10 high-paying careers where women make up the majority of workers—most pay more than $100,000

Gender parity in the workforce is still a work in progress — but a new report from career platform Resume Genius reveals something worth celebrating: there are well-paying, fast-growing careers where women don't just participate, they lead.

The report, published March 3, identified the top 10 careers with high median salaries and strong projected job growth in which women make up at least half of the workforce. The data, drawn from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, paints a compelling picture for women who are ambitious and career-driven.

"All of these roles are very high-paying and require specialized knowledge and skills. For women who are very ambitious and want to go up the career ladder, those are very good roles to aspire to."

— Eva Chan, career expert at Resume Genius

One pattern stands out clearly: health care dominates the list. From nurse practitioners to physician assistants, the sector offers scheduling flexibility, well-defined advancement paths, competitive salaries, and — crucially — stability driven by rising demand for health professionals. According to career coach Colleen Paulson, that flexibility has historically helped "keep women in the workforce through life changes like having kids."

The top 10 careers, ranked by salary

No. 1

Financial manager

$161,700 / year

53% women+15% growthBachelor's

No. 2

Human resources manager

$140,030 / year

76% women+5% growthBachelor's

No. 3

Pharmacist

$137,480 / year

60% women+5% growthDoctor of Pharmacy

No. 4

Physician assistant

$133,260 / year

73% women+20% growthMaster's

No. 5

Public relations & fundraising manager

$132,870 / year

70% women+5% growthBachelor's

No. 6

Nurse practitioner

$132,050 / year

88% women+35% growthMaster's

No. 7

Veterinarian

$125,510 / year

69% women+10% growthDoctor of Vet. Medicine

No. 8

Medical & health services manager

$117,960 / year

74% women+23% growthBachelor's

No. 9

Occupational therapist

$98,340 / year

88% women+14% growthMaster's

No. 10

Speech-language pathologist

$95,410 / year

95% women+15% growthMaster's

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Progress in male-dominated fields — but still a long way to go

The report also tracked careers where women's numbers are rising from a low base. Fields like mechanical engineering and surgery are seeing more women enter, but the gains remain modest. Women now make up 11% of mechanical engineers, nearly double the 6% figure from the 1980s. That's real progress, but Colleen Paulson, who spent years in that field herself, is candid about the reality: women are still vastly outnumbered, and that alone can be a deterrent.

"While it's great to see that representation is increasing, it's still probably not where we really want it to be."

— Colleen Paulson, career coach

So what will it take to close the gap? Paulson points to workplace culture as a critical lever — companies sponsoring internships for early-career women, creating mentorship groups, and hosting networking events. "It starts with welcoming younger women in a real way and making it so that they want to stay in the field," she says.

Eva Chan echoes that cautious optimism. She's encouraged to see more leadership and influence emerging for women in historically male-dominated professions — but acknowledges that "there is always going to be more work to be done."