Pediatric surgeons had a median annual wage of $559,030 in May 2025, the highest among the detailed occupations with a published annual median in the dataset. For people comparing the highest paying jobs, salary is only one part of choosing a career. Your education, demand in the job market, and daily working conditions matter too.
highest paying jobs
A high wage does not guarantee that a role fits your skills, schedule, or budget for training. A career that looks appealing on paper may involve years of study, irregular hours, or demanding procedures. Another path may offer a better balance of income and work you enjoy.
This article compares U.S. wages with the training and outlook behind different careers. Use the figures as a starting point, then consider the kind of work you want to do and the requirements you can meet.
A useful shortlist weighs earning potential alongside the training and day-to-day work a person can sustain.
Key Takeaways
- Pediatric surgeons had the highest reported median annual wage in the detailed U.S. occupations listed.
- Median annual wages describe national pay, not a guaranteed salary for one worker.
- Healthcare is not the only route to a well-paid career.
- Training time, cost, job outlook, and work conditions can change a career’s value to you.
- Compare a specific occupation’s wage with its entry requirements before choosing a program.
Highest Paying Jobs by Median Salary
The next five occupations in this comparison also have median annual wages above $350,000. Pediatric surgeons have the highest paid salary in the listed U.S. occupations, and their median exceeds $500,000. Reaching that level is possible for some specialists, but a median is not an individual guarantee.
Surgeons and specialists comparing high-paying jobs and salaries
A median annual wage is the midpoint of reported wages, with half of workers earning more and half earning less. The May 2025 median annual wages below compare five more high-paying jobs across medicine and health.
| Occupation | May 2025 median annual wage | Broad specialty area |
| Cardiologist | $496,010 | Heart medicine |
| Radiologist | $420,860 | Medical imaging |
| Anesthesiologist | $391,490 | Anesthesia and surgery |
| Orthopedic surgeon, except pediatric | $358,550 | Bone and joint surgery |
| Oral and maxillofacial surgeon | $352,220 | Oral and facial surgery |
These salaries place several surgeons and other specialists well above most occupations. They reflect national wage medians, not the pay every doctor or surgeon receives.
Making $500,000 a year usually means entering a highly paid specialty or reaching another exceptional level of earnings. A high salary can depend on specialty, experience, and work setting, so one occupation’s median does not promise that amount to each worker.
People searching for the highest-paying jobs in the world should note that these figures compare U.S. wages; other countries need country-specific comparisons. Compare these figures as national medians, not as a personal salary forecast.
Medical Careers With the Highest Earning Potential
Medical specialties offer some of the highest reported U.S. median wages, but their training paths and hiring outlooks differ. Specialty matters: emergency medicine physicians had a median annual wage of $335,550 in May 2025, while healthcare practitioners and technical occupations overall had a median of $86,530.
Doctor discussing patient care and medical career options
Physicians diagnose and treat illnesses and injuries, while psychiatrists focus on mental health. Dentists and orthodontists provide other forms of specialized care. These careers involve different patients, procedures, and areas of medicine.
Physicians and Surgical Specialists
Physicians and surgeons had a median annual wage of at least $239,200 in 2024. That broad figure does not describe every doctor or specialty. Extensive education and supervised training shape entry into medicine, and the time commitment can be substantial.
Employment projections show different conditions across specialties. From 2025 to 2035, pediatric surgeon employment was projected to grow 2.0%, with 0 annual openings listed per year. Cardiologists were projected to grow 4.8%, with 500 annual openings. Psychiatrists were projected to grow 7.2%, with 900 annual openings.
Dermatologists were projected to grow 6.8%, with 400 annual openings. Anesthesiologists were projected to grow 3.6%, with 1,100 annual openings. The BLS projected 24,300 new physician and surgeon jobs over the decade described in the 2024 outlook, citing an aging population, chronic illness, and growth in mental health services as contributing factors.
Advanced Nursing Careers
Nurse anesthetists provide anesthesia care, while nurse practitioners assess patients, diagnose conditions, and manage treatment within their practice roles. Their advanced clinical responsibilities differ from those of registered nurses.
Employment of nurse anesthetists was projected to grow 9.7% from 2025 to 2035, with 2,400 annual openings. That projected opening count exceeds the listed counts for the specialties above. Compare a specialty’s projected openings as well as its growth rate when judging future opportunities.
High-Paying Careers Outside Healthcare
Management, technology, law, engineering, and finance all offer U.S. occupation groups with median wages above the all-occupation figure. Management occupations had a May 2025 median annual wage of $126,520, compared with $50,980 across all occupations.
These broader groups include many jobs, from technical roles to leadership positions. The table gives a group median and examples of specific careers, which may have different pay.
| Occupation group | May 2025 median annual wage | Example roles |
| Management | $126,520 | CEO or systems manager |
| Computer and mathematical occupations | $109,280 | Software developer |
| Legal occupations | $102,500 | Lawyer |
| Architecture and engineering | $99,520 | Engineer |
| Business and financial operations | $82,660 | Financial analyst |
Software developers had a median annual wage of $135,980 in May 2025, and information security analysts had a median of $129,180. Both are occupation-level figures, not the median for the broader computer and mathematical group.
A lawyer may focus on a specialized area of law, while a business professional may move into leadership. Technical careers can also reward specific expertise. High earnings in these areas can come through specialization or management, not only through a medical degree.
