Where to Find the Highest Paying Jobs in the USA (2024-2026 Guide)
Job seekers across the USA--whether you're mid-career, fresh out of college, or switching fields--often look for high-income roles above $100K, including remote options and paths that don't require a degree. Start with the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) for occupation data, then move to LinkedIn, Indeed, and Glassdoor for actual listings. Zero in on healthcare, IT, and legal industries for roles like nurse practitioners (38% growth per BLS via Nexford) or cloud architects ($134K-$336K per FlexJobs 2025). You'll find sites, sectors, and tactics backed by BLS and industry reports here. One note: if you're in a niche field without matching skills or certifications, some advice may not fit your situation.
Quick Start: Top Places to Search Right Now
Start with BLS for the highest-paying occupations, then hit LinkedIn, Indeed, and Glassdoor with $100K+ filters--these platforms dominate high-salary listings per FlexJobs 2025 ranking of 25 sites. FlexJobs points out AI matching on some sites for better fits, while BLS gives you baseline salary data.
Use this 5-step checklist to start today:
- Visit BLS Occupational Employment Statistics--filter for medians over $100K in healthcare/IT.
- On LinkedIn, search "high salary jobs" + your field, apply premium salary filters.
- Indeed: Toggle "highest paying jobs" + remote/$100K+.
- Glassdoor: Use top salaries tool for company insights.
- Cross-check FlexJobs for remote high-pay verified listings.
Listings shift by location and experience; no-degree roles may need certs first.
Best Job Sites for High Salary Positions
LinkedIn, Indeed, and Glassdoor lead for high-income searches, with FlexJobs noting AI tools on top sites for precise matching (FlexJobs 2025). Glassdoor offers salary transparency (historical French data from 2015 (historical, 2015) shows medians like €55K, but US tools are more current via user reports).
| Site | Salary Filters | Remote Focus | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premium $100K+ | Strong | Networking, recruiter reach | Premium needed for full filters | |
| Indeed | $100K+ toggle | Good | Volume of listings | Less company culture info |
| Glassdoor | Top salaries search | Moderate | Pay reviews | User-reported data varies |
| FlexJobs | $100K+ curated | Excellent | Verified remote | Subscription fee |
Optimize your profile: Add keywords like "Python" or "cloud architect" from Nexford. Skip general sites for no-degree trades--use specialized boards instead. Focus on healthcare, IT, and legal for $100K+ via BLS data.
LinkedIn, Indeed, and Glassdoor for Top Salaries
These three excel for $100K+ roles: LinkedIn for "high salary jobs" networking, Indeed for "highest paying jobs" volume, Glassdoor for "top salaries" benchmarks (FlexJobs 2025). Steps: 1) Get Premium on LinkedIn for salary/location filters; 2) Use Indeed advanced search + salary slider; 3) Check Glassdoor company salary reviews before you apply.
Not ideal for no-degree without certs--trades favor union sites.
Top Paying Industries in the USA (Healthcare, Tech, Legal)
Healthcare, tech/IT, and legal sectors top the pay lists, with lawyers averaging $176K (Forbes 2024) and the information industry near $100K (Visual Capitalist 2025). Nurse practitioners see 38% BLS-projected growth (Nexford); law adds 39,100 openings yearly through 2032.
Airline pilots snag $33K bonuses (Nexford). Averages can hide entry gaps--healthcare needs qualifications, IT rewards skills like Python/Java (Nexford world). Expected 2026 trends follow 2024-2025 patterns of tech/healthcare dominance. Focus on healthcare, IT, and legal for $100K+ via BLS data.
Highest Paying Jobs No Degree vs Degree-Required
No-degree paths like elevator installers ($106K median, 5% growth 2024-2034) via BLS (CNBC 2025) contrast with degree-heavy roles like cardiologists ($324K, BS + med school + residency Nexford).
| Path | Example | Median Salary (Source/Year) | Growth | Entry Barriers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No Degree | Elevator Installer | $106K (CNBC 2025) | 5% | Trade certs, apprenticeship |
| No Degree | Transport Manager | $102K (CNBC 2025) | 6% | Experience |
| Degree-Required | Cardiologist | $324K (Nexford) | Not specified | 4yr BS + med + residency |
| Degree-Required | Lawyer | $176K (Forbes 2024) | 8% to 2032 | Law degree |
Choose no-degree for hands-on trades; growth lags behind healthcare's 38%.
