Highest Paying Jobs in USA 2025

What Are the Highest Paying Jobs in America?

This guide covers the highest paying jobs in the US for 2025, drawing on real salary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, industry reports, and verified compensation surveys. Whether you're planning a career change, entering the workforce, or exploring paths to six-figure earnings, you'll find practical insights here.

Medical specialists dominate the very top of the list—surgeons, anesthesiologists, and psychiatrists consistently rank as the highest-paid professionals in America. However, extremely well-paid roles also exist in tech, law, finance, aviation, and executive leadership. Many of these careers offer total compensation packages well above $200,000 annually.

What follows is a breakdown of over 50 top high-paying careers, including several six-figure jobs and some high-paying jobs without a degree. Each section covers salaries, education requirements, job outlook, and how to decide which path might fit your goals. For context on where these roles stand relative to most workers, see our guide on the average salary in the USA.

Key Salary Snapshot: Top 15 Highest Paying Careers

The top 10–15 highest paying careers in America mostly sit above $200,000 per year, with many comfortably in six-figure territory. Doctor and surgeon roles occupy the top spots, followed by airline pilots, senior executives, and certain technical and finance careers. Keep in mind that total compensation often includes bonuses, profit sharing, equity, and benefits—so headline salary figures tell only part of the story.

Salary by Experience Level

Experience is the primary driver of compensation across nearly all high-paying careers. The journey from entry-level to senior professional can mean the difference between a comfortable income and extraordinary earnings. Here's how pay typically progresses across three key stages.

Early Career / Entry-Level (0–3 Years)

Even in the highest paying careers, new graduates and trainees start significantly lower than established professionals—though often still above the national average. Medical residents, for example, earn $60,000–$70,000 during training, a fraction of what attending physicians make. Junior lawyers at major firms might start around $190,000 in Big Law markets, while entry-level software engineers at top tech companies typically earn $100,000–$150,000 including signing bonuses and stock.

For roles without degree requirements, entry-level earnings vary widely. Apprentice electricians and plumbers often start around $35,000–$45,000, while commercial truck drivers can begin near $50,000 with rapid increases as they gain experience and certifications.

Mid-Career (3–10 Years)

Pay typically jumps substantially in this phase as professionals complete training, earn credentials, and move into senior roles. Software engineers reaching senior level often see total compensation climb to $180,000–$250,000 at major tech companies. Nurse practitioners with five to seven years of experience commonly earn $120,000–$140,000, while mid-career airline pilots at major carriers can exceed $200,000 annually.

Management consultants, financial analysts, and project managers with PMP certification also hit six-figure territory during this phase. This is when strategic career moves—changing employers, earning certifications, or relocating to higher-paying markets—have the greatest impact on long-term earnings.

Late Career / Senior (10+ Years)

Top earnings potential materializes at this stage. Specialized surgeons and medical specialists routinely earn $350,000–$500,000 or more. Senior partners at major law firms can exceed $1 million in total compensation. C-suite executives at publicly traded companies receive packages combining base salary, bonuses, and equity worth several million dollars annually.

In tech, principal and distinguished engineers at companies like Google, Meta, and Apple earn $400,000–$1 million+ in total compensation. However, competition intensifies dramatically at these levels, and performance expectations are rigorous. For guidance on maximizing your earning potential at any stage, consult our salary negotiation guide.

Salary by Location

For many of the highest paying jobs, salaries vary significantly by state and metro area. Cost of living and local demand drive most of these differences. Understanding regional pay patterns helps you evaluate offers and plan career moves strategically.

High-Cost Coastal Metros

Major metropolitan areas on the coasts—San Francisco, New York, Seattle, Boston, Los Angeles—consistently offer the highest nominal salaries. A senior software engineer in San Francisco might earn 30–50% more than the same role in Austin or Denver. Surgeons in Manhattan command premiums above national averages due to high patient volumes and cost of living adjustments.

However, these higher salaries often get offset by housing costs, state income taxes, and general living expenses. A $200,000 salary in San Francisco provides roughly equivalent purchasing power to $140,000 in Dallas or Phoenix.

Major National Hubs

Cities like Chicago, Dallas, Atlanta, Denver, and Phoenix offer strong salaries with more moderate costs. Tech hubs like Austin and Raleigh-Durham have grown significantly, attracting major employers and pushing local salaries upward while maintaining lower living costs than coastal markets.

Airline pilots based at major hub airports (Atlanta, Dallas, Chicago) earn competitive wages with better quality of life than coastal counterparts. Medical specialists in regional health systems often enjoy strong compensation with lower overhead than major metro practices.

Lower-Cost States

Some professionals maximize their real earnings by working in lower-cost regions. Certain medical specialists, engineers, and skilled tradespeople can achieve excellent purchasing power in states like Tennessee, Texas, or Florida, which have no state income tax. A nurse practitioner earning $130,000 in Nashville keeps more take-home pay than one earning $150,000 in California.

