Your job shapes your net worth mainly through income, but also through debt taken on to enter it, access to retirement plans and pensions, and whether you own a business. Here is what Federal Reserve data shows by occupation and work status, and what common careers can build with steady saving.
Net Worth by Occupation Group
The Federal Reserve’s Survey of Consumer Finances groups working households into three broad occupation categories:
| Occupation of Household Head (Working) | Median Net Worth | Average (Mean) | 75th Percentile | 90th Percentile | Share With $1M+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Managerial and professional | $355,600 | $1,782,700 | $1,164,900 | $3,139,700 | 27.7% |
| Technical, sales and services | $80,700 | $417,600 | $288,700 | $786,700 | 8.2% |
| Production, craft, repair, laborers and farming | $98,700 | $388,700 | $314,900 | $710,500 | 5.8% |
Source: Federal Reserve, 2022 Survey of Consumer Finances, public data (2022 dollars), our calculation using the Fed’s own work-status and occupation groupings. The public data does not identify individual occupations such as doctor or engineer.
Families headed by managers and professionals (doctors, lawyers, engineers, teachers, executives and similar) have a median net worth several times that of other working families, and more than a quarter of them are millionaires.
Self-Employed vs Employees
| Work Status of Household Head | Median Net Worth | Average (Mean) | 75th Percentile | 90th Percentile | Share With $1M+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Works for someone else | $155,700 | $629,700 | $489,400 | $1,323,000 | 13.7% |
| Self-employed or partner | $446,400 | $3,390,200 | $1,982,400 | $7,044,600 | 35.6% |
| Retired | $287,900 | $1,092,900 | $836,300 | $2,196,000 | 21.5% |
| Other, not working | $35,100 | $362,100 | $195,300 | $682,600 | 6% |
Source: Federal Reserve, 2022 Survey of Consumer Finances, public data (2022 dollars), our calculation using the Fed’s own work-status and occupation groupings. The public data does not identify individual occupations such as doctor or engineer.
Business ownership is the single biggest divider. Self-employed families have a median net worth of about $446,400, nearly three times that of families headed by an employee, and 35.6% of them are millionaires. Their wealth is also far more spread out: the value of a business can be large, but it is often illiquid and risky.
What Common Careers Can Build
The public data doesn’t identify individual jobs, so no reliable survey reports net worth for, say, electricians or pharmacists. What you can estimate is how much a typical salary in each field could build with steady saving:
| Occupation (BLS) | Median Salary | Saving 15% a Year | After 25 Years at 7% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cardiologists | $496,010 | $74,402 | $4,705,823 |
| Radiologists | $420,860 | $63,129 | $3,992,849 |
| Surgeons, All Other | $414,010 | $62,102 | $3,927,860 |
| Anesthesiologists | $391,490 | $58,724 | $3,714,205 |
| Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric | $358,550 | $53,782 | $3,401,691 |
| Emergency Medicine Physicians | $335,550 | $50,332 | $3,183,482 |
| Dermatologists | $328,730 | $49,310 | $3,118,778 |
| Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric | $300,080 | $45,012 | $2,846,966 |
| Psychiatrists | $281,870 | $42,280 | $2,674,201 |
| Neurologists | $248,560 | $37,284 | $2,358,177 |
| Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | $232,140 | $34,821 | $2,202,395 |
| Chief Executives | $213,990 | $32,098 | $2,030,199 |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $175,140 | $26,271 | $1,661,615 |
| Dentists, General | $170,950 | $25,642 | $1,621,863 |
| Marketing Managers | $166,790 | $25,018 | $1,582,396 |
| Financial Managers | $166,570 | $24,986 | $1,580,309 |
| Lawyers | $159,670 | $23,950 | $1,514,846 |
| Human Resources Managers | $149,280 | $22,392 | $1,416,272 |
| Sales Managers | $148,270 | $22,240 | $1,406,690 |
| Air Traffic Controllers | $148,080 | $22,212 | $1,404,888 |
