Pay · Updated with each release · Figures for 2024

What Jobs pay the most?

Medicine, then everyone else: the top 4 of 565 occupations all hit the pay survey's $250,000-plus ceiling, while the median American full-time job pays $61,702. Every occupation is ranked below, with the national median marked so you can find your own.

By Richard Baxter Further reading Updated 1 Sept 2025

Photo: Dr.jayesh amin · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons

Top of the table $250k+ 4 occupations at the survey ceiling · all medicine

The median job $62k all occupations, full-time year-round · 2024

Top to bottom 10× emergency medicine physicians vs school bus monitors

Whether you're choosing a career, changing one, or checking how your own pay sits against the field, the fairest answer comes from asking everyone - which is what the Census Bureau does. Its big annual survey asks millions of Americans what they earned, and the table below ranks the median answer for every occupation it can measure: 565 jobs, best-paid first, with the national median marked so you can see which side of it yours falls.

What every occupation earns: median pay, full-time year-round (US dollars per year, median earnings (ACS; $250,001 means $250,000 or more), as of 31 Dec 2024)
Rank	Occupation	$/yr	vs All occupations (median)
1	Emergency medicine physicians	$250,000+	+305%
2	Radiologists	$250,000+	+305%
3	Other physicians	$250,000+	+305%
4	Surgeons	$250,000+	+305%
5	Nurse anesthetists	$228,455	+270%
6	Dentists	$187,375	+204%
7	Chief executives	$177,969	+188%
8	Podiatrists	$175,259	+184%
9	Petroleum engineers	$170,308	+176%
10	Architectural and engineering managers	$169,005	+174%
11	Lawyers	$162,898	+164%
12	Actuaries	$152,045	+146%
13	Aircraft pilots and flight engineers	$150,499	+144%
14	Economists	$150,069	+143%
15	Optometrists	$147,461	+139%
16	Software developers	$138,376	+124%
17	Computer and information systems managers	$136,846	+122%
18	Sales engineers	$134,495	+118%
19	Pharmacists	$134,455	+118%
20	Judges, magistrates, and other judicial workers	$133,397	+116%
21	Astronomers and physicists	$130,503	+112%
22	Physician assistants	$130,426	+111%
23	Veterinarians	$127,432	+107%
24	Mathematicians	$125,514	+103%
25	Aerospace engineers	$125,387	+103%
26	Computer and information research scientists	$124,666	+102%
27	Nurse midwives	$124,367	+102%
28	Computer hardware engineers	$123,869	+101%
29	Securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents	$123,675	+100%
30	Nurse practitioners	$123,268	+100%
31	Personal financial advisors	$122,908	+99%
32	Information security analysts	$120,746	+96%
33	Electrical and electronics engineers	$119,366	+93%
34	Nuclear engineers	$117,753	+91%
35	Chemical engineers	$115,616	+87%
36	Engineers, all other	$114,222	+85%
37	Sales managers	$112,362	+82%
38	Nuclear medicine technologists and medical dosimetrists	$112,196	+82%
39	Mining and geological engineers, including mining safety engineers	$111,435	+81%
40	Database administrators and architects	$111,341	+80%
41	Architects, except landscape and naval	$110,903	+80%
42	Agricultural engineers	$110,460	+79%
43	First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers	$110,316	+79%
44	Computer network architects	$109,903	+78%
45	First-line supervisors of police and detectives	$104,889	+70%
46	Power plant operators, distributors, and dispatchers	$104,624	+70%
47	Management analysts	$104,183	+69%
48	Ship engineers	$103,958	+68%
49	Marine engineers and naval architects	$103,876	+68%
50	Atmospheric and space scientists	$103,536	+68%
51	Mechanical engineers	$103,196	+67%
52	Elevator and escalator installers and repairers	$102,908	+67%
53	Computer programmers	$102,723	+66%
54	Clinical and counseling psychologists	$102,298	+66%
55	Civil engineers	$102,166	+66%
56	Human resources managers	$102,111	+65%
57	Environmental engineers	$102,068	+65%
58	Other mathematical science occupations	$101,984	+65%
59	Geoscientists and hydrologists, except geographers	$101,977	+65%
60	Locomotive engineers and operators	$101,918	+65%
61	Statisticians	$101,729	+65%
62	Bioengineers and biomedical engineers	$101,580	+65%
63	Survey researchers	$101,306	+64%
64	Other psychologists	$101,260	+64%
65	Project management specialists	$101,218	+64%
66	Air traffic controllers and airfield operations specialists	$101,171	+64%
67	Financial managers	$100,759	+63%
