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Choosing a career is one of the most consequential decisions many will make in their lifetime. The right job for one person is not necessarily the best choice for another, and a person’s job is often a reflection of personal values and skill sets. Regardless, working is a practical necessity for most people, and as such, compensation is also usually an important consideration.

The average working American earns $50,620 a year, but there are dozens of jobs where the average salary is more than double that.

24/7 Wall St. reviewed average annual salaries for over 800 occupations from the Bureau of Labor Statistics to identify the 77 jobs with six-figure salaries. Such high-paying jobs are relatively rare — and often hard to get. Of the 142.5 million employed Americans, only 7.8% work in professions where the average salary is at least $100,000.

The jobs that pay the highest average salaries are generally high-skilled positions. More than one-third of them require either a doctoral or professional degree and only two do not require a four-year college education. High-paid workers tend to work under difficult conditions and be in high demand.

The jobs on this list pay more than most for several reasons. Often, the high salaries are justified because there is a premium on the required skill set. Not everyone can be a surgeon, an aerospace engineer, or a mathematician — and the scarcity of those skills helps make those professions high paying.

Click here to see the jobs with six figure salaries.
Click here to see our detailed findings and methodology.

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77. Business professors
> Avg. annual wage: $100,270
> 10% of workers earn less than: $37,170
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Doctoral or professional degree
> Total employment: 84,340
> Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: 18.1%

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76. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
> Avg. annual wage: $100,740
> 10% of workers earn less than: $54,300
> Typical entry-level edu. required: High school diploma or equivalent
> Total employment: 118,680
> Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: 6.7%

Source: microgen / Getty Images

75. Construction managers
> Avg. annual wage: $101,000
> 10% of workers earn less than: $54,810
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Bachelor’s degree
> Total employment: 263,480
> Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: 11.1%

Source: Trifonov_Evgeniy / Getty Images

74. Physics professors
> Avg. annual wage: $101,190
> 10% of workers earn less than: $47,630
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Doctoral or professional degree
> Total employment: 13,710
> Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: 10.0%

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73. Veterinarians
> Avg. annual wage: $101,530
> 10% of workers earn less than: $53,980
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Doctoral or professional degree
> Total employment: 69,370
> Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: 18.8%

Source: Thinkstock

72. Materials scientists
> Avg. annual wage: $101,910
> 10% of workers earn less than: $51,250
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Bachelor’s degree
> Total employment: 7,470
> Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: 7.1%

Source: Ridofranz / iStock

71. Industrial-organizational psychologists
> Avg. annual wage: $102,530
> 10% of workers earn less than: $50,730
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Master’s degree
> Total employment: 920
> Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: 8.4%

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Source: Thinkstock

70. Administrative services managers
> Avg. annual wage: $103,380
> 10% of workers earn less than: $52,750
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Bachelor’s degree
> Total employment: 270,100
> Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: 10.1%

Source: Leonardo Patrizi / Getty Images

69. Art directors
> Avg. annual wage: $103,510
> 10% of workers earn less than: $51,130
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Bachelor’s degree
> Total employment: 38,110
> Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: 5.4%

Source: Thinkstock

68. Nurse midwives
> Avg. annual wage: $103,640
> 10% of workers earn less than: $66,500
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Master’s degree
> Total employment: 6,530
> Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: 20.7%

Source: agnormark / Getty Images

67. Mining and geological engineers
> Avg. annual wage: $103,710
> 10% of workers earn less than: $54,700
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Bachelor’s degree
> Total employment: 6,150
> Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: 8.2%

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Source: Thinkstock

66. Mathematicians
> Avg. annual wage: $104,700
> 10% of workers earn less than: $52,860
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Master’s degree
> Total employment: 2,730
> Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: 29.7%

Source: wmiami / Getty Images

65. Physician assistants
> Avg. annual wage: $104,760
> 10% of workers earn less than: $66,590
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Master’s degree
> Total employment: 109,220
> Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: 37.3%

Source: StockRocket / iStock

64. Biochemists and biophysicists
> Avg. annual wage: $105,410
> 10% of workers earn less than: $48,410
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Doctoral or professional degree
> Total employment: 27,380
> Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: 11.5%

Source: buranatrakul / iStock

63. Geoscientists (except hydrologists and geographers)
> Avg. annual wage: $105,830
> 10% of workers earn less than: $48,850
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Bachelor’s degree
> Total employment: 28,520
> Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: 14.0%

Source: scyther5 / Getty Images

62. Application software developers
> Avg. annual wage: $106,710
> 10% of workers earn less than: $59,870
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Bachelor’s degree
> Total employment: 849,230
> Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: 30.7%