| Pharmacists | $140,910 | $21,136 | $1,336,863 |
| Optometrists | $136,570 | $20,486 | $1,295,688 |
| Software Developers | $135,980 | $20,397 | $1,290,091 |
| Physician Assistants | $135,880 | $20,382 | $1,289,142 |
| Aerospace Engineers | $134,960 | $20,244 | $1,280,414 |
| Computer Network Architects | $134,050 | $20,108 | $1,271,780 |
| Nurse Practitioners | $132,300 | $19,845 | $1,255,177 |
| Veterinarians | $130,100 | $19,515 | $1,234,305 |
| Actuaries | $130,000 | $19,500 | $1,233,356 |
| Information Security Analysts | $129,180 | $19,377 | $1,225,577 |
| Chemical Engineers | $125,040 | $18,756 | $1,186,299 |
| Electrical Engineers | $120,630 | $18,094 | $1,144,460 |
| Data Scientists | $120,230 | $18,034 | $1,140,665 |
| Construction Managers | $114,990 | $17,248 | $1,090,951 |
| Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers | $109,910 | $16,486 | $1,042,755 |
| Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers | $107,230 | $16,084 | $1,017,329 |
| Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary | $105,870 | $15,880 | $1,004,426 |
| General and Operations Managers | $105,770 | $15,866 | $1,003,478 |
| Personal Financial Advisors | $105,070 | $15,760 | $996,836 |
| Database Administrators | $104,620 | $15,693 | $992,567 |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | $104,300 | $15,645 | $989,531 |
| Mechanical Engineers | $104,110 | $15,616 | $987,729 |
| Web and Digital Interface Designers | $104,000 | $15,600 | $986,685 |
| Physical Therapists | $102,760 | $15,414 | $974,921 |
| Project Management Specialists | $102,320 | $15,348 | $970,746 |
| Management Analysts | $101,860 | $15,279 | $966,382 |
| Civil Engineers | $100,840 | $15,126 | $956,705 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $100,580 | $15,087 | $954,238 |
| Occupational Therapists | $100,330 | $15,050 | $951,866 |
| Architects, Except Landscape and Naval | $99,280 | $14,892 | $941,905 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | $99,130 | $14,870 | $940,482 |
| Dental Hygienists | $98,100 | $14,715 | $930,710 |
| Speech-Language Pathologists | $97,870 | $14,680 | $928,527 |
| Registered Nurses | $97,550 | $14,632 | $925,492 |
| Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers | $95,320 | $14,298 | $904,335 |
| Web Developers | $92,650 | $13,898 | $879,004 |
| Technical Writers | $90,390 | $13,558 | $857,562 |
| Producers and Directors | $90,360 | $13,554 | $857,277 |
| Accountants and Auditors | $83,680 | $12,552 | $793,902 |
| Respiratory Therapists | $82,280 | $12,342 | $780,620 |
| Radiologic Technologists and Technicians | $80,110 | $12,016 | $760,032 |
| Chiropractors | $79,200 | $11,880 | $751,399 |
| Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents | $78,660 | $11,799 | $746,275 |
| Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists | $76,780 | $11,517 | $728,439 |
| Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants | $76,590 | $11,488 | $726,637 |
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | $76,400 | $11,460 | $724,834 |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $76,210 | $11,432 | $723,031 |
| Commercial Divers | $72,990 | $10,948 | $692,482 |
| Physical Therapist Assistants | $68,380 | $10,257 | $648,745 |
| Crane and Tower Operators | $68,080 | $10,212 | $645,899 |
| Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors | $64,330 | $9,650 | $610,322 |
| Wind Turbine Service Technicians | $64,120 | $9,618 | $608,329 |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $63,970 | $9,596 | $606,906 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $63,800 | $9,570 | $605,293 |
| Flight Attendants | $63,580 | $9,537 | $603,206 |
| Electricians | $63,190 | $9,478 | $599,506 |
| Paralegals and Legal Assistants | $62,890 | $9,434 | $596,660 |
| Structural Iron and Steel Workers | $62,780 | $9,417 | $595,616 |
| Athletic Trainers | $62,520 | $9,378 | $593,149 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $62,470 | $9,370 | $592,675 |
| Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers | $61,010 | $9,152 | $578,824 |
