The highest-paying jobs offer six-figure salaries, solid occupational growth, and often, a chance to learn a pretty exciting skillset. But if you’re hoping to land one of these top-dollar gigs, you should often be prepared to spend a significant amount of time and money furthering your education.
Why are you scrolling for jobs, when you should be working on YOU? Reclaim time and build confidence to move your career forward, on your terms.
However, if you’re willing to make the investment, the payoffs can be huge. Best of all, there are a variety of high-paying occupations to choose from, including those in healthcare, tech, and management.
Quickstart Guide To Getting A High-Paying Job
- Update your resume. Investing a little money to have a professional resume writing service polish up your resume can help you stand out. Check out our guide to the best resume writing services to get started today.
- Apply for high-paying jobs on ZipRecruiter. If you want to land a high paying job, we recommend ZipRecruiter. ZipRecruiter is free for job seekers and makes apply for jobs easy! Get started today with ZipRecruiter.
Discover Your Dream Job Find jobs near you and apply with 1 click! New jobs posted daily.
10 Highest Paying Jobs In The US
1. Airline Pilot
Average Salary: $148,900/year
Education Required: Commercial pilots can sometimes get started with flight training and certification from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Airline pilots typically need a bachelor’s degree, plus training, certification, and experience as military or commercial pilots.
Job Growth 2022 – 2032: 4% (As fast as average)
Job Duties: In addition to flying aircraft like passenger jets and helicopters, airline pilots are responsible for ensuring the safety of the equipment, navigating the flight, and preparing the flight plan. They must also be able to adapt to changing weather conditions, malfunctions, or other emergencies.
If you want to become an airline pilot, start the process by updating your resume. Learn more in our guide about creating a pilot resume.
2. Computer and Information Systems Manager
Average Salary: $164,070/year
Education Required: Most CIS managers have a bachelor’s degree and at least five years of work experience in a tech job.
Job Growth 2022 – 2032: 15% (Much faster than average)
Job Duties: Also known as technology managers, computer and information (CIS) managers are responsible for setting an organization’s IT goals and implementing those plans. They may work solely in a project management capacity or manage other IT professionals who work on their team.
3. Construction Manager
Average Salary: $101,480/year
Education Required: To become a construction manager, you will likely need a bachelor’s degree in construction or a related field, plus significant on-the-job training.
Job Growth 2022 – 2032: 5% (Faster than average)
Job Duties: Construction managers supervise every stage of construction projects. They develop cost estimates, set budgets, collaborate with architects and engineers, hire subcontractors, monitor progress on ongoing projects, and make sure that all construction meets building codes.
Do you want to work as a construction manager? Start by updating your construction resume. You can also explore the highest paying construction jobs to see if there are other roles that may be a good fit.
4. Financial Manager
Average Salary: $139,000+/year
Education Required: Most financial managers have a bachelor’s degree and several years of experience as an accountant, financial analyst, or similar.
Job Growth 2022 – 2032: 16% (Much faster than average)
Job Duties: There are several job titles under the umbrella of financial manager, including controller, treasurer, finance officer, and risk manager. In general, these jobs are responsible for making sure that an organization meets its financial goals. They often manage other employees who work on financial statements, reports, and budgets.
If you want to become a financial manager, check out our financial manager job description to learn more about the duties and responsibilities required in this role. You can also update your financial manager resume to stand out from other candidates.
5. Information Security Analyst
Average Salary: $112,000/year
Education Required: Information security analysts typically have a bachelor’s degree in computer science and professional certification.
Job Growth 2022 – 2032: 32% (Much faster than average)
Job Duties: This fast-growing occupation is responsible for protecting organizations from data breaches and other security threats. Information security analysts monitor system security, identify vulnerabilities in firewalls and other safeguards, and make recommendations on enhancing data protection.
6. Lawyer
Average Salary: $135,740/year
Education Required: Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree plus passing the bar exam
Job Growth 2022 – 2032: 8% (Faster than average)
Job Duties: A lawyer is responsible for representing clients in legal matters, such as criminal trials, lawsuits, and negotiations. They must be knowledgeable about the law and legal procedures, and use communication and analytical skills to advocate for their clients' interests, while ensuring that their actions are ethical and comply with legal and professional standards.
If you want to become a lawyer, check out our lawyer job description. This can help you understand the duties and responsibilities involved in this role. You can also learn how to write a lawyer resume.
Join The Break Community
7. Medical and Health Services Manager
Average Salary: $104,830/year
Education Required: Bachelor's degree
Job Growth 2022 – 2032: 28% (Much faster than average)
Job Duties: A medical and health services manager is responsible for planning, directing, and coordinating medical and health services in hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare facilities. They must be knowledgeable about healthcare regulations and policies, and use communication and leadership skills to manage staff, develop budgets, and oversee the delivery of patient care, while ensuring that the facility meets quality and safety standards.
8. Nurse Practitioner
Average Salary: $125,900/year
Education Required: Depending on the state in which you practice, you may need either a master’s degree or a doctor of nursing practice (DNP) degree. NPs must also be licensed and certified.
