High Paying Jobs in the US, Ranked by Official Pay
The best-paid US jobs are physicians and surgeons, led by cardiologists at a $496,010 median salary, but many well-paid jobs need no 4-year degree. Filter the BLS May 2025 figures below by the education each job needs.
High paying jobs explorer
Annual pay, May 2025, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS). 25th/75th/90th are percentiles: 90th means 9 in 10 workers in that job earn less. "Not published" means BLS did not release that figure.
Highest paying jobs without a 4-year degree
These jobs typically need a high school diploma plus training, an apprenticeship, a certificate or an associate's degree.
| # | Job | Median pay | Typical education |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Air Traffic Controllers | $148,080 | Associate's / certificate |
| 2 | Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers | $109,910 | High school / training |
| 3 | Dental Hygienists | $98,100 | Associate's / certificate |
| 4 | Diagnostic Medical Sonographers | $96,590 | Associate's / certificate |
| 5 | Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers | $95,320 | High school / training |
| 6 | Respiratory Therapists | $82,280 | Associate's / certificate |
| 7 | Radiologic Technologists and Technicians | $80,110 | Associate's / certificate |
| 8 | Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians | $79,870 | Associate's / certificate |
| 9 | Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $76,210 | High school / training |
| 10 | Surgical Technologists | $64,650 | Associate's / certificate |
| 11 | Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | $64,400 | Associate's / certificate |
| 12 | Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $63,800 | High school / training |
Highest paying jobs with a bachelor's degree
| # | Job | Median pay | Typical education |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | $232,140 | Bachelor's |
| 2 | Software Developers | $135,980 | Bachelor's |
| 3 | Information Security Analysts | $129,180 | Bachelor's |
| 4 | Construction Managers | $114,990 | Bachelor's |
| 5 | Personal Financial Advisors | $105,070 | Bachelor's |
| 6 | Registered Nurses | $97,550 | Bachelor's |
| 7 | Accountants and Auditors | $83,680 | Bachelor's |
How to read these numbers
- Median is the middle worker's pay: half earn more, half earn less. It's more reliable than the average, which a few very high earners pull up.
- Pay varies a lot by state. Each job page shows all 50 states.
- Doctors top every list, but it takes 11–16 years of school and training. The no-degree list is where pay is high relative to training time.
Negotiating an offer in one of these fields? See salary negotiation, or convert pay with the salary calculator.
Common questions
What is the highest paying job?
Among the jobs we track, cardiologists have the highest median pay at $496,010 a year (BLS, May 2025). Physician specialties dominate the top of the list.
What high paying jobs don't need a degree?
The best paid jobs here that start with training, an apprenticeship, a certificate or an associate's degree are air traffic controllers ($148,080), elevator and escalator installers and repairers ($109,910), dental hygienists ($98,100), diagnostic medical sonographers ($96,590), electrical power-line installers and repairers ($95,320), by median annual pay (BLS, May 2025).
What does median pay mean?
Half the workers in that job earn more and half earn less. It's more reliable than the average, which a few very high earners pull up.
Where do these numbers come from?
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey for May 2025, which surveys employers across every state.
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2025
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook, highest paying occupations
Related
General information, not financial, tax or legal advice. Check important numbers with the official source before acting on them.