fizkes // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Clinical and counseling psychologists
- Median annual wage: $123,460
- Median hourly wage: $59.36
- Total employment: 300 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Fresno
Despite recession fears and falling consumer confidence, the job market in the United States has remained relatively stable in 2025 thus far. According to May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics data, around 177,000 new jobs were added in April, a slight decrease from the 185,000 new jobs added in the month before, but an extension of the country's 52-month streak of job growth. Unemployment rates also held relatively steady between April 2024 and April 2025, coming in at around 4%.
Of course, that doesn't necessarily mean Americans have it easy in the workplace. A December 2024 Payscale report found that nearly half (47%) of business organizations struggle to balance fair pay practices with spend optimization, and 18% plan to reduce pay increases in 2025 as a result.
For context, median weekly earnings across all employees in the U.S. stood at $1,194 in the first quarter of 2025. This represents an increase of 4.8% from a year prior and exceeds the Consumer Price Index's 2.7% increase in the same time period. However, there's one caveat: Earnings go much further in some places than in others.
In fact, the very definition of a "high-paying" job varies by location, as well as other factors such as industry and benefits. Even a six-figure salary may be considered low-income in places with an unusually high cost of living. Meanwhile, technology, finance, and health care jobs lead in terms of salary, but benefits like remote work can make other lower-paying jobs more desirable.
Regardless, anyone seeking a high-paying job should start by looking at the numbers. Stacker used BLS data to find the 50 highest-paying jobs in Fresno. Jobs are ranked by their median annual pay as of May 2024, so any jobs without annual compensation figures available were excluded from this analysis.
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Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Audiologists
- Median annual wage: $124,230
- Median hourly wage: $59.73
- Total employment: 30 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lucky Business // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Chemistry teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $124,280
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 40 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Purchasing managers
- Median annual wage: $124,960
- Median hourly wage: $60.08
- Total employment: 100 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Biological science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $125,220
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 90 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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VH-studio // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. School psychologists
- Median annual wage: $125,450
- Median hourly wage: $60.31
- Total employment: 470 people (1.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Roman Samborskyi // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Software developers
- Median annual wage: $126,290
- Median hourly wage: $60.72
- Total employment: 650 people (1.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Engineering teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $126,450
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 40 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Registered nurses
- Median annual wage: $126,630
- Median hourly wage: $60.88
- Total employment: 10,440 people (22.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Electrical engineers
- Median annual wage: $126,950
- Median hourly wage: $61.03
- Total employment: 350 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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fizkes // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Compensation and benefits managers
- Median annual wage: $127,080
- Median hourly wage: $61.10
- Total employment: 40 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SeventyFour // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. History teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $127,360
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 40 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SpeedKingz // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Managers, all other
- Median annual wage: $128,840
- Median hourly wage: $61.94
- Total employment: 1,120 people (2.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kzenon // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Optometrists
- Median annual wage: $129,250
- Median hourly wage: $62.14
- Total employment: 160 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Medical scientists, except epidemiologists
- Median annual wage: $129,670
- Median hourly wage: $62.34
- Total employment: 330 people (0.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Rebekah Zemansky // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. First-line supervisors of correctional officers
- Median annual wage: $129,860
- Median hourly wage: $62.43
- Total employment: 340 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Fundraising managers
- Median annual wage: $130,000
- Median hourly wage: $62.50
- Total employment: 100 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Recreation and fitness studies teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $130,410
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 60 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $130,740
- Median hourly wage: $62.85
- Total employment: 210 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Marketing managers
- Median annual wage: $130,950
- Median hourly wage: $62.96
- Total employment: 490 people (1.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Pressmaster // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $131,450
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 150 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Communications teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $132,190
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 70 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary
- Median annual wage: $132,620
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 1,310 people (2.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $132,930
- Median hourly wage: $63.91
- Total employment: 330 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Mathematical science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $133,150
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 90 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Daniel Besic // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. English language and literature teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $133,160
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 180 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Health specialties teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $133,800
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 140 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Matej Kastelic // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Business teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $134,070
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 90 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Frame Stock Footage // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Computer and information systems managers
- Median annual wage: $134,710
- Median hourly wage: $64.76
- Total employment: 610 people (1.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Medical and health services managers
- Median annual wage: $135,420
- Median hourly wage: $65.11
- Total employment: 1,820 people (3.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Human resources managers
- Median annual wage: $135,640
- Median hourly wage: $65.21
- Total employment: 400 people (0.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kanghophoto // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Financial managers
- Median annual wage: $135,900
- Median hourly wage: $65.34
- Total employment: 1,320 people (2.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
michaeljung // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Power plant operators
- Median annual wage: $136,640
- Median hourly wage: $65.69
- Total employment: 150 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Suwin // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay
- Median annual wage: $137,470
- Median hourly wage: $66.09
- Total employment: 50 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Computer science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $139,380
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 70 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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VE.Studio // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Natural sciences managers
- Median annual wage: $141,800
- Median hourly wage: $68.17
- Total employment: 90 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Zivica Kerkez // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Veterinarians
- Median annual wage: $150,500
- Median hourly wage: $72.36
- Total employment: 140 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stokkete // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Physician assistants
- Median annual wage: $150,650
- Median hourly wage: $72.43
- Total employment: 350 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
My Ocean Production // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Nuclear medicine technologists
- Median annual wage: $157,160
- Median hourly wage: $75.56
- Total employment: 40 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Psychologists, all other
- Median annual wage: $157,240
- Median hourly wage: $75.60
- Total employment: 40 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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BOY ANTHONY // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Architectural and engineering managers
- Median annual wage: $160,680
- Median hourly wage: $77.25
- Total employment: 270 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Nurse practitioners
- Median annual wage: $161,550
- Median hourly wage: $77.67
- Total employment: 640 people (1.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $161,600
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 60 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Pharmacists
- Median annual wage: $164,520
- Median hourly wage: $79.09
- Total employment: 930 people (1.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Psychology teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $164,770
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 100 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Dentists, general
- Median annual wage: $173,660
- Median hourly wage: $83.49
- Total employment: 370 people (0.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Chief executives
- Median annual wage: $179,360
- Median hourly wage: $86.23
- Total employment: 720 people (1.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Psychiatrists
- Median annual wage: $235,650
- Median hourly wage: $113.29
- Total employment: 110 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wutzkohphoto // Shutterstock
49 / 50#1. Physicians, all other (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 350 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Pediatricians, general (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: Not available
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Cu Fleshman, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 364 metros.
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