these roles are in the healthcare and information fields.
Here are five fastest-growing jobs with high pay:
Nurse practitioner. Nurse practitioners are in high demand due to an increasing need for primary and specialty care. As a result, this occupation combines high pay ($132,050 median annual pay) with one of the fastest-growing rates in healthcare. With a 35% job outlook, there will be about 32,700 new openings projected each year until 2034.
Data scientist. Data scientists leverage advanced knowledge in mathematics, statistics, software tools, and analytical techniques to extract meaningful insights from large volumes of data. This can net them a median annual pay of $112,590 with an exceptionally high job outlook of 34%.
Information security analysts. With businesses increasingly turning toward digital systems and databases, their need for professionals who can protect them increases. This results in a high demand for information security analysts, who are looking at a 29% projected job growth and a $124,910 median annual pay.
Medical and health services managers. These professionals oversee and control the operations of clinics, hospitals, and health systems. With the healthcare industry expanding, they are looking at a 23% projected job growth and $117,960 in median annual pay.
Physician assistant. Physician assistants work under the physicians’ supervision to help in treating patients. This is another healthcare occupation that’s experiencing significant growth with a 20% outlook (about 12,000 new projected openings annually). Median salary is $133,260 per year.
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Final Thoughts
Now that you know what the highest-paying jobs in the USA are, you can reevaluate your career goals, if needed, and focus your search more accurately. While many of these professions require traditional four-year college degrees (or higher), there are six-figure jobs you can get with just a high school diploma and specialized training.
Remember to take the projected job growth into account, as well. It can be a good indicator of how easy it is to find a job and whether there’s potential for career advancement. Finally, once you find a role that aligns with your skills and goals, don’t forget to leverage our tools at Resume.co to get a well-written resume and an optimized LinkedIn profile before applying.
Highest Paying Jobs in the USA FAQs
#1. What jobs in the USA pay $300,000 a year?
Many jobs in the USA that pay $300,000 a year or more are in the healthcare sector. Notable examples include anesthesiologists as well as oral and maxillofacial surgeons. Top-level executives (CEOs) of large companies and senior partners at major law firms also often exceed this threshold.
#2. What are the highest-paying jobs in New York?
Some of the highest-paying jobs in New York are in the financial and healthcare spheres. This is due to a concentration of corporate headquarters, Wall Street institutions, and medical centers. The highest-paying occupations include chief executives, investment banking directors, specialized surgeons, financial managers, and senior corporate lawyers.
#3. What is the highest-paying, low-stress job?
Orthodontists and optometrists are often ranked as some of the highest-paying, low-stress jobs. Other roles include data scientists, software engineers, and actuaries. Keep in mind that no job is stress-free. Moreover, stress levels are entirely subjective and vary between professionals.
#4. Which job has the highest salary in the USA per month?
Anesthesiologists and specialized surgeons tend to have the highest salaries in the USA per month. Since their annual salaries can exceed $350,000, these professionals can earn upward of $29,000 per month before taxes.
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