68	Managers, all other	$100,421	+63%
69	Media and communication equipment workers, all other	$100,388	+63%
70	Industrial production managers	$100,228	+62%
71	Natural sciences managers	$100,024	+62%
72	Marketing managers	$99,641	+61%
73	Financial and investment analysts	$98,865	+60%
74	Industrial engineers, including health and safety	$98,546	+60%
75	Physical scientists, all other	$98,080	+59%
76	Operations research analysts	$97,938	+59%
77	Detectives and criminal investigators	$97,898	+59%
78	Purchasing managers	$97,313	+58%
79	Audiologists	$97,267	+58%
80	Materials engineers	$97,102	+57%
81	Compensation and benefits managers	$96,505	+56%
82	Financial examiners	$95,148	+54%
83	Public relations and fundraising managers	$94,756	+54%
84	Fundraisers	$94,430	+53%
85	Budget analysts	$93,766	+52%
86	Magnetic resonance imaging technologists	$92,391	+50%
87	Advertising and promotions managers	$92,282	+50%
88	Electrical power-line installers and repairers	$91,979	+49%
89	Software quality assurance analysts and testers	$91,608	+48%
90	Urban and regional planners	$90,450	+47%
91	Construction managers	$90,413	+47%
92	Public relations specialists	$90,303	+46%
93	Physical therapists	$90,196	+46%
94	Computer systems analysts	$90,148	+46%
95	Nuclear technicians	$90,052	+46%
96	Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel	$89,539	+45%
97	Emergency management directors	$89,274	+45%
98	Training and development managers	$89,109	+44%
99	Radiation therapists	$88,724	+44%
100	Medical and health services managers	$88,378	+43%
101	Chiropractors	$88,102	+43%
102	Network and computer systems administrators	$88,037	+43%
103	Web developers	$87,845	+42%
104	Photographic process workers and processing machine operators	$87,502	+42%
105	Market research analysts and marketing specialists	$87,156	+41%
106	Technical writers	$87,149	+41%
107	School psychologists	$87,088	+41%
108	Postsecondary teachers	$86,969	+41%
109	Railroad conductors and yardmasters	$86,472	+40%
110	Education and childcare administrators	$86,441	+40%
111	General and operations managers	$86,403	+40%
112	Postmasters and mail superintendents	$86,236	+40%
113	Legislators	$86,153	+40%
114	Accountants and auditors	$86,079	+40%
115	Computer occupations, all other	$85,589	+39%
116	Agricultural and food scientists	$85,147	+38%
117	Agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athletes	$85,102	+38%
118	Web and digital interface designers	$84,503	+37%
119	Chemists and materials scientists	$84,334	+37%
120	Rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators	$83,959	+36%
121	Registered nurses	$83,659	+36%
122	Producers and directors	$83,323	+35%
123	Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing	$83,209	+35%
124	Medical scientists	$82,452	+34%
125	Miscellaneous social scientists and related workers	$82,392	+34%
126	Landscape architects	$82,154	+33%
127	Miscellaneous plant and system operators	$81,990	+33%
128	Insurance underwriters	$81,961	+33%
129	Other designers	$81,867	+33%
130	Compliance officers	$81,866	+33%
131	Diagnostic medical sonographers	$81,781	+33%
132	Commercial and industrial designers	$81,698	+32%
133	Cost estimators	$81,681	+32%
134	Police officers	$81,631	+32%
135	Underground mining machine operators	$81,594	+32%
136	Occupational therapists	$81,544	+32%
137	Millwrights	$81,280	+32%
138	Life scientists, all other	$81,083	+31%
139	Other financial specialists	$81,039	+31%
140	Biological scientists	$81,008	+31%
141	First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers	$80,859	+31%
142	Facilities managers	$80,634	+31%
143	Surveyors, cartographers, and photogrammetrists	$80,567	+31%
144	Other rail transportation workers	$80,374	+30%
145	Environmental scientists and specialists, including health	$80,230	+30%
146	Firefighters	$80,201	+30%
147	Ship and boat captains and operators	$80,058	+30%
148	Real estate brokers and sales agents	$80,025	+30%
149	Stationary engineers and boiler operators	$79,678	+29%
150	Electrical and electronics repairers, industrial and utility	$79,012	+28%
151	Aircraft mechanics and service technicians	$78,657	+27%
152	Administrative services managers	$78,252	+27%
153	Environmental science and geoscience technicians	$77,607	+26%
154	Financial clerks, all other	$77,097	+25%
155	Advertising sales agents	$76,975	+25%
156	News analysts, reporters, and journalists	$76,394	+24%
