Ranked list · 47 careers
47 Jobs That Pay $300k to $500k a Year (2026)
Cardiologist tops this list at $496,010 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), with +4.8% projected employment change over 2025–2035. Below are 47 careers that meet the criteria, each with its real median wage, outlook and entry requirement.
- Careers on this list
- 47From 1,731 in the bank
- Median pay on the list
- $381,630BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Projected to grow
- 47 of 47BLS EP, 2025–2035
- Openings a year
- 776,700Combined, BLS EP
Method
How we built this list
Careers whose typical pay is at least $300,000 and under $500,000 a year, ranked by that typical figure; higher-paying careers are on the $500k list. BLS stops short here: it folds most of these careers into broad codes (a neurosurgeon is counted with every other physician), so where a career carries industry-reported pay from a named survey, scale or filing (Medscape, MGMA, Levels.fyi, AmLaw, union contracts and similar), that figure is used and its source is on the career page. Everything else is BLS OEWS.
- Careers whose typical pay is at least $300,000 and under $500,000 a year, ranked by that typical figure; higher-paying careers are on the $500k list. BLS stops short here: it folds most of these careers into broad codes (a neurosurgeon is counted with every other physician), so where a career carries industry-reported pay from a named survey, scale or filing (Medscape, MGMA, Levels.fyi, AmLaw, union contracts and similar), that figure is used and its source is on the career page. Everything else is BLS OEWS.
- 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 list
The top 47 jobs that pay $300k a year
100% 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.
- 1
1. Cardiologist
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Median pay
- $496,010median a year
- Growth
- +4.8%
- Openings / yr
- 500
- Education
- Doctorate
Diagnose, treat, manage, and prevent diseases or conditions of the cardiovascular system.
- 2
2. Colorectal Surgeon
Specialty within orthopedic surgeon, except pediatric
- Median pay
- $487,085typical, Doximity Physician Compensation Report 2025
- Growth
- +4.0%
- Openings / yr
- 400
- Education
- Doctorate
Surgeon who treats diseases of the colon, rectum and anus, including colorectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease and pelvic floor disorders.
- 3
3. Staff Data Scientist
Specialty within data scientist
- Median pay
- $486,000typical, Levels.fyi company pages (Meta, Google)
- Growth
- +34.6%
- Openings / yr
- 24,800
- Education
- Bachelor's
A senior individual-contributor data scientist who sets analytical direction for a product area and leads the hardest experiments, models and metrics work.
- 4
4. Great Lakes Pilot
Specialty within captain, mate, and pilot of water vessels
- Median pay
- $481,642typical, U.S. Coast Guard, Great Lakes Pilotage Rates 2026 Annual Review (Federal Register)
- Growth
- +4.0%
- Openings / yr
- 3,800
- Education
- Certificate
Boards foreign-flagged ships entering the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway and guides them through narrow channels, rivers, and locks under federal registration.
- 5
5. Chief Security Officer
Specialty within security manager
- Median pay
- $473,309typical, ScottMadden Security & Compliance Survey 2025, via Security Magazine
- Growth
- +4.6%
- Openings / yr
- 14,200
- Education
- Bachelor's
Leads a company's global security program, protecting people, facilities, executives, events and assets from crime, violence, espionage and crises.
- 6
6. Hematologist-Oncologist
Specialty within general internal medicine physician
- Median pay
- $464,000typical, Medscape Physician Compensation Report 2026
- Growth
- +4.0%
- Openings / yr
- 1,900
- Education
- Doctorate
Internal medicine physician who diagnoses and treats cancer and blood disorders with chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted drugs and transfusion medicine.
- 7
7. Maternal-Fetal Medicine Specialist
Specialty within obstetrician and gynecologist
- Median pay
- $462,510typical, Payscale maternal-fetal medicine specialist data; SalaryDr
- Growth
- +1.7%
- Openings / yr
- 500
- Education
- Doctorate
Obstetrician who cares for high-risk pregnancies, managing maternal illness and diagnosing and treating problems in the fetus before birth.