Job Growth 2022 – 2032: 38% (Much faster than average)
Job Duties: A nurse practitioner is responsible for providing primary and specialty healthcare services to patients, including diagnosing and treating illnesses, prescribing medications, and providing preventive care. They must be knowledgeable about medical procedures and use communication and technical skills to ensure that patients receive accurate and high-quality care, while working closely with physicians and other healthcare professionals to develop and implement treatment plans.
If you want to become a nurse practitioner, we recommend learning how to write a nursing resume.
9. Physician Assistant
Average Salary: $126,010/year
Education Required: Physician assistants must have a master’s degree, licensure, and certification.
Job Growth 2022 – 2032: 27% (Much faster than average)
Job Duties: Physician assistants (PAs) work with doctors, nurses, and other members of healthcare teams to examine, diagnose, and treat patients. State law determines how independently PAs can work, but most perform many of the routine duties of a physician, including ordering and interpreting tests, administering vaccinations, and providing medical treatment.
Does working as a physician assistant sound interesting? Start by creating a physician assistant resume.
10. Software Developer
Average Salary: $124,200/year
Education Required: Bachelor's degree
Job Growth 2022 – 2032: 25% (Much faster than average)
Job Duties: Software developers design, test, optimize, and document software programs. There are different types of software developers, including applications developers, who design games and apps, and software engineers, who perform higher-level planning roles in software development.
Wondering how to start a career as a software developer? Start by learning how to write a software developer resume.
How To Get A High-Paying Job
Want to get a high-paying job? Consider the following:
Some Fields Pay More Than Others
If you have hot skills in tech or healthcare, you’re more likely to command top dollar from employers. Strong occupational growth and scarcity of highly skilled professionals most often equal high pay.
Prepare To Spend Time In School
Higher education doesn’t necessarily lead to higher pay, but high-paying jobs typically demand an investment in additional schooling.
Align Your Choices With Your Interests
You don’t necessarily need to work at your dream job, but you should have the aptitude and interest to become skilled at what you do.
Make Sure Your Resume Reflects You Accurately
Did you know that your resume could be the thing holding you back from landing interviews and jobs? You need to make sure that your resume accurately reflects your experience and skills. Resume writing services are an inexpensive way to make sure your resume lands in the hands of a recruiter. Check out our top recommendations for the best resume writing services.
Best Places To Find A High-Paying Job
Where should you look for a high-paying job? Here are the top places we recommend to help you find a high-paying job.
Online Job Posting Sites
Start your search for a high-paying job on online job posting sites. Our favorite option is ZipRecruiter! ZipRecruiter is always free for job seekers and is the highest rated job-seeking app. Once you sign up, you can search for jobs based on location, keyword, or salary.
When you do apply to a job, it is almost like a text message window of dialogue between you and the employer which is a great way to establish communication.
For an in-depth guide, check out our ZipRecruiter review.
Discover Your Dream Job Find jobs near you and apply with 1 click! New jobs posted daily.
Niche Job Posting Sites
There are some niche job posting sites that are geared toward high-paying jobs.
Pallet
Pallet is a personalized platform that focuses on community-based hiring. Pallet job boards are curated, with the job seeker in mind.
The Ladders
The Ladders bills themselves as the #1 job search site for $100K+ jobs. The Ladders allows you to apply for jobs with just two clicks. This site offers both free and paid accounts for job seekers.
100K Crossing
100K Crossing is the largest collection of six-figure salary jobs. With over 2.2 million jobs available and thousands being added weekly, there is no doubt that 100k Crossing is a great place to find high-paying jobs.
Company Websites
If you want to work for a specific company, you can apply for jobs directly on their website. Look for a career page and then follow the posted requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a high-paying job without a degree?
Although most six-figure jobs require at least a bachelor’s degree, some higher-paying jobs require only certification, specialized training, or an apprenticeship. These jobs include aircraft mechanics, wind turbine technicians, and electronics repairers.
What are the highest-paying, non-medical jobs?
Some of the highest-paying, non-medical jobs are in technology. These jobs include software developer, information security analyst, and technology manager.
What is the highest-paying job in the world?
Physicians and surgeons are some of the highest-paid workers in the world, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Their median pay tops $208,000 annually.
How can I find high-paying jobs near me?
You can find high-paying jobs in your area by using job search sites like ZipRecruiter, The Ladders and 100K Crossing and filtering your search by job title.
The Bottom Line
Whatever your talents and interests, you can find a high-paying job if you’re willing to train for a fast-growing occupation in a booming field. Often this means additional schooling, as well as licensure and certification.
Ready to make the leap to a high-paying job? Check out ZipRecruiter and find out who’s hiring in your area.
![15 Of The Best Paying Trade Jobs [2024]](https://res.cloudinary.com/dr0v43hwy/image/upload/f_webp,h_240,w_240,c_fill,g_auto,q_auto/1667405516011-JC6UL83PRRWDLEDGS17S-the_best_paying_trade_jobs_lqau4l?_a=AXAH4nI0)