Ranked list · 48 careers
48 Jobs That Pay $500k a Year or More (2026)
NFL Head Coach tops this list at $47,320 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), with +6.1% projected employment change over 2025–2035. Below are 48 careers that meet the criteria, each with its real median wage, outlook and entry requirement.
- Careers on this list
- 48From 1,731 in the bank
- Median pay on the list
- $905,000BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Projected to grow
- 48 of 48BLS EP, 2025–2035
- Openings a year
- 1,445,300Combined, BLS EP
Method
How we built this list
Careers whose typical pay is $500,000 a year or more, ranked by that typical figure. 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 $500,000 a year or more, ranked by that typical figure. 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 48 jobs that pay $500k 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. NFL Head Coach
Specialty within coach and scout
- Median pay
- $5,000,000typical, Front Office Sports (compiled from Sportico and Pro Football Reference), January 2026
- Growth
- +6.1%
- Openings / yr
- 36,400
- Education
- Bachelor's
Leads a National Football League team's coaching staff, players, and game strategy, and answers to ownership for wins and losses.
- 2
2. College Basketball Head Coach
Specialty within coach and scout
- Median pay
- $3,600,000typical, USA TODAY NCAA Men's Basketball Coaches Salary Database 2025
- Growth
- +6.1%
- Openings / yr
- 36,400
- Education
- Bachelor's
Leads a university men's basketball program, building the roster, directing assistant coaches, and coaching the team through the season and postseason.
- 3
3. Public Company General Counsel
Specialty within lawyer
- Median pay
- $3,400,000typical, Equilar and BarkerGilmore, 2025 General Counsel Pay Trends
- Growth
- +4.7%
- Openings / yr
- 28,700
- Education
- Doctorate
The top lawyer at a publicly traded company, leading its legal department and advising the CEO and board on legal and governance risk.
- 4
4. College Football Head Coach
Specialty within coach and scout
- Median pay
- $3,250,000typical, USA TODAY NCAA Football Coaches Salary Database 2025
- Growth
- +6.1%
- Openings / yr
- 36,400
- Education
- Bachelor's
Leads a university football program, hiring and directing the coaching staff, building the roster, and answering for results on the field and in the classroom.
- 5
5. Hedge Fund Portfolio Manager
Specialty within investment fund manager
- Median pay
- $2,100,000typical, eFinancialCareers Compensation & Lifestyle Report
- Growth
- +9.7%
- Openings / yr
- 65,600
- Education
- Bachelor's
Runs a book of capital at a hedge fund, deciding what to buy, sell and short, and is paid largely on the profits that book produces.
- 6
6. Chief Marketing Officer
Specialty within marketing manager
- Median pay
- $1,917,000typical, The Conference Board, CMO Compensation 2024 Edition
- Growth
- +6.9%
- Openings / yr
- 34,000
- Education
- Bachelor's
The executive who leads a company's marketing, brand, customer insight and demand generation, and reports to the CEO.
- 7
7. Chief Human Resources Officer
Specialty within human resources manager
- Median pay
- $1,714,000typical, The Conference Board (via Harvard Law School Forum on Corporate Governance) and Equilar
- Growth
- +5.5%
- Openings / yr
- 16,800
- Education
- Bachelor's
The executive who leads a company's people strategy, from hiring and pay to culture, leadership succession and labor relations.
- 8
8. Chief AI Officer
Specialty within it manager
- Median pay
- $1,560,700typical, Equilar 2025 Top 50 Survey
- Growth
- +15.8%
- Openings / yr
- 53,500
- Education
- Bachelor's
The executive who sets an organization's artificial intelligence strategy, governance and investment, from internal tools to AI-powered products.
- 9
9. Private Equity Partner
Specialty within investment fund manager
- Median pay
- $1,111,000typical, Heidrick & Struggles 2025 North America Private Equity Investment Professional Compensation Survey
- Growth
- +9.7%
- Openings / yr
- 65,600
- Education
- Bachelor's
A senior leader at a private equity firm who sources and approves buyouts, sits on portfolio company boards and helps raise the firm's funds.
