Highest Paying Jobs in 2026: Fastest Paths to Millions in the USA
Discover the top lucrative professions, salaries, entry requirements, and step-by-step strategies to land high-income roles like neurosurgeons, AI engineers, and CEOs. Get quick answers on no-degree options, remote jobs, tech careers, and wealth-building paths with 2026 salary data from credible sources like Doximity, BLS, and industry reports.
Quick Answer: The Best Jobs for Lots of Money in 2026
If you're chasing the fastest way to millions, neurosurgeons top the list at $749K average annual salary (Doximity 2026), followed by CEOs at 281x the average worker (EPI via SUCCESS). Tech stars like FAANG E5 engineers hit $450K-$600K total comp (LeetCopilot), and AI engineers exceed $300K TC (exceeds.ai).
Here's a quick summary table of the top 10 by earning potential:
| Rank | Job | Avg. Salary/TC (2026 USA) | Entry Barriers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Neurosurgeon | $749K | Med school + 7+ years residency |
| 2 | CEO (Large Corp) | $10M+ (281x avg worker) | 15-20+ years exec experience |
| 3 | FAANG E5 Engineer | $450K-$600K TC | CS degree + skills |
| 4 | Orthopedic Surgeon | $679K | Med school + residency |
| 5 | AI/ML Engineer | $300K+ TC | Degree/certs + AI skills |
| 6 | Airline Pilot (Senior) | $226K median | Flight training (no degree) |
| 7 | Quant Analyst/Hedge Fund | $500K+ | Math/Finance degree + quant skills |
| 8 | Plastic Surgeon | $600K+ (est. Doximity trends) | Med school + specialty |
| 9 | Investment Banker (MD) | $400K+ | Finance degree + top MBA |
| 10 | Startup Founder (Exit) | $1M+ via exits | Idea + execution |
These paths offer the quickest routes to seven figures, blending salary, bonuses, equity, and commissions.
Key Takeaways: Top Lucrative Careers at a Glance
- Neurosurgeon: $749K (Doximity); high demand, 10+ year path.
- Orthopedic Surgeon: $679K; booming with aging population.
- CEO: 281x worker pay (EPI); equity drives millions.
- AI Engineer: $209K-$300K+ TC (exceeds.ai); remote-friendly, GenAI boom.
- FAANG Engineer: $450K-$600K TC (LeetCopilot); stock vesting key.
- Plastic Surgeon: $600K+ est.; aesthetics surge.
- Quant Analyst: $400K-$1M+ (hedge funds); math wizards.
- Hedge Fund Manager: Unlimited upside; top 1% earners.
- Corporate Lawyer: $300K+ (top firms); VC/PE paths.
- Petroleum Engineer: $200K+; energy rebound.
- Airline Pilot: $226K median (Epic Flight); no degree needed.
- Software Dev to Founder: $1M business (Medium case).
- Sales (Unlimited Commission): $139K+ $63K commissions (Nexford).
- Venture Capital Associate: $250K+ progression (Mergers & Inquisitions).
- Real Estate Mogul: $200K+ bonuses (Nexford).
AI/GenAI trends boost tech by 20-40%; healthcare leads stability.
Highest Paying Medical Jobs: Surgeons and Specialists Leading 2026 Salaries
Healthcare dominates with procedural specialists. Neurosurgery leads at $749K (TAG MedStaffing/Doximity 2026), outpacing anesthesiologists at $523K. Orthopedics ($679K) benefits from sports medicine demand.
Mini Case: Dr. Elena Reyes (Doximity rep) scaled from resident to $800K via high-volume robotics, highlighting procedural focus for max earnings.
Top Surgeon Specialties Breakdown
| Specialty | Avg. Salary (2026 USA, Doximity) | Growth Factors |
|---|---|---|
| Neurosurgeon | $749K | Brain/spine tech advances |
| Orthopedic | $679K | Joint replacements boom |
| Thoracic | $690K | Cancer surgeries rise |
| Plastic | $600K+ (est.) | Cosmetic demand |
| Vascular | $576K | Aging population |
| Anesthesiologist | $523K | OR volume |
| Cardiologist | $587K | Interventional procs |
| Gastroenterologist | $538K | Endoscopy surge |
Neurosurgeons earn 43% more than anesthesiologists due to scarcity and complexity.
