Highest Paying Jobs by State

Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:

Explore the 25 highest paying occupations in every US state. See which jobs earn the most in your area, ranked by median salary from BLS OEWS data.

50
US States
25
Top Jobs/State
800+
Total Occupations
2025
Data Year (BLS)

Other Salary Views

Average Salary by State

Compare average salaries across all 50 states. Click any state to see its highest paying jobs.

Click for full breakdown →
AK AL AR AZ CA CO FL GA HI IA ID IL IN KS KY LA ME MI MN MO MS MT NC ND NE NM NV NY OH OK OR PA SC SD TN TX UT VA WA WI WV WY VT NH MA RI CT NJ DE MD DC
$57,873
$89,679

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS 2025 Annual

Top Paying Jobs by State

Click any state to view its top 25 highest paying occupations, ranked by median annual salary from BLS data.

Alabama
#1 Highest Paying Cardiologists $519,480/yr
Alaska
#1 Highest Paying Emergency Medicine Physicians $452,620/yr
Arizona
#1 Highest Paying Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric $558,970/yr
Arkansas
#1 Highest Paying Dermatologists $422,060/yr
California
#1 Highest Paying Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric $400,150/yr
Colorado
#1 Highest Paying Orthodontists $416,000/yr
Connecticut
#1 Highest Paying Cardiologists $488,940/yr
Delaware
#1 Highest Paying Dermatologists $442,120/yr
District of Columbia
#1 Highest Paying Neurologists $332,000/yr
Florida
#1 Highest Paying Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric $473,750/yr
Georgia
#1 Highest Paying Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers $618,090/yr
Idaho
#1 Highest Paying Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers $507,640/yr
Illinois
#1 Highest Paying Cardiologists $517,850/yr
Indiana
#1 Highest Paying Cardiologists $588,890/yr
Iowa
#1 Highest Paying Emergency Medicine Physicians $429,050/yr
Kansas
#1 Highest Paying Anesthesiologists $437,030/yr
Kentucky
#1 Highest Paying Cardiologists $558,180/yr
Louisiana
#1 Highest Paying Pediatricians, General $502,720/yr
Maine
#1 Highest Paying Radiologists $555,750/yr
Maryland
#1 Highest Paying Radiologists $581,510/yr
Massachusetts
#1 Highest Paying Radiologists $426,560/yr
Michigan
#1 Highest Paying Radiologists $485,920/yr
Minnesota
#1 Highest Paying Radiologists $708,340/yr
Mississippi
#1 Highest Paying Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric $544,130/yr
Missouri
#1 Highest Paying Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric $842,800/yr
Montana
#1 Highest Paying Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric $560,820/yr
Nebraska
#1 Highest Paying Cardiologists $646,300/yr
Nevada
#1 Highest Paying Dermatologists $419,410/yr
New Hampshire
#1 Highest Paying Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric $555,670/yr
New Jersey
#1 Highest Paying Radiologists $482,700/yr
New Mexico
#1 Highest Paying Emergency Medicine Physicians $405,130/yr
New York
#1 Highest Paying Cardiologists $492,040/yr
Oregon
#1 Highest Paying Obstetricians and Gynecologists $395,340/yr
Pennsylvania
#1 Highest Paying Cardiologists $579,120/yr
Rhode Island
#1 Highest Paying Emergency Medicine Physicians $512,730/yr
South Carolina
#1 Highest Paying General Internal Medicine Physicians $359,500/yr
South Dakota
#1 Highest Paying Radiologists $586,010/yr
Tennessee
#1 Highest Paying Cardiologists $610,080/yr
Texas
#1 Highest Paying Cardiologists $410,150/yr
Utah
#1 Highest Paying Obstetricians and Gynecologists $437,170/yr
Virginia
#1 Highest Paying Anesthesiologists $488,310/yr
Washington
#1 Highest Paying Cardiologists $656,330/yr
West Virginia
#1 Highest Paying Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric $597,740/yr
Wisconsin
#1 Highest Paying Cardiologists $636,580/yr

Frequently Asked Questions

How are the salary rankings calculated?

We rank all occupations in each state by median annual salary (from lowest to highest) based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. The top 25 highest-paying jobs are featured on each state's rankings page. Rankings reflect the middle of the salary distribution, not average.

Which state has the highest paying jobs?

The highest-paying states vary by occupation, but generally include Washington DC, California, Massachusetts, and New York. High-tech hubs and expensive metros command higher salaries. Explore your state to see which 25 jobs pay the most there.

What data source is used for rankings?

All salary rankings are based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2025 estimates. The OEWS survey covers ~1.1 million US establishments and is the most comprehensive occupational salary data available.

Are these average or median salaries?

These are median salaries, which represent the middle of the salary distribution. Median is more representative than average because it's not skewed by extremely high or low outliers. Half of workers earn above the median, half earn below.

How often are rankings updated?

Our salary rankings are updated annually with the latest BLS OEWS data release, typically in late spring. Rankings reflect current market conditions and occupational demand in each state.

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