Jobs that pay $80K a year
The 35 occupations whose BLS national median annual wage is from $80,000 to $89,999, ranked by how many people do the job.
35 occupations have a BLS national median annual wage from $80,000 to $89,999 (May 2025). By employment, the largest is Accountant: 1,449,500 people, median $83,680. 10 of the 35 typically need less than a bachelor's degree to enter, and 5 need a high school diploma or no formal credential (BLS Employment Projections).
35 occupations, largest first
Data BLS OEWS May 2025 national medians; education from BLS Employment Projections.
| # | Occupation | Median annual | Median hourly (BLS) | Typical entry-level education | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Accountant | $83,680 | $40.23 | Bachelor's degree | 1,449,500 |
| 2 | Compliance Officer | $80,730 | $38.81 | Bachelor's degree | 417,070 |
| 3 | Logistician | $82,320 | $39.58 | Bachelor's degree | 251,040 |
| 4 | Radiology Tech | $80,110 | $38.52 | Associate's degree | 230,490 |
| 5 | First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers | $87,520 | $42.08 | High school diploma | 214,390 |
| 6 | Social and Community Service Managers | $80,390 | $38.65 | Bachelor's degree | 209,330 |
| 7 | Respiratory Therapist | $82,280 | $39.56 | Associate's degree | 139,790 |
| 8 | Operations Research Analyst | $88,940 | $42.76 | Bachelor's degree | 108,510 |
| 9 | Underwriter | $81,370 | $39.12 | Bachelor's degree | 105,420 |
| 10 | Environmental Scientist | $82,220 | $39.53 | Bachelor's degree | 89,250 |
| 11 | Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary | $80,250 | hourly not published | Doctoral or professional degree | 77,960 |
| 12 | Credit Analyst | $83,510 | $40.15 | Bachelor's degree | 64,390 |
| 13 | Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $84,620 | hourly not published | Doctoral or professional degree | 50,190 |
| 14 | Urban Planner | $89,320 | $42.94 | Master's degree | 44,230 |
| 15 | Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary | $80,340 | hourly not published | Doctoral or professional degree | 41,530 |
| 16 | Commercial and Industrial Designers | $83,910 | $40.34 | Bachelor's degree | 33,490 |
| 17 | Locomotive Engineer | $81,410 | $39.14 | High school diploma | 33,470 |
| 18 | Fashion Designer | $80,960 | $38.92 | Bachelor's degree | 21,450 |
| 19 | Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary | $80,260 | hourly not published | Doctoral or professional degree | 20,460 |
| 20 | Microbiologist | $87,990 | $42.30 | Bachelor's degree | 18,940 |
| 21 | Avionics Technician | $82,280 | $39.56 | Postsecondary certificate | 18,830 |
| 22 | History Teacher | $83,820 | hourly not published | Doctoral or professional degree | 18,790 |
| 23 | Gas Plant Operators | $87,820 | $42.22 | High school diploma | 18,030 |
| 24 | Cartographers and Photogrammetrists | $81,390 | $39.13 | Bachelor's degree | 14,260 |
| 25 | Food Scientists and Technologists | $88,720 | $42.65 | Bachelor's degree | 13,060 |
| 26 | Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes | $82,890 | $39.85 | Bachelor's degree | 12,620 |
| 27 | Epidemiologist | $87,220 | $41.93 | Master's degree | 12,090 |
| 28 | Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary | $84,290 | hourly not published | Doctoral or professional degree | 11,850 |
| 29 | Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | $85,020 | hourly not published | Doctoral or professional degree | 11,300 |
| 30 | Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians | $82,890 | $39.85 | Associate's degree | 11,280 |
| 31 | Subway and Streetcar Operators | $86,380 | $41.53 | High school diploma | 10,200 |
| 32 | Orthotists and Prosthetists | $81,110 | $38.99 | Master's degree | 9,390 |
| 33 | Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers, Transportation Equipment | $84,890 | $40.81 | Postsecondary certificate | 6,940 |
| 34 | Farmer | $89,900 | $43.22 | High school diploma | 6,500 |
| 35 | Library Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $80,340 | hourly not published | Doctoral or professional degree | 3,630 |
Who these jobs are
Data Together these 35 occupations employ 3,799,670 people (calculated sum of BLS employment). The fields with the most of them: education and library (8), business and financial (6), life, physical and social science (5). Fewer than half of them (10 of 35, 29%) typically need less than a bachelor's degree.
Data The best-paid occupation in this group is Farmer ($89,900 median); the one with the fewest people is Library Science Teachers, Postsecondary (3,630 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 $80,000 to $89,999. 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.