Highest Paying Jobs in the US 2026: Top Careers, Salaries & How to Get Started
Looking for a high-salary career in 2026? The US job market offers lucrative opportunities in tech, healthcare, finance, blue-collar trades, and emerging fields. Based on BLS projections, Doximity reports, and industry forecasts, this guide covers the top 10+ highest-paying jobs with average salaries, growth trends, remote options, no-degree paths, and actionable steps to break in. Whether you're a student, career changer, or job seeker chasing six figures, find quick answers on surging sectors like AI (32-35% growth) and healthcare (1.8M annual openings).
Quick Answer: Top 10 Highest Paying Jobs in the US for 2026
Here's the immediate list of the highest-paying roles based on 2026 projections from sources like TAG MedStaffing, Doximity, Mergers & Inquisitions, and BLS data:
- Neurosurgeon - $749,140 avg (TAG MedStaffing/Doximity)
- Orthopedic Surgeon - $679,517 avg
- General Thoracic Surgeon - $689,969 avg
- Cardiologist - $587,360 avg
- Investment Banker - $440,000 all-in (base + bonus)
- Nurse Anesthetist - $200,000+ (trends from Nexford)
- Airline Pilot (12-year FO) - Mid-$260,000
- Cybersecurity Specialist (top roles) - $256,040 median
- Software Architect/Cloud Roles - $165,000+ (Invensis/TechGeeks)
- AI Engineer - $160,000+ (senior levels, Schiller)
These six-figure (and beyond) salaries reflect medians for experienced pros; entry-level starts lower but scales fast with skills.
Key Takeaways: Best High-Salary Careers at a Glance
- Healthcare dominates: Neurosurgeons top at $749K; 1.8M openings/year through 2032 (Nexford/BLS).
- Tech boom: AI engineers >$160K, data scientists $125-165K (Invensis); cybersecurity growth 32-35% (BLS/Nexford).
- Finance power: Investment bankers hit $440K all-in comp (Mergers & Inquisitions).
- Blue-collar six figures: Wind turbine techs +50% growth, $75-115K (Resume Genius/BLS).
- Emerging winners: Airline pilots mid-$260K at seniority (SimpleFlying); petroleum engineers strong outlook.
- Remote premium: Up to 40% higher pay for tech/finance roles (KuuBiik/FlexJobs).
- No-degree paths: Energy/trade apprenticeships yield $80-120K (Jobera).
- Cert boosts: CISSP adds $25-35K in cyber (Redbud).
- Actuary stability: Low unemployment <1%, hybrid skills key (DW Simpson).
- BLS trends: Fastest growth in cyber (35%), wind tech (50%); avg US salary context ~$70K, top 5% at $250K+.
- Women gap closing: 80-85% of men's pay, improving in tech/healthcare (CVMaker).
- Negotiation matters: 10-20% salary uplift possible (Redbud).
Highest Paying Tech Jobs 2026: AI, Cybersecurity & Software Salaries
Tech leads with AI, cloud, and cyber driving demand. Software architects and cloud pros earn $165K+ (Invensis/TechGeeks), designing scalable systems. Data scientists forecast $125-165K, specializing in deep learning (Invensis). Cybersecurity varies: entry IT support at $46K (Nexford/ITAAG), but top roles like specialists hit $256K median--experienced pros average $157K-$175K (Nexford). Growth: 32% (BLS/Redbud) to 35% (Nexford). Salaries contradict by level--entry $46-50K vs. senior $256K.
Mini case: AI product manager path--earn $110-165K+ by blending tech smarts and business (Invensis).
AI Engineer Salary Projections 2026 vs Data Scientist Forecast
| Role | Avg Salary 2026 | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| AI Engineer | $160K+ (senior) | High demand, innovation edge | Intense competition, rapid skill evolution (Schiller) |
| Data Scientist | $125-165K | Data mastery, versatile | Less "bleeding edge" than AI (Invensis) |
AI edges higher pay but requires CS/math foundations (Schiller).
Top Healthcare Careers with Highest Pay 2026: Surgeons to Nurse Anesthetists
Healthcare offers stability with massive openings. Neurosurgeons lead at $749K, orthopedic surgeons $679K, cardiologists $587K, thoracic $690K (TAG/Doximity). Nurse anesthetists trend $200K+; pharmacists $123K; physician associates $100K; sonographers $106K (Nexford). US outpaces UK (£120-180K surgeons equiv. ~$150-230K). 8/20 fastest-growing jobs medical (Nexford/BLS).