157	Transportation inspectors	$76,284	+24%
158	Paramedics	$76,172	+23%
159	Respiratory therapists	$76,127	+23%
160	Crane and tower operators	$76,118	+23%
161	Human resources workers	$76,085	+23%
162	Editors	$75,971	+23%
163	Derrick, rotary drill, and service unit operators, oil and gas	$75,942	+23%
164	First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers	$75,908	+23%
165	Occupational health and safety specialists and technicians	$75,883	+23%
166	Credit counselors and loan officers	$75,804	+23%
167	Media and communication workers, all other	$75,426	+22%
168	Speech-language pathologists	$75,408	+22%
169	Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians	$75,297	+22%
170	Fire inspectors	$74,385	+21%
171	Mental health and substance abuse social workers	$74,123	+20%
172	First-line supervisors of correctional officers	$73,784	+20%
173	Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants	$73,215	+19%
174	Credit analysts	$73,091	+18%
175	Tool and die makers	$72,674	+18%
176	Writers and authors	$72,672	+18%
177	Pumping station operators	$72,460	+17%
178	Dental hygienists	$72,386	+17%
179	Training and development specialists	$72,258	+17%
180	Social and community service managers	$71,786	+16%
181	Radiologic technologists and technicians	$71,675	+16%
182	First-line supervisors of security workers	$71,615	+16%
183	First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers	$71,538	+16%
184	Other educational instruction and library workers	$71,432	+16%
185	Explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters	$71,399	+16%
186	Interior designers	$71,320	+16%
187	Avionics technicians	$71,297	+16%
188	Procurement clerks	$71,101	+15%
189	Computer support specialists	$70,978	+15%
190	Tax preparers	$70,829	+15%
191	Roustabouts, oil and gas	$70,515	+14%
192	Statistical assistants	$70,505	+14%
193	Court reporters and simultaneous captioners	$70,150	+14%
194	Transportation, storage, and distribution managers	$69,353	+12%
195	Purchasing agents, except wholesale, retail, and farm products	$69,352	+12%
196	Business operations specialists, all other	$69,337	+12%
197	Fish and game wardens	$69,012	+12%
198	Property, real estate, and community association managers	$68,908	+12%
199	Buyers and purchasing agents, farm products	$68,764	+11%
200	Dietitians and nutritionists	$68,701	+11%
201	Fashion designers	$68,673	+11%
202	Construction and building inspectors	$68,569	+11%
203	Rehabilitation counselors	$68,458	+11%
204	Wind turbine service technicians	$68,213	+11%
205	Production, planning, and expediting clerks	$68,107	+10%
206	Conservation scientists and foresters	$67,908	+10%
207	Telecommunications line installers and repairers	$67,839	+10%
208	Funeral home managers	$67,817	+10%
209	First-line supervisors of production and operating workers	$67,698	+10%
210	Electric motor, power tool, and related repairers	$67,665	+10%
211	Judicial law clerks	$67,612	+10%
212	Property appraisers and assessors	$67,440	+9%
213	Private detectives and investigators	$67,297	+9%
214	Claims adjusters, appraisers, examiners, and investigators	$67,189	+9%
215	Cardiovascular technologists and technicians	$67,046	+9%
216	Boilermakers	$67,016	+9%
217	Other drafters	$66,936	+8%
218	First-line supervisors of protective service workers, all other	$66,928	+8%
219	Television, video, and film camera operators and editors	$66,926	+8%
220	Heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians and mechanics	$66,890	+8%
221	Communications equipment operators, all other	$66,826	+8%
222	Architectural and civil drafters	$66,664	+8%
223	Broadcast, sound, and lighting technicians	$66,600	+8%
224	Secondary school teachers	$66,584	+8%
225	Athletes and sports competitors	$66,521	+8%
226	Marriage and family therapists	$66,479	+8%
227	Music directors and composers	$66,343	+8%
228	Earth drillers, except oil and gas	$66,128	+7%
229	Precision instrument and equipment repairers	$65,877	+7%
230	Acupuncturists	$65,834	+7%
231	Archivists, curators, and museum technicians	$65,828	+7%
232	Other extraction workers	$65,784	+7%
233	Compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists	$65,672	+6%
234	Tax examiners and collectors, and revenue agents	$65,671	+6%
235	Other engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters	$65,615	+6%
236	Broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys	$65,338	+6%
