Jobs that pay $100,000 or more: Financial analysts, judges, engineers

There are many considerations Americans take into account when looking for work. Some look for a job with good benefits, others want a healthy work-life balance, and others want a career that gives them a sense of purpose. However, for a large share of the American workforce, salary is the number one consideration.

The average working American earns $51,960 a year, but there are dozens of jobs where the average salary is more than double that.

24/7 Wall St. reviewed average annual salaries for over 800 occupations from the Bureau of Labor Statistics to identify the 79 jobs with six-figure salaries. Such high-paying jobs are relatively rare – and hard to acquire. Of the 142.5 million employed Americans, just 8.4% work in professions where the average salary is at least $100,000.

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There are many reasons certain jobs pay six figures. Many of the jobs on this list are executive or management positions typically held by those who have been working in the same career for years and who have been advancing to the highest ranks within their organization and field. 

Often, jobs with difficult conditions and long hours pay higher salaries. High-pressure jobs where lives are on the line also pay high salaries. However, difficult or dangerous jobs do not always guarantee high pay. For example, many of the careers on this list of the worst jobs in America are both very demanding and relatively low paying. 

For many of the high-skilled jobs on the list, salaries are high in part to compensate for the substantial investment of time and money required in obtaining the needed education and experience. Surgeons, for example, require as much at 16 years of education and training. 

All but two of the jobs on this list – transportation managers and air traffic controllers – require at least a four-year college education, and many require doctorate degrees or other additional certification. While they do not tend to pay six figures, many other high-paying jobs do not require a college education.

