Whether you want to make a quick entry to the workforce after high school or make a career in a specific occupation, the earning potential for today's employees hovers around $64,000 per year ($1,235 a week), the median weekly wage for full-time American workers, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).2 Jobs in the occupations listed below, however, could help you surpass that figure, and they're in fields that are growing faster than average and, importantly, considered to be less at risk of being replaced by AI.
10 high-paying jobs with median annual wages over $75,000
1. Respiratory therapist
Median annual wage: $80,450 per year3
Annual wage range: $61,900 to $108,820 per year4
Respiratory therapy is an in-demand specialty with a projected 12% growth between 2024 and 2034, according to BLS.5 These pros work in shifts and care for patients who have difficulty breathing due to various conditions that affect the lungs, including underdeveloped lungs from premature birth, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). They conduct pulmonary function and blood tests and perform treatments like physiotherapy to help improve patients' breathing. A license is required in most states before you work with patients.
2. Epidemiologist
Median annual wage: $83,9806
Annual wage range: $56,950 to $134,8607
Education required: Master's degree
If you're curious about the inner workings of pandemics like COVID, you could pursue a job as an epidemiologist. These scientific pros often work for state or federal governments and are in a field with a projected 18%-19% growth.8 Epidemiologists research injury and disease patterns and use the results to help improve community health outcomes. To become one, you typically need a master's degree in public health with an emphasis in epidemiology. Many epidemiologists go on to earn doctoral degrees so they can direct research and teach at universities.
3. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technologists
Median annual wage: $88,1809
Annual wage range: $64,910 to $121,42010
Education required: Associate's degree
Someone needs to run the MRI scanner when a patient needs diagnostic images. That could be you if you're up for getting a 2-year degree and having a high-paying job in a health care facility or hospital. Though most states don't require MRI technologists to be licensed, you're more likely to get a job in this field if you're certified. That certification comes from the American Registry of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists (ARMRIT). MRI technologists tend to start out as radiologic technologists, which is also relatively well-paying. Both those careers are expected to experience faster-than-average growth.
4. Diagnostic medical sonographer
Annual median wage: $89,34011
Annual wage range: $64,760 to $123,17012
Education required: Associate's degree or postsecondary certificate
You may have come across diagnostic medical sonographers referred to by another commonly used name: ultrasound techs. These pros are trained to operate diagnostic medical imaging and testing equipment that look inside the human body. It's a career projected to grow 14%-15% through 2034 and requires an associate's degree from a community college or specialty certification training.13 Once you've completed training, you can earn certification by taking an exam from a number of nationally recognized organizations. You could even get certified in different specialties, like breast or abdominal sonography.
5. Electrical power-line installer and repairer
Median annual wage: $92,56014
Annual wage range: $50,000 to $125,00015
Education required: High school diploma or equivalent plus apprenticeship/training
If working outdoors, often at heights and in challenging weather conditions, appeals to you, you might consider a job as an electrical power-line installer and repairer. These are the workers who build, maintain, and fix the systems that deliver electricity from power plants to the homes and businesses that rely on it. Driven by the need to maintain aging infrastructure, expand power grids, and support energy transitions like renewable power systems, this occupation is projected to grow about 7% through 2034.16
6. Data scientist
Median annual wage: $112,59017
Annual wage range: $70,000 to $180,00018
Education required: Bachelor's degree (often master's preferred)
Do you like to uncover patterns and generate insights from large datasets? Data scientists work across many industries to build predictive models, visualize trends, and support business strategy. They often use programming, statistics, and machine learning tools to solve complex, real-world problems. While AI plays a big role in this field, data scientists are the ones who design models, interpret outputs, and ensure results are meaningful and ethical. This career is projected to grow about 34% through 2034, making it one of the fastest-growing occupations in the US.19
7. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers
Median annual wage: $106,58020
Annual wage range: $54,720 to $149,25021
Education required: High school diploma (or equivalent) plus apprenticeship
Ready for an uplifting career? Becoming an elevator and escalator installer and repairer could help take you higher, potentially without a college degree. With a median salary above the $100,000 mark, these pros complete a 4-year apprenticeship through a union, employer, or industry association, which provides training on how to install and maintain a range of people-moving equipment. Most states require licenses too.