Source: demaerre / Getty Images

61. Electronics engineers (except computer)
> Avg. annual wage: $106,760
> 10% of workers earn less than: $64,030
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Bachelor’s degree
> Total employment: 134,930
> Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: 3.7%

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60. Sales engineers
> Avg. annual wage: $106,950
> 10% of workers earn less than: $56,940
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Bachelor’s degree
> Total employment: 70,820
> Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: 6.9%

Source: sanjeri / Getty Images

59. Physical scientists, misc.
> Avg. annual wage: $107,180
> 10% of workers earn less than: $50,300
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Bachelor’s degree
> Total employment: 17,320
> Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: 7.2%

Source: dolgachov / Getty Images

58. Nurse practitioners
> Avg. annual wage: $107,480
> 10% of workers earn less than: $74,840
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Master’s degree
> Total employment: 166,280
> Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: 36.1%

Source: michaeljung / iStock

57. University education administrators
> Avg. annual wage: $107,670
> 10% of workers earn less than: $52,960
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Master’s degree
> Total employment: 142,160
> Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: 10.1%

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Source: Thinkstock

56. Computer network architects
> Avg. annual wage: $107,870
> 10% of workers earn less than: $58,160
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Bachelor’s degree
> Total employment: 157,830
> Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: 6.5%

Source: Thinkstock

55. Nuclear engineers
> Avg. annual wage: $108,910
> 10% of workers earn less than: $66,400
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Bachelor’s degree
> Total employment: 16,700
> Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: 3.8%

Source: urbancow / Getty Images

54. Astronomers
> Avg. annual wage: $109,560
> 10% of workers earn less than: $54,110
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Doctoral or professional degree
> Total employment: 2,020
> Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: 10.0%

Source: Steve Debenport / Getty Images

53. Engineering professors
> Avg. annual wage: $109,830
> 10% of workers earn less than: $50,280
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Doctoral or professional degree
> Total employment: 37,500
> Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: 14.6%

Source: yoh4nn / Getty Images

52. Industrial production managers
> Avg. annual wage: $110,580
> 10% of workers earn less than: $61,360
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Bachelor’s degree
> Total employment: 171,520
> Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: -0.5%

Source: Thinkstock

51. Medical and health services managers
> Avg. annual wage: $111,680
> 10% of workers earn less than: $58,350
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Bachelor’s degree
> Total employment: 346,980
> Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: 20.5%

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50. Systems software developers
> Avg. annual wage: $111,780
> 10% of workers earn less than: $65,670
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Bachelor’s degree
> Total employment: 394,590
> Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: 11.1%

Source: Photoboyko / iStock

49. Political scientists
> Avg. annual wage: $112,030
> 10% of workers earn less than: $56,150
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Master’s degree
> Total employment: 6,320
> Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: 2.8%

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48. Chemical engineers
> Avg. annual wage: $112,430
> 10% of workers earn less than: $62,230
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Bachelor’s degree
> Total employment: 33,500
> Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: 7.5%

Source: anyaberkut / Getty Images

47. Economists
> Avg. annual wage: $112,650
> 10% of workers earn less than: $56,400
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Master’s degree
> Total employment: 19,550
> Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: 6.3%

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46. Managers, misc.
> Avg. annual wage: $113,180
> 10% of workers earn less than: $51,770
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Bachelor’s degree
> Total employment: 430,120
> Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: 8.0%

Source: andresr / Getty Images

45. Economics professors
> Avg. annual wage: $114,820
> 10% of workers earn less than: $48,610
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Doctoral or professional degree
> Total employment: 12,770
> Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: 10.6%

Source: Thinkstock

44. Actuaries
> Avg. annual wage: $114,850
> 10% of workers earn less than: $59,950
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Bachelor’s degree
> Total employment: 19,210
> Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: 22.5%

Source: andresr / Getty Images

43. Aerospace engineers
> Avg. annual wage: $115,300
> 10% of workers earn less than: $70,840
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Bachelor’s degree
> Total employment: 65,760
> Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: 6.1%

Source: Thinkstock

42. Training and development managers
> Avg. annual wage: $117,690
> 10% of workers earn less than: $59,170
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Bachelor’s degree
> Total employment: 34,500
> Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: 10.3%

Source: Thinkstock

41. Optometrists
> Avg. annual wage: $119,100
> 10% of workers earn less than: $53,740
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Doctoral or professional degree
> Total employment: 37,240
> Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: 17.9%

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40. Computer and information research scientists
> Avg. annual wage: $119,570
> 10% of workers earn less than: $65,540
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Master’s degree
> Total employment: 27,920
> Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: 19.2%

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39. Computer hardware engineers
> Avg. annual wage: $119,650
> 10% of workers earn less than: $66,290
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Bachelor’s degree
> Total employment: 66,770
> Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: 5.5%

