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Jobs That Pay $40 an Hour or More
121 US jobs pay a median of $40 an hour or more (about $83,200 a year). The most common are general and operations manager ($50.85 an hour), registered nurse ($46.90 an hour), software developer ($65.38 an hour). They are listed below with the most workers first, so the jobs with the most openings come first; sort them by pay if you prefer. Figures are BLS medians from May 2025: half the workers in each job earn more, and starting pay is usually lower.
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Jobs That Pay $40 an Hour or More, ranked
of 121 jobs match.
| # | Job | Median | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | General and operations manager Management | $105,770 | $50.85 | $253,390 | Bachelor's degree | 3,503,020 |
| 2 | Registered nurse Healthcare Practitioners | $97,550 | $46.90 | $137,470 | Bachelor's degree | 3,379,720 |
| 3 | Software developer Computer and Mathematical | $135,980 | $65.38 | $214,670 | Bachelor's degree | 1,687,890 |
| 4 | Accountant Business and Financial | $83,680 | $40.23 | $144,090 | Bachelor's degree | 1,449,500 |
| 5 | Project management specialist Business and Financial | $102,320 | $49.19 | $167,970 | Bachelor's degree | 1,066,670 |
| 6 | Management analyst Business and Financial | $101,860 | $48.97 | $171,640 | Bachelor's degree | 898,280 |
| 7 | Financial manager Management | $166,570 | $80.08 | $323,270 | Bachelor's degree | 841,710 |
| 8 | Lawyer Legal | $159,670 | $76.76 | $351,600 | Doctoral or professional | 754,500 |
| 9 | Computer and information systems manager Management | $175,140 | $84.20 | $297,510 | Bachelor's degree | 670,570 |
| 10 | Sales manager Management | $148,270 | $71.28 | $290,540 | Bachelor's degree | 637,080 |
| 11 | Medical and health services manager Management | $123,860 | $59.55 | $224,340 | Bachelor's degree | 597,080 |
| 12 | Computer systems analyst Computer and Mathematical | $105,850 | $50.89 | $167,710 | Bachelor's degree | 519,530 |
| 13 | Marketing manager Management | $166,790 | $80.19 | $293,610 | Bachelor's degree | 395,240 |
| 14 | Construction manager Management | $114,990 | $55.28 | $189,440 | Bachelor's degree | 380,360 |
| 15 | Civil engineer Architecture and Engineering | $100,840 | $48.48 | $163,220 | Bachelor's degree | 367,840 |
| 16 | Industrial engineer Architecture and Engineering | $102,440 | $49.25 | $159,860 | Bachelor's degree | 365,740 |
| 17 | Financial and investment analyst Business and Financial | $102,740 | $49.40 | $180,860 | Bachelor's degree | 361,980 |
| 18 | Education administrator, kindergarten through secondary Management | $105,870 | – | $167,770 | Master's degree | 328,330 |
| 19 | Nurse practitioner Healthcare Practitioners | $132,300 | $63.61 | $174,420 | Master's degree | 323,040 |
| 20 | Pharmacist Healthcare Practitioners | $140,910 | $67.75 | $174,230 | Doctoral or professional | 321,970 |
| 21 | Network and computer systems administrator Computer and Mathematical | $99,130 | $47.66 | $155,050 | Bachelor's degree | 314,340 |
| 22 | Mechanical engineer Architecture and Engineering | $104,110 | $50.05 | $164,340 | Bachelor's degree | 296,810 |
| 23 | Sales representative, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific product Sales | $104,920 | $50.44 | $200,440 | Bachelor's degree | 284,800 |
| 24 | Physical therapist Healthcare Practitioners | $102,760 | $49.40 | $135,140 | Doctoral or professional | 267,330 |
| 25 | Financial advisor Business and Financial | $105,070 | $50.51 | $357,020 | Bachelor's degree | 266,800 |
| 26 | Administrative services manager Management | $114,130 | $54.87 | $207,720 | Bachelor's degree | 263,960 |
| 27 | Data scientist Computer and Mathematical | $120,230 | $57.80 | $199,130 | Bachelor's degree | 262,440 |
| 28 | Industrial production manager Management | $126,060 | $60.61 | $205,520 | Bachelor's degree | 246,250 |
| 29 | Dental hygienist Healthcare Practitioners | $98,100 | $47.16 | $126,050 | Associate's degree | 222,740 |
| 30 | Health specialties teacher, postsecondary Education and Library | $107,310 | – | $322,020 | Doctoral or professional | 221,270 |
| 31 | Transportation, storage, and distribution manager Management | $107,230 | $51.55 | $194,900 | High school diploma | 221,180 |
| 32 | Human resources manager Management | $149,280 | $71.77 | $267,810 | Bachelor's degree | 220,660 |