79. Financial Analysts

• Avg. annual wage: $100,990

• 10% of workers earn less than: $52,540

• Total employment: 306,200

• Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: +10.9%

78. Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers

• Avg. annual wage: $101,210

• 10% of workers earn less than: $45,120

• Total employment: 14,280

• Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: +4.0%

77. Electrical Engineers

• Avg. annual wage: $101,600

• 10% of workers earn less than: $61,190

• Total employment: 186,490

• Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: +8.6%

76. Postsecondary Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers

• Avg. annual wage: $101,890

• 10% of workers earn less than: $47,820

• Total employment: 11,020

• Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: +9.5%

75. Materials Scientists

• Avg. annual wage: $102,450

• 10% of workers earn less than: $52,560

• Total employment: 7,730

• Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: +7.1%

74. Information Security Analysts

• Avg. annual wage: $102,470

• 10% of workers earn less than: $56,750

• Total employment: 108,060

• Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: +28.5%

73. Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers

• Avg. annual wage: $102,850

• 10% of workers earn less than: $56,050

• Total employment: 124,810

• Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: +6.7%

72. Construction Managers

• Avg. annual wage: $103,110

• 10% of workers earn less than: $55,240

• Total employment: 278,460

• Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: +11.1%

71. Postsecondary Business Teachers

• Avg. annual wage: $103,330

• 10% of workers earn less than: $37,890

• Total employment: 84,230

• Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: +18.1%

70. Postsecondary Physics Teachers

• Avg. annual wage: $103,830

• 10% of workers earn less than: $49,260

• Total employment: 13,730

• Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: +10.0%

69. Art Directors

• Avg. annual wage: $104,590

• 10% of workers earn less than: $52,160

• Total employment: 40,210

• Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: +5.4%

68. Mathematicians

• Avg. annual wage: $104,870

• 10% of workers earn less than: $57,150

• Total employment: 2,580

• Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: +29.7%

67. Veterinarians

• Avg. annual wage: $105,240

• 10% of workers earn less than: $56,540

• Total employment: 71,060

• Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: +18.8%

66. Biochemists and Biophysicists

• Avg. annual wage: $105,940

• 10% of workers earn less than: $49,230

• Total employment: 28,500

• Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: +11.5%

65. Administrative Services Managers

• Avg. annual wage: $106,050

• 10% of workers earn less than: $55,000

• Total employment: 283,570

• Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: +10.1%

64. Nurse Midwives

• Avg. annual wage: $106,910

• 10% of workers earn less than: $70,100

• Total employment: 6,250

• Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: +20.7%

63. Geoscientists (except hydrologists and geographers)

• Avg. annual wage: $107,800

• 10% of workers earn less than: $49,430

• Total employment: 29,260

• Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: +14.0%

62. Electronics Engineers (except computer engineers)

• Avg. annual wage: $107,930

• 10% of workers earn less than: $64,840

• Total employment: 134,110

• Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: +3.7%

61. Applications Software Developers

• Avg. annual wage: $108,080

• 10% of workers earn less than: $61,660

• Total employment: 903,160

• Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: +30.7%

60. Physician Assistants

• Avg. annual wage: $108,430

• 10% of workers earn less than: $69,120

• Total employment: 114,710

• Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: +37.3%

59. Sales Engineers

• Avg. annual wage: $108,610

• 10% of workers earn less than: $58,430

• Total employment: 65,720

• Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: +6.9%

58. Industrial-Organizational Psychologists

• Avg. annual wage: $109,030

• 10% of workers earn less than: $51,350

• Total employment: 780

• Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: +8.4%

57. Nurse Practitioners

• Avg. annual wage: $110,030

• 10% of workers earn less than: $78,300

• Total employment: 179,650

• Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: +36.1%

56. Physical Scientists

• Avg. annual wage: $110,090

• 10% of workers earn less than: $51,730

• Total employment: 17,380

• Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: +7.2%

55. Nuclear Engineers

• Avg. annual wage: $110,790

• 10% of workers earn less than: $68,560

• Total employment: 15,980

• Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: +3.8%

54. Astronomers

• Avg. annual wage: $111,090

• 10% of workers earn less than: $57,490

• Total employment: 2,160

• Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: +10.0%

53. Computer Network Architects

• Avg. annual wage: $111,130

• 10% of workers earn less than: $60,310

• Total employment: 152,670

• Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: +6.5%

52. Postsecondary Education Administrators

• Avg. annual wage: $111,210

• 10% of workers earn less than: $54,680

• Total employment: 143,430

• Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: +10.1%

51. Industrial Production Managers

• Avg. annual wage: $113,370

• 10% of workers earn less than: $63,470

• Total employment: 181,310

• Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: -0.5%

50. Postsecondary Engineering Teachers

• Avg. annual wage: $113,680

• 10% of workers earn less than: $52,440

• Total employment: 37,530

• Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: +14.6%

49. Medical and Health Services Managers

• Avg. annual wage: $113,730

• 10% of workers earn less than: $58,680

• Total employment: 372,670

• Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: +20.5%

48. Software Developers, Systems Software

• Avg. annual wage: $114,000

• 10% of workers earn less than: $66,740

• Total employment: 405,330

• Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: +11.1%

47. Chemical Engineers

• Avg. annual wage: $114,470

• 10% of workers earn less than: $64,890

• Total employment: 32,060

• Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: +7.5%

46. Political Scientists

• Avg. annual wage: $115,300

• 10% of workers earn less than: $59,300

• Total employment: 5,660

• Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: +2.8%

45. Economists

• Avg. annual wage: $116,020

• 10% of workers earn less than: $58,130

• Total employment: 18,650

• Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: +6.3%

44. Actuaries

• Avg. annual wage: $116,250

• 10% of workers earn less than: $61,140

• Total employment: 20,760

• Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: +22.5%

43. Aerospace Engineers

• Avg. annual wage: $117,100

• 10% of workers earn less than: $71,640

• Total employment: 63,960

• Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: +6.1%

42. Postsecondary Economics Teachers

• Avg. annual wage: $117,180

• 10% of workers earn less than: $51,070

• Total employment: 12,750

• Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: +10.6%

41. Computer Hardware Engineers

• Avg. annual wage: $117,840

• 10% of workers earn less than: $66,700

• Total employment: 60,750

• Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: +5.5%

40. Optometrists

• Avg. annual wage: $119,980

• 10% of workers earn less than: $57,480

• Total employment: 37,220

• Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: +17.9%

39. Air Traffic Controllers

• Avg. annual wage: $120,830

• 10% of workers earn less than: $68,090

• Total employment: 22,390

• Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: +3.5%

38. Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates

