Jobs that pay $70K a year
The 80 occupations whose BLS national median annual wage is from $70,000 to $79,999, ranked by how many people do the job.
80 occupations have a BLS national median annual wage from $70,000 to $79,999 (May 2025). By employment, the largest is Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products: 1,238,190 people, median $72,080. 38 of the 80 typically need less than a bachelor's degree to enter, and 22 need a high school diploma or no formal credential (BLS Employment Projections).
The 50 largest of 80 occupations
Data BLS OEWS May 2025 national medians; education from BLS Employment Projections.
| # | Occupation | Median annual | Median hourly (BLS) | Typical entry-level education | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products | $72,080 | $34.65 | High school diploma | 1,238,190 |
| 2 | High School Teacher | $72,040 | hourly not published | Bachelor's degree | 1,065,210 |
| 3 | Recruiter | $75,940 | $36.51 | Bachelor's degree | 912,430 |
| 4 | Marketing Specialist | $78,760 | $37.87 | Bachelor's degree | 899,580 |
| 5 | First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $79,920 | $38.42 | High school diploma | 812,210 |
| 6 | First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $74,450 | $35.79 | High school diploma | 673,430 |
| 7 | Police Officer | $76,210 | $36.64 | High school diploma | 670,520 |
| 8 | First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers | $79,860 | $38.39 | High school diploma | 617,500 |
| 9 | Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents | $78,660 | $37.82 | Bachelor's degree | 489,570 |
| 10 | Executive Assistant | $76,590 | $36.82 | High school diploma | 459,910 |
| 11 | Claims Adjuster | $78,000 | $37.50 | High school diploma | 324,230 |
| 12 | Public Relations Specialist | $74,750 | $35.94 | Bachelor's degree | 283,380 |
| 13 | Loan Officer | $76,690 | $36.87 | Bachelor's degree | 274,330 |
| 14 | Instructional Designer | $77,440 | $37.23 | Master's degree | 227,760 |
| 15 | Cost Estimator | $78,740 | $37.86 | Bachelor's degree | 224,220 |
| 16 | Special Education Teacher | $74,260 | hourly not published | Bachelor's degree | 163,930 |
| 17 | Home Inspector | $74,690 | $35.91 | High school diploma | 146,720 |
| 18 | Computer Network Support Specialists | $76,220 | $36.64 | Associate's degree | 146,190 |
| 19 | Aircraft Mechanic | $79,870 | $38.40 | Postsecondary certificate | 138,090 |
| 20 | Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists | $78,210 | $37.60 | Bachelor's degree | 112,380 |
| 21 | Fundraiser | $72,550 | $34.88 | Bachelor's degree | 111,040 |
| 22 | Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers | $74,330 | $35.73 | High school diploma | 97,720 |
| 23 | Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $78,190 | $37.59 | Associate's degree | 95,130 |
| 24 | Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | $78,620 | hourly not published | Master's degree | 93,560 |
| 25 | Editor | $77,920 | $37.46 | Bachelor's degree | 91,690 |
| 26 | Nutritionist | $76,400 | $36.73 | Bachelor's degree | 77,570 |
| 27 | Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment | $74,090 | $35.62 | Postsecondary certificate | 65,010 |
| 28 | Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians | $74,310 | $35.73 | Associate's degree | 62,960 |
| 29 | Education Teachers, Postsecondary | $75,350 | hourly not published | Doctoral or professional degree | 60,830 |
| 30 | English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary | $78,760 | hourly not published | Doctoral or professional degree | 57,720 |
| 31 | First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers | $77,970 | $37.49 | High school diploma | 53,380 |
| 32 | Occupational Therapy Assistant | $72,300 | $34.76 | Associate's degree | 51,290 |
| 33 | Surveyor | $75,440 | $36.27 | Bachelor's degree | 50,830 |
| 34 | Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door | $74,340 | $35.74 | High school diploma | 48,240 |
| 35 | Writer | $76,910 | $36.98 | Bachelor's degree | 47,940 |
| 36 | Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $79,940 | hourly not published | Doctoral or professional degree | 47,670 |
| 37 | Train Conductor | $78,000 | $37.50 | High school diploma | 46,440 |
| 38 | Real Estate Broker | $73,220 | $35.20 | High school diploma | 46,100 |
| 39 | Mechanical Drafters | $71,550 | $34.40 | Associate's degree | 39,960 |
| 40 | Chiropractor | $79,200 | $38.08 | Doctoral or professional degree | 39,630 |
| 41 | Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling | $79,520 | $38.23 | Bachelor's degree | 37,980 |
| 42 | Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $74,510 | $35.82 | Associate's degree | 36,190 |
| 43 | Communications Teachers, Postsecondary | $78,580 | hourly not published | Doctoral or professional degree | 29,420 |
| 44 | Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators | $78,620 | $37.80 | High school diploma | 28,250 |
| 45 | Conservation Scientists | $73,010 | $35.10 | Bachelor's degree | 25,950 |
| 46 | Video Editor | $75,420 | $36.26 | Bachelor's degree | 25,610 |
| 47 | Camera Operator | $74,990 | $36.05 | Bachelor's degree | 21,550 |
| 48 | Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary | $79,350 | hourly not published | Doctoral or professional degree | 19,830 |
| 49 | Landscape Architect | $79,870 | $38.40 | Bachelor's degree | 19,600 |
| 50 | Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators | $70,070 | $33.69 | High school diploma | 19,580 |
Who these jobs are
Data Together these 80 occupations employ 11,735,430 people (calculated sum of BLS employment). The fields with the most of them: education and library (13), arts, design, media and sports (9), business and financial (8). Fewer than half of them (38 of 80, 48%) typically need less than a bachelor's degree.
Data The best-paid occupation in this group is Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary ($79,940 median); the one with the fewest people is Terrazzo Workers and Finishers (1,180 employed).
How this page is built
All 748 BLS detailed occupations with a published national median (OEWS May 2025), leaving out 70 residual “all other” categories. Included: a median annual wage from $70,000 to $79,999. Ranked by national employment. A median means half the workers in the occupation earn more and half earn less; it is not a starting wage or an offer. 4 occupations (performers such as actors and dancers) have only an hourly median from BLS and are not converted to annual, so they cannot appear here.
- What a particular employer pays, or pay in your state or city.
- Starting pay: medians include experienced workers.
- Self-employed earnings (OEWS covers employees).
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates (public domain).
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2025–35 (released Aug 27, 2026; public domain): typical entry-level education, work experience, on-the-job training, projected change and annual openings.