Average Income by Occupation (2026): Highest and Lowest Paying Jobs
By Wealthvieu · Updated
Your occupation is one of the strongest determinants of how much you earn. Here’s a comprehensive breakdown of average pay across major career categories.
Table of Contents
Highest Paying Occupations
Occupation
Median Annual Pay
Job Growth (2024-2034)
Education Required
Anesthesiologist
$302,970
1%
Medical degree + residency
Oral surgeon
$292,530
5%
Dental degree + residency
Orthodontist
$264,850
7%
Dental degree + specialty
Cardiologist
$260,000
3%
Medical degree + fellowship
Psychiatrist
$247,350
12%
Medical degree + residency
Surgeon (general)
$243,800
3%
Medical degree + residency
Emergency medicine physician
$239,200
3%
Medical degree + residency
OB/GYN
$236,730
3%
Medical degree + residency
Dermatologist
$230,000
3%
Medical degree + residency
Airline pilot
$211,790
6%
Bachelor’s + ATP certificate
Technology Occupations
Occupation
Median Annual Pay
Entry-Level Pay
Senior-Level Pay
Job Growth
Software engineer
$127,260
$80,000
$180,000+
25%
Data scientist
$108,020
$70,000
$160,000+
36%
Cloud architect
$142,000
$95,000
$200,000+
20%
Cybersecurity analyst
$120,360
$72,000
$165,000+
33%
AI/ML engineer
$145,000
$90,000
$220,000+
40%+
DevOps engineer
$125,000
$80,000
$175,000+
22%
Product manager (tech)
$130,000
$85,000
$190,000+
10%
UX designer
$85,390
$55,000
$130,000+
16%
Database administrator
$101,000
$60,000
$140,000+
9%
Web developer
$80,730
$45,000
$120,000+
16%
Healthcare Occupations
Occupation
Median Annual Pay
Education Required
Job Growth
Physician (general)
$229,300
MD + residency (11-15 years)
3%
Dentist
$163,220
DDS (8 years)
4%
Pharmacist
$132,750
PharmD (6-8 years)
3%
Physician assistant
$126,010
Master’s (6-7 years)
28%
Nurse practitioner
$121,610
Master’s (6-8 years)
40%
Physical therapist
$97,720
Doctorate (7 years)
15%
Registered nurse (BSN)
$81,220
Bachelor’s (4 years)
6%
Dental hygienist
$81,400
Associate’s (2-3 years)
7%
Respiratory therapist
$65,380
Associate’s (2 years)
14%
Medical assistant
$38,270
Certificate (1 year)
14%
Finance and Business
Occupation
Median Annual Pay
Entry-Level Pay
Senior-Level Pay
Financial manager
$139,790
$75,000
$200,000+
Investment banker
$130,000
$85,000
$300,000+ (with bonus)
Actuary
$113,990
$65,000
$170,000+
Financial analyst
$95,080
$55,000
$140,000+
Accountant/CPA
$78,000
$50,000
$120,000+
Management consultant
$100,530
$65,000
$180,000+
Marketing manager
$140,040
$60,000
$180,000+
Human resources manager
$130,000
$55,000
$160,000+
Real estate broker
$62,190
Variable
$150,000+
Financial planner
$95,390
$45,000
$150,000+
Engineering
Occupation
Median Annual Pay
Entry-Level Pay
Job Growth
Petroleum engineer
$131,800
$85,000
2%
Computer hardware engineer
$128,170
$80,000
5%
Aerospace engineer
$122,270
$75,000
6%
Chemical engineer
$108,540
$70,000
8%
Electrical engineer
$104,610
$68,000
5%
Mechanical engineer
$96,310
$65,000
10%
Civil engineer
$89,940
$60,000
5%
Industrial engineer
$96,350
$63,000
12%
Environmental engineer
$96,530
$58,000
4%
Biomedical engineer
$99,550
$62,000
5%
Legal
Occupation
Median Annual Pay
Entry-Level Pay
Top Earners
Corporate lawyer (Big Law)
$165,000
$215,000 (Big Law first year)
$400,000+ (partner)
Patent attorney
$160,000
$140,000
$350,000+
Judge
$148,030
—
$223,400 (federal)
Tax attorney
$145,000
$90,000
$280,000+
General practice lawyer
$135,740
$65,000
$250,000+
Public defender
$68,000
$52,000
$95,000
Paralegal
$59,200
$38,000
$85,000
Legal secretary
$48,000
$32,000
$65,000
Trades and Skilled Labor
Occupation
Median Annual Pay
Entry-Level Pay
Top 10% Earn
Training Path
Elevator installer/repairer
$102,420
$50,000
$140,000+
4-year apprenticeship
Power plant operator
$94,790
$50,000
$130,000+
On-the-job training
Electrician
$60,240
$37,000
$99,000+
4-5 year apprenticeship
Plumber
$61,550
$36,000
$100,000+
4-5 year apprenticeship
HVAC technician
$51,390
$32,000
$80,000+
Trade school + OJT
Welder
$47,010
$32,000
$72,000+
Certificate or OJT
Carpenter
$51,390
$33,000
$80,000+
Apprenticeship
Auto mechanic
$46,990
$30,000
$72,000+
Certificate or OJT
CDL truck driver
$49,920
$35,000
$72,000+
CDL training (3-6 mos)
Diesel mechanic
$55,500
$35,000
$75,000+
Trade school + OJT
Education
Occupation
Median Annual Pay
Entry-Level Pay
Job Growth
University professor (tenured)
$84,380
$55,000
8%
School principal
$101,320
$70,000
1%
High school teacher
$62,360
$42,000
1%
Elementary teacher
$61,690
$40,000
1%
Special education teacher
$62,950
$42,000
2%
School counselor
$60,140
$39,000
5%
Preschool teacher
$35,330
$25,000
10%
Teacher’s aide
$30,920
$23,000
4%
Lowest Paying Occupations
Occupation
Median Annual Pay
Typical Education
Workers (millions)
Fast food worker
$27,780
No requirements
3.8M
Cashier
$29,120
No requirements
3.3M
Waiter/waitress
$29,120
No requirements
2.5M
Host/hostess
$28,230
No requirements
0.3M
Laundry worker
$29,600
No requirements
0.2M
Childcare worker
$28,520
High school diploma
0.6M
Home health aide
$30,180
Certificate
3.5M
Farmworker
$31,440
No requirements
0.4M
Retail salesperson
$31,560
No requirements
4.0M
Janitor/cleaner
$31,990
No requirements
2.2M
Many of the lowest-paying occupations employ the most workers, which affects the overall median income.