- 8
8. Reproductive Endocrinologist
Specialty within obstetrician and gynecologist
- Median pay
- $461,997typical, MGMA Compensation and Production Report 2021 (as cited by Physicians Thrive)
- Growth
- +1.7%
- Openings / yr
- 500
- Education
- Doctorate
Obstetrician-gynecologist who diagnoses and treats infertility and reproductive hormone disorders, including IVF, egg freezing and recurrent pregnancy loss.
- 9
9. Staff Software Engineer
Specialty within software developer
- Median pay
- $457,000typical, Levels.fyi End of Year Pay Report 2025
- Growth
- +10.2%
- Openings / yr
- 95,300
- Education
- Bachelor's
A senior individual-contributor engineer who sets technical direction for several teams, owning the hardest design problems without managing people.
- 10
10. Maritime Pilot
Specialty within captain, mate, and pilot of water vessels
- Median pay
- $449,591typical, Washington State Board of Pilotage Commissioners 2024 Annual Report
- Growth
- +4.0%
- Openings / yr
- 3,800
- Education
- Certificate
A state-licensed mariner who boards large ships at sea and guides them over river bars and through harbors and channels to the dock.
- 11
11. Retina Specialist
Specialty within ophthalmologist, except pediatric
- Median pay
- $446,000typical, Medscape Physician Compensation Report 2026
- Growth
- +4.5%
- Openings / yr
- 200
- Education
- Doctorate
Ophthalmologist who diagnoses and treats diseases of the retina and vitreous, such as macular degeneration, diabetic eye disease and retinal detachment.
- 12
12. Gynecologic Oncologist
Specialty within obstetrician and gynecologist
- Median pay
- $445,000typical, SalaryDr gynecologic oncology data; Society of Gynecologic Oncology member survey (reported by Healio)
- Growth
- +1.7%
- Openings / yr
- 500
- Education
- Doctorate
Obstetrician-gynecologist who diagnoses and treats cancers of the ovaries, uterus, cervix, vulva and vagina with surgery and chemotherapy.
- 13
13. Trauma Surgeon
Specialty within orthopedic surgeon, except pediatric
- Median pay
- $442,000typical, Medscape Physician Compensation Report 2026
- Growth
- +4.0%
- Openings / yr
- 400
- Education
- Doctorate
Surgeon who treats severely injured patients and surgical emergencies, leading resuscitation in the trauma bay and caring for patients in surgical intensive care.
- 14
14. Principal Solutions Architect
Specialty within computer systems engineers/architect
- Median pay
- $439,000typical, Levels.fyi (Amazon company page)
- Growth
- +5.1%
- Openings / yr
- 27,000
- Education
- Bachelor's
A top-level technical adviser who designs complex cloud and software systems for a company's largest customers and shapes the vendor's products.
- 15
15. Critical Care Physician
Specialty within hospitalist
- Median pay
- $427,000typical, Medscape Physician Compensation Report 2026
- Growth
- +3.4%
- Openings / yr
- 9,400
- Education
- Doctorate
Physician who leads care for the sickest patients in the intensive care unit, managing ventilators, shock, sepsis and multiple organ failure.
- 16
16. Chip Architect
Specialty within computer hardware engineer
- Median pay
- $424,566typical, Levels.fyi (NVIDIA company pages)
- Growth
- +9.1%
- Openings / yr
- 4,100
- Education
- Bachelor's
Defines the high-level design of processors and other chips, deciding how they compute, move data and balance speed, power and cost.
- 17
17. Radiologist
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Median pay
- $420,860median a year
- Growth
- +3.4%
- Openings / yr
- 700
- Education
- Doctorate
Diagnose and treat diseases and injuries using medical imaging techniques, such as x rays, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), nuclear medicine, and ultrasounds.
