Skills
High-Income Skills With US Pay Data
By Minted Empire. Updated 24 October 2026
Most lists of high-income skills give you a job title and a vague promise. This one gives you the number.
Every pay and growth figure below comes from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Outlook Handbook. The pay figures are May 2025 wages and the outlook figures are BLS employment projections for 2025 to 2035. For comparison, the median annual wage across all US workers was $50,980.
How to read the numbers
- Median pay means half the people in that job earn more and half earn less. It is not what a beginner earns, and it is not a ceiling.
- These are employee wages in the US. Freelancers and business owners earn differently, sometimes far more and often far less. Nobody publishes reliable freelance pay for each skill, so none is quoted here.
- Outlook is the projected change in the number of jobs from 2025 to 2035. It says nothing about pay. A shrinking job can still pay well and still have openings, there are just fewer new ones.
- Entry education is what BLS lists as typical for the occupation. It describes what most employers ask for. A client hiring you for a project mostly wants to see finished work.
The 10 highest-paying skills on the list
| Skill | Median pay | Outlook 2025-35 | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer and information research scientists (AI and machine learning) | $140,300 | +22% | Master's degree |
| Computer network architects (cloud and networks) | $134,050 | +8% | Bachelor's degree |
| Software developers (includes QA and testers) | $134,040 | +10% | Bachelor's degree |
| Information security analysts | $129,180 | +21% | Bachelor's degree |
| Sales engineers | $124,900 | +3% | Bachelor's degree |
| Data scientists | $120,230 | +35% | Bachelor's degree |
| Personal financial advisors | $105,070 | +1% | Bachelor's degree |
| Financial analysts | $103,570 | +7% | Bachelor's degree |
| Project management specialists | $102,320 | +7% | Bachelor's degree |
| Special effects artists and animators | $102,030 | 0% | Bachelor's degree |
Two things stand out. Tech jobs take five of the top six places, and the three fastest-growing jobs on the list (data scientists at +35%, computer and information research scientists at +22% and information security analysts at +21%) are all in that group.
The other point is the education column. Most of these jobs list a bachelor's degree, and the top-paying one lists a master's. If you are learning on your own, the gap you have to close is mostly proof: projects, a portfolio or certifications that show you can do the work.
Tech skills
| Skill | Median pay | Outlook 2025-35 | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer and information research scientists (AI and machine learning) | $140,300 | +22% | Master's degree |
| Computer network architects (cloud and networks) | $134,050 | +8% | Bachelor's degree |
| Software developers (includes QA and testers) | $134,040 | +10% | Bachelor's degree |
| Information security analysts | $129,180 | +21% | Bachelor's degree |
| Data scientists | $120,230 | +35% | Bachelor's degree |
| Computer programmers | $100,390 | -7% | Bachelor's degree |
| Web developers and digital designers (UX and UI) | $99,520 | +5% | Bachelor's degree |
| Network and computer systems administrators | $99,130 | -4% | Bachelor's degree |
| Computer support specialists (IT support) | $62,890 | -3% | Varies |
Software developers earn a median of $134,040 and BLS projects +10% job growth. Computer programmers, a separate BLS category, earn $100,390 but BLS projects -7%. The titles can overlap in real job ads, so read the actual duties before deciding which one you are aiming at.
The two weakest outlooks in the tech group are network and computer systems administrators (-4%) and computer support specialists (-3%). Computer support is also the lowest-paid tech job here at $62,890, and BLS does not list a single typical entry requirement for it.
Web developers and digital designers combine two jobs in one BLS category. The $99,520 median covers web developers and the designers who work on how websites and apps look and feel (UX and UI). Of the tech skills, this one is easiest to prove with a portfolio of live sites.
Business and finance skills
| Skill | Median pay | Outlook 2025-35 | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sales engineers | $124,900 | +3% | Bachelor's degree |
| Personal financial advisors | $105,070 | +1% | Bachelor's degree |
| Financial analysts | $103,570 | +7% | Bachelor's degree |
| Project management specialists | $102,320 | +7% | Bachelor's degree |
| Management analysts | $101,860 | +10% | Bachelor's degree |
| Market research analysts | $78,760 | +7% | Bachelor's degree |
| Instructional coordinators (course design) | $77,440 | +2% | Master's degree |
| Training and development specialists | $69,280 | +11% | Bachelor's degree |
| Advertising sales agents | $64,820 | -7% | High school diploma |
| Real estate brokers and sales agents | $57,400 | +2% | High school diploma |
| Secretaries and administrative assistants | $48,310 | -2% | High school diploma |
Sales engineers earn a median of $124,900. They sell technical products and need to understand the product well enough to explain it to buyers, which is why the job pays like a technical role rather than a sales role.
The finance entries (personal financial advisors at $105,070 and financial analysts at $103,570) pay above $100,000 at the median, but personal financial advisors show only +1% projected growth, so few new positions are expected.
Project management specialists ($102,320) and management analysts ($101,860) clear the same mark, with outlooks of +7% and +10%. Management analysts are consultants who advise organizations on how to run better.
Three entries on this list sit at the bottom: real estate agents ($57,400), advertising sales agents ($64,820, -7%) and administrative assistants ($48,310, below the all-worker median). They are included because they are among the easiest to start, not because they pay well on average. Real estate pay is mostly commission, so the spread between the best and worst agents is wide.