Tech & AI Careers: Lucrative Paths to Quick Wealth
Tech offers fastest entry for wealth: AI engineers average $209K base, $300K+ TC (exceeds.ai). FAANG E5: $450K-$600K (Meta example: $230K base + stock/bonus). Remote roles adjust 10-20% lower but yield higher take-home (FlexJobs).
Mini Case: Per Medium, a dev coded spare-time, hit $1.25M revenue by year 5--path from $100K job to millionaire.
GenAI, cybersecurity, cloud lead (Testleaf/UC.edu).
AI Engineer Salary Trends & FAANG Compensation
AI/ML: $212K senior (exceeds.ai). Remote: 10-20% hub adjustment. Amazon vesting: 5/15/40/40%. Solutions engineers: $80K-$400K TC, 10-20% over devs (DemotoDeals).
Finance & Wall Street: Investment Banking, Quants, and VC
IB managing directors: $400K+ base/bonus. Quants/hedge funds: $500K+. VC associates: $250K+ rising to partner millions (Mergers & Inquisitions). PE progression mirrors.
Comparison: IB offers quicker entry but grinds; VC needs networks, unlimited exits.
No Degree? Highest Salary Jobs Without College in 2026
No college? Target trades, sales, pilots. Airline pilots: $226K median (Epic Flight)--18-24 months training. Sales: Mortgage officers $139K + $63K commissions (Nexford). Real estate managers: 5-6% growth (BLS).
Pros/Cons Sales: Unlimited upside (QuotaPath) but income volatility (NonClinicalPT). Checklist: Build network, hit quotas.
Best Trade Jobs & Pilots High Pay No College
Pilots: CPL + 1,500 hours → regionals ($100K) to majors ($226K+). Trades (e.g., petroleum eng adj.): $150K+.
Entrepreneurship & Alternative Wealth Builders: Startups, Influencers, Crypto
Founders exit via acquisitions (Seven Legal)--$1M+ potential. Influencers monetize sponsorships/affiliates (ROE). Crypto traders: High ROI portfolios (CryptoRecruiters). Software dev → $1M biz (Medium).
Vs. Salary: Exits riskier but uncapped.
High-Paying Remote Jobs & Sales with Unlimited Commissions
Remote devs: 40% higher median (FlexJobs). AI/solutions eng: $80K-$400K TC. Top sales: Tech/enterprise (QuotaPath).
Pros & Cons: Salary Jobs vs Entrepreneurial Paths
| Path | Stability | Upside | Risk | Time to $1M |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salary (Doctor/CEO) | High | Medium-High | Low | 10-20 yrs |
| Entrepreneur (Founder/Crypto) | Low | Unlimited | High | 3-7 yrs |
| Sales Commission | Medium | High | Income Var. | 2-5 yrs |
CEOs hit 281x via equity (SUCCESS); sales volatile but scalable.
How to Land These High-Paying Jobs: Step-by-Step Checklists
Tech/AI Path (UC.edu/Testleaf):
- Learn Python/ML (3-6 mos, Coursera).
- Certs: AWS AI, Google Cloud.
- Portfolio/GitHub.
- Apply FAANG via LeetCode.
Sales/Entrepreneur: Network LinkedIn, pitch 50/wk; bootstrap MVP.
Checklist for No-Degree High-Income Careers
- Pilots: ATP flight school (12-18 mos, $100K invest) → regionals.
- Sales: Certs + cold calls (3 mos to $100K).
- Real Estate: License (2 mos) → commissions.
Timelines: Pilots 2 yrs to $200K.
CEO & Executive Compensation Trends in 2026
CEOs: 281x workers (EPI). COO median rising from $275K (SUCCESS). PE/VC: Associates $250K → millions.
FAQ
Do I need a degree for the highest paying jobs in 2026?
No--pilots ($226K), sales ($200K+ commissions), trades work; but top tiers (surgeons, quants) require one.
What's the salary for AI engineers vs FAANG engineers in 2026?
AI: $300K+ TC; FAANG E5: $450K-$600K (higher equity).
Neurosurgeon vs anesthesiologist: Which pays more?
Neurosurgeon $749K > Anesthesiologist $523K (Doximity).
Best high-income remote jobs 2026 with salaries?
AI eng $300K TC, remote dev 40% premium (FlexJobs), solutions eng $400K max.
Fastest way to millions: Sales commissions or startup exits?
Sales: 2-5 yrs to $1M (scalable); exits: 3-7 yrs, higher ceiling/risk.
Airline pilot salary USA 2026 and entry requirements?
$226K median; no degree--flight hours + training (Epic Flight).