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38. Air traffic controllers
> Avg. annual wage: $120,260
> 10% of workers earn less than: $67,440
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Associate’s degree
> Total employment: 22,790
> Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: 3.5%

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37. Judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates
> Avg. annual wage: $121,050
> 10% of workers earn less than: $35,650
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Doctoral or professional degree
> Total employment: 28,440
> Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: 5.6%

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36. Pharmacists
> Avg. annual wage: $121,710
> 10% of workers earn less than: $87,420
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Doctoral or professional degree
> Total employment: 309,330
> Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: 5.6%

Source: Thinkstock

35. Purchasing managers
> Avg. annual wage: $121,810
> 10% of workers earn less than: $66,630
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Bachelor’s degree
> Total employment: 70,430
> Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: 5.5%

Source: FS-Stock / iStock

34. Health specialties professors
> Avg. annual wage: $122,890
> 10% of workers earn less than: $43,200
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Doctoral or professional degree
> Total employment: 194,610
> Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: 25.9%

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33. Physicists
> Avg. annual wage: $123,080
> 10% of workers earn less than: $57,430
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Doctoral or professional degree
> Total employment: 16,710
> Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: 14.5%

Source: Thinkstock

32. General and operations managers
> Avg. annual wage: $123,460
> 10% of workers earn less than: $44,510
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Bachelor’s degree
> Total employment: 2,212,200
> Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: 9.1%

Source: shironosov / Getty Images

31. Human resources managers
> Avg. annual wage: $123,510
> 10% of workers earn less than: $65,040
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Bachelor’s degree
> Total employment: 136,310
> Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: 9.1%

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30. Advertising and promotions managers
> Avg. annual wage: $123,880
> 10% of workers earn less than: $48,150
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Bachelor’s degree
> Total employment: 28,100
> Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: 5.5%

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29. Personal financial advisors
> Avg. annual wage: $124,140
> 10% of workers earn less than: $40,800
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Bachelor’s degree
> Total employment: 200,920
> Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: 14.9%

Source: Thinkstock

28. Public relations and fundraising managers
> Avg. annual wage: $127,690
> 10% of workers earn less than: $61,130
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Bachelor’s degree
> Total employment: 67,300
> Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: 10.4%

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27. Law professor
> Avg. annual wage: $129,840
> 10% of workers earn less than: $40,850
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Doctoral or professional degree
> Total employment: 16,900
> Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: 12.3%

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Source: Thinkstock

26. Compensation and benefits managers
> Avg. annual wage: $130,010
> 10% of workers earn less than: $68,510
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Bachelor’s degree
> Total employment: 15,520
> Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: 5.0%

Source: Thinkstock

25. Natural sciences managers
> Avg. annual wage: $133,670
> 10% of workers earn less than: $62,080
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Bachelor’s degree
> Total employment: 56,210
> Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: 9.9%

Source: anyaberkut / Getty Images

24. Sales managers
> Avg. annual wage: $137,650
> 10% of workers earn less than: $57,590
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Bachelor’s degree
> Total employment: 371,410
> Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: 7.5%

Source: Thinkstock

23. Lawyers
> Avg. annual wage: $141,890
> 10% of workers earn less than: $57,430
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Doctoral or professional degree
> Total employment: 628,370
> Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: 8.2%

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22. Financial managers
> Avg. annual wage: $143,530
> 10% of workers earn less than: $66,480
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Bachelor’s degree
> Total employment: 569,380
> Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: 18.7%

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21. Marketing managers
> Avg. annual wage: $145,620
> 10% of workers earn less than: $68,490
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Bachelor’s degree
> Total employment: 218,970
> Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: 10.1%

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20. Architectural and engineering managers
> Avg. annual wage: $146,290
> 10% of workers earn less than: $88,050
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Bachelor’s degree
> Total employment: 179,990
> Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: 5.5%

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19. Podiatrists
> Avg. annual wage: $148,470
> 10% of workers earn less than: $50,930
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Doctoral or professional degree
> Total employment: 9,670
> Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: 10.3%

Source: Thinkstock

18. Computer and information systems managers
> Avg. annual wage: $149,730
> 10% of workers earn less than: $83,860
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Bachelor’s degree
> Total employment: 365,690
> Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: 12.0%

Source: bashta / Getty Images

17. Petroleum engineers
> Avg. annual wage: $154,780
> 10% of workers earn less than: $74,400
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Bachelor’s degree
> Total employment: 32,010
> Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: 15.2%

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16. Airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers
> Avg. annual wage: $161,280
> 10% of workers earn less than: $68,230
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Bachelor’s degree
> Total employment: 84,070
> Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: 3.4%