For state-by-state wage data, see our guide on minimum wage by state. Remote workers should also explore how location-based pay affects compensation when working from lower-cost areas.

Salary by Industry & Sector

The highest paying jobs cluster in specific industries that reward specialized skills, extensive training, or high-stakes decision making. Here's how compensation breaks down across major sectors.

Healthcare & Medicine

Medical professionals dominate the very top of every highest paying careers list. Surgeons, anesthesiologists, specialists, and nurse anesthetists command the highest salaries due to years of training, life-or-death responsibilities, and limited supply of qualified practitioners. Radiologists, cardiologists, and orthopedic surgeons regularly exceed $300,000 annually. Even mid-level healthcare roles like physician assistants and nurse practitioners earn six figures in most markets.

Technology & Engineering

Principal software engineers, data scientists, AI/ML engineers, and senior cybersecurity professionals can reach six-figure and multi-six-figure compensation, especially at large tech companies. FAANG companies (Meta, Apple, Amazon, Netflix, Google) and well-funded startups offer base salaries of $150,000–$250,000 plus substantial equity packages that can double or triple total compensation. Engineering roles in specialized fields like petroleum, aerospace, and nuclear also pay exceptionally well.

Finance, Law & Executive Leadership

Investment bankers, hedge fund managers, private equity professionals, and senior financial managers often appear at the higher end of non-medical pay lists. Corporate lawyers at major firms, especially partners, earn seven-figure incomes in top markets. C-suite executives—CEOs, CFOs, and COOs—receive compensation packages combining salary, bonuses, and equity worth millions at publicly traded companies. Even CPAs and project managers in finance sectors earn premiums above their counterparts in other industries.

Aviation & Specialized Roles

Airline pilots and flight engineers consistently rank among the highest paying non-medical jobs, with senior captains at major airlines earning $250,000–$350,000 or more. Air traffic controllers, while technically government employees, also earn six figures with excellent benefits and job security.

Benefits, Bonuses & Total Compensation

In many of the highest paying jobs, base salary tells only part of the story. Bonuses, profit sharing, equity, and premium benefits can significantly increase total annual earnings—sometimes by 50% or more beyond base pay.

Performance Bonuses & Incentives

Executive and finance roles frequently offer annual bonuses ranging from 20% to 100%+ of base salary, tied to company performance and individual metrics. Investment bankers and traders at top firms routinely see bonuses exceed their base pay. Senior tech employees receive annual stock refreshers that add tens of thousands of dollars to their compensation each year.

Equity & Long-Term Incentives

Stock options, restricted stock units (RSUs), and long-term incentive plans form a major component of compensation at tech companies and publicly traded corporations. A senior software engineer at Google or Meta might receive $150,000–$300,000 in annual equity grants on top of base salary. C-suite executives often receive equity packages worth millions that vest over several years.

Medical Specialty Compensation

Physicians and surgeons frequently receive additional pay for on-call shifts, procedures, and productivity incentives above their base compensation. A radiologist might add $30,000–$50,000 annually through reading additional scans. Surgeons performing high-volume procedures can significantly exceed baseline salary expectations.

Benefits Package Value

Don't overlook non-salary benefits when evaluating total compensation. Premium health insurance, 401(k) matching (often 4–6% of salary), paid parental leave, professional development budgets, and continuing education support add substantial value. Some employers offer additional perks like housing allowances, company cars, or relocation packages worth $20,000–$50,000 or more.

When comparing job offers, use our salary calculator to convert any hourly wage to annual income and understand where you stand.

How to Move Into a High Paying Job

Reaching the highest paying jobs requires deliberate planning, but the pathways vary significantly by field. Understanding the trade-offs between different routes helps you make informed decisions about time, money, and career investment.

Long Formal Education (Medicine, Law)

The very highest paying careers—surgeons, specialists, anesthesiologists—require the longest educational investment: four years of undergraduate study, four years of medical school, and three to seven years of residency and fellowship. Total investment: 11–15 years and potentially $200,000–$400,000 in educational debt. The payoff is substantial, but the path requires sustained commitment through your late twenties or early thirties.

Law follows a similar pattern: four years undergraduate plus three years of law school, followed by several years as an associate before reaching partner-level earnings. Educational debt commonly reaches $150,000–$250,000.

Targeted Degrees & Certifications (Tech, Finance, Aviation)

Many six-figure careers require four-year degrees plus specialized certifications or training. Software engineers and data scientists typically hold computer science or related degrees, though bootcamp graduates and self-taught developers increasingly break into the field. Airline pilots need commercial licenses, ATP certification, and typically 1,500+ flight hours—achievable through military service, flight schools, or regional airline programs.