8. Information security analyst
Annual median wage: $124,91022
Annual wage range: $75,000 to $180,00023
Education required: Bachelor's degree
As cyberattacks become more frequent and sophisticated, organizations are more reliant than ever on information security analysts to protect computer systems, networks, and sensitive data from the threats. These pros work in industries in which data protection is critical, including finance, healthcare, and government, monitoring systems for security breaches, investigating incidents, and developing strategies to safeguard information. Demand for skilled analysts is projected to grow about 29% through 2034, far faster than average.24
9. Physician assistant
Median annual wage: $133,26025
Annual wage range: $95,240 to $182,20026
Education required: Master's degree
If the high cost of medical school turned you off from becoming a doctor, becoming a physician assistant could feed your passion for wellness, requiring fewer years in school and a lower average cost of education. There's a national physician shortage, and physician assistants can help fill that gap. You'll need to earn a master's degree from an accredited physician assistant program, typically 3 years long, though admission is highly competitive. Once you're in, you must serve over 2,000 clinical hours and pass the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE) to earn your PA credentials. You can then apply for your state license and work under a physician's supervision in various specialties like primary care, cardiology, neurology, and more.
10. Speech-language pathologist
Median annual wage: $95,41027
Annual wage range: $60,000 to $130,00028
Education required: Master's degree
Speech-language pathologists, aka speech therapists, diagnose and treat communication disorders in children and adults. You can find them in schools, hospitals, and private practices, helping patients improve speech, language comprehension, and cognitive-communication skills after injuries or due to developmental conditions. A licensed pro performs hands-on evaluation and testing, and develops personalized treatment plans based on their findings. This career is projected to grow about 15% through 2034.29
You've found a high-paying job. Now what?
Landing the high-paying job of your dreams could be the first step toward a more financially secure future. Step 2: Having a plan to ensure that your hard-earned wages work hard for you. Here are some tips to help you get the most out of your paycheck—from day 1 on the job and beyond.
Secure your emergency savings
Jobs come and go, which is why it's a good idea to make building up your emergency savings one of your top priorities. Consider setting up an automatic transfer from checking to savings each payday to save up $1,000. Keep going until you have roughly 3 to 6 months' worth of essential expenses stashed away. As you approach milestones like starting a family or buying a house, add a little more to your savings to cover all of the financial speedbumps you could hit.
Make the most of your employer's retirement plan
If your employer offers a match through a 403(b) or 401(k), make sure you're contributing enough to get the entire match. For instance, if your employer matches 100% of your contributions up to 3% of your annual salary, it's a smart money move to contribute at least 3% to the plan each year to get the full match. If you only contribute 1% or 2%, you're leaving free money on the table.
Consider opening an IRA
After getting your employer's match, consider opening an IRA as part of your retirement savings strategy. Don't know whether to open a Roth or traditional IRA? Here's a quick overview: A Roth IRA lets you contribute after-tax money and receive federal tax-free distributions on earnings after age 59½ if withdrawals are made after a 5-year period, beginning with the first taxable year after which a contribution to the Roth IRA occurs.30 But you must earn under the Roth IRA income limit to contribute. A traditional IRA, on the other hand, is funded with after-tax money that may be tax-deductible. Earnings grow tax-deferred and distributions are taxed during retirement.31 If you'd like to be saving for retirement in a Roth account, but you earn too much to contribute directly to a Roth IRA, consider the backdoor Roth IRA strategy. It's a way of moving money into a Roth IRA, by making nondeductible contributions—or contributions on which you do not take a tax deduction—to a traditional IRA and then immediately converting those funds into a Roth IRA.
Which type of IRA is right for you? Our calculator can help you decide.
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