The job market may be softening, but it's still possible to find a high-paying job. You just might need to put in a little extra time to land one.
Job seekers everywhere have noticed a rise in unemployment, which hit 4.3% in August 2025, the highest rate since October 2021. Private employers are also shedding jobs at a faster rate these days. In October 2025, companies cut over 153,000 jobs, a 175% increase from the prior year and a 183% increase from September 2025, according to a report from Challenger, Grey & Christmas. Those cuts span a wide range of industries, including technology, warehousing, media, and non-profit organizations.
Although some companies are cutting back, others are hiring. Through the first 10 months of 2025, companies announced an average of 48,808 hires a month. True, that rate has slowed significantly from 2024, but still signifies that companies are looking for new workers.
Finding those workers can be an issue for certain industries, and to fill that gap, many jobs now command salaries that top $150,000 a year. Stacker ranked the top 30 fastest-growing jobs earning over $150,000 annually using 2024 data from the BLS Employment Projections. Occupations are ranked by percentage change in jobs between 2024 and 2034, using mean income, rather than median income.
High-paying jobs typically—but not always—require at least a bachelor's degree, and some require a master's or doctoral degree. Job growth in STEM fields such as health care, math, computer science, and biochemistry is projected to be higher than usual over the next decade. However, you'll also see jobs in financial services, construction management, and even some trades on this list.