- 10
10. Global Macro Trader
Specialty within security, commodity, and financial services sales agent
- Median pay
- $1,100,000typical, Heidrick & Struggles 2025 US Global Markets Compensation Survey
- Growth
- +1.4%
- Openings / yr
- 35,100
- Education
- Bachelor's
Trades interest rates, currencies, government bonds and commodities on views about economies, central banks and politics around the world.
- 11
11. Structured Finance Banker
Specialty within security, commodity, and financial services sales agent
- Median pay
- $1,100,000typical, Heidrick & Struggles 2025 US Global Markets Compensation Survey
- Growth
- +1.4%
- Openings / yr
- 35,100
- Education
- Bachelor's
Turns pools of loans, leases and receivables into asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities, structuring and selling them to investors.
- 12
12. Trading Desk Head
Specialty within security, commodity, and financial services sales agent
- Median pay
- $1,100,000typical, Heidrick & Struggles 2025 US Global Markets Compensation Survey
- Growth
- +1.4%
- Openings / yr
- 35,100
- Education
- Bachelor's
Leads a sales and trading desk at a bank or dealer, setting risk limits, running the traders and answering for the desk's profit and loss.
- 13
13. BigLaw Equity Partner
Specialty within lawyer
- Median pay
- $1,095,465typical, The American Lawyer, Am Law 100 and Am Law 200 (2025 rankings), as reported by Above the Law and Legal.io
- Growth
- +4.7%
- Openings / yr
- 28,700
- Education
- Doctorate
Co-owns one of the largest US law firms, brings in and leads major client matters, and shares directly in the firm's annual profits.
- 14
14. Distinguished Engineer
Specialty within software developer
- Median pay
- $1,080,000typical, Levels.fyi company level pages (Microsoft, Google)
- Growth
- +10.2%
- Openings / yr
- 95,300
- Education
- Bachelor's
One of the most senior technical leaders at a large tech company, recognized for industry-level contributions and trusted to set direction across the business.
- 15
15. Congenital Heart Surgeon
Specialty within pediatric surgeon
- Median pay
- $1,060,000typical, Society of Thoracic Surgeons Compensation Survey 2025 (reported by TCTMD)
- Growth
- +2.0%
- Openings / yr
- 0
- Education
- Doctorate
Heart surgeon who repairs heart defects present from birth, operating on newborns, children and adults with congenital heart disease.
- 16
16. Debt Capital Markets Banker
Specialty within security, commodity, and financial services sales agent
- Median pay
- $1,010,000typical, Heidrick & Struggles 2025 US Global Markets Compensation Survey
- Growth
- +1.4%
- Openings / yr
- 35,100
- Education
- Bachelor's
Helps companies, banks and governments borrow by issuing bonds, advising on timing, maturity, pricing and investor demand.
- 17
17. Private Capital Markets Banker
Specialty within security, commodity, and financial services sales agent
- Median pay
- $1,000,000typical, Heidrick & Struggles 2025 US Global Markets Compensation Survey
- Growth
- +1.4%
- Openings / yr
- 35,100
- Education
- Bachelor's
Raises equity and debt for companies from private investors such as private equity, private credit and sovereign funds instead of public markets.
- 18
18. Institutional Sales Director
Specialty within security, commodity, and financial services sales agent
- Median pay
- $980,000typical, Heidrick & Struggles 2025 US Global Markets Compensation Survey
- Growth
- +1.4%
- Openings / yr
- 35,100
- Education
- Bachelor's
Covers large investors such as hedge funds, pension funds and asset managers for a bank's trading desks, bringing them trade ideas and executing their orders.
- 19
19. Credit Trader
Specialty within security, commodity, and financial services sales agent
- Median pay
- $950,000typical, Heidrick & Struggles 2025 US Global Markets Compensation Survey
- Growth
- +1.4%
- Openings / yr
- 35,100
- Education
- Bachelor's
Buys and sells corporate bonds, loans and credit derivatives, making prices for clients and managing the risk that borrowers default.
