Special Report

The Highest Paying Jobs You Can Have in America

didesign021 / Getty Images

With job openings surging and unemployment at 3.6%, the U.S. labor market, by some estimates, is the tightest it has ever been. In this environment, Americans are quitting their jobs at a historic pace – many in search of higher pay – as employers are raising salaries to attract new talent and keep their workforce.

While average hourly wages are climbing steadily across many jobs, there are a handful of occupations that stand out as having exceptionally high pay. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are 20 occupations with a median annual salary of over $145,800 – more than triple the median annual wage across all occupations of $45,760

Using data from the BLS, 24/7 Wall St. identified the 20 highest paying jobs in America. It is important to note that the BLS does not provide detailed salary information beyond the threshold of $208,000. As a result, the nine occupations on this list with a median salary of $208,000 or more are ranked by employment, from lowest to highest.

While millions of Americans are quitting their job each month in search of higher-paying employment opportunities, the jobs on this list are not attainable for the vast majority of workers. These high-paying jobs are highly concentrated in medicine and typically require years of education and training beyond college. Even the occupations on this list that are not in the medical field are highly specialized and unattainable for most workers transitioning mid-career.  Here is a look at the states where the most people are quitting their jobs.  

The high pay in these occupations is attributable in part to their level of specialization, as greater specialization tends to require more years of schooling – which can result in higher student loan debt and shorter careers. Here is a look at the highest and lowest paying college majors in America.

Click here to see the highest paying jobs you can have in America 
Click here to read our detailed methodology

Lyashik / iStock via Getty Images

20. Podiatrists
>2021 median pay: $145,840 per year
>Employment: 8,840

[in-text-ad]

Chris Ryan / OJO Images via Getty Images

19. Judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates
>2021 median pay: $148,030 per year
>Employment: 27,790

vm / E+ via Getty Images

18. Architectural and engineering managers
>2021 median pay: $152,350 per year
>Employment: 187,100

domin_domin / E+ via Getty Images

17. Physicists
>2021 median pay: $152,430 per year
>Employment: 20,020

[in-text-ad-2]

nd3000 / iStock via Getty Images

16. Computer and information systems managers
>2021 median pay: $159,010 per year
>Employment: 485,190

grki / iStock via Getty Images

15. Dentists, general
>2021 median pay: $160,370 per year
>Employment: 108,680

[in-text-ad]

didesign021 / iStock via Getty Images

14. Pediatricians, general
>2021 median pay: $170,480 per year
>Employment: 33,620

Tempura / iStock via Getty Images

13. Dentists, all other specialists
>2021 median pay: $175,160 per year
>Employment: 4,750

mediaphotos / E+ via Getty Images

12. Chief executives
>2021 median pay: $179,520 per year
>Employment: 200,480

[in-text-ad-2]

FangXiaNuo / E+ via Getty Images

11. Nurse anesthetists
>2021 median pay: $195,610 per year
>Employment: 43,950

Rathke / Getty Images

10. Airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers
>2021 median pay: $202,180 per year
>Employment: 81,310

[in-text-ad]

Harbucks / iStock via Getty Images

9. Orthodontists
>2021 median pay: $208,000 per year or more
>Employment: 5,140

sturti / Getty Images

8. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons
>2021 median pay: $208,000 per year or more
>Employment: 5,330

SeventyFour / iStock via Getty Images

7. Obstetricians and gynecologists
>2021 median pay: $208,000 per year or more
>Employment: 21,570

[in-text-ad-2]

laflor / Getty Images

6. Psychiatrists
>2021 median pay: $208,000 per year or more
>Employment: 25,520

santypan / Getty Images

5. Anesthesiologists
>2021 median pay: $208,000 per year or more
>Employment: 31,130

[in-text-ad]

gorodenkoff / iStock via Getty Images

4. Surgeons, except ophthalmologists
>2021 median pay: $208,000 per year or more
>Employment: 36,270

Halfpoint / iStock via Getty Images

3. General internal medicine physicians
>2021 median pay: $208,000 per year or more
>Employment: 58,260

Geber86 / E+ via Getty Images

2. Family medicine physicians
>2021 median pay: $208,000 per year or more
>Employment: 102,930

[in-text-ad-2]

monkeybusinessimages / iStock via Getty Images

1. Physicians, all other; and ophthalmologists, except pediatric
>2021 median pay: $208,000 per year or more
>Employment: 390,680

Methodology 

To identify the 20 highest paying jobs in America, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupations are ranked on the median annual pay for the occupation in 2021. 

For the nine highest paying occupations on this list, the median annual pay is greater than or equal to $208,000, the upper threshold of BLS pay reporting. Since the precise annual compensation for those occupations is not reported, they are ranked on the number of people who hold those jobs, from lowest to highest. 

Employment by occupation also came from the BLS and figures are for May 2021, with the exception of two occupational categories: surgeons, except ophthalmologists and physicians, all other; and ophthalmologists, except pediatric. For these two categories pay is as of May 2019.

Get Ready To Retire (Sponsored)

Start by taking a quick retirement quiz from SmartAsset that will match you with up to 3 financial advisors that serve your area and beyond in 5 minutes, or less.

Each advisor has been vetted by SmartAsset and is held to a fiduciary standard to act in your best interests.

Here’s how it works:
1. Answer SmartAsset advisor match quiz
2. Review your pre-screened matches at your leisure. Check out the advisors’ profiles.
3. Speak with advisors at no cost to you. Have an introductory call on the phone or introduction in person and choose whom to work with in the future

Get started right here.

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.