Find a Job You Really Want In
Finding a job you love that also offers a high salary is a common aspiration. If your goal is to earn a six-figure salary, a strategic plan is essential.
To reach an income of $100K or more annually, it’s crucial to understand the educational requirements, experience expectations, and other prerequisites for your chosen field.
While many jobs listed here necessitate advanced degrees—particularly within the medical and legal fields—there are also lucrative positions that require only a bachelor’s degree or, in some cases, a high school diploma or equivalent.
Key Takeaways:
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High-paying jobs include physicians, aerospace engineers, and lawyers.
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When aiming for a six-figure salary, consider the required education and professional experience.
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Some high-paying roles, like construction management, may not require advanced degrees.
Medical Field
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Physician
Average Annual Salary: $180,000Top Paying States: Alaska ($260,000), New Hampshire ($258,000), Maine ($254,000), Montana ($250,000), Wisconsin ($248,000)
Job Outlook: 4% increase expected (average)
Typical Entry-Level Education: Doctoral degree
Physicians diagnose and treat patients across various settings, including hospitals and private practices.
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Pharmacist
Average Annual Salary: $120,000Top Paying States: California ($145,000), Alaska ($143,000), Vermont ($137,000), Oregon ($136,000), Maine ($135,000)
Job Outlook: 3% decrease expected (decline)
Typical Entry-Level Education: Doctoral degree
Pharmacists dispense medications and counsel patients on their proper use, typically working in pharmacies.
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Dentist
Average Annual Salary: $135,000Top Paying States: Rhode Island ($265,000), Vermont ($263,000), Alaska ($240,000), North Dakota ($225,000), Maine ($222,000)
Job Outlook: 3% increase expected (average)
Typical Entry-Level Education: Doctoral degree
Dentists diagnose and treat various oral health issues.
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Psychiatrist
Average Annual Salary: $205,000Top Paying States: Maine ($275,000), Arizona ($272,000), North Dakota ($267,000), Indiana ($265,000), Nebraska ($264,000)
Job Outlook: 4% increase expected (average)
Typical Entry-Level Education: Doctoral degree
Psychiatrists evaluate and treat patients with mental health disorders.
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Orthodontist
Average Annual Salary: $220,000Top Paying States: Washington ($290,000), Minnesota ($275,000), South Carolina ($270,000), Iowa ($268,000), North Carolina ($265,000)
Job Outlook: 3% increase expected (average)
Typical Entry-Level Education: Doctoral degree
Orthodontists specialize in correcting dental irregularities.
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Optometrist
Average Annual Salary: $235,000Top Paying States: North Dakota ($180,000), Vermont ($150,000), West Virginia ($145,000), Alaska ($144,000), Iowa ($142,000)
Job Outlook: 4% increase expected (average)
Typical Entry-Level Education: Doctoral degree
Optometrists diagnose and manage visual disorders.
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Podiatrist
Average Annual Salary: $95,000Top Paying States: Maine ($240,000), Nebraska ($210,000), New Hampshire ($185,000), Minnesota ($182,000), Wisconsin ($181,000)
Job Outlook: 0% increase expected (no change)
Typical Entry-Level Education: Doctoral degree
Podiatrists specialize in foot and lower limb health.
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Nurse Practitioner
Average Annual Salary: $100,000Top Paying States: California ($140,000), Washington ($130,000), Hawaii ($126,000), New Jersey ($125,000), Minnesota ($123,000)
Job Outlook: 45% increase expected (much faster than average)
Typical Entry-Level Education: Master’s degree
Nurse practitioners provide comprehensive healthcare services and often manage patient care.
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Anesthesiologist
Average Annual Salary: $330,000Top Paying States: Wyoming ($290,000), Arizona ($285,000), Oklahoma ($280,000), Kansas ($278,000), North Carolina ($276,000)
Job Outlook: 4% increase expected (average)
Typical Entry-Level Education: Doctoral degree
Anesthesiologists administer anesthesia and monitor patients during surgery.