- 20
20. Investment Banking Managing Director
Specialty within security, commodity, and financial services sales agent
- Median pay
- $950,000typical, Prospect Rock Partners 2025 Investment Banking Compensation Survey
- Growth
- +1.4%
- Openings / yr
- 35,100
- Education
- Bachelor's
The senior banker who wins and leads advisory and financing mandates for corporate clients, from mergers to stock and bond offerings.
- 21
21. Restructuring Banker
Specialty within security, commodity, and financial services sales agent
- Median pay
- $950,000typical, Heidrick & Struggles 2025 US Global Markets Compensation Survey
- Growth
- +1.4%
- Openings / yr
- 35,100
- Education
- Bachelor's
Advises companies and creditors when a business cannot pay its debts, negotiating out-of-court deals, bankruptcy plans and distressed sales.
- 22
22. Syndicate Banker
Specialty within security, commodity, and financial services sales agent
- Median pay
- $950,000typical, Heidrick & Struggles 2025 US Global Markets Compensation Survey
- Growth
- +1.4%
- Openings / yr
- 35,100
- Education
- Bachelor's
Works the syndicate desk at an investment bank, reading investor demand to launch, price and allocate stock, bond and loan offerings.
- 23
23. Equity Capital Markets Banker
Specialty within security, commodity, and financial services sales agent
- Median pay
- $930,000typical, Heidrick & Struggles 2025 US Global Markets Compensation Survey
- Growth
- +1.4%
- Openings / yr
- 35,100
- Education
- Bachelor's
Helps companies raise money by selling stock, leading initial public offerings, follow-on offerings and convertible bond deals.
- 24
24. Equity Derivatives Trader
Specialty within security, commodity, and financial services sales agent
- Median pay
- $910,000typical, Heidrick & Struggles 2025 US Global Markets Compensation Survey
- Growth
- +1.4%
- Openings / yr
- 35,100
- Education
- Bachelor's
Prices and trades stock options, swaps and structured equity products, managing the volatility and other risks those positions carry.
- 25
25. Private Equity Fundraising Director
Specialty within security, commodity, and financial services sales agent
- Median pay
- $900,000typical, Heidrick & Struggles 2025 North American Alternative Asset Management Marketing and Investor Relations Professional Compensation Survey
- Growth
- +1.4%
- Openings / yr
- 35,100
- Education
- Bachelor's
Raises money for private equity and private credit funds from pension plans, endowments, insurers and wealthy investors, then keeps those investors informed.
- 26
26. Hedge Fund Capital Raising Director
Specialty within security, commodity, and financial services sales agent
- Median pay
- $850,000typical, Heidrick & Struggles 2025 North American Alternative Asset Management Marketing and Investor Relations Professional Compensation Survey
- Growth
- +1.4%
- Openings / yr
- 35,100
- Education
- Bachelor's
Raises and retains investor money for a hedge fund, explaining its strategy and performance to pensions, endowments, family offices and allocators.
- 27
27. Cardiac Electrophysiologist
Specialty within cardiologist
- Median pay
- $804,129typical, MedAxiom 2025 Cardiovascular Provider Compensation and Production Survey
- Growth
- +4.8%
- Openings / yr
- 500
- Education
- Doctorate
Cardiologist who diagnoses and treats heart rhythm disorders, performing ablations and implanting pacemakers and defibrillators.
- 28
28. Interventional Cardiologist
Specialty within cardiologist
- Median pay
- $788,083typical, MedAxiom 2025 Cardiovascular Provider Compensation and Production Survey
- Growth
- +4.8%
- Openings / yr
- 500
- Education
- Doctorate
Cardiologist who treats heart and vascular disease with catheter-based procedures such as coronary stenting, heart attack intervention and valve replacement.
- 29
29. Neurosurgeon
Specialty within orthopedic surgeon, except pediatric
- Median pay
- $749,140typical, Doximity Physician Compensation Report 2025
- Growth
- +4.0%
- Openings / yr
- 400
- Education
- Doctorate
Surgeon who diagnoses and operates on the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerves and spine, from tumors and aneurysms to trauma and degenerative disease.