| 33 | Architectural and engineering manager Management | $171,270 | $82.34 | $262,760 | Bachelor's degree | 220,260 |
| 34 | First-line supervisor of non-retail sales workers Sales | $87,520 | $42.08 | $164,070 | High school diploma | 214,390 |
| 35 | CEO Management | $213,990 | $102.88 | $507,730 | Bachelor's degree | 204,350 |
| 36 | Electrical engineer Architecture and Engineering | $120,630 | $58.00 | $184,300 | Bachelor's degree | 198,750 |
| 37 | Information security analyst Computer and Mathematical | $129,180 | $62.11 | $199,850 | Bachelor's degree | 190,650 |
| 38 | Software quality assurance analyst and tester Computer and Mathematical | $104,300 | $50.14 | $167,010 | Bachelor's degree | 186,740 |
| 39 | Speech-language pathologist Healthcare Practitioners | $97,870 | $47.05 | $134,160 | Master's degree | 183,390 |
| 40 | Education administrator, postsecondary Management | $104,590 | $50.29 | $215,620 | Master's degree | 180,470 |
| 41 | Computer network architect Computer and Mathematical | $134,050 | $64.45 | $202,680 | Bachelor's degree | 179,740 |
| 42 | Medical scientist Science | $103,410 | $49.72 | $177,780 | Doctoral or professional | 172,340 |
| 43 | Occupational therapist Healthcare Practitioners | $100,330 | $48.24 | $131,950 | Master's degree | 162,450 |
| 44 | Physician assistant Healthcare Practitioners | $135,880 | $65.33 | $190,280 | Master's degree | 162,150 |
| 45 | Facilities manager Management | $106,660 | $51.28 | $176,120 | Bachelor's degree | 156,180 |
| 46 | First-line supervisor of police and detectives Protective Service | $106,040 | $50.98 | $165,110 | High school diploma | 154,610 |
| 47 | Producer and director Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media | $90,360 | $43.44 | $198,540 | Bachelor's degree | 143,120 |
| 48 | Occupational health and safety specialist Science | $90,150 | $43.34 | $134,950 | Bachelor's degree | 140,610 |
| 49 | Electrical power-line installer and repairer Installation, Maintenance and Repair | $95,320 | $45.83 | $128,690 | High school diploma | 131,070 |
| 50 | Dentist Healthcare Practitioners | $170,950 | $82.19 | $319,630 | Doctoral or professional | 124,390 |
| 51 | Detective Protective Service | $93,790 | $45.09 | $160,540 | High school diploma | 114,430 |
| 52 | Web and digital interface designer Computer and Mathematical | $104,000 | $50.00 | $201,550 | Bachelor's degree | 113,330 |
| 53 | Natural sciences manager Management | $167,220 | $80.39 | $316,850 | Bachelor's degree | 108,690 |
| 54 | Operations research analyst Computer and Mathematical | $88,940 | $42.76 | $159,910 | Bachelor's degree | 108,510 |
| 55 | Family medicine physician Healthcare Practitioners | $244,180 | $117.39 | $428,550 | Doctoral or professional | 107,510 |
| 56 | Architect Architecture and Engineering | $99,280 | $47.73 | $161,420 | Bachelor's degree | 106,770 |
| 57 | Airline pilot Transportation and Material Moving | $232,140 | – | $463,830 | Bachelor's degree | 103,560 |
| 58 | First-line supervisor of firefighting and prevention workers Protective Service | $93,530 | $44.96 | $140,010 | Certificate | 99,140 |
| 59 | Electronics engineer Architecture and Engineering | $130,220 | $62.60 | $206,960 | Bachelor's degree | 96,900 |
| 60 | Computer programmer Computer and Mathematical | $100,390 | $48.26 | $160,460 | Bachelor's degree | 92,230 |
| 61 | Diagnostic medical sonographer Healthcare Practitioners | $96,590 | $46.44 | $129,370 | Associate's degree | 90,160 |
| 62 | Purchasing manager Management | $148,080 | $71.19 | $223,280 | Bachelor's degree | 84,320 |
| 63 | Veterinarian Healthcare Practitioners | $130,100 | $62.55 | $215,700 | Doctoral or professional | 83,900 |
| 64 | Chemist Science | $91,240 | $43.87 | $160,830 | Bachelor's degree | 82,770 |
| 65 | Business teacher, postsecondary Education and Library | $99,080 | – | $209,470 | Doctoral or professional | 82,150 |
| 66 | Computer hardware engineer Architecture and Engineering | $161,740 | $77.76 | $225,330 | Bachelor's degree | 76,660 |
| 67 | Clinical and counseling psychologist Science | $100,580 | $48.36 | $180,960 | Doctoral or professional | 75,990 |
| 68 | Public relations manager Management | $146,910 | $70.63 | $284,990 | Bachelor's degree | 74,850 |
| 69 | Web developer Computer and Mathematical | $92,650 | $44.54 | $162,290 | Bachelor's degree | 70,190 |