Engineering Field
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Aerospace Engineer
Average Annual Salary: $95,000Top Paying States: District of Columbia ($145,000), Maryland ($140,000), Texas ($130,000), Colorado ($128,000), California ($127,000)
Job Outlook: 3% increase expected (average)
Typical Entry-Level Education: Bachelor’s degree
Aerospace engineers design, develop, and test aircraft and spacecraft.
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Chemical Engineer
Average Annual Salary: $92,000Top Paying States: Texas ($155,000), Alaska ($150,000), New Jersey ($130,000), Delaware ($128,000), New Mexico ($125,000)
Job Outlook: 4% increase expected (average)
Typical Entry-Level Education: Bachelor’s degree
Chemical engineers develop processes to convert raw materials into valuable products.
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Electrical Engineer
Average Annual Salary: $80,000Top Paying States: District of Columbia ($130,000), New Jersey ($125,000), New Mexico ($120,000), California ($119,000), Washington ($118,000)
Job Outlook: 3% increase expected (average)
Typical Entry-Level Education: Bachelor’s degree
Electrical engineers design and develop electrical systems and equipment.
Management
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Information Technology Manager
Average Annual Salary: $115,000Top Paying States: New York ($200,000), California ($195,000), New Jersey ($185,000), Virginia ($180,000), Colorado ($175,000)
Job Outlook: 10% increase expected (much faster than average)
Typical Entry-Level Education: Bachelor’s degree (and 5+ years of experience)
An IT manager oversees the computing needs of an organization, ensuring all systems function efficiently.
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Finance Manager
Average Annual Salary: $110,000Top Paying States: New York ($220,000), New Jersey ($180,000), District of Columbia ($175,000), Delaware ($170,000), Connecticut ($168,000)
Job Outlook: 15% increase expected (much faster than average)
Typical Entry-Level Education: Bachelor’s degree (and 5+ years of experience)
Finance managers handle an organization’s finances, producing reports and strategies for improvement.
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Marketing Manager
Average Annual Salary: $110,000Top Paying States: New York ($190,000), New Jersey ($180,000), Virginia ($175,000), Colorado ($173,000), California ($170,000)
Job Outlook: 6% increase expected (faster than average)
Typical Entry-Level Education: Bachelor’s degree
Marketing managers drive the strategy behind product promotion and brand identity.
Maths and Sciences
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Biochemist or Biophysicist
Average Annual Salary: $70,000Top Paying States: Illinois ($120,000), California ($110,000), Maryland ($108,000), District of Columbia ($107,000), Massachusetts ($106,000)
Job Outlook: 4% increase expected (average)
Typical Entry-Level Education: Doctoral degree
Biochemists study the chemical processes within living organisms and conduct experiments to advance biological understanding.
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Physicist
Average Annual Salary: $110,000Top Paying States: Kansas ($185,000), Oklahoma ($175,000), New Mexico ($170,000), Connecticut ($170,000), Louisiana ($165,000)
Job Outlook: 7% increase expected (faster than average)
Typical Entry-Level Education: Doctoral degree
Physicists investigate the fundamental properties of energy and matter through experiments.
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Actuary
Average Annual Salary: $85,000Top Paying States: New York ($155,000), North Carolina ($140,000), Washington ($135,000), District of Columbia ($135,000), Massachusetts ($130,000)
Job Outlook: 18% increase expected (much faster than average)
Typical Entry-Level Education: Bachelor’s degree
Actuaries analyze financial risks using mathematics, statistics, and financial theory to study uncertain future events.
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Finance Advisor
Average Annual Salary: $80,000Top Paying States: New York ($170,000), District of Columbia ($155,000), Illinois ($145,000), Connecticut ($140,000), Massachusetts ($140,000)
Job Outlook: 4% increase expected (average)
Typical Entry-Level Education: Bachelor’s degree
Finance advisors assist clients in managing their finances and developing strategies for financial growth.