Source: Thinkstock

15. Nurse anesthetists
> Avg. annual wage: $169,450
> 10% of workers earn less than: $110,520
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Master’s degree
> Total employment: 42,620
> Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: 16.2%

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14. Dentists
> Avg. annual wage: $174,110
> 10% of workers earn less than: $69,210
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Doctoral or professional degree
> Total employment: 110,400
> Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: 19.4%

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13. Pediatricians
> Avg. annual wage: $187,540
> 10% of workers earn less than: $82,670
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Doctoral or professional degree
> Total employment: 28,990
> Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: 15.4%

Source: Thinkstock

12. Chief executives
> Avg. annual wage: $196,050
> 10% of workers earn less than: $68,110
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Bachelor’s degree
> Total employment: 210,160
> Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: -3.9%

Source: Thinkstock

11. Prosthodontists
> Avg. annual wage: $196,960
> 10% of workers earn less than: $96,220
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Doctoral or professional degree
> Total employment: 430
> Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: 19.1%

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10. Internists
> Avg. annual wage: $198,370
> 10% of workers earn less than: $58,770
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Doctoral or professional degree
> Total employment: 42,280
> Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: 14.6%

Source: sturti / Getty Images

9. Dentists, misc. specialists
> Avg. annual wage: $199,980
> 10% of workers earn less than: $85,810
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Doctoral or professional degree
> Total employment: 4,590
> Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: 13.3%

Source: bowdenimages / Getty Images

8. Family and general practitioners
> Avg. annual wage: $208,560
> 10% of workers earn less than: $73,240
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Doctoral or professional degree
> Total employment: 126,440
> Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: 14.3%

Source: shapecharge / Getty Images

7. Physicians and surgeons, misc.
> Avg. annual wage: $211,390
> 10% of workers earn less than: $60,390
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Doctoral or professional degree
> Total employment: 355,460
> Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: 11.4%

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6. Psychiatrists
> Avg. annual wage: $216,090
> 10% of workers earn less than: $71,560
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Doctoral or professional degree
> Total employment: 25,250
> Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: 11.2%

Source: Phoenixns / Getty Images

5. Orthodontists
> Avg. annual wage: $229,380
> 10% of workers earn less than: $78,370
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Doctoral or professional degree
> Total employment: 5,080
> Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: 19.3%

Source: M_a_y_a / Getty Images

4. Obstetricians and gynecologists
> Avg. annual wage: $235,240
> 10% of workers earn less than: $93,200
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Doctoral or professional degree
> Total employment: 18,880
> Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: 15.5%

Source: U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Joseph A. Boomhower - This image was released by the United States Navy with the ID 110308-N-7491B-039 (next). / Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

3. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons
> Avg. annual wage: $242,740
> 10% of workers earn less than: $68,070
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Doctoral or professional degree
> Total employment: 4,800
> Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: 19.1%

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2. Surgeons
> Avg. annual wage: $251,890
> 10% of workers earn less than: $88,360
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Doctoral or professional degree
> Total employment: 38,600
> Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: 14.4%

Source: Steve Debenport / Getty Images

1. Anesthesiologists
> Avg. annual wage: $265,990
> 10% of workers earn less than: $123,580
> Typical entry-level edu. required: Doctoral or professional degree
> Total employment: 30,590
> Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: 15.4%

Detailed Findings

Jobs on this list also tend to be high pressure and come with a high degree of responsibility. Particularly for those in medicine, their work can mean the difference between life and death. Additionally, because educational requirements are generally high for these jobs and school can be expensive, the high salaries help incentivize the necessary greater investment in education.

Not only are the jobs on this list generally high skilled, but also they are in demand. Overall employment is projected to grow by 7.4% from 2016 to 2026. For more than two-thirds of the jobs on this list, employment is projected to grow faster than average.

While many occupations on this list are in engineering or management, medical professions dominate. Nearly one-third of all six-figure jobs are in medicine, including 14 of the 15 highest paying jobs.

It is important to note that the salaries listed for these occupations are averages and do not accurately reflect the income of every individual in the field. For example, in over a dozen jobs on this list, 10% of workers earn less than the average salary across all jobs. Salaries can vary within a given occupation due to a number of factors, including job tenure and region of the country.

Methodology

To identify America’s six-figure jobs, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed 2017 annual average pay data for the 809 jobs tracked by the Bureau of Labor Statistics at the detailed occupation level of aggregation. The pay figures, as well as employment totals for each occupation, are for May 2017 — the latest period for which data is available. The projected changes in employment between 2016-2026 are also from the BLS. Projected changes are calculated by adding the job growth over the 10 year period to the estimated amount of replacements needed to fill the jobs when a worker retires or permanently leaves an occupation.