wutzkohphoto // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Civil engineers
- Median annual wage: $82,220
- Median hourly wage: $39.53
- Total employment: 40 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Salisbury
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 Salisbury. 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.
You may also like: Closest national parks to Salisbury
DGLimages // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school
- Median annual wage: $82,620
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 100 people (1.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Medical scientists, except epidemiologists
- Median annual wage: $83,370
- Median hourly wage: $40.08
- Total employment: 70 people (1.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SofikoS // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Diagnostic medical sonographers
- Median annual wage: $84,540
- Median hourly wage: $40.64
- Total employment: 70 people (1.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Registered nurses
- Median annual wage: $84,930
- Median hourly wage: $40.83
- Total employment: 1,650 people (30.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Cheapest gas stations in Salisbury
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Instructional coordinators
- Median annual wage: $85,180
- Median hourly wage: $40.95
- Total employment: 90 people (1.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lopolo // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education
- Median annual wage: $85,370
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 240 people (4.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Iam_Anupong // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Kindergarten teachers, except special education
- Median annual wage: $85,440
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 70 people (1.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. General and operations managers
- Median annual wage: $85,780
- Median hourly wage: $41.24
- Total employment: 1,590 people (29.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Management analysts
- Median annual wage: $89,370
- Median hourly wage: $42.97
- Total employment: 80 people (1.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-paying jobs in Salisbury for high school graduates
Undrey // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Financial and investment analysts
- Median annual wage: $89,640
- Median hourly wage: $43.10
- Total employment: 50 people (0.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Computer systems analysts
- Median annual wage: $91,330
- Median hourly wage: $43.91
- Total employment: 90 people (1.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Engineers, all other
- Median annual wage: $91,510
- Median hourly wage: $43.99
- Total employment: 40 people (0.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Architects, except landscape and naval
- Median annual wage: $94,650
- Median hourly wage: $45.50
- Total employment: 40 people (0.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ABO PHOTOGRAPHY // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Occupational therapists
- Median annual wage: $94,740
- Median hourly wage: $45.55
- Total employment: 50 people (1.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Most common languages spoken at home in Greater Salisbury and surrounding regions
Roman Samborskyi // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Software quality assurance analysts and testers
- Median annual wage: $96,360
- Median hourly wage: $46.33
- Total employment: 50 people (0.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Telecommunications line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $96,620
- Median hourly wage: $46.45
- Total employment: 120 people (2.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Education administrators, all other
- Median annual wage: $96,810
- Median hourly wage: $46.54
- Total employment: 30 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Dental hygienists
- Median annual wage: $97,270
- Median hourly wage: $46.77
- Total employment: 70 people (1.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
goodluz // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Median annual wage: $97,840
- Median hourly wage: $47.04
- Total employment: 40 people (0.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Car insurance rates in Salisbury October 2025
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Teachers and instructors, all other
- Median annual wage: $98,760
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 70 people (1.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Marketing managers
- Median annual wage: $98,770
- Median hourly wage: $47.49
- Total employment: 50 people (0.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ABO PHOTOGRAPHY / Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Speech-language pathologists
- Median annual wage: $99,070
- Median hourly wage: $47.63
- Total employment: 70 people (1.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nicola Forenza // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Lawyers
- Median annual wage: $100,020
- Median hourly wage: $48.09
- Total employment: 170 people (3.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Aykut Erdogdu // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Physical therapists
- Median annual wage: $100,440
- Median hourly wage: $48.29
- Total employment: 140 people (2.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Salisbury 7-day weather forecast
SpeedKingz // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Managers, all other
- Median annual wage: $102,200
- Median hourly wage: $49.14
- Total employment: 200 people (3.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BalanceFormCreative // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Information security analysts
- Median annual wage: $102,280
- Median hourly wage: $49.17
- Total employment: 40 people (0.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
creativemarc // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Administrative services managers
- Median annual wage: $104,660
- Median hourly wage: $50.32
- Total employment: 70 people (1.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Sunshine Seeds // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Industrial production managers
- Median annual wage: $105,450
- Median hourly wage: $50.70
- Total employment: 50 people (1.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Medical and health services managers
- Median annual wage: $111,790
- Median hourly wage: $53.74
- Total employment: 270 people (5.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-paying jobs in Salisbury that don't require a college degree
Bannafarsai_Stock // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Construction managers
- Median annual wage: $112,570
- Median hourly wage: $54.12
- Total employment: 70 people (1.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
dokurose // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Sales managers
- Median annual wage: $115,090
- Median hourly wage: $55.33
- Total employment: 140 people (2.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Nurse practitioners
- Median annual wage: $119,600
- Median hourly wage: $57.50
- Total employment: 180 people (3.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Roman Samborskyi // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Software developers
- Median annual wage: $119,690
- Median hourly wage: $57.55
- Total employment: 80 people (1.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary
- Median annual wage: $121,430
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 190 people (3.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: The 30 most popular homes for sale in Salisbury
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $122,510
- Median hourly wage: $58.90
- Total employment: 110 people (2.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kanghophoto // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Financial managers
- Median annual wage: $124,490
- Median hourly wage: $59.85
- Total employment: 280 people (5.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Human resources managers
- Median annual wage: $129,570
- Median hourly wage: $62.29
- Total employment: 60 people (1.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Computer network architects
- Median annual wage: $130,290
- Median hourly wage: $62.64
- Total employment: 40 people (0.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Purchasing managers
- Median annual wage: $131,810
- Median hourly wage: $63.37
- Total employment: 40 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: How much house does $500,000 buy you in Salisbury?
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Pharmacists
- Median annual wage: $135,170
- Median hourly wage: $64.98
- Total employment: 120 people (2.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BOY ANTHONY // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Architectural and engineering managers
- Median annual wage: $137,090
- Median hourly wage: $65.91
- Total employment: 30 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stokkete // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Physician assistants
- Median annual wage: $137,150
- Median hourly wage: $65.94
- Total employment: 100 people (1.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Frame Stock Footage // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Computer and information systems managers
- Median annual wage: $139,810
- Median hourly wage: $67.22
- Total employment: 110 people (2.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Education administrators, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $141,910
- Median hourly wage: $68.23
- Total employment: 110 people (2.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Biggest sources of immigrants to Salisbury
VE.Studio // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Natural sciences managers
- Median annual wage: $158,160
- Median hourly wage: $76.04
- Total employment: 30 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Dentists, general
- Median annual wage: $168,790
- Median hourly wage: $81.15
- Total employment: 60 people (1.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Chief executives
- Median annual wage: $212,690
- Median hourly wage: $102.25
- Total employment: 40 people (0.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Photoroyalty // Shutterstock
49 / 50#1. Surgeons, all other (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 50 people (0.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wutzkohphoto // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Physicians, all other (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 70 people (1.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Cu Fleshman, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 364 metros.
You may also like: How gas prices have changed in Salisbury in the last week