237	Morticians, undertakers, and funeral arrangers	$65,335	+6%
238	Chemical technicians	$65,221	+6%
239	Radio and telecommunications equipment installers and repairers	$65,141	+6%
240	Chemical processing machine setters, operators, and tenders	$64,746	+5%
241	Meeting, convention, and event planners	$64,614	+5%
242	Legal support workers, all other	$64,387	+4%
243	Excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining	$64,313	+4%
244	Entertainment and recreation managers	$64,085	+4%
245	Human resources assistants, except payroll and timekeeping	$63,749	+3%
246	Postal service mail carriers	$63,718	+3%
247	Insurance sales agents	$63,252	+3%
248	Social science research assistants	$63,127	+2%
249	Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists	$62,993	+2%
250	Therapists, all other	$62,862	+2%
251	Control and valve installers and repairers	$62,487	+1%
252	Logisticians	$62,318	+1%
253	Librarians and media collections specialists	$62,268	+1%
254	Correctional officers and jailers	$62,252	+1%
255	Special education teachers	$62,245	+1%
256	Mental health counselors	$62,240	+1%
257	Electricians	$62,186	+1%
258	Industrial and refractory machinery mechanics	$62,157	+1%
259	Other healthcare practitioners and technical occupations	$62,119	+1%
260	Bailiffs	$62,112	+1%
261	Transportation security screeners	$62,026	+1%
262	Lodging managers	$61,832	+0%
263	Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators	$61,825	+0%
264	Healthcare social workers	$61,815	+0%
265	Structural iron and steel workers	$61,775	+0%
266	Riggers	$61,733	+0%
—	All occupations (median)	$61,702	—
267	Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists	$61,702	+0%
268	Maintenance workers, machinery	$61,691	−0%
269	Educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors	$61,677	−0%
270	Paralegals and legal assistants	$61,619	−0%
271	Elementary and middle school teachers	$61,536	−0%
272	Graphic designers	$61,410	−0%
273	Dancers and choreographers	$61,308	−1%
274	Desktop publishers	$61,150	−1%
275	Social workers, all other	$61,124	−1%
276	Legal secretaries and administrative assistants	$61,010	−1%
277	Artists and related workers	$60,897	−1%
278	Surveying and mapping technicians	$60,877	−1%
279	Brokerage clerks	$60,816	−1%
280	Security and fire alarm systems installers	$60,771	−2%
281	First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers	$60,527	−2%
282	Coaches and scouts	$60,518	−2%
283	Supervisors of transportation and material moving workers	$60,275	−2%
284	Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters	$60,255	−2%
285	Construction equipment operators	$60,193	−2%
286	Recreational therapists	$60,161	−2%
287	Machinists	$60,161	−2%
288	Other transportation workers	$60,089	−3%
289	First-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers	$60,083	−3%
290	Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians	$59,902	−3%
291	Model makers and patternmakers, metal and plastic	$59,451	−4%
292	Sales and related workers, all other	$59,318	−4%
293	Payroll and timekeeping clerks	$59,118	−4%
294	Surgical technologists	$59,079	−4%
295	Postal service clerks	$59,077	−4%
296	Metal furnace operators, tenders, pourers, and casters	$58,399	−5%
297	Maintenance and repair workers, general	$58,165	−6%
298	Other life, physical, and social science technicians	$58,061	−6%
299	Directors, religious activities and education	$57,760	−6%
300	Biological technicians	$57,513	−7%
301	Conveyor, dredge, and hoist and winch operators	$57,416	−7%
302	Other teachers and instructors	$57,292	−7%
303	First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers	$57,233	−7%
304	Healthcare diagnosing or treating practitioners, all other	$57,154	−7%
305	Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers	$57,120	−7%
306	Agricultural inspectors	$56,990	−8%
307	Sailors and marine oilers	$56,961	−8%
308	Engine and other machine assemblers	$56,842	−8%
309	Exercise physiologists	$56,789	−8%
310	Pipelayers	$56,559	−8%
311	Substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors	$56,412	−9%
312	Other community and social service specialists	$56,398	−9%
313	Structural metal fabricators and fitters	$56,318	−9%
314	Occupational therapy assistants and aides	$55,914	−9%
315	Solar photovoltaic installers	$55,791	−10%
316	Supervisors of personal care and service workers	$55,687	−10%
317	Title examiners, abstractors, and searchers	$55,654	−10%