- 18
18. Widebody Airline Captain
Specialty within airline pilot
- Median pay
- $420,000typical, MiGFlug Afterburner, from ALPA pilot contracts
- Growth
- +8.3%
- Openings / yr
- 11,200
- Education
- Bachelor's
Commands twin-aisle jets such as the Boeing 777, 787, or Airbus A350 on long-haul and international routes for a major airline.
- 19
19. Surgical Oncologist
Specialty within orthopedic surgeon, except pediatric
- Median pay
- $398,000typical, SalaryExpert surgical oncologist salary data 2025
- Growth
- +4.0%
- Openings / yr
- 400
- Education
- Doctorate
General surgeon with advanced training in removing cancers of the abdomen, skin, soft tissue and breast, often as part of multidisciplinary cancer care.
- 20
20. Pulmonologist
Specialty within general internal medicine physician
- Median pay
- $395,000typical, Medscape Physician Compensation Report 2026
- Growth
- +4.0%
- Openings / yr
- 1,900
- Education
- Doctorate
Internal medicine physician who diagnoses and treats lung and breathing disorders such as asthma, COPD, lung nodules, interstitial lung disease and sleep apnea.
- 21
21. Chief Information Security Officer
Specialty within it manager
- Median pay
- $392,000typical, IANS Research and Artico Search, 2025 CISO Compensation Benchmark Report
- Growth
- +15.8%
- Openings / yr
- 53,500
- Education
- Bachelor's
The executive accountable for protecting an organization's systems and data from cyberattacks and for reporting cyber risk to leadership.
- 22
22. Anesthesiologist
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Median pay
- $391,490median a year
- Growth
- +3.6%
- Openings / yr
- 1,100
- Education
- Doctorate
Administer anesthetics and analgesics for pain management prior to, during, or after surgery.
- 23
23. BigLaw Senior Associate
Specialty within lawyer
- Median pay
- $390,000typical, Cravath/Milbank market salary scale, as reported by ABA Journal and Above the Law
- Growth
- +4.7%
- Openings / yr
- 28,700
- Education
- Doctorate
An experienced associate at a large law firm who runs the day-to-day work on major deals or cases under partner supervision.
- 24
24. Neonatologist
Specialty within pediatrician, general
- Median pay
- $381,630typical, AMGA Medical Group Compensation Survey 2025 (via Marit Health); SalaryDr
- Growth
- +1.5%
- Openings / yr
- 1,000
- Education
- Doctorate
Pediatrician who cares for premature and critically ill newborns in the neonatal intensive care unit.
- 25
25. Private Equity Vice President
Specialty within investment fund manager
- Median pay
- $378,000typical, Heidrick & Struggles 2025 North America Private Equity Investment Professional Compensation Survey
- Growth
- +9.7%
- Openings / yr
- 65,600
- Education
- Bachelor's
Runs the day-to-day execution of private equity deals, leading associates through diligence, models and documents for buyouts and growth investments.
- 26
26. Management Consulting Partner
Specialty within management analyst
- Median pay
- $375,000typical, GMAC (mba.com), drawing on Management Consulted's Consulting Salaries Report 2026
- Growth
- +10.1%
- Openings / yr
- 94,100
- Education
- Master's
A senior leader at a top strategy consulting firm who wins and leads client engagements for CEOs and boards.
- 27
27. Autonomous Vehicle Research Scientist
Specialty within computer and information research scientist
- Median pay
- $373,250typical, Levels.fyi (Waymo company page)
- Growth
- +21.8%
- Openings / yr
- 2,900
- Education
- Master's
Researches the perception, prediction and planning methods that let self-driving cars and trucks drive safely without a human.
- 28
28. Longshore Foreman
Specialty within crane and tower operator
- Median pay
- $373,000typical, Pacific Maritime Association
- Growth
- +3.8%
- Openings / yr
- 3,500
- Education
- High school
A union supervisor who directs longshore gangs loading and unloading ships, planning the work and keeping terminal operations safe and on schedule.