| 70 | Database administrator Computer and Mathematical | $104,620 | $50.30 | $163,320 | Bachelor's degree | 69,990 |
| 71 | Financial examiner Business and Financial | $94,160 | $45.27 | $174,200 | Bachelor's degree | 67,830 |
| 72 | Aerospace engineer Architecture and Engineering | $134,960 | $64.89 | $205,890 | Bachelor's degree | 67,710 |
| 73 | General internal medicine physician Healthcare Practitioners | $256,560 | $123.35 | $475,430 | Doctoral or professional | 67,150 |
| 74 | Database architect Computer and Mathematical | $139,500 | $67.07 | $204,000 | Bachelor's degree | 67,140 |
| 75 | Labor relations specialist Business and Financial | $95,420 | $45.87 | $156,180 | Bachelor's degree | 64,810 |
| 76 | Credit analyst Business and Financial | $83,510 | $40.15 | $169,230 | Bachelor's degree | 64,390 |
| 77 | School psychologist Science | $95,990 | $46.15 | $142,330 | Master's degree | 63,940 |
| 78 | Financial risk specialist Business and Financial | $117,330 | $56.41 | $196,110 | Bachelor's degree | 63,850 |
| 79 | Art director Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media | $114,850 | $55.22 | $213,050 | Bachelor's degree | 53,070 |
| 80 | Nurse anesthetist Healthcare Practitioners | $236,590 | $113.75 | $339,500 | Master's degree | 51,840 |
| 81 | Sales engineer Sales | $124,900 | $60.05 | $195,270 | Bachelor's degree | 51,790 |
| 82 | Biological science teacher, postsecondary Education and Library | $84,620 | – | $169,900 | Doctoral or professional | 50,190 |
| 83 | Training and development manager Management | $133,000 | $63.94 | $233,600 | Bachelor's degree | 48,050 |
| 84 | Commercial pilot Transportation and Material Moving | $123,220 | – | $266,620 | Certificate | 47,630 |
| 85 | Budget analyst Business and Financial | $91,640 | $44.06 | $136,660 | Bachelor's degree | 47,160 |
| 86 | Technical writer Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media | $90,390 | $43.46 | $145,270 | Bachelor's degree | 45,500 |
| 87 | Urban and regional planner Science | $89,320 | $42.94 | $134,490 | Master's degree | 44,230 |
| 88 | Magnetic resonance imaging technologist Healthcare Practitioners | $95,480 | $45.91 | $127,670 | Associate's degree | 43,390 |
| 89 | Optometrist Healthcare Practitioners | $136,570 | $65.66 | $202,180 | Doctoral or professional | 42,790 |
| 90 | Engineering teacher, postsecondary Education and Library | $109,270 | – | $210,370 | Doctoral or professional | 40,270 |
| 91 | Pediatrician Healthcare Practitioners | $210,040 | $100.98 | $338,500 | Doctoral or professional | 39,390 |
| 92 | Fundraising manager Management | $125,470 | $60.32 | $222,350 | Bachelor's degree | 38,810 |
| 93 | Anesthesiologist Healthcare Practitioners | $391,490 | $188.22 | $557,130 | Doctoral or professional | 38,760 |
| 94 | Environmental engineer Architecture and Engineering | $107,110 | $51.50 | $162,220 | Bachelor's degree | 38,340 |
| 95 | Computer and information research scientist Computer and Mathematical | $140,300 | $67.45 | $230,630 | Master's degree | 37,200 |
| 96 | Captains, mates, and pilot of water vessels Transportation and Material Moving | $92,460 | $44.45 | $170,640 | Certificate | 36,850 |
| 97 | Computer science teacher, postsecondary Education and Library | $96,980 | – | $170,200 | Doctoral or professional | 35,480 |
| 98 | Biochemist and biophysicist Science | $127,410 | $61.26 | $201,110 | Doctoral or professional | 33,830 |
| 99 | Commercial and industrial designer Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media | $83,910 | $40.34 | $139,770 | Bachelor's degree | 33,490 |
| 100 | Petroleum pump system operator, refinery operator, and gauger Production | $96,710 | $46.50 | $115,880 | High school diploma | 33,160 |
| 101 | Emergency medicine physician Healthcare Practitioners | $335,550 | $161.32 | $495,910 | Doctoral or professional | 32,880 |
| 102 | Power plant operator Production | $102,040 | $49.06 | $131,940 | High school diploma | 29,320 |
| 103 | Statistician Computer and Mathematical | $105,650 | $50.79 | $174,050 | Master's degree | 29,030 |
| 104 | Psychiatrist Healthcare Practitioners | $281,870 | $135.51 | $446,520 | Doctoral or professional | 27,980 |
| 105 | Radiologist Healthcare Practitioners | $420,860 | $202.34 | $594,410 | Doctoral or professional | 26,770 |
| 106 | Actuary Computer and Mathematical | $130,000 | $62.50 | $215,100 | Bachelor's degree | 26,670 |