318	Clergy	$55,500	−10%
319	Fishing and hunting workers	$55,400	−10%
320	Sociologists	$55,349	−10%
321	Counselors, all other	$55,302	−10%
322	Driver/sales workers and truck drivers	$55,231	−10%
323	Tire builders	$55,058	−11%
324	Correspondence clerks	$55,040	−11%
325	Loan interviewers and clerks	$54,940	−11%
326	Physical therapist assistants and aides	$54,906	−11%
327	Flight attendants	$54,695	−11%
328	Gambling services workers	$54,662	−11%
329	Sheet metal workers	$54,135	−12%
330	Computer numerically controlled tool operators and programmers	$53,975	−13%
331	Public safety telecommunicators	$53,836	−13%
332	Child, family, and school social workers	$53,766	−13%
333	Interpreters and translators	$53,702	−13%
334	Agricultural and food science technicians	$53,656	−13%
335	Septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners	$53,363	−14%
336	Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses	$53,324	−14%
337	Automotive body and related repairers	$53,304	−14%
338	First-line supervisors of retail sales workers	$53,274	−14%
339	Travel agents	$52,667	−15%
340	Hazardous materials removal workers	$52,608	−15%
341	Eligibility interviewers, government programs	$52,440	−15%
342	Computer, automated teller, and office machine repairers	$52,433	−15%
343	Credit authorizers, checkers, and clerks	$52,418	−15%
344	Postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators	$52,405	−15%
345	Office and administrative support workers, all other	$52,386	−15%
346	Commercial divers	$52,313	−15%
347	Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers	$52,245	−15%
348	Manufactured building and mobile home installers	$52,168	−15%
349	Crushing, grinding, polishing, mixing, and blending workers	$52,163	−15%
350	Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers	$52,074	−16%
351	Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks	$51,868	−16%
352	Glaziers	$51,858	−16%
353	Bus drivers, transit and intercity	$51,824	−16%
354	Locksmiths and safe repairers	$51,767	−16%
355	Brickmasons, blockmasons, and stonemasons	$51,713	−16%
356	Other installation, maintenance, and repair workers	$51,683	−16%
357	Welding, soldering, and brazing workers	$51,683	−16%
358	Meter readers, utilities	$51,600	−16%
359	Automotive glass installers and repairers	$51,576	−16%
360	Personal service managers, all other	$51,566	−16%
361	Miscellaneous health technologists and technicians	$51,562	−16%
362	Insulation workers	$51,507	−17%
363	Highway maintenance workers	$51,460	−17%
364	Forming machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	$51,310	−17%
365	Dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance	$51,033	−17%
366	Photographers	$51,010	−17%
367	Home appliance repairers	$50,995	−17%
368	Food service managers	$50,975	−17%
369	Furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders	$50,865	−18%
370	Plasterers and stucco masons	$50,840	−18%
371	Prepress technicians and workers	$50,816	−18%
372	Reservation and transportation ticket agents and travel clerks	$50,797	−18%
373	Logging workers	$50,774	−18%
374	Automotive service technicians and mechanics	$50,672	−18%
375	First-line supervisors of housekeeping and janitorial workers	$50,648	−18%
376	Cement masons, concrete finishers, and terrazzo workers	$50,559	−18%
377	Musicians and singers	$50,465	−18%
378	Audiovisual equipment installers and repairers	$50,388	−18%
379	Medical records specialists	$50,378	−18%
380	Parts salespersons	$50,354	−18%
381	Paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders	$50,330	−18%
382	Carpenters	$50,329	−18%
383	Electronic equipment installers and repairers, motor vehicles	$50,268	−19%
384	Disc jockeys, except radio	$50,203	−19%
385	Molders and molding machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	$50,193	−19%
386	Door-to-door sales workers, news and street vendors, and related workers	$50,177	−19%
387	Weighers, measurers, checkers, and samplers, recordkeeping	$50,166	−19%
388	Jewelers and precious stone and metal workers	$50,129	−19%
389	Electrical and electronics installers and repairers, transportation equipment	$50,062	−19%
390	New accounts clerks	$49,357	−20%
391	Actors	$49,247	−20%
392	Painting workers	$49,237	−20%
393	Other healthcare support workers	$49,102	−20%
394	Counter and rental clerks	$48,924	−21%
395	Parking enforcement workers	$48,827	−21%
396	Aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers	$48,718	−21%