- 29
29. Nephrologist
Specialty within general internal medicine physician
- Median pay
- $359,000typical, Medscape Physician Compensation Report 2026
- Growth
- +4.0%
- Openings / yr
- 1,900
- Education
- Doctorate
Internal medicine physician who treats kidney disease, high blood pressure and electrolyte disorders, and oversees dialysis and kidney transplant care.
- 30
30. Orthopedic Surgeon, Except Pediatric
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Median pay
- $358,550median a year
- Growth
- +4.0%
- Openings / yr
- 400
- Education
- Doctorate
Diagnose and perform surgery to treat and prevent rheumatic and other diseases in the musculoskeletal system.
- 31
31. Software Engineering Manager
Specialty within it manager
- Median pay
- $357,360typical, Levels.fyi
- Growth
- +15.8%
- Openings / yr
- 53,500
- Education
- Bachelor's
Leads a team of software engineers, responsible for hiring, growing and supporting people while making sure the team ships reliable software.
- 32
32. Periodontist
Specialty within dentist
- Median pay
- $355,400typical, American Dental Association Health Policy Institute, Survey of Dental Practice
- Growth
- +5.7%
- Openings / yr
- 4,200
- Education
- Doctorate
Dental specialist who prevents, diagnoses and treats gum disease and places dental implants, performing surgery on the gums and jawbone.
- 33
33. Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Median pay
- $352,220median a year
- Growth
- +5.6%
- Openings / yr
- 200
- Education
- Doctorate
Perform surgery and related procedures on the hard and soft tissues of the oral and maxillofacial regions to treat diseases, injuries, or defects.
- 34
34. Public Company Board Director
Specialty within chief executive
- Median pay
- $336,352typical, Spencer Stuart 2025 US Board Index
- Growth
- +3.2%
- Openings / yr
- 19,100
- Education
- Bachelor's
An independent member of a public company's board who oversees management, strategy, risk and executive pay on behalf of shareholders.
- 35
35. Emergency Medicine Physician
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Median pay
- $335,550median a year
- Growth
- +3.2%
- Openings / yr
- 900
- Education
- Doctorate
Make immediate medical decisions and act to prevent death or further disability.
- 36
36. Principal Product Manager
Specialty within information technology project manager
- Median pay
- $334,262typical, Levels.fyi company pages (Microsoft, Amazon)
- Growth
- +5.1%
- Openings / yr
- 27,000
- Education
- Bachelor's
A senior product manager who owns strategy for a major product line or platform, guiding several teams and often other product managers.
- 37
37. Public Pension Chief Investment Officer
Specialty within investment fund manager
- Median pay
- $331,000typical, National Association of State Retirement Administrators (via Chief Investment Officer magazine)
- Growth
- +9.7%
- Openings / yr
- 65,600
- Education
- Bachelor's
Leads the investment staff of a state or municipal retirement system, managing the assets that pay pensions for teachers, police and public workers.
- 38
38. Dermatologist
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Median pay
- $328,730median a year
- Growth
- +6.8%
- Openings / yr
- 400
- Education
- Doctorate
Diagnose and treat diseases relating to the skin, hair, and nails.
- 39
39. College Football General Manager
Specialty within coach and scout
- Median pay
- $325,008typical, USA Today college football general manager salary database
- Growth
- +6.1%
- Openings / yr
- 36,400
- Education
- Bachelor's
Runs roster building for a college football program, overseeing recruiting, transfer portal moves, player contracts and the revenue-sharing budget.
- 40
40. Pathologist
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Median pay
- $312,400median a year
- Growth
- +4.8%
- Openings / yr
- 300
- Education
- Doctorate
Diagnose diseases and conduct lab tests using organs, body tissues, and fluids.
