What Are The Highest-Paying Jobs In The U.S.? (2024)

Looking for a rewarding, high-paying job? Healthcare jobs rank among the best-paying occupations in the U.S., but becoming a doctor isn’t your only option. In fact, you may not even need a graduate degree to secure one of the highest-paying jobs.

Though in general, incomes increase with degree level, qualifications for the highest-paying jobs in the U.S. vary from no degree requirement to a doctorate plus several years of experience.

U.S. income data shows that several factors influence salaries, including college major, industry, race and gender. Diving into the data reveals a complex relationship between education, income and employment. Keep reading to learn about the United States’ highest-paying jobs.

Highest-Paying Occupations in the U.S.

What are the highest-paying jobs in America? Unsurprisingly, physicians, surgeons and psychiatrists rank near the top of the list. But chief executives, airline pilots and athletes also rank high.

Many of the highest-paying occupations in America are also among the fastest-growing jobs. For example, computer scientists, software developers, physician assistants and healthcare managers all report six-figure median salaries and projected job growth exceeding 20% from 2022–32, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Explore the highest-paying jobs based on BLS salary data in the table below.¹,⁸

Qualifications for High-Earning Jobs

Want to know how to get a high-paying job? Earning a degree is a smart first step since high-earning jobs often require a college degree. And for many high-paying medical jobs, you’ll need a doctorate.

Explore the requirements and earning potential for different jobs with high average salaries below.

Physicians and Surgeons⁹

• Physicians and surgeons typically need a bachelor’s degree and a medical degree.
• Depending on their specialty, physicians and surgeons need extensive training, often including:
  • Three to nine years of an internship, a residency or a subspecialization
  • One to three years of a fellowship
• In 2022, the median annual pay for physicians and surgeons was $229,300.
• Employment for physicians and surgeons is projected to grow by 3% from 2022–32.

The highest-paying medical jobs include pediatric surgeons, cardiologists, orthopedic surgeons and radiologists. These specialties report average annual salaries between $350,000 and $450,000.

However, medical doctors and surgeons often spend a decade or even longer on post-baccalaureate training and invest significant funds in their education. Median student debt among med students in the class of 2023 was $200,000, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges.10

Athletes and Sports Competitors¹¹

• Athletes and sports competitors do not need formal education credentials, but they should have deep knowledge of their sport and strong athletic skills.
• Athletes usually begin training when they’re young and progress through various levels of competition until they reach the professional level.
• Certain sports and states require licensure or other credentials; for example, racecar drivers should have a valid driver’s license and a credential from an approved automobile racing organization to compete.
• In 2022, the median pay for athletes and sports competitors was $94,270 per year.
• Employment for these professionals is projected to grow by 9% from 2022–32, significantly faster than average.

Breaking into the competitive field of sports is difficult but can pay off. Athletes and sports competitors earn a median pay of over $94,000 per year, making this one of the highest-paying jobs without a college degree requirement.

Athlete salaries vary widely, with the lowest-earning 10% athletes earning less than $28,000 per year, while the highest-paid 10% make more than $239,000. The athlete profession is volatile, and careers tend not to last long, adding to the challenges of working in this field.

Dentists¹²

• Dentists must graduate from an accredited dental program and pass written and clinical exams.
• In 2022, the median pay for dentists was $159,530 per year.
• Employment for dentists is projected to grow by 4% from 2022–32.

Like physicians and surgeons, dentists earn high salaries, but they need a doctorate to practice. The highest-paid dental professionals include oral and maxillofacial surgeons, orthodontists and prosthodontists.

While demand for dentists continues to grow, high educational requirements keep the profession relatively small, with around 155,000 dentists practicing in 2022.

Airline and Commercial Pilots¹³

• Airline pilots may need a bachelor’s degree and prior commercial or military pilot experience.
• For on-the-job training, commercial pilots typically need flight training and to meet FAA requirements.
• In 2022, the median pay for airline and commercial pilots was $148,900 per year.
• Employment for airline and commercial pilots is projected to grow by 4% from 2022–32.

Airline pilots rank among the highest-paying jobs that require only a bachelor’s degree. Prospective pilots must also meet physical health requirements and complete flight training.