- 30
30. Women's College Basketball Head Coach
Specialty within coach and scout
- Median pay
- $712,000typical, USA TODAY NCAA Women's Basketball Coaches Salary Database 2023
- Growth
- +6.1%
- Openings / yr
- 36,400
- Education
- Bachelor's
Leads a university women's basketball program, recruiting players, directing assistant coaches, and coaching the team through conference play and the NCAA tournament.
- 31
31. Leveraged Finance Banker
Specialty within security, commodity, and financial services sales agent
- Median pay
- $710,000typical, Prospect Rock Partners 2025 Investment Banking Compensation Survey
- Growth
- +1.4%
- Openings / yr
- 35,100
- Education
- Bachelor's
Arranges the high-yield bonds and leveraged loans that fund buyouts and acquisitions for private equity firms and lower-rated companies.
- 32
32. Cardiothoracic Surgeon
Specialty within orthopedic surgeon, except pediatric
- Median pay
- $689,969typical, Doximity Physician Compensation Report 2025
- Growth
- +4.0%
- Openings / yr
- 400
- Education
- Doctorate
Surgeon who operates on the heart, lungs, esophagus and great vessels, including bypass, valve repair, lung cancer resection and transplant.
- 33
33. Private Equity Principal
Specialty within investment fund manager
- Median pay
- $689,000typical, Heidrick & Struggles 2025 North America Private Equity Investment Professional Compensation Survey
- Growth
- +9.7%
- Openings / yr
- 65,600
- Education
- Bachelor's
A senior deal leader at a private equity firm, just below partner, who runs transactions and begins sourcing deals and managing board seats.
- 34
34. Mohs Surgeon
Specialty within dermatologist
- Median pay
- $680,000typical, SalaryDr Mohs surgery compensation data; MGMA 2023 (as cited by Physicians Thrive)
- Growth
- +6.8%
- Openings / yr
- 400
- Education
- Doctorate
Dermatologist who removes skin cancers with Mohs surgery, examining every edge of the tissue under a microscope during the procedure, then repairs the wound.
- 35
35. Private Equity Operating Partner
Specialty within chief executive
- Median pay
- $636,000typical, Heidrick & Struggles 2024 North American Private Equity Operating Professional Compensation Survey
- Growth
- +3.2%
- Openings / yr
- 19,100
- Education
- Bachelor's
A former executive who works for a private equity firm to improve the operations of the companies it owns, from pricing to hiring to cost control.
- 36
36. Orthopedic Spine Surgeon
Specialty within orthopedic surgeon, except pediatric
- Median pay
- $611,000typical, Medscape Physician Compensation Report 2026
- Growth
- +4.0%
- Openings / yr
- 400
- Education
- Doctorate
Orthopedic surgeon who specializes in the spine, treating disc disease, stenosis, deformity, fractures and tumors of the neck and back.
- 37
37. AI Research Engineer
Specialty within computer and information research scientist
- Median pay
- $598,000typical, Levels.fyi company pages (Anthropic, OpenAI)
- Growth
- +21.8%
- Openings / yr
- 2,900
- Education
- Master's
Builds and runs the large-scale training and evaluation systems used to create frontier AI models such as large language models.
- 38
38. Radiation Oncologist
Specialty within radiologist
- Median pay
- $588,678typical, Doximity Physician Compensation Report 2025
- Growth
- +3.4%
- Openings / yr
- 700
- Education
- Doctorate
Physician who treats cancer with radiation therapy, designing and overseeing courses of external beam radiation, brachytherapy and radiosurgery.
- 39
39. Private Credit Investor
Specialty within investment fund manager
- Median pay
- $582,000typical, Heidrick & Struggles 2025 North American Private Credit Investment Professional Compensation Survey
- Growth
- +9.7%
- Openings / yr
- 65,600
- Education
- Bachelor's
Lends money directly to companies, usually private equity-owned businesses, from a private credit fund instead of through banks or bond markets.