Writing, language and legal skills
| Skill | Median pay | Outlook 2025-35 | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|
| Technical writers | $90,390 | +1% | Bachelor's degree |
| Writers and authors (copywriting, content) | $76,910 | 0% | Bachelor's degree |
| Public relations specialists | $74,750 | +2% | Bachelor's degree |
| Paralegals and legal assistants | $62,890 | 0% | Associate's degree |
| Interpreters and translators | $60,170 | +2% | Bachelor's degree |
Technical writers lead this group at $90,390, although BLS projects only +1% growth. Writers and authors, the category that covers copywriting and content work, earn $76,910 with 0% projected growth: well paid on average, with BLS expecting little or no change in the number of jobs.
Interpreters and translators earn a median of $60,170. If you speak a second language well, this is the skill on the list you may already have.
Creative and media skills
| Skill | Median pay | Outlook 2025-35 | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|
| Special effects artists and animators | $102,030 | 0% | Bachelor's degree |
| Film and video editors and camera operators | $75,100 | +3% | Bachelor's degree |
| Graphic designers | $62,960 | -2% | Bachelor's degree |
| Broadcast, sound and video technicians (audio and video production) | $60,150 | +1% | Postsecondary education |
| Photographers | $44,660 | -1% | High school diploma |
Special effects artists and animators are the best paid at $102,030, with growth of 0%. Film and video editors and camera operators share one BLS figure ($75,100) for both jobs.
Graphic design ($62,960, -2%) and photography ($44,660, -1%) are the two weakest on the list. Photography pays below the all-worker median. Pick these for love of the craft or as a side income, not because the numbers favor them.
Online skills with no official pay data
BLS does not track the skills below, so there is no median to quote. Income here depends on the audience you build, the niche you choose and how well your work converts. Treat any single income claim you see online as one person's best case.
Affiliate marketing
You earn a commission when someone buys through your link. The skill is attracting search traffic and recommending products honestly. The main risk is dependence on one programme: an affiliate account can be closed without warning, which is covered in what happened when an Amazon Associates account was closed.
SEO
BLS has no search engine optimization category. Market research analysts ($78,760) are the nearest official match. SEO is a skill you can test on your own website, which makes it easy to practice and easy to show results.
Email marketing and sales funnels
Writing and managing the emails and pages that move a lead toward a purchase. Pay depends on the business you work for or the list you build.
Blogging, YouTube and podcasting
All three rely on building an audience. YouTube has the biggest reach of the group: Pew Research Center found in 2025 that 84% of US adults use it. Reach is not income, though. Most creators earn from ads, sponsors, affiliate links or their own products, and results vary widely.
Online courses and coaching
Teaching what you know as a paid course, a cohort or one-to-one coaching. The nearest official categories are instructional coordinators ($77,440) and training and development specialists ($69,280), which cover people employed to build training rather than sell it.
Virtual assistant work
General administrative support is one of the lowest-paid skills on this page ($48,310 for administrative assistants). If you want to start working online quickly, see our guides to paid online moderator jobs and getting paid to talk to people online.
How to choose
Three questions narrow the list quickly.
- Is the pay worth it? As a starting filter, look at skills where the median is above $75,000 and the outlook is not negative.
- Can you show the work? Web development, data analysis, video editing, writing and translation all produce finished work a client can look at. That is what you sell as a freelancer.
- Will you keep going? Every skill here takes months of practice before anyone pays for it. The one you will keep practicing beats the one with the best median.
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest-paying skill to learn?
On the BLS data, computer and information research scientists, at a median of $140,300. BLS lists a master's degree as the typical entry requirement. Among jobs that typically need a bachelor's degree, computer network architects ($134,050) and software developers ($134,040) are the highest paid.
Which high-income skills are growing fastest?
Data scientists (+35%), computer and information research scientists (+22%) and information security analysts (+21%) have the strongest projected growth on this list.
Do these pay figures apply to freelancers?
No. They are wages paid to employees in the US. Freelance earnings depend on your clients, rates and how many hours you can sell.
Can I learn a high-income skill without a degree?
BLS lists the typical entry-level education, not a legal requirement. Real estate, advertising sales and photography list a high school diploma. For project work the deciding factor is usually the quality of what you have already built.
Sources
Pay and outlook figures are from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook (May 2025 wages, 2025-35 projections), checked October 2026. The all-worker median of $50,980 is from the same handbook.
- Software developers
- Web developers and digital designers
- Information security analysts
- Computer and information research scientists
- Data scientists
- Network and computer systems administrators
- Computer support specialists
- Computer network architects
- Computer programmers
- Market research analysts
- Project management specialists
- Management analysts
- Technical writers
- Writers and authors
- Interpreters and translators
- Paralegals and legal assistants
- Public relations specialists
- Graphic designers
- Special effects artists and animators
- Photographers
- Film and video editors and camera operators
- Broadcast, sound and video technicians
- Financial analysts
- Personal financial advisors
- Sales engineers
- Real estate brokers and sales agents
- Advertising sales agents
- Instructional coordinators
- Training and development specialists
- Secretaries and administrative assistants
YouTube usage: Pew Research Center, Americans' Social Media Use 2025.