Even the lowest-paid pilots report six-figure salaries, with the highest-paid professionals earning a median pay of $239,000. The highest-paying industries include express delivery services and scheduled air transportation.¹³

U.S. Employment Rates and Layoffs

With 2023 layoffs making headlines, it’s worth looking at the U.S. unemployment rate over the past two decades. The country’s current sub-4.0% unemployment rate is historically low.³ Economic events such as the Great Recession and the Covid-19 pandemic have shaped U.S. employment rates and layoffs in the 21st century, putting many people on the hunt for a recession-proof job.

U.S. Employment Grew Steadily From the End of the 2008–09 Great Recession to the Beginning of the Covid-19 Pandemic¹⁴^,¹⁵

• The U.S. unemployment rate in December 2007 rose from 5% to 10%.
• By late 2009, nearly 15 million people were unemployed.
• After the Great Recession led to a national spike in unemployment, the country’s labor force slowly recovered.
• By 2017, total employment numbers grew to 5% higher than in 2007.

0.4%: Average Annual Growth of U.S. Labor Force From 2010–20¹⁴^,¹⁶

• By 2019, 88% of men and 76% of women between the ages of 25 and 54 were working or seeking work.
• The national unemployment rate surged to 13% in the second quarter of 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
• Unemployment lowered to 6.7% by the fourth quarter of 2020.

1.6 Million: Layoffs as of December 2023¹⁷^,¹⁸

• The industries most affected by 2023 layoffs included professional and business services, leisure and hospitality, and construction.
• In April 2020, Covid-19 lockdowns led to the layoffs of 16 million Americans.
• While the pandemic continued to affect the workforce, the number of layoffs dropped to 1.6 million in December 2023.

3.8%: U.S. Unemployment Rate as of March 2024³^,¹⁹

• As of March 2024, the states with the lowest unemployment rates were:
  • North Dakota (2%)
  • South Dakota (2.1%)
  • Vermont (2.2%)
  • Maryland (2.5%)
  • Nebraska (2.5%)
• In contrast with the high unemployment rate in 2020, the U.S. unemployment rate dropped below 4.0% in 2024.
• As of 2024, the groups with the highest unemployment rate include teenagers and those with a high school diploma or less.

6.4 Million: Unemployed People in the U.S. as of March 2024³^,¹⁹

• As of March 2024, the states with the highest unemployment rates were:
  • California (5.3%)
  • The District of Columbia (5.2%)
  • Nevada (5.1%)
  • Washington (4.8%)
  • New Jersey (4.8%)
• Most of America’s unemployed workers had been unemployed for less than five weeks, followed by those unemployed for 5 to 14 weeks.

Average Income by Demographic

In 2021, the average income in the U.S. exceeded $60,000 for the first time, according to data from the Social Security Administration.

That’s a significant increase over the $50,000 average wage in 2017 or the $40,000 average wage in 2007. Since 1985, only one year—2009, the depths of the Great Recession—has seen a drop in average wages.

$48,060: 2023 Median Individual Income in the U.S.20^,7

U.S. Census data reveals that the median household income exceeded $74,000 in 2022. As the number of people in the household increases, so does the median household income.

Earnings by Race and Gender

• In 2023, full-time wage and salary working women earned a median weekly income of $1,005, which was 83.6% of the $1,202 median earned by men.²¹
• In 2022, Black women earned 70% as much as white men, and Hispanic women earned only 65% as much.²²
• On average, white U.S. households have significantly more wealth than all but Asian households.⁶

Race and gender influence income, with white and Asian Americans reporting higher median incomes than Black or Hispanic Americans. Women also reported lower earnings than men, with Black and Hispanic women experiencing the largest gender pay gap.

Women earn less in spite of the fact that they are more likely to hold college degrees than men, with 48% of employed women and 41% of employed men holding a bachelor’s degree or higher in 2022.²²

Income, Employment and Educational Attainment

How does educational attainment––also known your degree level––impact income and employment? The research is clear: Earning a college degree usually equates to a higher household income, lower unemployment rate and higher lifetime earnings. And yet most U.S. workers do not hold a college degree.

