67% of these careers already have a full profile page; the rest publish with the next tranche and show the same bank data here in the meantime.
Highest-Paying Jobs in Business (2026)
Chief Executive tops this list at $213,990 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), with +4.3% projected employment change over 2024–2034. Below are 30 careers that meet the criteria, each with its real median wage, outlook and entry requirement.
Every occupation in the SOC management and business-and-financial-operations groups, from chief executive to management analyst, ranked by national median wage.
- Careers on this list
- 30
- Median pay on the list
- $125,765
- Projected to grow
- 27 of 30
- Openings a year
- 1,164,000
From 923 in the bank
BLS OEWS, May 2025
BLS EP, 2024–2034
Combined, BLS EP
How we built this list
- Included when the occupation sits in the "management" (11-0000) or "business and financial operations" (13-0000) SOC major groups.
- Ranked by national median annual wage from BLS OEWS. Most of the top of the list is management, which typically means years of prior experience in the field rather than a direct entry route.
- BLS publishes one wage per occupation code, and several O*NET job titles can share a code. Only one title per code is listed, so the same wage does not appear over and over.
- Occupations with no BLS wage or projection data are excluded rather than estimated.
- The list is regenerated from source data on every bank refresh. It is not hand-picked and no editorial ranking is applied.
The top 30 highest-paying jobs in business
1. Chief Executive
Management
- Median pay
- $213,990
- Growth
- +4.3%
- Openings/yr
- 22,200
- Education
- Bachelor's
Determine and formulate policies and provide overall direction of companies or private and public sector organizations within guidelines set up by a board of directors or similar governing body.
Chief Executive salary & outlook →2. IT Manager
Management
- Median pay
- $175,140
- Growth
- +15.2%
- Openings/yr
- 55,600
- Education
- Bachelor's
Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as electronic data processing, information systems, systems analysis, and computer programming.
IT Manager salary & outlook →3. Architectural and Engineering Manager
Management
- Median pay
- $171,270
- Growth
- +3.8%
- Openings/yr
- 14,500
- Education
- Bachelor's
Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as architecture and engineering or research and development in these fields.
Architectural and Engineering Manager salary & outlook →4. Natural Sciences Manager
Management
- Median pay
- $167,220
- Growth
- +3.7%
- Openings/yr
- 8,500
- Education
- Bachelor's
Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as life sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, statistics, and research and development in these fields.
Full page coming in the next tranche. Data shown here is from the same bank.
5. Marketing Manager
Management
- Median pay
- $166,790
- Growth
- +6.6%
- Openings/yr
- 34,300
- Education
- Bachelor's
Plan, direct, or coordinate marketing policies and programs, such as determining the demand for products and services offered by a firm and its competitors, and identify potential customers.
Marketing Manager salary & outlook →6. Financial Manager
Management
- Median pay
- $166,570
- Growth
- +14.8%
- Openings/yr
- 74,600
- Education
- Bachelor's
Plan, direct, or coordinate accounting, investing, banking, insurance, securities, and other financial activities of a branch, office, or department of an establishment.
Financial Manager salary & outlook →7. Human Resources Manager
Management
- Median pay
- $149,280
- Growth
- +5.0%
- Openings/yr
- 17,900
- Education
- Bachelor's
Plan, direct, or coordinate human resources activities and staff of an organization.
Human Resources Manager salary & outlook →8. Compensation and Benefits Manager
Management
- Median pay
- $149,230
- Growth
- +0.2%
- Openings/yr
- 1,500
- Education
- Bachelor's
Plan, direct, or coordinate compensation and benefits activities of an organization.
Full page coming in the next tranche. Data shown here is from the same bank.
9. Sales Manager
Management
- Median pay
- $148,270
- Growth
- +4.7%
- Openings/yr
- 49,000
- Education
- Bachelor's
Plan, direct, or coordinate the actual distribution or movement of a product or service to the customer.
