Ranked list · 30 careers

30 Jobs That Pay $60k to $80k a Year, Ranked by Annual Openings (2026)

First-Line Supervisor of Office and Administrative Support Workers tops this list at $69,500 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), with +0.1% projected employment change over 2025–2035. Below are 30 careers that meet the criteria, each with its real median wage, outlook and entry requirement.

Careers on this list: 30From 1,731 in the bank
Median pay on the list: $69,335BLS OEWS, May 2025
Projected to grow: 22 of 30BLS EP, 2025–2035
Openings a year: 1,856,900Combined, BLS EP

Method

How we built this list

Occupations whose national median annual wage is at least $60,000 and under $80,000, ranked by projected annual openings. The band has an upper end so each salary level gets its own list; higher-paying jobs are on the $100k and $200k lists.
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 30 jobs that pay $60k 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. First-Line Supervisor of Office and Administrative Support Workers
Office and Administrative Support
Median pay
$69,500median a year
Growth
+0.1%
Openings / yr
127,400
Education
High school
Directly supervise and coordinate the activities of clerical and administrative support workers.
2
2. Sales Representative of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel
Sales and Related
Median pay
$69,990median a year
Growth
+2.7%
Openings / yr
115,700
Education
High school
Sell services to individuals or businesses.
3
3. Sales Representative, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products
Sales and Related
Median pay
$72,080median a year
Growth
−0.9%
Openings / yr
99,800
Education
High school
Sell goods for wholesalers or manufacturers to businesses or groups of individuals.
4
4. Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselor
Community and Social Service
Median pay
$60,320median a year
Growth
+10.9%
Openings / yr
97,700
Education
N/A
Counsel and advise individuals with alcohol, tobacco, drug, or other problems, such as gambling and eating disorders.
5
5. Mental Health Counselor
Community and Social Service
Median pay
$60,320median a year
Growth
+10.9%
Openings / yr
97,700
Education
N/A
Counsel and advise individuals and groups to promote optimum mental and emotional health, with an emphasis on prevention.
6
6. Elementary School Teacher
Educational Instruction and Library
Median pay
$63,970median a year
Growth
−0.4%
Openings / yr
87,500
Education
Bachelor's
Teach academic and social skills to students at the elementary school level.
7
7. Market Research Analyst and Marketing Specialist
Business and Financial Operations
Median pay
$78,760median a year
Growth
+7.0%
Openings / yr
82,000
Education
Bachelor's
Research conditions in local, regional, national, or online markets.
8
8. Human Resources Specialist
Business and Financial Operations
Median pay
$75,940median a year
Growth
+6.4%
Openings / yr
73,700
Education
Bachelor's
Recruit, screen, interview, or place individuals within an organization.
9
9. Electrician
Construction and Extraction
Median pay
$63,190median a year
Growth
+9.2%
Openings / yr
72,700
Education
High school
Install, maintain, and repair electrical wiring, equipment, and fixtures.
10
10. First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers
Construction and Extraction
Median pay
$79,920median a year
Growth
+5.0%
Openings / yr
67,000
Education
High school
Directly supervise and coordinate activities of construction or extraction workers.
11
11. High School Teacher
Educational Instruction and Library
Median pay
$72,040median a year
Growth
−0.2%
Openings / yr
63,500
Education
Bachelor's
Teach one or more subjects to students at the secondary school level.
12
12. Carpenter
Construction and Extraction
Median pay
$60,580median a year
Growth
+3.9%
Openings / yr
62,800
Education
High school
Construct, erect, install, or repair structures and fixtures made of wood and comparable materials, such as concrete forms; building frameworks, including partitions, joists, studding, and rafters; and wood stairways,…
13
13. First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers
Production
Median pay
$74,450median a year
Growth
+1.8%
Openings / yr
61,000
Education
High school
Directly supervise and coordinate the activities of production and operating workers, such as inspectors, precision workers, machine setters and operators, assemblers, fabricators, and plant and system operators.
14
14. Licensed Practical Nurse
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
Median pay
$64,400median a year
Growth
+3.0%
Openings / yr
51,800
Education
Certificate
Care for ill, injured, or convalescing patients or persons with disabilities in hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, private homes, group homes, and similar institutions.
15
15. Police Officer
Protective Service
Median pay
$76,210median a year
Growth
+3.5%
Openings / yr
51,500
Education
High school
Maintain order and protect life and property by enforcing local, tribal, state, or federal laws and ordinances.
16
16. First-Line Supervisor of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
Median pay
$79,860median a year
Growth
+4.1%
