Years of schooling in healthcare usually pay off.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics released new data showing the pay of hundreds of occupations as of May 2025. Many positions earn six figures, exceeding the national average of $69,770.
Pay can be one factor job seekers consider when they’re applying for work. A lot of people are actively seeking jobs in the US: 7.2 million people were unemployed in March, outpacing the number of openings. It’s also graduation season, so more people may be tweaking their résumés, building a network, and scouring postings in the coming months.
Studying to become an ophthalmologist, a pediatric surgeon, or a pilot can lead to high compensation.
Business Insider ranked the new occupation estimates by average annual wage, excluding catchall job categories, such as “Surgeons, all other.” Almost all of the 13 top-paying jobs typically require a doctoral or professional degree. Airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers usually need a bachelor’s.
Below are the 13 highest-paying jobs, alongside estimates of how many Americans are employed in them.
13. Psychiatrists
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12. Obstetricians and gynecologists
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11. Pathologists
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10. Airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers
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9. Ophthalmologists, except pediatric
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8. Emergency medicine physicians
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7. Dermatologists
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6. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons
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5. Anesthesiologists
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4. Orthopedic surgeons, except pediatric
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3. Radiologists
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2. Cardiologists
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1. Pediatric surgeons
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