• Avg. annual wage: $121,130

• 10% of workers earn less than: $34,790

• Total employment: 28,520

• Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: +5.6%

37. Training and Development Managers

• Avg. annual wage: $121,730

• 10% of workers earn less than: $63,600

• Total employment: 35,690

• Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: +10.3%

36. Personal Financial Advisors

• Avg. annual wage: $121,770

• 10% of workers earn less than: $41,590

• Total employment: 200,260

• Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: +14.9%

35. Postsecondary Health Specialties Teachers

• Avg. annual wage: $122,320

• 10% of workers earn less than: $43,370

• Total employment: 199,480

• Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: +25.9%

34. Pharmacists

• Avg. annual wage: $123,670

• 10% of workers earn less than: $87,790

• Total employment: 309,550

• Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: +5.6%

33. Computer and Information Research Scientists

• Avg. annual wage: $123,850

• 10% of workers earn less than: $69,230

• Total employment: 30,070

• Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: +19.2%

32. General and Operations Managers

• Avg. annual wage: $123,880

• 10% of workers earn less than: $44,710

• Total employment: 2,289,770

• Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: +9.1%

31. Physicists

• Avg. annual wage: $125,280

• 10% of workers earn less than: $59,300

• Total employment: 17,620

• Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: +14.5%

30. Purchasing Managers

• Avg. annual wage: $125,630

• 10% of workers earn less than: $69,860

• Total employment: 69,490

• Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: +5.5%

29. Human Resources Managers

• Avg. annual wage: $126,700

• 10% of workers earn less than: $66,870

• Total employment: 143,580

• Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: +9.1%

28. Postsecondary Law Teachers

• Avg. annual wage: $130,710

• 10% of workers earn less than: $36,000

• Total employment: 16,990

• Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: +12.3%

27. Public Relations and Fundraising Managers

• Avg. annual wage: $131,570

• 10% of workers earn less than: $64,250

• Total employment: 72,460

• Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: +10.4%

26. Compensation and Benefits Managers

• Avg. annual wage: $132,860

• 10% of workers earn less than: $70,560

• Total employment: 15,660

• Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: +5.0%

25. Advertising and Promotions Managers

• Avg. annual wage: $133,090

• 10% of workers earn less than: $57,150

• Total employment: 25,260

• Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: +5.5%

24. Natural Sciences Managers

• Avg. annual wage: $139,680

• 10% of workers earn less than: $65,000

• Total employment: 60,260

• Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: +9.9%

23. Sales Managers

• Avg. annual wage: $140,320

• 10% of workers earn less than: $58,940

• Total employment: 379,050

• Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: +7.5%

22. Lawyers

• Avg. annual wage: $144,230

• 10% of workers earn less than: $58,220

• Total employment: 642,750

• Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: +8.2%

21. Financial Managers

• Avg. annual wage: $146,830

• 10% of workers earn less than: $67,620

• Total employment: 608,120

• Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: +18.7%

20. Marketing Managers

• Avg. annual wage: $147,240

• 10% of workers earn less than: $69,840

• Total employment: 240,440

• Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: +10.1%

19. Podiatrists

• Avg. annual wage: $148,220

• 10% of workers earn less than: $52,060

• Total employment: 9,500

• Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: +10.3%

18. Architectural and Engineering Managers

• Avg. annual wage: $148,970

• 10% of workers earn less than: $89,620

• Total employment: 188,290

• Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: +5.5%

17. Computer and Information Systems Managers

• Avg. annual wage: $152,860

• 10% of workers earn less than: $85,380

• Total employment: 391,430

• Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: +12.0%

16. Petroleum Engineers

• Avg. annual wage: $156,370

• 10% of workers earn less than: $74,270

• Total employment: 32,510

• Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: +15.2%

15. Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers

• Avg. annual wage: $169,560

• 10% of workers earn less than: $65,690

• Total employment: 82,890

• Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: +3.4%

14. Nurse Anesthetists

• Avg. annual wage: $174,790

• 10% of workers earn less than: $116,820

• Total employment: 43,520

• Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: +16.2%

13. Dentists

• Avg. annual wage: $175,840

• 10% of workers earn less than: $72,810

• Total employment: 113,000

• Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: +19.4%

12. General Pediatricians

• Avg. annual wage: $183,240

• 10% of workers earn less than: $68,860

• Total employment: 28,490

• Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: +15.4%

11. Prosthodontists

• Avg. annual wage: $191,400

• 10% of workers earn less than: $103,240

• Total employment: 380

• Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: +19.1%

10. General Internists

• Avg. annual wage: $196,490

• 10% of workers earn less than: $57,420

• Total employment: 37,820

• Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: +14.6%

9. Chief Executives

• Avg. annual wage: $200,140

• 10% of workers earn less than: $68,360

• Total employment: 195,530

• Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: -3.9%

8. Physicians (except surgeons)

• Avg. annual wage: $203,880

• 10% of workers earn less than: $60,280

• Total employment: 389,180

• Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: +11.4%

7. Family and General Practitioners

• Avg. annual wage: $211,780

• 10% of workers earn less than: $79,600

• Total employment: 114,130

• Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: +14.3%

6. Psychiatrists

• Avg. annual wage: $220,380

• 10% of workers earn less than: $75,590

• Total employment: 25,630

• Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: +11.2%

5. Orthodontists

• Avg. annual wage: $225,760

• 10% of workers earn less than: $72,780

• Total employment: 5,350

• Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: +19.3%

4. Obstetricians and Gynecologists

• Avg. annual wage: $238,320

• 10% of workers earn less than: $92,040

• Total employment: 18,590

• Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: +15.5%

3. Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons

• Avg. annual wage: $242,370

• 10% of workers earn less than: $61,570

• Total employment: 4,830

• Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: +19.1%

2. Surgeons

• Avg. annual wage: $255,110

• 10% of workers earn less than: $94,960

• Total employment: 34,390

• Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: +14.4%

1. Anesthesiologists

• Avg. annual wage: $267,020

• 10% of workers earn less than: $133,080

• Total employment: 31,060

• Projected employment chg. 2016-2026: +15.4%

Methodology

To identify America’s six-figure jobs, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed annual average pay data for the 809 jobs tracked by the Bureau of Labor Statistics at the detailed occupation level of aggregation. The pay figures, as well as employment totals for each occupation, are for May 2018 — the latest period for which data is available. The projected changes in employment between 2016-2026 are also from the BLS. In some cases, miscellaneous or repetitive categories were removed from this list. All average salary figures listed do not include self-employed workers, workers employed by private households, or agricultural workers.

24/7 Wall Street is a USA TODAY content partner offering financial news and commentary. Its content is produced independently of USA TODAY.