By Jeff Gillis
Many people dream of landing 6-figure jobs. Those positions are usually associated with prosperity, and that alone makes them appealing.
But it’s also normal to have questions about what it takes to land a six-figure salary. In fact, you may even be wondering, “What does 6-figures mean,” “Can anyone end up in six-figure jobs,” and what are the best positions to get a six-figure salary?”
Well, if you’re trying to figure any of that out, we’ve got your back. Come with us as we explore the amazing world of 6-figure jobs.
What Is a 6-Figure Job?
Alright, before we dig into the best six-figure jobs around, let’s pause for a moment and answer some crucial questions. What questions? Well, ones like these:
- What does 6-figures mean?
- How much is 6-figures?
- What is a six-figure salary?
In the simplest terms, a six-figures is any number with six digits before the decimal point. Essentially, if the number is at least 100,000 but no more than 999,999, it’s a six-figure number.
So, since salaries are usually discussed in terms of being “yearly” or “annually,” a 6-figure salary means earning anywhere from $100,000 to $999,999 a year. There are six digits before the decimal point, so anything in that range qualifies.
Now, most 6-figure jobs are professional level positions. They may require a lot of experience, substantial education, or both. In saying this, there are many industries that tend to provide more 6-figure opportunities than others, including:
Energy Jobs
Sales Jobs
Engineering Jobs
Environmental Jobs
If you want to get one of the fantastic six-figure jobs we’re going to cover, you’ll need to focus and dedicate yourself to that idea. You might need to get a Master’s or Doctoral degree, for example. It’s also possible that you’ll have to get well into your career to cross that threshold.
Typically, it takes time and effort to land a six-figure salary. Most people have to work their way up to that point. However, it can certainly be a journey worth taking, especially if you’re passionate about the field.
Top 15 6-Figure Jobs That Pay Well
Here’s a look at the top 15 6-figure jobs, including what it takes to land them.
1. Financial Manager
Financial managers can have a range of duties, though most of them revolve around helping companies stay financially healthy. There’s quite a bit of analysis and reporting, as well as account monitoring and examining options to see which lead to the best financial outcomes.
As a financial manager, a six-figure salary is certainly possible. Many make around $129,890 a year, and the top 10 percent can bring in $208,000+. There are many great high paying jobs in finance should that be the path you choose to go down.
2. Software Developer
If you’re looking for 6-figure jobs in the IT field, you’re in luck. There are definitely some great options, and software developer is one of them. As a software developer, you’d create applications. Your work may focus on internal apps for a company or software that will be marketed to the masses.
In exchange for your expertise, you can often earn about $107,510 annually. However, the top 10 percent can bring in more than $164,590.
Usually, you need a Bachelor’s degree to get started. However, some go further, boosting their resume with a Master’s or some certifications, to ensure they get the highest-paying positions.
3. Lawyer
When it comes to six-figure jobs, lawyer is a classic example. You’ll have expertise focusing on the justice system, allowing you to potentially shape the outcome of trials, assist others with complex matters, and more.
While it does mean getting an advanced education, ensuring you can pass the BAR, the salary that comes with it can make it worthwhile. Most earn around $122,960 a year, while some easily cross the $208,00 threshold.
4. Anesthesiologist
As an anesthesiologist, your career would focus on pain management, usually during and after surgeries. You’d administer analgesics and anesthetics, ensuring patients couldn’t feel anything they shouldn’t during procedures.
When it comes to salary, anesthesiologists usually make around $261,730 a year. You do need a medical degree to go into this career, so plan on a lot of schooling if you want to head in this direction.
5. Ethical Hacker
One interesting job that many people don’t realize can get into six-figure territory is ethical hacker. These professionals use their cybersecurity, coding, and other tech skills to try and identify vulnerabilities that cybercriminals might exploit. Then, they can use what they discover to close up the holes, making company, government, and other organization’s systems safer.
Once bonuses are factored in, the average salary for ethical hackers comes in at $105,765 a year. Plus, the top 10 percent can make over $141,329.
What it takes to enter this field can vary. Many of these pros have Bachelor’s degree, though some honed their capabilities without earning a degree. If you forgo college, having some certifications or other credentials can help you elevate your career, potentially to the pay levels above.
6. Actuary
If you want to turn a love of statistics and analysis into a job with a six-figure salary, becoming an actuary might be your best bet. Actuaries use their skills to determine how likely certain catastrophic events are, help companies determine whether recalls are the right move, and more.