| Paramedics | $60,600 | $9,090 | $574,934 |
| Carpenters | $60,580 | $9,087 | $574,744 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $59,850 | $8,978 | $567,818 |
| Child, Family, and School Social Workers | $59,550 | $8,932 | $564,972 |
| Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors | $59,350 | $8,902 | $563,075 |
| Firefighters | $59,280 | $8,892 | $562,410 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $58,640 | $8,796 | $556,339 |
| Roofers | $55,440 | $8,316 | $525,979 |
| Automotive Body and Related Repairers | $54,890 | $8,234 | $520,761 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $53,750 | $8,062 | $509,945 |
| Real Estate Sales Agents | $52,830 | $7,924 | $501,217 |
| Locksmiths and Safe Repairers | $51,320 | $7,698 | $486,891 |
| All Occupations | $50,980 | $7,647 | $483,665 |
| Tree Trimmers and Pruners | $50,960 | $7,644 | $483,476 |
| Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics | $50,620 | $7,593 | $480,250 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $49,400 | $7,410 | $468,675 |
| Veterinary Technologists and Technicians | $47,380 | $7,107 | $449,511 |
| Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors | $47,160 | $7,074 | $447,424 |
| Medical Assistants | $45,690 | $6,854 | $433,477 |
| Phlebotomists | $45,230 | $6,784 | $429,113 |
| Emergency Medical Technicians | $44,470 | $6,670 | $421,903 |
| Nursing Assistants | $42,260 | $6,339 | $400,936 |
| Substitute Teachers, Short-Term | $41,670 | $6,250 | $395,338 |
| Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary | $36,780 | $5,517 | $348,945 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | $35,800 | $5,370 | $339,647 |
| Bartenders | $34,340 | $5,151 | $325,796 |
Median annual wages from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (2025). Projection assumes the same share of the median salary is invested at the end of each year for 25 years at a 7% average annual return, before taxes and inflation, with no raises. It is an illustration of savings capacity, not a measured net worth.
Actual net worth depends on raises, spending, home equity, debt and when you start. But the table shows why savings rate matters as much as salary: a typical electrician who saves 15% for 25 years can end up with more than a higher earner who saves little.
Why High Earners Don’t Always Have High Net Worth
- Late start: doctors often reach full attending income in their 30s, after years of training, so they have less time for compounding.
- Education debt: medical, law and other professional degrees often mean six-figure student loans that offset early earnings.
- Lifestyle inflation: spending tends to rise with income, especially after years of lean training.
- Equity pay: tech and finance workers paid partly in company stock can build wealth quickly, but it is concentrated in one employer.
Pensions: Wealth That Doesn’t Show Up
Teachers, police officers, firefighters and many government workers earn defined-benefit pensions. Survey measures of net worth, including the Federal Reserve’s, count retirement accounts but not the value of a future pension. A pension paying $40,000 a year from 60 can be worth several hundred thousand dollars or more in today’s money, so these workers are often wealthier than their net worth suggests.
How to Build Wealth in Any Career
- Save at least 15% of gross income, including any employer match.
- Use tax-advantaged accounts: 401(k) up to the match, then an HSA and Roth IRA, then the rest of the 401(k) ($24,500 limit in 2026).
- Tackle high-interest debt early and choose a student loan repayment plan that fits your income.
- Keep spending growth slower than income growth as your career advances.
- Invest in low-cost index funds: a 1% annual fee can cost a large share of a portfolio over a career.
Related Articles
- Net worth by age
- Net worth by education
- Millionaire statistics
- Salary by profession guide
- How much do software engineers make?
Part of our net worth guide.
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