Highest paying jobs in America
Every occupation below is ranked by its median annual wage in America. The percentile range matters more than the median on its own: it shows what the bottom and top of each field actually earn, which a single average hides.
Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025
| # | Occupation | MedianUnited States | 10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pediatric SurgeonsDoctoral or professional degree | $559,030 | $215,410 – $726,660 | 1,190 |
| 2 | CardiologistsDoctoral or professional degree | $496,010 | $107,190 – $712,130 | 17,290 |
| 3 | RadiologistsDoctoral or professional degree | $420,860 | $89,010 – $594,410 | 26,770 |
| 4 | Surgeons, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree | $414,010 | $80,320 – $655,320 | 25,140 |
| 5 | AnesthesiologistsDoctoral or professional degree | $391,490 | $101,460 – $557,130 | 38,760 |
| 6 | Orthopedic Surgeons, Except PediatricDoctoral or professional degree | $358,550 | $84,170 – $659,290 | 14,100 |
| 7 | Oral and Maxillofacial SurgeonsDoctoral or professional degree | $352,220 | $86,250 – $622,640 | 4,910 |
| 8 | Emergency Medicine PhysiciansDoctoral or professional degree | $335,550 | $103,610 – $495,910 | 32,880 |
| 9 | DermatologistsDoctoral or professional degree | $328,730 | $102,810 – $578,560 | 11,370 |
| 10 | Physicians, PathologistsDoctoral or professional degree | $312,400 | $92,540 – $449,970 | 11,110 |
| 11 | ProsthodontistsDoctoral or professional degree | $311,180 | $103,510 – $344,750 | 870 |
| 12 | Ophthalmologists, Except PediatricDoctoral or professional degree | $300,080 | $100,180 – $489,710 | 8,950 |
| 13 | Obstetricians and GynecologistsDoctoral or professional degree | $292,910 | $94,680 – $437,300 | 21,260 |
| 14 | OrthodontistsDoctoral or professional degree | $289,140 | $99,850 – $416,000 | 6,210 |
| 15 | PsychiatristsDoctoral or professional degree | $281,870 | $84,060 – $446,520 | 27,980 |
| 16 | Physicians, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree | $265,930 | $69,170 – $452,360 | 342,720 |
| 17 | General Internal Medicine PhysiciansDoctoral or professional degree | $256,560 | $73,570 – $475,430 | 67,150 |
| 18 | NeurologistsDoctoral or professional degree | $248,560 | $83,370 – $450,780 | 10,590 |
| 19 | Family Medicine PhysiciansDoctoral or professional degree | $244,180 | $76,830 – $428,550 | 107,510 |
| 20 | Nurse AnesthetistsMaster's degree | $236,590 | $155,250 – $339,500 | 51,840 |
| 21 | Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight EngineersBachelor's degree | $232,140 | $106,710 – $463,830 | 103,560 |
| 22 | Dentists, All Other SpecialistsDoctoral or professional degree | $224,990 | $104,120 – $402,700 | 5,230 |
| 23 | Chief ExecutivesBachelor's degree | $213,990 | $75,700 – $507,730 | 204,350 |
| 24 | Pediatricians, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree | $210,040 | $91,470 – $338,500 | 39,390 |
| 25 | Industrial-Organizational PsychologistsMaster's degree | $193,950 | $79,010 – $247,220 | 790 |
| 26 | Computer and Information Systems ManagersBachelor's degree | $175,140 | $107,550 – $297,510 | 670,570 |
| 27 | PhysicistsDoctoral or professional degree | $172,250 | $82,110 – $274,110 | 20,430 |
| 28 | Architectural and Engineering ManagersBachelor's degree | $171,270 | $120,810 – $262,760 | 220,260 |
| 29 | Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree | $170,950 | $86,250 – $319,630 | 124,390 |
| 30 | Natural Sciences ManagersBachelor's degree | $167,220 | $79,710 – $316,850 | 108,690 |
| 31 | Marketing ManagersBachelor's degree | $166,790 | $90,260 – $293,610 | 395,240 |
| 32 | Financial ManagersBachelor's degree | $166,570 | $94,310 – $323,270 | 841,710 |
| 33 | Computer Hardware EngineersBachelor's degree | $161,740 | $92,940 – $225,330 | 76,660 |
| 34 | PodiatristsDoctoral or professional degree | $160,300 | $66,010 – $309,670 | 9,680 |
| 35 | LawyersDoctoral or professional degree | $159,670 | $78,360 – $351,600 | 754,500 |
| 36 | Judges, Magistrate Judges, and MagistratesDoctoral or professional degree | $153,990 | $46,950 – $221,710 | 24,030 |
| 37 | Human Resources ManagersBachelor's degree | $149,280 | $88,200 – $267,810 | 220,660 |
| 38 | Compensation and Benefits ManagersBachelor's degree | $149,230 | $89,160 – $256,570 | 22,940 |
| 39 | Sales ManagersBachelor's degree | $148,270 | $73,170 – $290,540 | 637,080 |
| 40 | Purchasing ManagersBachelor's degree | $148,080 | $92,490 – $223,280 | 84,320 |
| 41 | Air Traffic ControllersAssociate's degree | $148,080 | $78,420 – $215,610 | 22,510 |
| 42 | Medical DosimetristsBachelor's degree | $147,470 | $111,670 – $185,450 | 3,410 |
| 43 | Public Relations ManagersBachelor's degree | $146,910 | $82,410 – $284,990 | 74,850 |
| 44 | Petroleum EngineersBachelor's degree | $144,910 | $81,440 – $253,200 | 18,060 |
| 45 | Political ScientistsMaster's degree | $142,080 | $83,350 – $195,190 | 5,540 |
| 46 | Managers, All OtherBachelor's degree | $141,900 | $74,300 – $238,270 | 622,190 |
| 47 | PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree | $140,910 | $99,290 – $174,230 | 321,970 |
| 48 | Computer and Information Research ScientistsMaster's degree | $140,300 | $82,200 – $230,630 | 37,200 |
| 49 | Database ArchitectsBachelor's degree | $139,500 | $86,240 – $204,000 | 67,140 |
| 50 | OptometristsDoctoral or professional degree | $136,570 | $74,870 – $202,180 | 42,790 |