- 40
40. Vascular Surgeon
Specialty within orthopedic surgeon, except pediatric
- Median pay
- $576,452typical, Doximity Physician Compensation Report 2025
- Growth
- +4.0%
- Openings / yr
- 400
- Education
- Doctorate
Surgeon who treats diseases of the arteries and veins outside the heart and brain, using open operations and catheter-based endovascular procedures.
- 41
41. Pediatric Surgeon
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Median pay
- $559,030median a year
- Growth
- +2.0%
- Openings / yr
- 0
- Education
- Doctorate
Diagnose and perform surgery to treat fetal abnormalities and birth defects, diseases, and injuries in fetuses, premature and newborn infants, children, and adolescents.
- 42
42. Non-Equity Partner
Specialty within lawyer
- Median pay
- $558,000typical, Major, Lindsey & Africa 2024 Partner Compensation Survey
- Growth
- +4.7%
- Openings / yr
- 28,700
- Education
- Doctorate
A partner-titled lawyer at a large law firm who is paid a fixed salary and bonus rather than a share of firm profits.
- 43
43. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon
Specialty within orthopedic surgeon, except pediatric
- Median pay
- $554,000typical, Medscape Physician Compensation Report 2026
- Growth
- +4.0%
- Openings / yr
- 400
- Education
- Doctorate
Surgeon who restores form and function after cancer, injury or birth defects, and performs cosmetic surgery on the face, breast and body.
- 44
44. Principal Software Engineer
Specialty within software developer
- Median pay
- $551,000typical, Levels.fyi End of Year Pay Report 2025
- Growth
- +10.2%
- Openings / yr
- 95,300
- Education
- Bachelor's
A top-tier individual-contributor engineer whose technical decisions shape an entire organization or product line, above the staff level.
- 45
45. Investment Banking Vice President
Specialty within security, commodity, and financial services sales agent
- Median pay
- $550,000typical, Prospect Rock Partners 2025 Investment Banking Compensation Survey
- Growth
- +1.4%
- Openings / yr
- 35,100
- Education
- Bachelor's
Manages deal teams at an investment bank, turning the senior banker's strategy into finished models, documents and a closed transaction.
- 46
46. Endowment Chief Investment Officer
Specialty within investment fund manager
- Median pay
- $531,800typical, Binfare and Harris, Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis (2025)
- Growth
- +9.7%
- Openings / yr
- 65,600
- Education
- Bachelor's
Runs the investment office of a university endowment or foundation, setting asset allocation and choosing the outside managers who invest its money.
- 47
47. Interventional Gastroenterologist
Specialty within general internal medicine physician
- Median pay
- $530,000typical, Medscape Physician Compensation Report 2026
- Growth
- +4.0%
- Openings / yr
- 1,900
- Education
- Doctorate
Gastroenterologist with advanced endoscopy training who treats bile duct, pancreas and digestive tract disease through scopes instead of open surgery.
- 48
48. Pediatric Anesthesiologist
Specialty within anesthesiologist
- Median pay
- $525,500typical, SullivanCotter 2025 Physician Compensation and Productivity Survey
- Growth
- +3.6%
- Openings / yr
- 1,100
- Education
- Doctorate
Anesthesiologist who specializes in anesthesia, sedation and pain control for newborns, infants and children having surgery and procedures.
Questions
Jobs That Pay $500k a Year: FAQ
What is the top career on the jobs that pay $500k a year list?
NFL Head Coach leads the list with a median wage of $47,320 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025) and projected employment change of +6.1% over 2025–2035. Typical entry-level education is bachelor's.
How was this list put together?
Careers whose typical pay is $500,000 a year or more, ranked by that typical figure. 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 $500,000 a year or more, ranked by that typical figure. 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 $500k a year pay?
Across the 48 careers on this list the middle occupation pays $905,000 a year, from $525,500 at the bottom to $5,000,000 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?
None. BLS lists an associate's degree or higher as the typical entry requirement for all 48 careers on this list.