New Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) figures released for May 2025 reveal the highest-paying occupations in the United States. Healthcare roles dominate the top of the list, reflecting the advanced training and critical responsibilities involved, though airline pilots also rank among the elite earners.
Pediatric surgeons sit at No. 1, with an average annual wage of **$502,050**. The national average wage across all occupations stands at $69,770 for comparison.
Business Insider analyzed the BLS data, ranking detailed occupations by average annual wage while excluding broad “catchall” categories like “Surgeons, all other.” Nearly all of the top 13 positions require a doctoral or professional degree, with the exception of airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers, who typically need a bachelor’s degree.
Here is the full ranking:
13. Psychiatrists
**Average annual wage:** $269,940
**Employment:** 27,980
12. Obstetricians and Gynecologists
**Average annual wage:** $279,040
**Employment:** 21,260
11. Pathologists
**Average annual wage:** $285,420
**Employment:** 11,110
10. Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers
**Average annual wage:** $288,650
**Employment:** 103,560
9. Ophthalmologists (except pediatric)
**Average annual wage:** $304,650
**Employment:** 8,950
8. Emergency Medicine Physicians
**Average annual wage:** $317,480
**Employment:** 32,880
7. Dermatologists
**Average annual wage:** $323,530
**Employment:** 11,370
6. Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
**Average annual wage:** $346,490
**Employment:** 4,910
5. Anesthesiologists
**Average annual wage:** $360,570
**Employment:** 38,760
4. Orthopedic Surgeons (except pediatric)
**Average annual wage:** $373,570
**Employment:** 14,100
3. Radiologists
**Average annual wage:** $381,530
**Employment:** 26,770
2. Cardiologists
**Average annual wage:** $454,940
**Employment:** 17,290
1. Pediatric Surgeons
**Average annual wage:** $502,050
**Employment:** 1,190
Key takeaways
- **Healthcare dominance**: 12 of the 13 highest-paying jobs are in medicine, underscoring how years of specialized education and training translate into high compensation.
- **Pilot exception**: Airline pilots stand out as the only non-physician role in the top 10, benefiting from rigorous certification, safety responsibilities, and irregular schedules.
- **Employment scale**: While some roles (like pediatric surgeons) have relatively few practitioners, others, like pilots and anesthesiologists, employ tens of thousands.
These salaries reflect base compensation and do not necessarily include bonuses, profit-sharing, or additional benefits that can significantly increase total earnings in certain fields.
When choosing a career, pay is just one factor. Others — such as job satisfaction, work-life balance, training duration and cost, and personal aptitude — often play equally important roles in long-term fulfillment.