397	Wholesale and retail buyers, except farm products	$48,559	−21%
398	Social and human service assistants	$48,509	−21%
399	Pest control workers	$48,499	−21%
400	Court, municipal, and license clerks	$47,955	−22%
401	Opticians, dispensing	$47,816	−23%
402	Animal control workers	$47,767	−23%
403	Furniture finishers	$47,581	−23%
404	Dental and ophthalmic laboratory technicians and medical appliance technicians	$47,388	−23%
405	Entertainers and performers, sports and related workers, all other	$47,349	−23%
406	Other metal workers and plastic workers	$47,134	−24%
407	Cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	$46,974	−24%
408	Proofreaders and copy markers	$46,956	−24%
409	Secretaries and administrative assistants, except legal, medical, and executive	$46,635	−24%
410	Information and record clerks, all other	$46,605	−24%
411	Exercise trainers and group fitness instructors	$46,587	−24%
412	Insurance claims and policy processing clerks	$46,526	−25%
413	Food processing workers, all other	$46,411	−25%
414	Tree trimmers and pruners	$46,201	−25%
415	Other material moving workers	$46,181	−25%
416	Carpet, floor, and tile installers and finishers	$46,140	−25%
417	Cargo and freight agents	$46,043	−25%
418	Coin, vending, and amusement machine servicers and repairers	$45,848	−26%
419	Grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	$45,825	−26%
420	Bill and account collectors	$45,789	−26%
421	Other woodworkers	$45,747	−26%
422	Religious workers, all other	$45,727	−26%
423	Billing and posting clerks	$45,700	−26%
424	File clerks	$45,586	−26%
425	Order clerks	$45,573	−26%
426	Printing press operators	$45,480	−26%
427	Models, demonstrators, and product promoters	$45,431	−26%
428	Embalmers, crematory operators and funeral attendants	$45,423	−26%
429	Molders, shapers, and casters, except metal and plastic	$45,408	−26%
430	Retail salespersons	$45,350	−27%
431	Other production workers	$45,266	−27%
432	Construction laborers	$45,223	−27%
433	Telemarketers	$45,067	−27%
434	Extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders	$44,768	−27%
435	Customer service representatives	$44,737	−27%
436	Chefs and head cooks	$44,693	−28%
437	Roofers	$44,688	−28%
438	Other production equipment operators and tenders	$44,674	−28%
439	Pharmacy aides	$44,386	−28%
440	Small engine mechanics	$44,002	−29%
441	Other personal appearance workers	$43,825	−29%
442	Office clerks, general	$43,759	−29%
443	Emergency medical technicians	$43,724	−29%
444	Miscellaneous construction and related workers	$43,291	−30%
445	Other assemblers and fabricators	$43,281	−30%
446	Etchers and engravers	$43,271	−30%
447	Other grounds maintenance workers	$43,243	−30%
448	Industrial truck and tractor operators	$43,187	−30%
449	Upholsterers	$43,087	−30%
450	Data entry keyers	$42,862	−31%
451	Cabinetmakers and bench carpenters	$42,730	−31%
452	Animal breeders	$42,685	−31%
453	Tour and travel guides	$42,547	−31%
454	Woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing	$42,448	−31%
455	Fence erectors	$42,399	−31%
456	Other machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	$42,327	−31%
457	Forest and conservation workers	$42,244	−32%
458	Refuse and recyclable material collectors	$42,234	−32%
459	Baggage porters, bellhops, and concierges	$42,220	−32%
460	Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs	$42,166	−32%
461	Pharmacy technicians	$42,162	−32%
462	Electrical, electronics, and electromechanical assemblers	$42,153	−32%
463	Medical secretaries and administrative assistants	$42,133	−32%
464	Reinforcing iron and rebar workers	$42,120	−32%
465	Library technicians	$42,118	−32%
466	Crossing guards and flaggers	$42,092	−32%
467	Massage therapists	$42,062	−32%
468	Drywall installers, ceiling tile installers, and tapers	$42,027	−32%
469	Adhesive bonding machine operators and tenders	$41,945	−32%
470	Cutting workers	$41,789	−32%
471	Gambling cage workers	$41,764	−32%
472	Merchandise displayers and window trimmers	$41,754	−32%
473	Shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks	$41,668	−32%
474	Switchboard operators, including answering service	$41,659	−32%
475	Security guards and gambling surveillance officers	$41,634	−33%
476	Personal care and service workers, all other	$41,540	−33%
477	Painters and paperhangers	$41,539	−33%
478	Orderlies and psychiatric aides	$41,512	−33%
