A six-figure job might seem out of reach for many of us. After all, the Bureau of Labor Statistics has estimated the average annual salary across all occupations to be $47,200.
However, that doesn’t mean you have to settle for less. If you want that six-figure salary, get it! Ensure you do proper findings first to determine which jobs come with the best wages and what path people at the top of their fields took to get there.
With the cost of living and purchasing necessities increasing, many people are looking for ways to bring in more cash. Asking for a pay raise sometimes is not just enough.
If you’re looking for a career change or just curious about the highest-paying gigs in the U.S., we have compiled 15 hot jobs in the U.S. that can pay you over $150k per year!
1. Anesthesiologist
On average, Doctors who administer anesthesia earn a whopping $246,320. However, according to a Medical Group Management Association compensation survey, anesthesiologists’ salaries can increase to $400,000.
To become an anesthesiologist, you must spend several years studying: four years at the undergraduate level and four more years of medical school. After years of learning, you must complete four years of residency and a fellowship for another year.
2. Nurse Anesthetist
Become a nurse anesthetist if you want to spend fewer years in medical school and still pull in the big bucks. They assist anesthesiologists and monitor patient recovery from anesthesia.
The average annual salary is $158,900, but the highest earners can bring in over $187,000 annually! For this job, you must have a bachelor’s degree in nursing, registered nurse licensure, and at least one year of acute-care experience in an emergency room or intensive care unit.
According to the American Association of Nurse Anaesthetists, you must complete an accredited nurse anesthesia program and pass the national certification exam.
3. Marketing Manager
On average, marketing managers make $137,400, but the top 25 percent earn more than $171,000 annually. The job involves planning and coordinating marketing programs for organizations, identifying customers, and managing product development. To become a marketing manager, you must have a bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, business, or a similar field.
4. Computer and Information Systems Manager
There’s a growing demand for computer and information systems managers in the U.S. They earn an average salary of $136,280 but can make more than $187,000 annually.
The employment of these managers, who coordinate computer-related activities for organizations, is expected to grow by 15 percent from 2014 to 2024. Generally, this high-paying job doesn’t require an advanced degree, just a bachelor’s degree in computer or information science and related work experience.
5. Optometrist
Optometrist is one of the top 15 hot jobs in the U.S. that can pay you over $150k. It is fast growing because eye problems are common among older adults, a growing percentage of the nation’s population.
The average annual salary for optometrists is $113,010. However, the top 10 percent of earners make over $187,000 annually. To become an optometrist, you must complete a bachelor’s degree and a four-year doctor of optometry program.
6. Financial Manager
Financial managers plan and direct accounting, investing, and other economic activities for companies and organizations, and they can make good money while doing it! On average, their annual pay is $130,230, but the top 25 percent of earners make over $159,000.
It’s also a reasonably fast-growing job, with the job prospects of financial managers expected to increase by 7 percent from 2014 to 2024, according to the B.L.S. Generally, all you need for this job is a bachelor’s degree and several years of related experience.
7. Architectural and Engineering Manager
As an architectural and engineering manager, you’ll plan and coordinate activities or research and development in architectural or engineering fields. You may earn an average salary of $138,720, while the top 25 percent of earners make over $162,000.
Meanwhile, competition for these jobs is intense, and the job prospects are expected to grow slightly over the next several years. Having at least a bachelor’s degree and five years of experience would be best for this job.
8. Orthodontist
Do you know you can earn good money fixing uneven teeth? Yes, that’s right! Making more than $200,000 annually on average is possible. Plus, it’s a fast-growing career.
You’ll have to spend years in school to become an orthodontist. In addition to an undergraduate degree, you must attend dental school and get two to three years of additional education in an orthodontic residency program.
9. Surgeon
According to the B.L.S., the job prospects for surgeons are expected to grow 14 percent from 2014 to 2024, much faster than the average for all jobs. It’s also one of the hot jobs in the U.S. that can pay you over $150k.
With an average annual salary of $240,440, surgeons in the U.S. can live very comfortably! However, you’ll have to spend years in school and training before pulling in the big bucks.
They must complete four years of college, four years of medical school, and three to seven years in internship and residency programs.
10. Obstetrician and Gynecologist
You can enjoy your job and still earn so much while at it! Making as high as an average of $214,750, delivering babies, and treating diseases affecting the reproductive system of women! Isn’t that catchy? It sure is.
Like other medical careers, becoming an OB-GYN takes four years in college, four in medical school, and an additional four years of residency training.
11. Air Traffic Controller
Can you handle the stress of directing airline flights and traffic at airports? If so, you can earn big as an air traffic controller. According to the B.L.S., the average annual salary is $118,870, but the top 25 percent of earners make over $150,000.
To become an air traffic controller, you must have a bachelor’s degree or work experience and be a U.S. citizen. You must also pass your background and medical checks and take a Federal Aviation Administration academy course.
12. Airline Pilot
The average salary for airline pilots is $131,750; however, the top 25 percent of earners make over $160,000. Airline pilot jobs are expected to grow 5 percent by 2025.
To become an airline pilot, you must possess a bachelor’s degree and coursework in physics, aeronautical engineering, mathematics, and English. Additionally, you must complete the requisite flight experience and get a license from the Federal Aviation Administration.
13. Pediatrician
A pediatrician is one of the top 15 hot jobs in the U.S., and it can pay over $150k. High compensation, low unemployment, and employment growth make it a high-ranking job!
Pediatricians earn an average of $175,400 per year. They earn less than surgeons and other doctors but must undergo much of the same training.
They spend four years in medical school and three years in a residency program. Becoming a specialist in this career requires two to six years in a fellowship.
14. Lawyer
A lawyer can earn an average of $133,470, but the top 25 percent of earners bring home more than $172,000 annually. The job outlook is also good, with employment expected to grow 6 percent in the next decade.
Although the stress level among lawyers is high, you don’t have to spend as many years in school as doctors do. After college, you’ll complete three years of law school, pass a state’s bar exam, and pass an ethics exam in most states.
15. Pharmacist
The average annual pay for pharmacists is $118,400, but the top 10 percent of earners make over $150,000. Job prospects in this field are expected to grow slightly over the next several years.
Pharmacists are responsible for dispensing prescription medication to patients, and to become one, you must complete college and a four-year doctor of pharmacy degree. You must also pass two licensing exams.
Bottom line
While it might seem like you have to be a doctor or a C.E.O. to earn over $150,000 a year, plenty of positions in other industries also pay well. So, if you want to stop living paycheck to paycheck, consider seeking one of the high-paying careers on this list.
NOTE: All average salaries in this article were derived from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Frequently Asked Questions
What high-paying jobs are in demand?
Many high-paying jobs are in demand across the United States. For instance, software developers, dentists, web developers, UX designers, database administrators, pharmacists, and cyber security specialists are all high-paying jobs in demand. Additionally, you can get some of these 6-figure tech jobs without a college degree by enrolling in a coding boot camp.
Where can I find high-paying jobs?
You can find high-paying jobs at a wide range of tech companies. You can look for jobs that pay $150k a year on individual company websites or by checking job sites online. Relying on your network is a great way to get a high-paying job, especially if you still need a college degree.