| 107 | Transportation inspector Transportation and Material Moving | $92,100 | $44.28 | $138,670 | High school diploma | 24,500 |
| 108 | Judge, magistrate judge, and magistrate Legal | $153,990 | $74.03 | $221,710 | Doctoral or professional | 24,030 |
| 109 | Elevator and escalator installer and repairer Construction and Extraction | $109,910 | $52.84 | $158,890 | High school diploma | 23,790 |
| 110 | Bioengineer and biomedical engineer Architecture and Engineering | $109,370 | $52.58 | $168,180 | Bachelor's degree | 23,480 |
| 111 | Geoscientist Science | $101,920 | $49.00 | $200,230 | Bachelor's degree | 23,470 |
| 112 | Compensation and benefits manager Management | $149,230 | $71.75 | $256,570 | Bachelor's degree | 22,940 |
| 113 | Materials engineer Architecture and Engineering | $112,860 | $54.26 | $175,720 | Bachelor's degree | 22,770 |
| 114 | Air traffic controller Transportation and Material Moving | $148,080 | $71.19 | $215,610 | Associate's degree | 22,510 |
| 115 | Advertising and promotions manager Management | $133,660 | $64.26 | $286,240 | Bachelor's degree | 21,470 |
| 116 | Health and safety engineer Architecture and Engineering | $115,160 | $55.36 | $171,250 | Bachelor's degree | 21,450 |
| 117 | Obstetrician and gynecologist Healthcare Practitioners | $292,910 | $140.82 | $437,300 | Doctoral or professional | 21,260 |
| 118 | Chemical engineer Architecture and Engineering | $125,040 | $60.12 | $182,880 | Bachelor's degree | 21,070 |
| 119 | Electrical and electronics repairer, powerhouse, substation, and relay Installation, Maintenance and Repair | $103,020 | $49.53 | $129,920 | Certificate | 20,720 |
| 120 | Physicist Science | $172,250 | $82.81 | $274,110 | Doctoral or professional | 20,430 |
| 121 | Law teacher, postsecondary Education and Library | $128,500 | – | $287,900 | Doctoral or professional | 20,060 |
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (published 2026), and Employment Projections education and training assignments (2025). Salaries are yearly medians before tax for wage and salary workers, not the self-employed. The median for all US jobs is $50,980. Jobs with fewer than 20,000 workers nationally are not listed.
About the Highest Paying Jobs
Highest Paying Jobs ranks 515 US jobs by what they actually pay, using the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics wage survey (May 2025, published 2026). Filter the list by field, by the education a job needs to start, or by a minimum salary, and sort it by median pay, average pay, what the top 10% earn, hourly wage or the number of people in the job. Ready-made rankings answer the common questions: the highest paying jobs without a degree, with only a high school diploma, with an associate, bachelor’s or master’s degree, entry-level and trade jobs, the best-paid jobs in healthcare, tech, engineering and ten other fields, and the highest paying jobs in each of the 50 states and Washington DC. Every job links to its own salary page with hourly pay, the full pay range and pay by state.
How to use it
- 1 Start with the full ranking, or pick a ready-made list such as jobs without a degree, a field or your state.
- 2 Narrow it down with the field, education and minimum pay filters, or search for a job.
- 3 Sort by median salary, top 10% pay, hourly wage or most workers.
- 4 Open any job to see its pay range, hourly and monthly pay and salary in every state.
Frequently asked questions
What jobs pay $40 an hour?
121 jobs have a median pay of $40 an hour or more. The most common are general and operations manager ($50.85 an hour), registered nurse ($46.90 an hour), software developer ($65.38 an hour), accountant ($40.23 an hour), project management specialist ($49.19 an hour).
How much is $40 an hour a year?
$40 an hour is $83,200 a year for a full-time 40-hour week (2,080 hours), or about $6,933 a month before tax.
Which jobs pay $40 an hour with no experience?
These need no college degree and no experience in a related job to start: electrical power-line installer and repairer ($45.83 an hour), commercial pilot ($59.24 an hour), petroleum pump system operator, refinery operator, and gauger ($46.50 an hour), power plant operator ($49.06 an hour), transportation inspector ($44.28 an hour). Pay usually starts below the median and rises with training.
What is the best-paid job on this list?
Radiologist has the highest median, $420,860 a year ($202.34 an hour).
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