479	Residential advisors	$41,451	−33%
480	Interviewers, except eligibility and loan	$41,430	−33%
481	Skincare specialists	$41,419	−33%
482	Pressers, textile, garment, and related materials	$41,363	−33%
483	Print binding and finishing workers	$41,339	−33%
484	Helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers	$41,277	−33%
485	Animal trainers	$41,207	−33%
486	Veterinary technologists and technicians	$41,196	−33%
487	Other protective service workers	$41,195	−33%
488	Couriers and messengers	$41,157	−33%
489	Psychiatric technicians	$40,989	−34%
490	Butchers and other meat, poultry, and fish processing workers	$40,916	−34%
491	Bartenders	$40,634	−34%
492	Dental assistants	$40,570	−34%
493	Word processors and typists	$40,541	−34%
494	Medical assistants	$40,500	−34%
495	Bus drivers, school	$40,388	−35%
496	Phlebotomists	$40,309	−35%
497	Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand	$40,280	−35%
498	Miscellaneous vehicle and mobile equipment mechanics, installers, and repairers	$40,212	−35%
499	Food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders	$40,198	−35%
500	Recreation workers	$40,007	−35%
501	Sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, wood	$39,957	−35%
502	Motor vehicle operators, all other	$39,868	−35%
503	Other textile, apparel, and furnishings workers	$39,862	−35%
504	Mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service	$39,548	−36%
505	Nursing assistants	$39,328	−36%
506	First-line supervisors of food preparation and serving workers	$38,830	−37%
507	Passenger attendants	$38,613	−37%
508	Food cooking machine operators and tenders	$38,416	−38%
509	Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists	$38,214	−38%
510	Office machine operators, except computer	$37,901	−39%
511	Taxi drivers	$37,849	−39%
512	Tutors	$37,727	−39%
513	Packaging and filling machine operators and tenders	$37,646	−39%
514	Machine feeders and offbearers	$37,494	−39%
515	Ambulance drivers and attendants, except emergency medical technicians	$37,478	−39%
516	Janitors and building cleaners	$37,423	−39%
517	Receptionists and information clerks	$37,233	−40%
518	Telephone operators	$37,183	−40%
519	Preschool and kindergarten teachers	$37,116	−40%
520	Helpers--production workers	$37,092	−40%
521	Other entertainment attendants and related workers	$36,995	−40%
522	Medical transcriptionists	$36,858	−40%
523	Animal caretakers	$36,789	−40%
524	Tellers	$36,700	−41%
525	Food batchmakers	$36,283	−41%
526	Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers	$36,206	−41%
527	Cleaners of vehicles and equipment	$36,196	−41%
528	Barbers	$36,083	−42%
529	Landscaping and groundskeeping workers	$36,078	−42%
530	Personal care aides	$36,014	−42%
531	Stockers and order fillers	$35,931	−42%
532	Tailors, dressmakers, and sewers	$35,769	−42%
533	Bakers	$35,416	−43%
534	Umpires, referees, and other sports officials	$35,177	−43%
535	Transportation service attendants	$35,066	−43%
536	Packers and packagers, hand	$35,060	−43%
537	Library assistants, clerical	$34,787	−44%
538	Home health aides	$34,774	−44%
539	Miscellaneous agricultural workers	$34,552	−44%
540	Textile machine setters, operators, and tenders	$34,462	−44%
541	Dietetic technicians and ophthalmic medical technicians	$34,210	−45%
542	Sewing machine operators	$34,091	−45%
543	Floral designers	$33,629	−45%
544	Helpers, construction trades	$33,279	−46%
545	Parking attendants	$33,195	−46%
546	Food servers, nonrestaurant	$33,045	−46%
547	Shoe and leather workers	$32,320	−48%
548	Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks	$32,118	−48%
549	Manicurists and pedicurists	$32,076	−48%
550	Waiters and waitresses	$32,069	−48%
551	Cooks	$31,701	−49%
552	Food preparation and serving related workers, all other	$31,575	−49%
553	Graders and sorters, agricultural products	$31,446	−49%
554	Maids and housekeeping cleaners	$31,170	−49%
555	Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers	$31,097	−50%
556	Laundry and dry-cleaning workers	$31,003	−50%
557	Teaching assistants	$31,001	−50%
558	Childcare workers	$30,986	−50%
559	Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers	$30,942	−50%
560	Food preparation workers	$30,711	−50%
561	Cashiers	$30,323	−51%
562	Dishwashers	$28,366	−54%
563	Fast food and counter workers	$28,183	−54%
564	Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop	$27,016	−56%
565	School bus monitors	$24,927	−60%

Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey figures to 31 Dec 2024

So, what are we looking at, exactly?

Median earnings for full-time, year-round workers in each occupation - the middle person's pay, so one star athlete or one unpaid intern can't drag the figure around. It comes from the American Community Survey, which reaches millions of households a year, and it counts what workers say they earned from the job: salary and wages, before tax. The middle of the whole table is $61,702 - and one thing the top of the table needs saying: the survey stops counting at $250,000, so "$250,000+" means exactly that, and the true medians up there sit somewhere above the line.

Why is the top all medicine?

7 of the top 10 are medical occupations, and the 4 at the ceiling are emergency medicine physicians, radiologists, other physicians, surgeons. The shape has held for decades, and the usual explanation runs through the pipeline: a decade or more of training, six-figure school debt, licensing that caps how many can practise, and life-and-death responsibility that commands a premium. The Bureau of Labor Statistics' outlook for physicians tells the same story from the employer's side of the counter. Outside medicine, the top belongs to chief executives, petroleum engineers, lawyers and actuaries - jobs that trade in either risk or scarcity.

What the best-paid jobs earn against the median American job

4×+

$250,000-plus against the $61,702 all-occupations median · calculated from the table

And the lowest-paid work?

The bottom of the table is service work: the last five rows are cashiers, dishwashers, fast food and counter workers, hosts and hostesses, school bus monitors - jobs mostly paid by the hour, near the wage floors our minimum wage page maps state by state. Top to bottom, the spread is 10×: the best-paid occupation earns in five or six weeks what the lowest-paid earns in a year.

7 of 10 of the best-paid jobs are medicine

Medicine owns the top of the pay ladder

The 4 occupations at the survey's ceiling are all medical. No other field places more than one job in the top ten - the pay ladder's summit is a hospital.

Calculated from the table above

↑ 4×+ the median job, at the top of the table

↑ The gap starts at four-to-one and runs higher

$61,702 is the middle of American full-time work. The top rows earn at least 4 times that - "at least", because the survey's ceiling hides how much higher the true figures go.

Calculated from the table above

What this table can't tell you

It reports medians for full-time, year-round workers, so part-timers, new starters and each job's own top end all sit outside the figure - your own offer letter can sit a long way from your occupation's median. Earnings here are what workers report to a survey; the government's other pay measure, the employer survey behind the Occupational Outlook Handbook, counts wages from the payroll side and lands on similar rankings with different figures. The figures are for 2024 and update with each release. And pay is not the same as a good living - hours, stress and where the jobs actually are belong to a different table.