Finance roles often require bachelor's degrees in business, economics, or accounting, plus credentials like CPA, CFA, or CFP that add $3,000–$10,000 in exam and study costs but significantly boost earning potential.

Experience-Driven Paths Without Degrees

Some high-paying jobs require no college degree—just training, certifications, and skill development. Plumbers, HVAC technicians, welders, and truck drivers can reach $60,000–$100,000+ through apprenticeships and on-the-job training. Master electricians and plumbers who own their businesses often earn well into six figures.

These paths offer faster entry to earning (starting wages during apprenticeship vs. accumulating student debt) and strong job security, though physical demands and work conditions differ from office-based careers.

Making Your Choice

Consider your interests, risk tolerance, timeline to earnings, and willingness to invest in education. A 22-year-old willing to spend 12 years training to become a surgeon will eventually outearn almost everyone—but a peer who becomes a software engineer starts earning six figures a decade earlier and may accumulate more lifetime wealth through early investing. There's no universally "best" path, only the best path for your circumstances and goals.

Career Paths & Examples

Understanding typical timelines helps set realistic expectations for reaching top earning potential. Here are representative paths across several high-paying fields.

Medicine: The Long Road to Top Earnings

Undergraduate degree (4 years) → Medical school (4 years) → Residency (3–7 years) → Fellowship for specialization (1–3 years) → Attending physician → Specialist.

Timeline to $200,000+: 11–15 years after high school. A general practitioner might reach $200,000 by age 33–35, while a cardiac surgeon might not exceed $400,000 until age 38–40 but then maintains that earning level for decades.

Technology: Faster Climb, Variable Peak

Bachelor's degree or bootcamp (4 years or 6–12 months) → Junior developer (1–2 years) → Mid-level engineer (2–3 years) → Senior engineer (2–4 years) → Staff/Principal engineer or engineering manager.

Timeline to $100,000+: 1–4 years after starting. Timeline to $200,000+: 5–10 years at major tech companies. A talented software engineer can reach principal level ($300,000–$500,000 total compensation) by their early 30s at FAANG companies.

Law: Partnership or Bust

Undergraduate degree (4 years) → Law school (3 years) → Associate (6–10 years) → Senior associate → Partner.

Timeline to $100,000+: Immediately upon joining Big Law (first-year associates start around $190,000–$215,000 at top firms). Timeline to $300,000+: 6–8 years. Partnership (7–10+ years) brings seven-figure potential at major firms, but only 10–20% of associates make partner.

Skilled Trades: Practical Path to Six Figures

Apprenticeship (4–5 years) → Journeyman (3–5 years) → Master tradesperson → Business owner.

Timeline to $60,000+: 2–3 years. Timeline to $100,000+: 5–10 years for master electricians, plumbers, or HVAC technicians. Business owners in skilled trades regularly exceed $150,000 and can reach much higher depending on scale.

Engineering: Steady Progression

Bachelor's degree (4 years) → Junior engineer (2–3 years) → Mid-level engineer (3–5 years) → Senior engineer → Principal or management track.

Timeline to $100,000+: 3–6 years depending on discipline. Petroleum, aerospace, and computer engineers reach six figures fastest. Senior airline captains at Delta, United, or American Airlines can exceed $350,000 annually with 20+ years of seniority.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the #1 highest paying job in the US right now?

According to BLS data and multiple industry surveys, surgeons and physician specialists hold the top position with median annual wages exceeding $239,000. Anesthesiologists, oral surgeons, and certain other medical specialists closely follow, all earning above $200,000 on average.

Which high paying careers are growing fastest?

Healthcare roles like nurse practitioners and physician assistants show strong growth due to physician shortages and expanding care needs. In tech, data scientists, AI/ML engineers, and cybersecurity specialists remain in high demand with projected growth rates exceeding 20% through 2030.

Are there any six-figure jobs without a degree?

Yes. Master electricians, plumbers, HVAC technicians, and specialized welders (underwater, pipeline) regularly earn $80,000–$120,000+. Senior truck drivers with hazmat or specialized certifications also reach six figures. Tech workers without degrees who develop in-demand skills can earn $100,000+ as software developers or cybersecurity analysts. See our complete guide to high-paying jobs without a degree for more options.

How realistic is it to make $100K a year within 5–10 years?

Highly achievable in most high-paying career paths. Software engineers often reach $100,000 within 2–4 years. Nurse practitioners typically start above $100,000. Skilled tradespeople can reach this level within 5–8 years with the right certifications and experience.

Which high paying jobs have the best work-life balance?

This varies significantly by employer and specialty, but some patterns emerge. Data scientists and many software engineering roles offer flexible schedules and remote work options. Certain medical specialties like dermatology and psychiatry typically involve fewer emergencies and more predictable hours than surgery or emergency medicine. Dentists in private practice often control their own schedules. For lower-stress options, explore our guide to easy jobs that pay well.