Working as an actuary can be incredibly lucrative. An annual salary near $108,350 is typical, and some actuaries eventually earn $193,600 or more. Plus, you may be able to launch your career with as little as a Bachelor’s degree, unlike many of the other options on this list.
7. Medical and Health Services Manager
For anyone who wants to work in the healthcare field but doesn’t necessarily want to treat patients, launching a career as a medical and health services manager could be a great option. These professionals oversee healthcare facility offices, ensuring everything from budgets to schedules to core operations run smoothly.
As for annual salary, $100,980 is pretty normal. However, the top 10 percent earn more than $189,000, which is impressive.
There are many other high-paying medical jobs for those seeking a profitable career in the medical field, including, believe it or not, many high paying jobs for Nurses.
JEFF'S TIP: While a Bachelor’s degree is the minimum requirement, you may need a Master’s to secure a six-figure salary in this field. Many pros working in these roles have more than a four-year degree, so if you want to be competitive, you may need to go the extra mile, too.
8. Architecture and Engineering Manager
With a Bachelor’s degree and a significant amount of experience in the architecture or engineering field, you could earn a six-figure salary as an architecture and engineering manager. You’d oversee the operations of architectural and engineering offices, manage products, assist with research, and more, depending on the exact role.
In exchange for your expertise, an annual salary of $144,830 is typical. But the top 10 percent bring in more than $208,000. Awesome, right?
9. Dentist
If you want to help people maintain a beautiful smile, working as a dentist could be your ideal career. You’d diagnose and treat teeth, gum, and mouth problems, ensuring patient’s mouths stay healthy.
You do need a Doctoral degree to be a dentist. With that, earning $159,200 annually is pretty common. Plus, the top 10 percent make more than $208,000, which is impressive.
10. Airline and Commercial Pilot
Did you know that airline and commercial pilot is a six-figure job? It’s true. In exchange for safely carrying passengers or cargo through the vast skies, pilots often bring in around $121,430 per year. In some cases, they actually make over $208,000, showing just how much money-making potential there is in this field.
So, if you dream of spending your days soaring above the clouds, you’re in luck. With a high school diploma or Bachelor’s degree, and the right specialized training, you could get your commercial pilot’s license and snag this six-figure job.
11. Big Data Engineer
The world has been clamoring about Big Data for years. That’s why professionals that help companies make sense of their data make bank.
Usually, it takes a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree to break into the field. That ensures you have the skills to provide businesses with insights by finding patterns, identifying trends, and otherwise harnessing the power of any stored data are in-demand. In exchange for their expertise, Big data engineers frequently command salaries near $118,965 a year, and leads can draw in $159,800 annually.
12. Human Resources Manager
So what do Human Resources Managers do? They manage all things personnel-related for a company. For example, these professionals might handle hiring, employee policy creation, grievances, benefits administration, and a lot more.
Generally, you need a Bachelor’s or Master’s to get this far into an HR career, as well as a significant amount of experience. Once there, in exchange for their know-how, human resources managers usually snag salaries of about $116,720 a year. Plus, the top 10 percent can bring in $205,720 or more.
13. Economics Professor
Teaching at a college level usually requires a Master’s or Doctoral degree in the field. If you happen to go that far with your economics education, then you can turn that into an incredibly lucrative career.
While not all postsecondary educators cross the six-figure mark, it’s fairly common for economics professors. The median annual salary for those teachers comes in at $104,370.
Surprising, right? Thankfully, there are a lot of other great jobs for former teachers and professors that can provide a great income should you choose a different path.
14. Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Manager
As a transportation, storage, and distribution manager, you’d coordinate a range of company activities and operations, mainly in the field of logistics. This could include implementing tracking systems, scheduling shipments, and much, much more.
In many cases, professionals who make it to this level have a Bachelor’s degree, at least. However, getting that education is definitely worthwhile, as it makes a six-figure salary possible.
The mean annual wage in this role is actually $103,320 a year. But some specialty areas average higher, particularly those that work in the telecommunications, aerospace, oil and gas, and similar industries.
15. Surgeon
When it comes to six-figure jobs, no list is complete without talking about surgeons. This position is often used as an example of high-paying medical careers, and for good reason.
After going to medical school and honing their skills – allowing them to perform operations on patients, surgeons often earn around $252,040. However, some make much more, including potentially over the $500,000 mark.
Putting It All Together
Ultimately, all of the 6-figure jobs above are worth considering. While most require some form of college degree, the potential financial return can make it worthwhile.
Just make sure that money isn’t your only motivator. If you don’t enjoy the work, a high salary might not be enough to keep you engaged. Luckily, there are plenty of options to consider, including a career in retail, which also has a lot of high paying opportunities. So, see if any of these ignite your passion and, if so, pursue it with confidence.