Openings / yr
48,900
Education
High school
Directly supervise and coordinate the activities of mechanics, installers, and repairers.
17
17. Buyer and Purchasing Agent, Farm Products
Business and Financial Operations
Median pay
$77,710median a year
Growth
+6.0%
Openings / yr
47,200
Education
Bachelor's
Purchase farm products either for further processing or resale.
18
18. Wholesale and Retail Buyer, Except Farm Products
Business and Financial Operations
Median pay
$77,710median a year
Growth
+6.0%
Openings / yr
47,200
Education
Bachelor's
Buy merchandise or commodities, other than farm products, for resale to consumers at the wholesale or retail level, including both durable and nondurable goods.
19
19. Purchasing Agent, Except Wholesale, Retail, and Farm Products
Business and Financial Operations
Median pay
$77,710median a year
Growth
+6.0%
Openings / yr
47,200
Education
Bachelor's
Purchase machinery, equipment, tools, parts, supplies, or services necessary for the operation of an establishment.
20
20. Training and Development Specialist
Business and Financial Operations
Median pay
$69,280median a year
Growth
+10.8%
Openings / yr
46,000
Education
Bachelor's
Design or conduct work-related training and development programs to improve individual skills or organizational performance.
21
21. Industrial Machinery Mechanic
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
Median pay
$64,520median a year
Growth
+17.8%
Openings / yr
44,400
Education
High school
Repair, install, adjust, or maintain industrial production and processing machinery or refinery and pipeline distribution systems.
22
22. Executive Secretary and Executive Administrative Assistant
Office and Administrative Support
Median pay
$76,590median a year
Growth
0.0%
Openings / yr
43,300
Education
High school
Provide high-level administrative support by conducting research, preparing statistical reports, and handling information requests, as well as performing routine administrative functions such as preparing corresponden…
23
23. Insurance Sales Agent
Sales and Related
Median pay
$62,280median a year
Growth
+3.3%
Openings / yr
43,100
Education
High school
Sell life, property, casualty, health, automotive, or other types of insurance.
24
24. Plumber
Construction and Extraction
Median pay
$63,800median a year
Growth
+6.8%
Openings / yr
42,000
Education
High school
Assemble, install, alter, and repair pipelines or pipe systems that carry water, steam, air, or other liquids or gases.
25
25. Paralegal
Legal
Median pay
$62,890median a year
Growth
−0.3%
Openings / yr
40,800
Education
Associate's
Assist lawyers by investigating facts, preparing legal documents, or researching legal precedent.
26
26. Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanic and Installer
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
Median pay
$61,010median a year
Growth
+10.9%
Openings / yr
40,600
Education
Certificate
Install or repair heating, central air conditioning, HVAC, or refrigeration systems, including oil burners, hot-air furnaces, and heating stoves.
27
27. Computer User Support Specialist
Computer and Mathematical
Median pay
$61,860median a year
Growth
−3.5%
Openings / yr
39,700
Education
Some college
Provide technical assistance to computer users.
28
28. Food Service Manager
Management
Median pay
$69,390median a year
Growth
+5.8%
Openings / yr
38,800
Education
High school
Plan, direct, or coordinate activities of an organization or department that serves food and beverages.
29
29. Middle School Teacher
Educational Instruction and Library
Median pay
$64,370median a year
Growth
−0.4%
Openings / yr
38,800
Education
Bachelor's
Teach one or more subjects to students at the middle, intermediate, or junior high school level.
30
30. Special Education Teacher, Kindergarten
Educational Instruction and Library
Median pay
$67,170median a year
Growth
−0.1%
Openings / yr
37,100
Education
N/A
Teach academic, social, and life skills to kindergarten students with learning, emotional, or physical disabilities.

Questions

Jobs That Pay $60k a Year: FAQ

What is the top career on the jobs that pay $60k a year list?

First-Line Supervisor of Office and Administrative Support Workers leads the list with a median wage of $69,500 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025) and projected employment change of +0.1% over 2025–2035. Typical entry-level education is high school.

How was this list put together?

Occupations whose national median annual wage is at least $60,000 and under $80,000, ranked by projected annual openings. The band has an upper end so each salary level gets its own list; higher-paying jobs are on the $100k and $200k lists. Occupations whose national median annual wage is at least $60,000 and under $80,000, ranked by projected annual openings. The band has an upper end so each salary level gets its own list; higher-paying jobs are on the $100k and $200k lists. 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 $60k a year pay?

Across the 30 careers on this list the middle occupation pays $69,335 a year, from $60,320 at the bottom to $79,920 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?

17 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, 2025–2035).