Pay varies among roles within each group, so a broad average can hide important differences. Compare a specific role’s wage with its broader occupation group before using the group figure to set expectations.
Career Paths With a Degree and Without One
A high-paying career can require a bachelor’s degree, an apprenticeship, or a focused credential, and each route has different entry costs and timelines. Gross income of $10,000 a month equals $120,000 a year. Electricians had a median annual wage of $63,190 in May 2025, and plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters had a median of $63,800, both below that target.
Those skilled trades can offer a path without a four-year degree, but their national medians are not typical $10,000-a-month outcomes. Nurse practitioners had a median annual wage of $132,300 in May 2025, though the role requires advanced clinical preparation.
Bachelor’s-Degree Career Routes
Airline pilots, chief executives, and computer and information systems managers list a bachelor’s degree as the typical entry requirement. From 2025 to 2035, airline pilot employment was projected to grow 8.3%, with 11,200 annual openings. Chief executives were projected to grow 3.2%, with 19,100 openings.
Computer and information systems managers were projected to grow 15.8%, with 53,500 annual openings over the same period. A bachelor’s degree is the typical entry requirement listed for this role. These numbers describe projected demand, not a promise of a particular job or starting salary.
Apprenticeships and Shorter Training Programs
Plumbing apprenticeships last four years, and apprentices earn while learning. An air traffic controller pathway requires passing the FAA’s Air Traffic Skills Assessment, completing the FAA Academy in Oklahoma City, and obtaining medical clearance. Applicants must begin training before age 31.
Accredited diagnostic medical sonography certificate or associate programs take 12-24 months. Commercial pilot training costs $60,000-$90,000 and takes 12-24 months; that is distinct from the typical bachelor’s degree entry requirement for airline pilots. You can also investigate elevator installer and transportation manager roles.
- Training cost: include tuition, required equipment, and time away from paid work.
- Time to qualify: compare program length with supervised training or apprenticeship time.
- Age or medical-clearance rules: check whether either could affect your eligibility.
- License or credential requirements: identify what you must earn before working.
Match the path’s time, cost, and entry requirements to the training commitment you can take on.
Jobs With Strong Projected Growth
A fast-growing occupation can offer more openings without necessarily being one of the highest-paid careers. Growth and pay measure different things: home health and personal care aides were projected to add 739,800 jobs by 2034, more than any other occupation in the cited projections.
Renewable energy roles also show strong projected growth. The outlook can help you spot a changing job market, but it does not tell you whether a role’s pay or entry requirements match your goals.
- Home health and personal care aides: 739,800 projected job additions by 2034, the most of any occupation in the cited projections.
- Wind turbine service technicians: employment was projected to increase 50% by 2034, and the 2024 median wage was $62,580. The 50% projected increase by 2034 signals strong growth, not a top salary.
- Solar photovoltaic installers: employment was projected to grow 48% through the decade ending in 2033.
These time periods differ, so read each projection with its stated end date. A large number of added jobs does not mean each worker earns a high wage, and a strong growth rate does not show how easy entry will be.
Compare the role’s pay and entry requirements with its projected hiring outlook. Treat projected growth as one part of a career comparison, alongside pay and the route into the work.
How to Compare Pay With Career Costs
The U.S. all-occupation median provides a useful baseline, while a career’s own median gives a closer comparison. In May 2025, the U.S. median annual wage across all occupations was $50,980. The national 10th-percentile wage was $31,200, and the 90th-percentile wage was $128,560.
Those figures show a wide national span, but they do not predict what a particular worker will earn. Once you choose a career, compare its occupation-level median with the costs and conditions of entering that field.
- Occupation median: use the figure for the specific job, not just its broad career group.
- Training tuition and time: estimate the full cost and how long you may train before qualifying.
- Likely work setting and schedule: consider the workplace, hours, and demands of the role.
- Projected openings or growth: weigh the outlook alongside pay and entry requirements.
Local cost of living affects how far wages go, so compare pay with the area where you expect to work. A path to a specialized or leadership role may also take time, which changes how soon you could reach its higher earning potential.
Use a target occupation’s median as a planning reference rather than treating a top-end wage as the expected starting salary.
Choose a Career That Fits Your Work Style
A strong salary is a better fit when the daily work and schedule also suit you. Introverts may prefer focused work such as software development or information security, while lower-stress work depends on the employer and setting. Both fields still involve communication and collaboration.
Software developers create and maintain software. Information security analysts work to protect computer systems and networks. Both roles can include team discussions, planning, and explaining technical issues to others.
No profession is stress-free for every worker. Workload, deadlines, staffing, and the work environment shape day-to-day pressure, so compare a typical week rather than relying on a label.
Physicians and surgeons may face long shifts and irregular hours, along with responsibility for patients, medication, procedures, and serious illnesses or injuries. Ask someone in the role to describe a typical week before committing to its training route.
Conclusion
The strongest career choice is one whose pay potential, entry path, and working conditions align with your priorities. A high median wage can be appealing, but the route to qualify and the work itself need to fit your life.
Use occupation-level wages as planning references, then weigh training demands against the kind of day you want. A role with fewer barriers may suit you better than one with a higher earning ceiling and a much longer path.
Choose two roles that fit your work style, then compare their local openings and accredited training routes before paying for a program.