P.S. You can land a job interview pretty quickly after applying for one of these jobs, so it pays to be prepared for your interview. That’s why we’ve created an amazing free cheat sheet that will give you word-for-word answers for some of the toughest interview questions you are going to face in your upcoming interview.
Click below to get your free PDF now:
Download our "Job Interview Questions & Answers PDF Cheat Sheet" that gives you word-for-word sample answers to some of the most common interview questions including:
- What Is Your Greatest Weakness?
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Click Here To Get The Job Interview Questions & Answers Cheat Sheet
—
Jeff Gillis( Co-Founder and CTO )
Co-founder and CTO of TheInterviewGuys.com. Jeff is a featured contributor delivering advice on job search, job interviews and career advancement, having published more than 50 pieces of unique content on the site, with his work being featured in top publications such as INC, ZDnet, MSN and more.
Learn more about The Interview Guys on our About Us page.
FAQs
What job makes 6 figures a year? ›
Management occupations offer the most six-figure salaries with 12 jobs paying over $100,000. Engineering, Math, Computer, and IT combined offer 12 jobs paying over $100,000. Art, Sales, and Transportation each offer one six-figure job.
How to make $75 000 a year? ›- Network administrator.
- Broker.
- Quality assurance manager.
- Industrial engineer.
- Junior software engineer.
- Digital asset manager.
- Petroleum engineer.
- Audiologist.
Jobs with the highest salaries in India are medical professionals, data scientists, machine learning experts, blockchain developers, full-stack software developers, investment bankers and product managers.
What 3 jobs make the most money? ›- Anesthesiologist: $208,000.
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon: $208,000.
- Obstetrician and Gynecologist: $208,000.
- Surgeon: $208,000.
- Orthodontist: $208,000.
- Physician: $208,000.
- Psychiatrist: $208,000.
Jobs that pay between $60,000 and $90,000 and evoke minimal stress include dietician, audiologist, technical writer, hydrologist and geographer. With competitive salaries above $100,000, enjoyable careers include mathematician, astronomer, orthodontist, physicist and political scientist.
What jobs are super easy? ›- Waiting Tables. Average Yearly Salary: $20,504. ...
- Customer Service Specialist. Average Yearly Salary: $29,000. ...
- Retail Clerk. Average Yearly Salary: $24,000. ...
- Security Guard. Average Yearly Salary: $29,000. ...
- Pet Walker/Sitter. Average Yearly Salary: $20,000. ...
- Daycare. ...
- Brand Ambassador. ...
- Temp.
Easy, good, paying jobs include pet care, dog walking, home sitting, technical writing, patient care, delivery driving, massage therapy, and political science jobs. Most of these jobs only need the skill set and perhaps a post-secondary qualification.
What 4 year degrees make 6 figures? ›Pursuing a bachelor's degree in I.T., computer science, engineering, mathematics, or any related field is the first step towards the goal of earning 6-figure salaries in this field.
What is a 7 figure job? ›So, what is a 7 figure salary exactly? Well, with a 7 figure salary you earn 1 million dollars. With a 6 figure salary, on the other hand, you earn between $100,000 - $999,999 per year. Of course, it is possible to earn a 7 figure income in more ways than a single base salary!
What jobs make 6 figures without a degree? ›- Real estate agent. Real estate can be a lucrative line of work for the right person. ...
- Construction management. Construction can be a lucrative industry, particularly for skilled laborers and managers. ...
- Elevator/escalator installer. ...
- Commercial pilot. ...
- Web developer. ...
- Honorable mentions.
What is $80000 a year hourly? ›
$80,000 is $38.46 an hour without vacation time.
If you work a full 40-hour week for 52 weeks, that amounts to 2,080 hours of work. So $80,000 a year in income divided by 2,080 is a $38.46 hourly wage.
Making $100,000 a year is not common in the U.S. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, only 15.3% of American households make more than $100,000.
Is 75k a year rich? ›If you're earning $75,000 each year, you're doing a bit better than half the country. According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the median household income in 2021 stood at $70,784, so that extra $4,216 puts you in the upper 50 percent of earners.
What is the richest job to have? ›- Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
- General Surgeon.
- Senior Software Engineer.
- Investment Banker.
- Data Scientist.
- IT Systems Manager.
- Anesthesiologists. Annual mean wage: $261,730 per year. ...
- Surgeons. Annual mean wage: $252,040 per year. ...
- Oral and maxillofacial surgeons. Annual mean wage: $237,570 per year. ...