Highest Paying Remote Jobs and Flexible Options
Remote high-pay roles like cloud architects ($134K-$336K, BLS fast growth FlexJobs 2025) thrive in IT. UK data shows 67% remote productivity high (Skill-Up 2025), applicable broadly.
4 steps: 1) Build Python/Java skills; 2) Filter FlexJobs/LinkedIn remote + $100K; 3) Highlight productivity tools; 4) Network via LinkedIn. Rare without qualifications; needs experience.
Best Cities and Regions for High Paying Jobs USA
No direct city rankings in sources, but use BLS metro filters for high-pay clusters--tech in info industry hubs, healthcare nationwide (Visual Capitalist 2025). California context shows high costs versus income.
- Tech: Filter BLS for info sector metros.
- Healthcare: Broad, but growth in private services (894K jobs added Visual Capitalist 2025).
Don't relocate to high-COL if mid-income--remote often works better.
Evidence Pack – High-Pay Job Search Decision Matrix
Filter by your skills: High growth + remote = tech; quick entry = trades.
| Job Type | Avg Salary (Source/Year/USA) | Projected Growth (BLS via Source) | Search Sites | Entry Barriers | Remote Potential |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elevator Installer (No-Degree Trade) | $106K (CNBC 2025) | 5% | Indeed, unions | Certs/apprenticeship | Low |
| Lawyer (Legal) | $176K (Forbes 2024) | 8% to 2032 (BLS via reports) | Law degree | Moderate | |
| Nurse Practitioner (Healthcare) | Not specified; 38% growth (BLS Nurse Practitioners) | 38% | Glassdoor, Indeed | Advanced nursing | Moderate |
| Info Sector/Cloud Architect (Tech) | ~$100K (Visual Capitalist 2025); $134K-$336K (FlexJobs 2025) | Fast (BLS) | FlexJobs, LinkedIn | Skills/certs | High |
Actionable Steps to Land High-Income Roles
- Research BLS for $100K+ occupations.
- Tailor LinkedIn/Indeed with salary filters + keywords.
- Network: Connect with 10 recruiters weekly.
- Get certs (e.g., Python for IT via reports).
- Apply to 5 filtered roles per day via FlexJobs tips.
- Track via spreadsheet.
Skip advanced degrees if you want to avoid debt--opt for trades instead (CNBC 2025).
Salary Comparison by Occupation: Key Benchmarks
| Occupation | Median Salary (Source/Year/USA) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cardiologist | $324K (Nexford) | Med school + residency |
| Elevator Installer | $106K (CNBC 2025) | No degree, 5% growth |
| Lawyer | $176K (Forbes 2024) | 8% growth |
| Cloud Architect | $134K-$336K (FlexJobs 2025) | Remote IT |
Differences come from training: Trades offer quick entry versus med's long path. Target $100K+ with qualifications.
FAQ
Is BLS the best for highest paying occupations?
Yes, BLS is the core data source across reports like Nexford and CNBC for US medians/growth--use /oes for current benchmarks.
What are top sites like LinkedIn for high salary jobs?
FlexJobs ranks 25, prioritizing LinkedIn/Indeed/Glassdoor with $100K+ filters and AI matching for efficiency.
Highest paying remote jobs with $100K+?
FlexJobs lists cloud architects at $134K-$336K with BLS fast growth; focus IT skills for remote.
Best paying careers no degree in USA?
CNBC highlights elevator installers ($106K, 5% growth) and transport managers ($102K, 6%) via BLS.
Top paying industries USA 2024-2025?
Forbes/Visual Capitalist: Healthcare/legal/IT over $100K avgs, e.g., lawyers $176K (2024), info ~$100K (2025).
Apply This to Your Situation
Assess: 1) What's your top skill (e.g., tech languages like Python)? 2) Do you have degrees/certs ready? 3) Are you OK with remote or relocating?
Next steps: 1) Visit BLS.gov/oes for occupation salaries. 2) Update LinkedIn with high-pay keywords and apply to 5 filtered roles today.