Legal
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Lawyer
Average Annual Salary: $125,000Top Paying States: District of Columbia ($200,000), California ($175,000), New York ($170,000), Massachusetts ($165,000), Illinois ($160,000)
Job Outlook: 4% increase expected (average)
Typical Entry-Level Education: Law degree
Lawyers represent clients in legal matters and may specialize in various fields of law.
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Judge
Average Annual Salary: $55,000Job Outlook: 2% increase expected (slower than average)
Typical Entry-Level Education: Law degree (and 5+ years experience)
Judges oversee court proceedings and make legal decisions based on the law.
Six-Figure Jobs That Don’t Require a Degree
Some positions may list an associate’s or bachelor’s degree as typical entry-level education, but they do not necessarily mandate a degree for hiring.
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Construction Manager
Average Annual Salary: $85,000Top Paying States: New Jersey ($150,000), New York ($140,000), Delaware ($130,000), California ($125,000), Rhode Island ($123,000)
Job Outlook: 8% increase expected (faster than average)
Typical Entry-Level Education: Bachelor’s degree
Construction managers plan and oversee construction projects from start to finish, managing schedules and budgets.
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Air Traffic Controller
Average Annual Salary: $70,000Top Paying States: New Hampshire ($150,000), Illinois ($145,000), Georgia ($140,000), Texas ($138,000), California ($135,000)
Job Outlook: 1% increase expected (slower than average)
Typical Entry-Level Education: Associate’s degree
Air traffic controllers manage aircraft movements and ensure safety during flights.
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Commercial Pilot
Average Annual Salary: $95,000Top Paying States: Georgia ($135,000), Connecticut ($130,000), New York ($128,000), Florida ($115,000), Maryland ($110,000)
Job Outlook: 5% increase expected (faster than average)
Typical Entry-Level Education: High school diploma or GED
Commercial pilots fly various aircraft for a range of purposes, including passenger transport and cargo delivery.
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Software Developer
Average Annual Salary: $85,000Top Paying States: California ($140,000), Washington ($135,000), New York ($125,000), District of Columbia ($120,000), Maryland ($118,000)
Job Outlook: 22% increase expected (much faster than average)
Typical Entry-Level Education: Bachelor’s degree
Software developers create applications and systems that drive software functionality.
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Nuclear Reactor Operator
Average Annual Salary: $35,000Top Paying States: New York ($115,000), North Carolina ($105,000), Louisiana ($103,000), Illinois ($101,000), Tennessee ($100,000)
Job Outlook: -16% decrease expected (decline)
Typical Entry-Level Education: High school diploma or GED
Nuclear reactor operators manage and control reactors to ensure safe power generation.
25 Jobs That Pay $100K or More Per Year
This list showcases high-paying jobs across various industries, many with salaries exceeding $100K. We’ve categorized the jobs by field to assist you in your research, providing essential details to help you make informed career decisions.
In addition to the medical and legal fields, management, engineering, and the sciences also offer lucrative earning potential. We’ve highlighted roles that may not require a degree for entry.
For your convenience, we have included the following data:
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Median salary
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Top-paying states for the occupation
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Job outlook for 2026
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Typical entry-level education
Final Thoughts
Securing a job that pays $100K or more is a significant achievement. While some high-paying roles do not require advanced degrees, the majority do necessitate at least a bachelor’s degree.
If you aspire to earn a six-figure salary, it’s crucial to conduct thorough research and establish a clear path. Consider the following:
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Understand the educational requirements
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Determine your preferred location and whether the salary remains competitive
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Stay informed about the job outlook
Author
Samantha is a lifelong writer who has been writing professionally for the last six years. After graduating with honors from Greensboro College with a degree in English & Communications, she went on to find work as an in-house copywriter for several companies including Costume Supercenter, and Blueprint Education.
