The Jobs That Pay Over $100K a Year
It’s no surprise that the careers with the highest earning potential require specific expertise and training to carry out specialized tasks that not everyone can perform.
In the modern era, these primarily include roles in medical and healthcare fields, along with engineering, management, and information technology positions.
Top 20 Highest Paying Careers
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) states that the most lucrative careers are predominantly white-collar occupations in medicine, management, information technology, and engineering.
To pursue these professions, one must possess the necessary skills, interest, and readiness to invest time and resources in the required education.
These are the top-paying jobs, all with a median annual salary of at least $208,000:
- Oral and maxillofacial surgeons
- Orthodontists
- Physicians, all other; and ophthalmologists, except pediatric
- Anesthesiologists
- General internal medicine physicians
- Obstetricians and gynecologists
- Surgeons, except ophthalmologists
- Psychiatrists
Other jobs that top $100,000 per year in median pay are:
- Airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers: $202,180
- Nurse anesthetists: $195,610
- Chief executives: $179,520
- Dentists with a specialty: $175,160
- Pediatricians: $170,480
- General dentists: $160,370
- Computer and information systems managers: $159,010
- Physicists: $152,430
- Architectural and engineering managers: $152,350
- Judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates: $148,030
- Podiatrists: $145,840
Blue-Collar Jobs That Pay More Than $100,000
While most high-paying careers require significant education and training, there are some jobs that don’t require spending years in graduate school or working indoors after graduation.
If you’re not interested in wearing a suit or taking on hundreds of thousands of dollars in student loan debt, but still want to earn a high income, there are some blue-collar jobs that might be a good fit.
MarketWatch compiled a roster of manual labor jobs that have the potential to yield six-figure salaries. Job titles ranged from police sergeant to oil rig worker.
Police Officers
While the median wage for a police officer in the United States is $66,020, police departments in large urban areas can offer salaries that go up to the six-figure range, depending on the rank. Sergeants and lieutenants are usually the highest-paid positions, with salaries that can reach as high as $217,000 and $316,000, respectively. Overtime pay can also significantly contribute to a police officer’s total earnings.
Bartender
The annual median salary for bartenders stands at $26,350, although this figure can vary significantly. In major cities, bartenders who work at upscale establishments may earn more than $100,000 a year, taking into account their work hours and tips received.
Construction Manager
As per the BLS, construction managers oversee construction projects and are accountable for organizing, financing, and supervising tasks. On average, they earn $98,890 annually, and there are approximately 38,900 job openings every year. However, some firms may mandate a bachelor’s degree for this position.
Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers
As per the BLS, the top 10% of agricultural managers earned over $126,330 annually. The nature of work for these managers may vary seasonally and may require working over 40 hours a week during the planting and harvesting season, depending on the type of farm or ranch. Additionally, over half of agricultural managers are self-employed.
Oil Rig Workers
Having a bachelor’s degree is not mandatory for the roles of oil rig foremen and superintendents, directional drillers, and oil rig managers, although extensive experience is typically necessary. Working on an oil rig can be physically demanding, solitary, and possibly hazardous, but employees are compensated accordingly. According to Ziprecruiter.com, oil rig workers earn an average salary of $66,483 per year, although salaries can vary from $19,500 to over $261,500 annually.
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