- 41
41. Quantitative Trader
Specialty within financial quantitative analyst
- Median pay
- $311,190typical, Glassdoor, cross-checked with Tradermath
- Growth
- +4.1%
- Openings / yr
- 9,400
- Education
- Bachelor's
Builds and runs data-driven trading strategies, using statistics and code to decide what to buy and sell and how to price risk in real time.
- 42
42. Prosthodontist
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Median pay
- $311,180median a year
- Growth
- +5.8%
- Openings / yr
- 0
- Education
- Doctorate
Diagnose, treat, rehabilitate, design, and fit prostheses that maintain oral function, health, and appearance for patients with clinical conditions associated with teeth, oral and maxillofacial tissues, or the jaw.
- 43
43. GPU Kernel Engineer
Specialty within software developer
- Median pay
- $310,000typical, Levels.fyi (NVIDIA company pages)
- Growth
- +10.2%
- Openings / yr
- 95,300
- Education
- Bachelor's
Writes and tunes the low-level GPU code, called kernels, that makes AI training, inference and scientific computing run fast.
- 44
44. Pediatric Dentist
Specialty within dentist
- Median pay
- $307,820typical, American Dental Association Health Policy Institute, Survey of Dental Practice
- Growth
- +5.7%
- Openings / yr
- 4,200
- Education
- Doctorate
Dental specialist who provides oral care for infants, children, teenagers and patients with special health care needs.
- 45
45. Applied Scientist
Specialty within computer and information research scientist
- Median pay
- $306,000typical, Levels.fyi (Amazon company page)
- Growth
- +21.8%
- Openings / yr
- 2,900
- Education
- Master's
A scientist at a tech company who develops new machine learning and statistical methods and builds them into products at scale.
- 46
46. AI Research Scientist
Specialty within computer and information research scientist
- Median pay
- $305,000typical, Levels.fyi
- Growth
- +21.8%
- Openings / yr
- 2,900
- Education
- Doctorate
Invents and tests new machine learning methods, publishing research and building the model techniques that later become products.
- 47
47. Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Median pay
- $300,080median a year
- Growth
- +4.5%
- Openings / yr
- 200
- Education
- Doctorate
Diagnose and perform surgery to treat and help prevent disorders and diseases of the eye.
Questions
Jobs That Pay $300k a Year: FAQ
What is the top career on the jobs that pay $300k a year list?
Cardiologist leads the list with a median wage of $496,010 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025) and projected employment change of +4.8% over 2025–2035. Typical entry-level education is doctorate.
How was this list put together?
Careers whose typical pay is at least $300,000 and under $500,000 a year, ranked by that typical figure; higher-paying careers are on the $500k list. BLS stops short here: it folds most of these careers into broad codes (a neurosurgeon is counted with every other physician), so where a career carries industry-reported pay from a named survey, scale or filing (Medscape, MGMA, Levels.fyi, AmLaw, union contracts and similar), that figure is used and its source is on the career page. Everything else is BLS OEWS. Careers whose typical pay is at least $300,000 and under $500,000 a year, ranked by that typical figure; higher-paying careers are on the $500k list. BLS stops short here: it folds most of these careers into broad codes (a neurosurgeon is counted with every other physician), so where a career carries industry-reported pay from a named survey, scale or filing (Medscape, MGMA, Levels.fyi, AmLaw, union contracts and similar), that figure is used and its source is on the career page. Everything else is BLS OEWS. Every figure comes from BLS OEWS May 2025, BLS Employment Projections 2025–2035 and O*NET 31.0 Database.
How much do jobs that pay $300k a year pay?
Across the 47 careers on this list the middle occupation pays $381,630 a year, from $300,080 at the bottom to $496,010 at the top (BLS OEWS May 2025 and the industry compensation sources cited on each career page). The median across all US occupations is $50,980.
How many of these careers can you enter without a degree?
3 of the 47 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, 2025–2035).