share on
From roles ideal for introverts to those for older workers and those without a degree, find out the lucrative career paths employers are willing to pay for.
As we step into a new year, job seekers are prioritising more than just salary – but let’s face it, high-paying roles remain highly attractive worldwide.
To help understand the evolving job market, Resume Genius has highlighted a range of well-paying positions tailored to different talent segments – from roles suited for introverts, to positions that leverage the experience of older professionals, and skilled jobs accessible to blue-collar workers without a degree.
*While the data collated is from the US, HRO believes the results remain relevant to our readership in Asia.
Top 10 low-stress, highest-paying jobs
1. Astronomer
Median annual pay: US$132,170
Median hourly pay: US$63.54
Top 10% of earners: US$191,880
2. Actuary
Median annual pay: US$125,770
Median hourly pay: US$60.47
Top 10% of earners: US$206,430
3. Computer systems analyst
Median annual pay: US$103,790
Median hourly pay: US$49.90
Top 10% of earners: US$149,360
4. Cartographer and photogrammetrist
Median annual pay: US$78,380
Median hourly pay: US$37.68
Top 10% of earners: US$115,840
5. Historian
Median annual pay: US$74,050
Median hourly pay: US$35.60
Top 10% of earners: US$116,640
6. Forensic science technician
Median annual pay: US$67,440
Median hourly pay: US$32.43
Top 10% of earners: US$101,390
7. Rail car repairer
Median annual pay: US$65,680
Median hourly pay: US$31.58
Top 10% of earners: US$92,000
8. Taper (a skilled construction tradesperson also known as a drywall finisher)
Median annual pay: $64,700
Median hourly pay: $31.11
Top 10% of earners: $100,840
9. Archivist
Median annual pay: US$61,570
Median hourly pay: US$29.60
Top 10% annual pay: US$97,680
10. Pump operator
Median annual pay: US$60,020
Median hourly pay: US$28.86
Top 10% annual pay: US$85,990
Top 10 high-pressure, high-paying Jobs
1. Emergency medicine physician
Median annual salary: US$239,200
Median hourly wage: US$115.00
2. Oral and maxillofacial surgeon
Median annual salary: US$239,200
Median hourly wage: US$115.00
3. Obstetrician
Median annual salary: US$239,200
Median hourly wage: US$115.00
4. Anesthesiologist
Median annual salary: US$239,200
Median hourly wage: US$115.00
5. Family medicine physician
Median annual salary: US$224,640
Median hourly wage: US$108.00
6. Chief executive
Median annual salary: US$206,680
Median hourly wage: US$99.37
7. Air traffic controller
Median annual salary: US$144,580
Median hourly wage: US$69.51
8. Judge
Median annual salary: US$135,160
Median hourly wage: US$64.98
9. Physician assistant
Median annual salary: US$133,260
Median hourly wage: US$64.07
10. Nurse anesthetist
Median annual salary: US$132,050
Median hourly wage: US$63.48
Top 10 highest-paying associate degree jobs
1. Air traffic controller
Median annual salary: US$144,580
2. Nuclear technician
Median annual salary: US$104,240
3. Radiation therapist
Median annual salary: US$101,990
4. Nuclear medicine technologist
Median annual salary: US$97,020
5. Dental hygienist
Median annual salary: US$94,260
6. Diagnostic medical sonographer, Cardiovascular technologist/technician
Median annual salary: US$82,570
7. Respiratory therapist
Median annual salary: US$80,450
8. Aerospace engineering and operations technologist/technician
Median annual salary: US$79,830
9. Aircraft and avionics equipment mechanic/technician
Median annual salary: US$79,140
10. Radiologic and MRI technologist
Median annual salary: US$78,980
Top 10 highest-paying jobs without a degree
1. Elevator and escalator installer and repairer
Median annual salary: US$106,580
Median hourly wage: US$51.24
Top 10% of earners: US$149,250
2. Transportation, storage, and distribution manager
Median annual salary: US$102,010
Median hourly wage: US$49.05
Top 10% of earners: US$180.590
3. Electrical power-line installer and repairer
Median annual salary: US$92,560
Median hourly wage: US$44.50
Top 10% of earners: US$126,610
4. Aircraft and avionics equipment mechanic and technician
Median annual salary: US$79,140
Median hourly wage: US$38.05
Top 10% of earners: US$120,080
5. Detective and criminal investigator
Median annual salary: US$77,270
Median hourly wage: US$37.15
Top 10% of earners: US$120,460
6. Locomotive engineer
Median annual salary: US$75,680
Median hourly wage: US$36.38
Top 10% of earners: US$100,130
7. Wholesale and manufacturing sales representative
Median annual salary: US$74,100
Median hourly wage: US$35.63
Top 10% of earners: US$134,370
8. Flight attendant
Median annual salary: US$67,130
Median hourly wage: US$32.27
Top 10% of earners: US$138,040