Sales Manager salary & outlook →10. Purchasing Manager
Management
- Median pay
- $148,080
- Growth
- +3.1%
- Openings/yr
- 6,400
- Education
- Bachelor's
Plan, direct, or coordinate the activities of buyers, purchasing officers, and related workers involved in purchasing materials, products, and services.
Full page coming in the next tranche. Data shown here is from the same bank.
11. Public Relations Manager
Management
- Median pay
- $146,910
- Growth
- +5.0%
- Openings/yr
- 6,600
- Education
- Bachelor's
Plan, direct, or coordinate activities designed to create or maintain a favorable public image or raise issue awareness for their organization or client.
Full page coming in the next tranche. Data shown here is from the same bank.
12. Regulatory Affairs Manager
Management
- Median pay
- $141,900
- Growth
- +4.5%
- Openings/yr
- 106,700
- Education
- Bachelor's
Plan, direct, or coordinate production activities of an organization to ensure compliance with regulations and standard operating procedures.
Full page coming in the next tranche. Data shown here is from the same bank.
13. Advertising and Promotions Manager
Management
- Median pay
- $133,660
- Growth
- -2.2%
- Openings/yr
- 2,100
- Education
- Bachelor's
Plan, direct, or coordinate advertising policies and programs or produce collateral materials, such as posters, contests, coupons, or giveaways, to create extra interest in the purchase of a product or service for a d…
Full page coming in the next tranche. Data shown here is from the same bank.
14. Training and Development Manager
Management
- Median pay
- $133,000
- Growth
- +5.8%
- Openings/yr
- 3,800
- Education
- Bachelor's
Plan, direct, or coordinate the training and development activities and staff of an organization.
Full page coming in the next tranche. Data shown here is from the same bank.
15. Industrial Production Manager
Management
- Median pay
- $126,060
- Growth
- +1.9%
- Openings/yr
- 17,100
- Education
- Bachelor's
Plan, direct, or coordinate the work activities and resources necessary for manufacturing products in accordance with cost, quality, and quantity specifications.
Industrial Production Manager salary & outlook →16. Fundraising Manager
Management
- Median pay
- $125,470
- Growth
- +4.2%
- Openings/yr
- 3,600
- Education
- Bachelor's
Plan, direct, or coordinate activities to solicit and maintain funds for special projects or nonprofit organizations.
Full page coming in the next tranche. Data shown here is from the same bank.
17. Medical and Health Services Manager
Management
- Median pay
- $123,860
- Growth
- +23.2%
- Openings/yr
- 62,100
- Education
- Bachelor's
Plan, direct, or coordinate medical and health services in hospitals, clinics, managed care organizations, public health agencies, or similar organizations.
Medical and Health Services Manager salary & outlook →18. Financial Risk Specialist
Business and Financial Operations
- Median pay
- $117,330
- Growth
- +6.5%
- Openings/yr
- 4,800
- Education
- Bachelor's
Analyze and measure exposure to credit and market risk threatening the assets, earning capacity, or economic state of an organization.
Full page coming in the next tranche. Data shown here is from the same bank.
19. Construction Manager
Management
- Median pay
- $114,990
- Growth
- +8.7%
- Openings/yr
- 46,800
- Education
- Bachelor's
Plan, direct, or coordinate, usually through subordinate supervisory personnel, activities concerned with the construction and maintenance of structures, facilities, and systems.
Construction Manager salary & outlook →20. Administrative Services Manager
Management
- Median pay
- $114,130
- Growth
- +4.6%
- Openings/yr
- 23,200
- Education
- Bachelor's
Plan, direct, or coordinate one or more administrative services of an organization, such as records and information management, mail distribution, and other office support services.
Administrative Services Manager salary & outlook →21. Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Manager
Management
- Median pay
- $107,230
- Growth
- +6.1%
- Openings/yr
- 18,500
- Education
- High school
Plan, direct, or coordinate transportation, storage, or distribution activities in accordance with organizational policies and applicable government laws or regulations.
Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Manager salary & outlook →22. Facilities Manager
Management
- Median pay
- $106,660
- Growth
- +3.8%
- Openings/yr
- 13,200
- Education
- Bachelor's
Plan, direct, or coordinate operations and functionalities of facilities and buildings.
