If you want to make a decent living at a job with good benefits, there are two ways to go about it. One is to develop specialized in-demand skills outside of the higher-educational system. The other is to hit the books and work your way toward an advanced degree in an in-demand field. By far, your best chance to get a high-paying job in America is through higher education.
To determine the 25 best paying jobs in America, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed Bureau of Labor Statistics’ data on median annual wage estimates for 789 occupations. The occupations were ranked based on the median annual earnings for all employees in 2020. (These are the highest paying jobs you can get without a college degree.)
As you would expect, lawyers, doctors, engineers, and company executives are among the highest paid professionals. But so are company administrators, managers, and scientists.
These well-paying jobs all require at least a bachelor’s degree, and in many cases they require more advanced degrees. Even when a more advanced degree is not required, a master’s degree or Ph.D. will garner you higher wages and greater job security.
Though more Americans than ever hold a degree from an accredited four-year university program, they are still a minority in the workforce. Just 32% of the U.S. adult population held at least a bachelor’s from 2015 to 2019, according to a 2021 report from the U.S. Census Bureau. Though this is about 5 percentage points higher than a decade earlier, the number of college-educated adults could stand to grow further.Â
Based on supply and demand in the labor market, the higher educated receive a pay-and-benefits premium not just because they have specialized, in-demand skills (those lacking a college degree can have specialized in-demand skills, too), but also because there are fewer of them to choose from relative to the total number of workers in the country’s labor force.Â
Additionally, some parts of the country suffer from shortages of higher-educated professionals compared to others. (This is the most educated city in every state.)
Click here to see the best paying jobs in America
Click here to read our detailed methodology
Source: SARINYAPINNGAM / iStock via Getty Images
25. Compensation and benefits managers
> Median annual earnings: $125,130
> Total number of workers: 16,340
> Projected employment change, 2020-2030: +3.7%
> Compensation and benefits managers with a bachelor’s degree: 70.4%
[in-text-ad]
Source: fizkes / iStock via Getty Images
24. Political scientists
> Median annual earnings: $125,350
> Total number of workers: 6,010
> Projected employment change, 2020-2030: +8.6%
> Political scientists with a bachelor’s degree: 87.7%
Source: StockRocket / iStock via Getty Images
23. Purchasing managers
> Median annual earnings: $125,940
> Total number of workers: 70,960
> Projected employment change, 2020-2030: +6.2%
> Purchasing managers with a bachelor’s degree: 62.1%
Source: gorodenkoff / iStock via Getty Images
22. Computer and information research scientists
> Median annual earnings: $126,830
> Total number of workers: 30,220
> Projected employment change, 2020-2030: +21.8%
> Computer and information research scientists with a bachelor’s degree: 92.2%
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: Pattanaphong Khuankaew / iStock via Getty Images
21. Lawyers
> Median annual earnings: $126,930
> Total number of workers: 658,120
> Projected employment change, 2020-2030: +8.9%
> Lawyers with a bachelor’s degree: 98.1%
Source: Hiraman / E+ via Getty Images
20. Pharmacists
> Median annual earnings: $128,710
> Total number of workers: 315,470
> Projected employment change, 2020-2030: -2.1%
> Pharmacists with a bachelor’s degree: 97.4%
[in-text-ad]
Source: domin_domin / E+ via Getty Images
19. Physicists
> Median annual earnings: $129,850
> Total number of workers: 16,160
> Projected employment change, 2020-2030: +8.6%
> Physicists with a bachelor’s degree: 100.0%
Source: gorodenkoff / iStock via Getty Images
18. Air traffic controllers
> Median annual earnings: $130,420
> Total number of workers: 22,190
> Projected employment change, 2020-2030: +4.1%
> Air traffic controllers with a bachelor’s degree: 41.9%
Source: sanjeri / E+ via Getty Images
17. Sales managers
> Median annual earnings: $132,290
> Total number of workers: 390,170
> Projected employment change, 2020-2030: +7.0%
> Sales managers with a bachelor’s degree: 59.3%
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: mixetto / E+ via Getty Images
16. Advertising and promotions managers
> Median annual earnings: $133,460
> Total number of workers: 22,490
> Projected employment change, 2020-2030: +10.3%
> Advertising and promotions managers with a bachelor’s degree: 78.5%
Source: undrey / iStock via Getty Images
15. Financial managers
> Median annual earnings: $134,180
