Career & Salary Data
Best Paying Jobs in the US by State (2026)
Comprehensive salary data for the highest-paying occupations across the US, with state-by-state breakdowns, growth projections, and take-home pay estimates.
M
Marcus Webb
Compensation Research AnalystMarcus has 8+ years of experience in compensation analysis and tax research. He covers salary benchmarks, payroll tax policy, and compensation strategy across all US states.
Last updated: April 2026
Reviewed for 2026 tax rates
Highest Median Salary
$331,190
Anesthesiologist
Fastest Growing
38%
Nurse Practitioners
Jobs Covered
20
Occupations tracked
Highest Paying Occupations (2026)
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, 2024.
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Top Paying Jobs by State
People Also Ask
What is the highest paying job in the United States?▼
Anesthesiologists are consistently the highest-paid workers in the US, with median annual wages exceeding $330,000. Other top earners include oral surgeons, orthodontists, psychiatrists, and general surgeons. Most top-paying jobs are in healthcare, requiring advanced degrees and residency training.
What are the highest paying jobs that don't require a medical degree?▼
Outside of healthcare, the highest paying careers include: Airline pilots ($198k median), Petroleum engineers ($132k), Computer and information systems managers ($170k), Financial managers ($156k), and Lawyers ($146k). Many tech roles like software engineering and data science can reach $150k+ with experience.
Which states pay the highest salaries overall?▼
States with the highest average wages include California, New York, Washington, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. These states also have higher costs of living, so actual purchasing power varies. Texas and Florida offer competitive salaries in tech and energy sectors with no state income tax.
What are the fastest growing well-paying jobs?▼
Nurse practitioners (+38% growth), Data scientists (+35%), Software developers (+25%), Physician assistants (+28%), and Information security analysts (+32%) combine strong growth projections with high median salaries. These fields offer both security and upward earning potential.