Facilities Manager salary & outlook →23. Education Administrator, Kindergarten through Secondary
Management
- Median pay
- $105,870
- Growth
- -1.5%
- Openings/yr
- 20,800
- Education
- Master's
Plan, direct, or coordinate the academic, administrative, or auxiliary activities of kindergarten, elementary, or secondary schools.
Education Administrator, Kindergarten through Secondary salary & outlook →24. General and Operations Manager
Management
- Median pay
- $105,770
- Growth
- +4.4%
- Openings/yr
- 308,700
- Education
- Bachelor's
Plan, direct, or coordinate the operations of public or private sector organizations, overseeing multiple departments or locations.
General and Operations Manager salary & outlook →25. Financial Advisor
Business and Financial Operations
- Median pay
- $105,070
- Growth
- +9.6%
- Openings/yr
- 24,100
- Education
- Bachelor's
Advise clients on financial plans using knowledge of tax and investment strategies, securities, insurance, pension plans, and real estate.
Financial Advisor salary & outlook →26. Education Administrator, Postsecondary
Management
- Median pay
- $104,590
- Growth
- +1.7%
- Openings/yr
- 15,100
- Education
- Master's
Plan, direct, or coordinate student instruction, administration, and services, as well as other research and educational activities, at postsecondary institutions, including universities, colleges, and junior and comm…
Education Administrator, Postsecondary salary & outlook →27. Financial and Investment Analyst
Business and Financial Operations
- Median pay
- $102,740
- Growth
- +5.7%
- Openings/yr
- 25,100
- Education
- Bachelor's
Conduct quantitative analyses of information involving investment programs or financial data of public or private institutions, including valuation of businesses.
Financial and Investment Analyst salary & outlook →28. Project Management Specialist
Business and Financial Operations
- Median pay
- $102,320
- Growth
- +5.6%
- Openings/yr
- 78,200
- Education
- Bachelor's
Analyze and coordinate the schedule, timeline, procurement, staffing, and budget of a product or service on a per project basis.
Project Management Specialist salary & outlook →29. Management Analyst
Business and Financial Operations
- Median pay
- $101,860
- Growth
- +8.8%
- Openings/yr
- 98,100
- Education
- Bachelor's
Conduct organizational studies and evaluations, design systems and procedures, conduct work simplification and measurement studies, and prepare operations and procedures manuals to assist management in operating more…
Management Analyst salary & outlook →30. Postmaster
Management
- Median pay
- $96,660
- Growth
- -3.5%
- Openings/yr
- 900
- Education
- High school
Plan, direct, or coordinate operational, administrative, management, and support services of a U.S.
Full page coming in the next tranche. Data shown here is from the same bank.
Highest-Paying Jobs in Business: FAQ
What is the top career on the highest-paying jobs in business list?
Chief Executive leads the list with a median wage of $213,990 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025) and projected employment change of +4.3% over 2024–2034. Typical entry-level education is bachelor's.
How was this list put together?
Every occupation in the SOC management and business-and-financial-operations groups, from chief executive to management analyst, ranked by national median wage. Included when the occupation sits in the "management" (11-0000) or "business and financial operations" (13-0000) SOC major groups. Ranked by national median annual wage from BLS OEWS. Most of the top of the list is management, which typically means years of prior experience in the field rather than a direct entry route. BLS publishes one wage per occupation code, and several O*NET job titles can share a code. Only one title per code is listed, so the same wage does not appear over and over. Every figure comes from BLS OEWS May 2025, BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 and O*NET 30.3 Database.
How much do highest-paying jobs in business pay?
Across the 30 careers on this list the middle occupation pays $125,765 a year, from $96,660 at the bottom to $213,990 at the top (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The median across all US occupations is $50,980.
How many of these careers can you enter without a degree?
2 of the 30 careers on this list have a typical entry requirement below an associate's degree: a high school diploma, a postsecondary certificate, or no formal credential (BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034).