wutzkohphoto // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Civil engineers
- Median annual wage: $91,110
- Median hourly wage: $43.80
- Total employment: 330 people (2.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Appleton
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 Appleton. 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: How much house $1 million buys you in Appleton
Prath // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Median annual wage: $91,680
- Median hourly wage: $44.08
- Total employment: 50 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Mechanical engineers
- Median annual wage: $92,300
- Median hourly wage: $44.38
- Total employment: 380 people (3.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Matej Kastelic // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Business teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $92,890
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 40 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
g-stockstudio // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Median annual wage: $94,180
- Median hourly wage: $45.28
- Total employment: 310 people (2.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: The most expensive neighborhoods in Appleton
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Industrial engineers
- Median annual wage: $94,210
- Median hourly wage: $45.29
- Total employment: 490 people (3.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Project management specialists
- Median annual wage: $94,300
- Median hourly wage: $45.34
- Total employment: 890 people (7.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
creativemarc // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Administrative services managers
- Median annual wage: $95,810
- Median hourly wage: $46.06
- Total employment: 160 people (1.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BalanceFormCreative // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Information security analysts
- Median annual wage: $95,950
- Median hourly wage: $46.13
- Total employment: 60 people (0.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dragon Images // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Insurance underwriters
- Median annual wage: $96,890
- Median hourly wage: $46.58
- Total employment: 80 people (0.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated pizza restaurants in the Appleton area by diners
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $98,170
- Median hourly wage: $47.20
- Total employment: 120 people (0.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Undrey // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Financial and investment analysts
- Median annual wage: $98,210
- Median hourly wage: $47.22
- Total employment: 190 people (1.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Computer systems analysts
- Median annual wage: $98,240
- Median hourly wage: $47.23
- Total employment: 240 people (1.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Electrical engineers
- Median annual wage: $98,990
- Median hourly wage: $47.59
- Total employment: 180 people (1.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Management analysts
- Median annual wage: $99,020
- Median hourly wage: $47.61
- Total employment: 350 people (2.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-paying computer and engineering jobs in Appleton
Aykut Erdogdu // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Physical therapists
- Median annual wage: $99,150
- Median hourly wage: $47.67
- Total employment: 170 people (1.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Roman Samborskyi // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Software developers
- Median annual wage: $99,650
- Median hourly wage: $47.91
- Total employment: 510 people (4.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PIYAWAT WONGOPASS // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Computer programmers
- Median annual wage: $99,720
- Median hourly wage: $47.94
- Total employment: 90 people (0.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Chaay_Tee // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Data scientists
- Median annual wage: $99,850
- Median hourly wage: $48.01
- Total employment: 80 people (0.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
KSai23 // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Chiropractors
- Median annual wage: $99,990
- Median hourly wage: $48.07
- Total employment: 60 people (0.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-paying science jobs for people in Appleton
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Computer network architects
- Median annual wage: $100,290
- Median hourly wage: $48.22
- Total employment: 70 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SofikoS // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Diagnostic medical sonographers
- Median annual wage: $101,110
- Median hourly wage: $48.61
- Total employment: 80 people (0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $102,970
- Median hourly wage: $49.50
- Total employment: 140 people (1.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Personal financial advisors
- Median annual wage: $103,820
- Median hourly wage: $49.91
- Total employment: 180 people (1.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SpeedKingz // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Managers, all other
- Median annual wage: $104,090
- Median hourly wage: $50.04
- Total employment: 450 people (3.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated barbecue restaurants in the Appleton area by diners
Sunshine Seeds // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Industrial production managers
- Median annual wage: $106,160
- Median hourly wage: $51.04
- Total employment: 370 people (2.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Quality Stock Arts // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Facilities managers
- Median annual wage: $107,600
- Median hourly wage: $51.73
- Total employment: 60 people (0.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nicola Forenza // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Lawyers
- Median annual wage: $108,770
- Median hourly wage: $52.30
- Total employment: 250 people (1.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Zivica Kerkez // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Veterinarians
- Median annual wage: $108,910
- Median hourly wage: $52.36
- Total employment: 90 people (0.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Purchasing managers
- Median annual wage: $112,520
- Median hourly wage: $54.10
- Total employment: 50 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-paying jobs in Appleton that require a graduate degree
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary
- Median annual wage: $113,090
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 130 people (1.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Marketing managers
- Median annual wage: $114,430
- Median hourly wage: $55.01
- Total employment: 140 people (1.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. General and operations managers
- Median annual wage: $114,990
- Median hourly wage: $55.28
- Total employment: 1,500 people (12.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
TaLaNoVa // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Sales engineers
- Median annual wage: $115,880
- Median hourly wage: $55.71
- Total employment: 40 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Bannafarsai_Stock // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Construction managers
- Median annual wage: $121,170
- Median hourly wage: $58.26
- Total employment: 330 people (2.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated ice cream shops in Appleton by diners
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Medical and health services managers
- Median annual wage: $121,620
- Median hourly wage: $58.47
- Total employment: 160 people (1.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Human resources managers
- Median annual wage: $128,230
- Median hourly wage: $61.65
- Total employment: 120 people (0.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stokkete // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Physician assistants
- Median annual wage: $129,050
- Median hourly wage: $62.04
- Total employment: 90 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
dokurose // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Sales managers
- Median annual wage: $129,090
- Median hourly wage: $62.06
- Total employment: 380 people (3.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BOY ANTHONY // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Architectural and engineering managers
- Median annual wage: $129,140
- Median hourly wage: $62.09
- Total employment: 220 people (1.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Movies and TV shows casting in Appleton
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Nurse practitioners
- Median annual wage: $130,000
- Median hourly wage: $62.50
- Total employment: 140 people (1.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
dokurose // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Actuaries
- Median annual wage: $130,400
- Median hourly wage: $62.69
- Total employment: 40 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kanghophoto // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Financial managers
- Median annual wage: $132,530
- Median hourly wage: $63.72
- Total employment: 510 people (4.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Pharmacists
- Median annual wage: $136,780
- Median hourly wage: $65.76
- Total employment: 150 people (1.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kzenon // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Optometrists
- Median annual wage: $138,050
- Median hourly wage: $66.37
- Total employment: 50 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated cheap eats in Appleton by diners
Frame Stock Footage // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Computer and information systems managers
- Median annual wage: $147,740
- Median hourly wage: $71.03
- Total employment: 200 people (1.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Dentists, general
- Median annual wage: $183,900
- Median hourly wage: $88.41
- Total employment: 100 people (0.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Chief executives
- Median annual wage: $209,750
- Median hourly wage: $100.84
- Total employment: 170 people (1.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
49 / 50#1. Nurse anesthetists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 60 people (0.45 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: 100 people (0.85 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: Where people in Appleton are looking to buy homes