Mini case: Surgeon path--med school (4yrs), residency (5-7yrs), fellowship; high responsibility yields top pay.
Executive, Finance & Legal High-Salary Roles 2026
Investment bankers average $440K all-in ($200K base + bonus, Mergers & Inquisitions). Corporate lawyers ~$148K (CVMaker). Actuaries thrive with <1% unemployment, blending stats/ML (DW Simpson). Executives scale with experience.
Checklist to Enter Finance:
- Bachelor's in finance/econ.
- 3-5yrs analyst exp.
- CFA/ Series 7 certs.
- Network via LinkedIn/IB internships.
- Negotiate bonuses (30%+ deferred).
Emerging & Fastest Growing High Paying Jobs 2026
Petroleum engineers hold strong outlook amid energy shifts. Airline pilots: 12-year first officers mid-$260K (SimpleFlying). Remote tech salaries 40% higher (KuuBiik). BLS: Cyber 35%, wind tech 50% growth.
Highest Paying Blue-Collar & No-Degree Jobs 2026
Blue-collar hits six figures sans degree: Energy roles $80-120K, trades $75-115K (Jobera/Resume Genius). Wind turbine techs fastest-growing (+50%, BLS).
Practical Steps/Apprenticeship Checklist:
- Enroll 4-5yr paid program (on-job + class).
- Earn associate's in maintenance.
- Target energy/trades unions.
- Gain 1-2yrs hands-on.
Mini case: Wind tech--50% growth, $75-115K via apprenticeship; green energy boom.
White-collar often needs degrees but blue-collar offers faster entry.
High Salary Remote Jobs 2026: Pros, Cons & Top Picks
Remote roles in tech/finance pay 40% more (KuuBiik/FlexJobs), but hybrid rising (DW Simpson/ADP). Top picks: AI/cloud ($165K+), cyber ($120-256K).
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 40% pay premium, flexibility | Hybrid shift, isolation, less mentorship |
Checklist for Remote:
- Skills: Cloud/AI certs (AWS, CISSP).
- Portfolio on GitHub.
- Remote-first firms (FlexJobs).
- Negotiate 10-20% uplift.
How to Land a Six-Figure Job in 2026: Step-by-Step Guide
- Education/Cert: Degree for white-collar; CISSP (+$25-35K cyber), AWS for cloud.
- Experience: 3-5yrs (avg for cyber/top pay).
- Specialize: AI/cloud, niche cyber (15-30% premium, Redbud).
- Network/Negotiate: LinkedIn, 10-20% boost.
- Hybrid skills: Tech + business (e.g., actuarial ML).
Apprenticeships for no-degree; upskill via online CPD.
2026 Job Market Salary Trends (BLS & Beyond)
BLS/ADP show tech/healthcare surging; cyber 32% (BLS) vs 35% (Nexford). Actuaries face automation but demand hybrid skills. Avg US salary ~$70K; top 5% $250K+ (CVMaker). Year-over-year cyber +7-10% (Redbud). Remote/hybrid norm post-pandemic.
FAQ
What are the top 10 lucrative professions 2026?
Neurosurgeon ($749K), surgeons ($679-690K), investment banker ($440K), etc.--see Quick Answer list.
What is the data scientist salary 2026 forecast in the US?
$125-165K, up to $180K in AI-specialized roles (Invensis).
Which high paying jobs no degree 2026 offer six figures?
Wind techs ($75-115K+), energy/trades ($80-120K) via 4-5yr apprenticeships (Jobera/Resume Genius).
What are the best paying tech jobs 2026 salaries?
AI engineer $160K+, software architect $165K+, data scientist $125-165K, cyber top $256K (Schiller/Invensis/Nexford).
Nurse anesthetist salary 2026 US vs surgeon trends?
Nurse anesthetist $200K+; surgeons $500-749K (far higher, but longer path; TAG/Nexford).
Fastest growing high salary careers 2026 per BLS?
Wind turbine techs (50%), cybersecurity (32-35%), healthcare roles (1.8M openings; BLS/Nexford).