- Obstetricians and gynecologists. ...
- Orthodontists. ...
- Prosthodontists. ...
- Psychiatrists. ...
- Family medicine physicians.
OCCUPATION | 2021 MEDIAN PAY |
---|---|
General internal medicine physicians | This wage is equal to or greater than $208,000 per year |
Family medicine physicians | This wage is equal to or greater than $208,000 per year |
Emergency medicine physicians | This wage is equal to or greater than $208,000 per year |
There are several paths to earning $1 million per year. The traditional high paying jobs in finance, consulting, law, and medicine still top the list of professions that can make $1 million per year. However, there are plenty of jobs where $1 million per year is achievable – even without a college degree.
What salary is top 10%? ›Landing in the top 10% is a fairly attainable goal for upwardly mobile Americans. A study by the Economic Policy Institute (EPI), found that the average earnings of those in the top 10% were roughly $173,000 in 2020.
How to find a high paying job? ›- Utilize job boards.
- Find a career coach.
- Grow your network.
- Do your research.
- Prepare to give references.
- Dress appropriately.
- Clean up your social media.
- Make sure your resume matches the job.
- Product management: 62%
- Engineering: 60%
- Real estate: 59%
- Program and project management: 58%
- Consulting: 57%
- Human resources: 56%
- Finance: 56%
- Purchasing: 55%
What is the coolest job to have? ›
- Forensic Scientist. Forensic scientists are the cool people you see on crime scene investigation TV shows and movies. ...
- Game Designer. ...
- Cyber Security Specialist. ...
- Animator. ...
- Film Critic. ...
- Astronaut (Space Studies) ...
- 7. Entertainment Engineer. ...
- Athletic Trainer.
- Art director.
- Sales representative.
- Nuclear power reactor operator.
- Food technologist.
- Industrial hygiene manager.
- Massage therapist.
- Political analyst.
- Audiologist.
Agriculture, logging and forestry have the highest levels of self-reported happiness — and lowest levels of self-reported stress — of any major industry category, according to our analysis of thousands of time journals from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' American Time Use Survey.
What is a low stress job that pays well? ›Summary. Low stress jobs that pay well include web developer, dental hygienist, and optometrist. These jobs typically require a bachelor's degree, specialty certifications, a master's degree, or even a Ph. D.
What job pays the most without a degree? ›- Patrol Officer.
- Executive Assistant.
- Flight Attendant.
- Sales Representative.
- Sound Engineering Technician.
- Electrician.
- Plumber.
Some of the best jobs without a degree that pay $80K are tech roles such as software developer, database administrator, and information security analyst.
What is the most useful 4 year degree? ›- Biomedical engineering. ...
- Computer science. ...
- Marine engineering. ...
- Pharmaceutical sciences. ...
- Computer engineering. ...
- Electrical engineering. ...
- Finance. ...
- Software engineering.
Is it hard to make 6 figures? Building up to or earning 6 figures is not easy. It will take hard work to be able to earn that much or acquire that much wealth. The best way to get to $100,000 is by constantly increasing your net worth and skills.
How to make 6 figures with a bachelor's? ›- Financial manager. National average salary: $100,178 per year. ...
- 2. Development director. National average salary: $101,180 per year. ...
- Aeronautical engineer. ...
- Electronics engineer. ...
- Sales engineer. ...
- Security engineer. ...
- Compensation manager. ...
- Deputy director.
A singular figure is typically considered to be one digit. For instance, 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 and 9 are figures. For example, a three-digit income would be less than $999 per year. A four-digit income would be less than $9,999 per year.
What are some 8 figure jobs? ›
- Hedge Fund Managers.
- High Profile Athletes.
- Movie Stars.
- Fortune 500 CEOs.
- Founders of Unicorn Start-Ups.
: containing five numerical figures : rated at an annual salary of $10,000 or more.
What blue collar jobs make 100K a year? ›- Air traffic controller. ...
- Radiation therapists. ...
- Police and detectives. ...
- Elevators and escalator installation and repair. ...
- 5. Mail superintendents. ...
- Airline pilot. ...
- Construction manager. ...
- Nuclear technician.
The best way to earn $150K without a degree is by enrolling in a coding bootcamp, taking online courses, and networking. To change your career path and earn a high salary, you must acquire and master the necessary skills.
How to make 6 figures at home? ›- Run a Blog. ...
- Dropshipping. ...
- Become an Influencer. ...
- Create an Online Course. ...
- Write and Publish an eBook. ...
- Paid Ad Specialists. ...
- Graphic Design. ...
