The highest-paying jobs in the USA are mainly in the medical sector, although there are lucrative occupations beyond it as well. Those roles bring six-figure annual salaries and usually require advanced degrees, such as master’s, doctoral, and professional degrees.
There are also financially rewarding jobs you can do without a degree, but they typically involve training programs.
If you want to know which jobs earn the most money in the USA and plan your education and career accordingly, stay tuned. In this article, we’ll explore the best-paying jobs in the US, highlighting their requirements, median salaries, and outlooks.
Key Takeaways
Most of the highest-paying jobs in the USA pay six figures per year.
The majority of the most lucrative professions nationwide are medical jobs, including physician, surgeon, anesthesiologist, and dentist.
Some of the highest-paying non-medical jobs are chief executive officer (CEO), information systems manager, lawyer, and pilot.
Jobs that bring a six-figure annual income typically require advanced degrees, such as a PhD and MD, but there are some, such as commercial pilot, for which formal education is optional.
One of the careers with the highest employment growth is information systems manager, with a job outlook of 17%.
13 Highest-Paying Jobs in the USA
From anesthesiologist to lawyer, here are some of the highest-paying jobs in the USA.
#1. Surgeon: $343,990
Surgeons who aren’t categorized under specific specialties, such as cardiac and brain surgeons, make $343,990 annually on average. Since this role is also categorized in the physicians and surgeons group, its growth prospect is 4%, which means it’ll grow in employment by 4% 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.
#2. Anesthesiologist: $339,470
With an average annual income of $339,470, the anesthesiologist is the second 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, which makes its outlook of 4% as fast as average.
The educational requirements for this position include a pre-med bachelor’s degree, medical school diploma, residency, and licensure.
As for the medical skills an anesthesiologist needs to possess, they include assessing the dosage and type, as well as administering anesthesia before surgeries to eliminate or minimize patients’ discomfort, and finally, monitoring their vital signs prior to, during, and after the procedure.
#3. Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon: $334,310
As the third 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 prospect of 5%, which means this role will grow in employment faster than other specialized surgeons.
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.
#4. Obstetrician and Gynecologist (OB-GYN): $278,660
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.
#5. Chief Executive Officer (CEO): $258,900
As one of the highest-paying non-medical jobs, the role of a chief executive officer brings an average annual income of $258,900. In addition to being quite lucrative, it also has good prospects for the future, as it’s expected to grow in employment by 6% 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, through which they gain the skills necessary for the job. These skills include decision-making, problem-solving, and leadership skills.
#6. Psychiatrist: $256,930
Psychiatrists earn a median annual salary of $256,930 and have a job outlook of 4% 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
In addition to doctor skills such as differential diagnosis and prescribing medications, psychiatrists also need to have good communication and interpersonal skills, as they’re responsible for the treatment of various mental health disorders.
#7. Physician (General Practitioner): $248,640
Physicians make $248,640 a year on average and have the same job outlook as surgeons, which is 4%.
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 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.
#8. Orthodontist: $243,620
With an average annual salary of $243,620 and a job outlook of 5%, orthodontists are the second of 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.
#9. Pediatrician: $205,860
With an average annual income of $205,860, the role of the pediatrician is the final medical job with a growth prospect of 4% on our list.
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.
#10. Dentist: $191,750
As the final of the highest-paying occupations in the US medical field, dentists have a median annual salary of $191,750. The job is expected to grow in employment by 5%, 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.
#11. Airline and Commercial Pilot: $171,210
Airline and commercial pilots earn $171,210 a year on average and have a job outlook of 5%.
While they have the same median annual salaries and prospects, these two jobs have different education requirements. Namely, most major airlines require their pilots to have a degree in aviation, aeronautical science, engineering, or a related area.
Meanwhile, a commercial pilot can work without formal education as long as they have a commercial pilot license (CPL) and instrument rating (IR), which makes this position one of the highest-paying jobs in the USA without a degree.
As for the nature of the job, both airline and commercial pilots navigate airplanes and other aircraft and are responsible for flight safety.
#12. Information Systems Manager: $169,510
Although the role of an information systems manager is among the final highest-paying jobs in the USA on our list at $169,510 a year on average, its prospect is 17%, 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.
#13. Lawyer: $145,760
As the final of the highest-paying careers in the US, the lawyer position has a median annual salary of $145,760 and a job outlook of 5%.
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.
Final Thoughts
The highest-paying jobs in the USA range from physicians and surgeons to lawyers and information systems managers and bring six-figure annual salaries. While many of them require advanced degrees, including master’s, PhD, and MD, there are some, such as commercial pilot, that don’t call for formal education.
However, each of these jobs entails specific skills, some of which are acquired through training, practice, and experience, while others rely on personal preferences.
