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The Best Jobs at Every Educational Level

February 09, 2025

Securing one of the highest-paying jobs, whether it requires a graduate degree, college degree, or even just a high school diploma, is essential to achieving financial stability. In today’s economy, income growth has largely plateaued for many workers, and inflation continues to outpace wage increases.

Jobs in fields such as healthcare, law, and engineering, which typically require advanced degrees, offer the kind of salary that can ensure financial security, even in uncertain economic times. These professions not only provide a comfortable income but also offer job stability and long-term prospects for growth, allowing individuals to build wealth through consistent earnings and retirement savings.

For those without a graduate degree, many high-paying jobs still exist, such as in skilled trades or supervisory roles. Professions like elevator installers, truck drivers, or police supervisors offer salaries that exceed the national average for high school graduates, and they often come with benefits like job security, healthcare, and pensions.

These positions provide an opportunity to steadily build wealth, as they typically require less upfront educational investment, while still offering high earning potential. Over time, the combination of good wages and benefits can pave the way for financial independence and long-term financial stability.

Graduate Degree:

  1. Physicians and Surgeons

    • Average salary: $208,000+ per year

  2. Dentists

    • Average salary: $156,000 per year

  3. Pharmacists

    • Average salary: $128,000 per year

  4. Lawyers

    • Average salary: $122,960 per year

  5. Optometrists

    • Average salary: $118,000 per year

  6. Psychiatrists

    • Average salary: $220,000 per year

  7. Physician Assistants

    • Average salary: $115,000 per year

  8. Nurse Practitioners

    • Average salary: $111,000 per year

  9. Occupational Therapists

    • Average salary: $85,000 per year

  10. Speech-Language Pathologists

    • Average salary: $80,000 per year

College Degree:

  1. Computer Programmers

    • Average salary: $89,000 per year

  2. Industrial Engineers

    • Average salary: $87,000 per year

  3. Human Resources Managers

    • Average salary: $120,000 per year

  4. Chemical Engineers

    • Average salary: $105,000 per year

  5. Civil Engineers

    • Average salary: $87,000 per year

  6. Financial Analysts

    • Average salary: $87,000 per year

  7. Marketing Managers

    • Average salary: $135,000 per year

  8. Operations Managers

    • Average salary: $96,000 per year

  9. Construction Managers

    • Average salary: $97,000 per year

  10. Sales Managers

    • Average salary: $124,000 per year

High School Diploma:

  1. Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers

    • Average salary: $96,000 per year

  2. First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives

    • Average salary: $91,000 per year

  3. First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers

    • Average salary: $80,000 per year

  4. Elevator Installers and Repairers

    • Average salary: $79,000 per year

  5. Police Officers

    • Average salary: $65,000 per year

  6. Firefighters

    • Average salary: $50,000 per year

  7. Electricians

    • Average salary: $56,000 per year

  8. Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters

    • Average salary: $56,000 per year

  9. Construction Laborers

    • Average salary: $38,000 per year

  10. Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers

    • Average salary: $47,000 per year

These salaries can vary depending on experience, location, industry, and other factors, but these figures represent national averages.