What is the highest paying job on this list?

Physicist has the highest median pay at $142,740 per year, followed by Marketing Manager ($140,660).

How are these salaries calculated?

Figures are based on US Bureau of Labor Statistics occupational wage data plus market sources. Median is the midpoint; entry reflects the lower range and experienced the upper range.

Is the median salary the same as average?

No. Median is the middle value (half earn more, half earn less) and is usually more representative than the average, which a few very high earners can skew upward.

Careers · US Wage Data

Average US Salary by Job

Median, entry-level, and experienced pay for 50+ careers — with hourly equivalents, job growth outlook, and the education typically required. Click any job for the full breakdown.

Highest-paying jobs

#	Job	Median pay	Growth
1	Physicist	$142,740	+5%
2	Marketing Manager	$140,660	+10%
3	AI/ML Engineer	$136,620	+40%
4	Lawyer	$135,740	+8%
5	Software Developer	$132,930	+25%
6	Pharmacist	$132,750	+3%
7	Petroleum Engineer	$131,800	+2%
8	Aerospace Engineer	$130,720	+6%
9	Physician Assistant	$130,020	+27%
10	Judge	$128,610	+3%

Technology jobs

AI/ML Engineer$136,620 Software Developer$132,930 DevOps Engineer$125,000 Information Security Analyst$120,360 Data Scientist$115,240 Database Administrator$101,510 UX Designer$95,000 Web Developer$84,960

Healthcare jobs

Pharmacist$132,750 Physician Assistant$130,020 Health Services Manager$110,680 Physical Therapist$97,720 Dental Hygienist$81,400 Registered Nurse$81,220

Finance jobs

Actuary$120,800 Personal Financial Advisor$99,580 Management Analyst$99,410 Financial Analyst$99,010 Accountant$78,820

Engineering jobs

Petroleum Engineer$131,800 Aerospace Engineer$130,720 Electrical Engineer$107,890 Mechanical Engineer$96,310 Civil Engineer$92,070

Education jobs

Postsecondary Instructor$82,300 High School Teacher$65,220 Special Education Teacher$64,500 Elementary School Teacher$63,680

Marketing jobs

Marketing Manager$140,660 Market Research Analyst$74,680 Public Relations Specialist$67,440 Content Writer$55,470

Design jobs

Industrial Designer$76,250 Multimedia Artist/Animator$72,520 Interior Designer$62,510 Graphic Designer$58,910

Legal jobs

Lawyer$135,740 Judge$128,610 Compliance Officer$75,810 Paralegal$60,800

Trades jobs

Electrician$61,590 Plumber$61,550 HVAC Technician$55,590 Carpenter$52,720 Welder$48,940

Science jobs

Physicist$142,740 Chemist$82,860 Environmental Scientist$78,980 Epidemiologist$78,520 Biologist$78,340

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the highest paying job on this list?: Physicist has the highest median pay at $142,740 per year, followed by Marketing Manager ($140,660).
How are these salaries calculated?: Figures are based on US Bureau of Labor Statistics occupational wage data plus market sources. Median is the midpoint; entry reflects the lower range and experienced the upper range.
Is the median salary the same as average?: No. Median is the middle value (half earn more, half earn less) and is usually more representative than the average, which a few very high earners can skew upward.

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