> Total number of workers: 653,080
> Projected employment change, 2020-2030: +17.3%
> Financial managers with a bachelor’s degree: 64.0%
[in-text-ad]
Source: Lyashik / iStock via Getty Images
14. Podiatrists
> Median annual earnings: $134,300
> Total number of workers: 9,710
> Projected employment change, 2020-2030: +1.7%
> Podiatrists with a bachelor’s degree: 100.0%
Source: Sushiman / iStock via Getty Images
13. Petroleum engineers
> Median annual earnings: $137,330
> Total number of workers: 27,850
> Projected employment change, 2020-2030: +7.7%
> Petroleum engineers with a bachelor’s degree: 85.3%
Source: FangXiaNuo / E+ via Getty Images
12. Natural sciences managers
> Median annual earnings: $137,940
> Total number of workers: 75,870
> Projected employment change, 2020-2030: +5.7%
> Natural sciences managers with a bachelor’s degree: 89.2%
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: Chris Ryan / OJO Images via Getty Images
11. Judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates
> Median annual earnings: $141,080
> Total number of workers: 28,550
> Projected employment change, 2020-2030: +3.4%
> Judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates with a bachelor’s degree: 98.1%
Source: Cecilie_Arcurs / E+ via Getty Images
10. Marketing managers
> Median annual earnings: $142,170
> Total number of workers: 270,200
> Projected employment change, 2020-2030: +10.0%
> Marketing managers with a bachelor’s degree: 81.3%
[in-text-ad]
Source: vm / E+ via Getty Images
9. Architectural and engineering managers
> Median annual earnings: $149,530
> Total number of workers: 195,900
> Projected employment change, 2020-2030: +4.1%
> Architectural and engineering managers with a bachelor’s degree: 83.5%
Source: nd3000 / iStock via Getty Images
8. Computer and information systems managers
> Median annual earnings: $151,150
> Total number of workers: 457,290
> Projected employment change, 2020-2030: +10.9%
> Computer and information systems managers with a bachelor’s degree: 74.6%
Source: PIKSEL / iStock via Getty Images
7. Dentists
> Median annual earnings: $158,940
> Total number of workers: 95,920
> Projected employment change, 2020-2030: +8.1%
> Dentists with a bachelor’s degree: 100.0%
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: Rathke / Getty Images
6. Airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers
> Median annual earnings: $160,970
> Total number of workers: 83,550
> Projected employment change, 2020-2030: +13.8%
> Airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers with a bachelor’s degree: 74.5%
Source: Geber86 / E+ via Getty Images
5. Pediatricians
> Median annual earnings: $177,130
> Total number of workers: 27,550
> Projected employment change, 2020-2030: -2.0%
> Pediatricians with a bachelor’s degree: 100.0%
[in-text-ad]
Source: Harbucks / iStock via Getty Images
4. Dental specialists
> Median annual earnings: $183,300
> Total number of workers: 5,610
> Projected employment change, 2020-2030: +4.4%
> Dental specialists with a bachelor’s degree: 100.0%
24/7 Wall St.
Source: FangXiaNuo / E+ via Getty Images
3. Nurse anesthetists
> Median annual earnings: $183,580
> Total number of workers: 41,960
> Projected employment change, 2020-2030: +12.7%
> Nurse anesthetists with a bachelor’s degree: 97.4%
Source: mediaphotos / E+ via Getty Images
2. Chief executives
> Median annual earnings: $185,950
> Total number of workers: 202,360
> Projected employment change, 2020-2030: -5.7%
> Chief executives with a bachelor’s degree: 70.9%
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: Geber86 / E+ via Getty Images
1. Family medicine physicians
> Median annual earnings: $207,380
> Total number of workers: 98,590
> Projected employment change, 2020-2030: +4.9%
> Family medicine physicians with a bachelor’s degree: 100.0%
Methodology
To determine the best paying jobs in America, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed data on median annual wage estimates for 789 detailed occupations from the May 2020 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Detailed occupations were ranked based on the median annual earnings for all employees in 2020.Â
Data on projected employment change from 2020 to 2030 and the percentage of workers 25 and over with at least a bachelor’s degree in 2018-2019 came from the BLS Employment Projections program.
Sponsored: Find a Qualified Financial Advisor
Finding a qualified financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to 3 fiduciary financial advisors in your area in 5 minutes. Each advisor has been vetted by SmartAsset and is held to a fiduciary standard to act in your best interests. If you’re ready to be matched with local advisors that can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.
Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.
Editors' Picks