- Airbnb.
$150,000 is $75.00 an hour.
$75.00 is the hourly wage a person who earns a $150,000 salary will make if they work 2,000 hours in a year for an average of 40 hours per week, with two weeks of total holidays. We take the annual salary of $150,000 and divide it by 2,000 to get to a $75.00 hourly rate.
If you make $350 per hour, your Yearly salary would be $728,000. This result is obtained by multiplying your base salary by the amount of hours, week, and months you work in a year, assuming you work 40 hours a week.
How much is $90000 a year per hour? ›A salary of $90,000 equates to a monthly pay of $7,500, weekly pay of $1,731, and an hourly wage of $43.27.
What is $100000 a year to hourly? ›$100,000 is $50.00 an hour.
$50.00 is the hourly wage a person who earns a $100,000 salary will make if they work 2,000 hours in a year for an average of 40 hours per week, with two weeks of total holidays. We take the annual salary of $100,000 and divide it by 2,000 to get to a $50.00 hourly rate.
$100,000 yearly is how much per hour? If you make $100,000 per year, your hourly salary would be $48.08. This result is obtained by multiplying your base salary by the amount of hours, week, and months you work in a year, assuming you work 40 hours a week.
What percent of 30 year olds make 100k? ›
The following chart shows what percentage of individuals earn $100k or more by age. Only 7% of all 30-year-olds earn $100k or more per year. This number jumps to 15% for 40-year-olds, 16% for 50-year-olds, and reaches a max of 21% for 66-year-olds.
How much is $35 an hour annually? ›If you make $35 per hour, your Yearly salary would be $72,800. This result is obtained by multiplying your base salary by the amount of hours, week, and months you work in a year, assuming you work 40 hours a week.
What is the top 1 household income? ›$570,003 is the cutoff for a top 1% household income in the United States in 2022. For a single earner, the cutoff is $401,622.
What is the top 5% income in the US? ›Data | Top third | Top 5% |
---|---|---|
Household income | ||
Lower threshold (annual gross income) | $37,500 | $100,000 |
Exact percentage of individuals | 33.55% | 5.63% |
- Large-Cap Company CEO. Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, made $15 million in 2020. ...
- Influencer. Successful Social Media Influencers create social media platforms where they promote products and/or services. ...
- Professional Gamer. ...
- Hedge Fund Manager.
...
Jobs that Pay 100K With 4 Years of School
- Computer and Information Systems Manager. ...
- Marketing Manager. ...
- Sales Manager. ...
- Human Resources Manager. ...
- Purchasing Manager. ...
- Air Traffic Controller. ...
- Medical or Health Services Manager. ...
- Computer Network Architect.
There are several paths to earning $1 million per year. The traditional high paying jobs in finance, consulting, law, and medicine still top the list of professions that can make $1 million per year. However, there are plenty of jobs where $1 million per year is achievable – even without a college degree.
WHAT IS A highest paying job? ›Anesthesiologists, orthodontists and physicians are among the top-paid workers in the U.S. and all make a median salary of $208,000, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, compiled by U.S. News.
What is the highest paying regular job? ›- Cardiologist. $353,970.
- Anesthesiologist. $331,190.
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon. $311,460.
- Emergency Medicine Physician. $310,640.
- Orthopedic Surgeon, Except Pediatric. $306,220.
- Dermatologist. $302,740.
- Radiologist. $301,720.
- Surgeon, All Other. $297,800.
Working as an entrepreneur is one of the best careers that can help people earn over $500,000 a year because a lucrative business established in the right market at the right time can turn into a multi-million-dollar success.
Are there any 7 figure jobs? ›
- Investment banking. ...
- Entrepreneur. ...
- Enterprise sales. ...
- Consultant. ...
- C-level executive. ...
- Influencer. ...
- Earn several streams of income. ...
- Gain effective media exposure.
How much does a Six Figures make? As of Jan 30, 2023, the average annual pay for a Six Figures in the United States is $98,274 a year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $47.25 an hour. This is the equivalent of $1,889/week or $8,189/month.
How much is 100k a year hourly? ›$100,000 is $50.00 an hour.
$50.00 is the hourly wage a person who earns a $100,000 salary will make if they work 2,000 hours in a year for an average of 40 hours per week, with two weeks of total holidays. We take the annual salary of $100,000 and divide it by 2,000 to get to a $50.00 hourly rate.
- Financial analyst.
- Industrial engineer.
- Mechanical engineer.
- Biomedical engineer.
- Nuclear engineer.
- Petroleum engineer.
- Civil engineer.
- Aerospace engineer.