While a higher level of education often pays off, the degree type matters. The highest-paying majors include business and STEM, while liberal arts, education and fine arts majors report lower wages.²³

50.3%: Proportion of U.S. Workers Ages 25 and Older Without College Degrees⁵

• More than half of U.S. workers do not hold a college degree, yet several of the highest-paying careers require one.
• College graduates make up 76.5% of chief executives, for example, and 67.5% of athletes and sports competitors.

$118,300: Median Annual Household Income Where Householder Holds a Bachelor’s Degree or Higher⁷

• Some college: $68,690
• High school, no college: $51,470
• No high school diploma: $34,850

Household income and educational attainment share a strong correlation. Compared to households where a high school diploma represents the highest educational attainment, householders with a bachelor’s degree or higher report a median household income nearly twice as high. And only households with bachelor’s degrees report a six-figure median annual income.

$60,000: Median Annual Income for Recent College Graduates With Bachelor’s Degrees, Ages 22 to 27²³

For high school graduates of the same age, median earnings were $36,000 per year. This shows that even for early-career professionals, a bachelor’s degree tends to pay off.

Income and Unemployment Rate by Degree Attainment

Professionals with higher-level degrees tend to report higher median salaries and lower unemployment rates. In fact, a bachelor’s degree means nearly $600 more in weekly pay compared with a high school diploma. And when comparing people with a high school diploma and doctorate, those with a high school diploma report a four-times higher unemployment rate.²⁴

Lifetime Earnings: Workers With Bachelor’s Degrees Earn 75% More Than Those With Only High School Diplomas²⁵

Degree level affects lifetime earnings, with a significant boost for those with a bachelor’s degree or higher. As the lifetime earning figures below demonstrate, college is worth it.

• Professional degree: $4.7 million
• Doctorate: $4 million
• Master’s degree: $3.2 million
• Bachelor’s degree: $2.8 million
• Associate degree: $2 million
• Some college, no degree: $1.9 million
• High school diploma: $1.6 million
• No high school diploma: $1.2 million

College Majors With the Highest Median Midcareer Wages²³

When it comes time to choose a major, you’re also shaping your earning potential. Based on mid-career wages, earning an engineering degree offers the highest income.

• Chemical engineering: $133,000
• Computer engineering: $125,000
• Aerospace engineering: $120,000
• Electrical engineering: $112,000
• Mechanical engineering: $111,000

Sources

1. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
2. U.S. Census Bureau, QuickFacts
3. BLS, April 5, 2024 Employment Situation Summary
4. BLS, Sept. 6, 2023 Employment Projections News Release
5. BLS, Educational Attainment for Workers 25 Years and Older by Detailed Occupation
6. Pew Research Center, “Wealth Surged in the Pandemic, but Debt Endures for Poorer Black and Hispanic Families”
7. U.S. Census Bureau, Income in the United States: 2022
8. BLS, Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH)
9. BLS OOH, Physicians and Surgeons
10. Association of American Medical Colleges, You Can Afford Medical School
11. BLS OOH, Athletes and Sports Competitors
12. BLS OOH, Dentists
13. BLS OOH, Airline and Commercial Pilots
14. BLS Monthly Labor Review (MLR), Projections Overview and Highlights, 2020–30
15. BLS MLR, “Great Recession, Great Recovery? Trends From the Current Population Survey”
16. BLS MLR, “Unemployment Rises in 2020, as the Country Battles the Covid-19 Pandemic”
17. BLS, April 2, 2024 Job Openings and Labor Turnover Summary
18. BLS, The Economics Daily (TED), “Temporary Layoffs Remain High Following Unprecedented Surge in Early 2020”
19. BLS, Local Area Unemployment Statistics
20. Social Security Administration, Average Wage Index
21. BLS TED, “Women’s Earnings Were 83.6% of Men’s in 2023”
22. Pew Research Center, “The Enduring Grip of the Gender Pay Gap”
23. Federal Reserve Bank of New York, The Labor Market for Recent College Graduates
24. BLS Employment Projections, Education Pays
25. Georgetown University, the College Payoff

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About the Highest-Paying Jobs