9. Property, real estate, and community association manager
Median annual salary: US$66,700
Median hourly wage: US$32.07
Top 10% of earners: US$141,040
10. Water transportation worker
Median annual salary: US$66,490
Median hourly wage: US$31.97
Top 10% of earners: US$139,270
Top 10 highest paying blue-collar jobs
1. Elevator and escalator technician
Median annual salary: US$106,580
Median hourly wage: US$51.24
Top 10% of earners: US$149,250
2. Electrical power-line installer and repairer
Median annual salary: US$92,560
Median hourly wage: US$44.50
Top 10% of earners: US$126,610
3. Aircraft avionics equipment mechanic and technician
Median annual salary: US$79,140
Median hourly wage:US $38.05
Top 10% of earners: US$120,080
4. Railroad worker
Median annual salary: US$75,680
Median hourly wage: US$36.38
Top 10% of earners: US$100,130
5. Stationary engineer and boiler operator
Median annual salary: US$75,190
Median hourly wage: US$36.15
Top 10% of earners: US$121,200
6. Industrial machinery mechanic
Median annual salary: US$63,510
Median hourly wage: US$30.53
Top 10% of earners: US$85,970
7. Plumber, pipefitter, and steamfitter
Median annual salary: $62,970
Median hourly wage: $30.27
Top 10% of earners: $105,150
8. Wind turbine technician
Median annual salary: US$62,580
Median hourly wage: US$30.09
Top 10% of earners: US$88,090
9. Electrician
Median annual salary: US$62,350
Median hourly wage: US$29.98
Top 10% of earners: US$106,030
10. Solar photovoltaic (PV) installer
Median annual salary: US$51,860
Median hourly wage: US$24.93
Top 10% of earners: US$80,150
Top 10 high-paying jobs for introverts
1. Software developer
Median annual salary: US$131,450
Median hourly wage: US$63.20
Top 10% of earners: US$211,450
2. Actuary
Median annual salary: US$125,770
Median hourly wage: US$60.47
Top 10% of earners: US$206,430
3. Data scientist
Median annual salary: US$112,590
Median hourly wage: US$54.13
Top 10% of earners: US$194,410
4. Elevator and escalator installer and repairer
Median annual salary: US$106,580
Median hourly wage: US$51.24
Top 10% of earners: US$149,250
5. Financial analyst
Median annual salary: US$101,910
Median hourly wage: US$48.99
Top 10% of earners: US$180,550
6. UX designer
Median annual salary: US$95,380
Median hourly wage: US$45.85
Top 10% of earners: US$192,180
7. Electrical power-line installer and repairer
Median annual salary: US$92,560
Median hourly wage: US$44.50
Top 10% of earners: US$126,610
8. Operations research analyst
Median annual salary: US$91,290
Median hourly wage: US$43.89
Top 10% of earners: US$159,280
9. Operations research analyst
Median annual salary: US$79,450
Median hourly wage: US$38.20
Top 10% of earners: US$134,840
10. Market research analyst
Median annual salary: US$76,950
Median hourly wage: US$37.00
Top 10% of earners: US$144,610
Top 10 highest-paying jobs for older people
1. Sales managers
Median hourly wage: US$66.38
2. Computer systems analysts
Median annual salary: US$49.90
3. Management analysts
Median annual salary: US$48.65
4. Accountants and auditors
Median annual salary: US$39.27
5. Social and community service managers
Median annual salary: US$37.61
6. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing
Median annual salary: US$35.63
7. Property, real estate, and community association managers
Median annual salary: US$32.07
8. Food service managers
Median annual salary: US$31.40
9. Insurance sales agents
Median annual salary: US$29.02
10. Real estate brokers and sales agents
Median annual salary: US$28.35
Highest-paying jobs for all 16 Myers-Briggs (MBTI) personality types
ISTJ – Surgeon
Median annual salary: US$239,200
INFJ – Psychiatrist
Median annual salary: US$226,880
ESTJ – Airline captain
Median annual salary: US$198,100
INTP – Physicist
Median annual salary: US$166,290
ENFP – Advertising director
Median annual salary: US$159,660
ENTJ – Prosecutor
Median annual salary: US$151,160
ENFJ – Human resources manager
Median annual salary: US$140,030
ESTP – Sales manager
Median annual salary: US$138,060
ISFJ – Pharmacist
Median annual salary: US$137,480
ISTP – Electrical engineer
Median annual salary: US$118,780
INTJ – Data Scientist
Median annual salary: US$112,590
INFP – Animator
Median annual salary: US$99,800
ENTP – Forensic psychologist
Median annual salary: US$94,310
ESFP – Model
Median annual salary: US$89,990
ESFJ – Postsecondary teacher
Median annual salary: US$83,980
ISFP – Fashion designer
Median annual salary: US$80,690
Top 10 highest-paying jobs safe from AI
1. Computer and information research scientist
Median salary: US$149,910
2. Physician assistant
Median salary: US$133,260
3. Nurse practitioner
Median salary: US$132,050
4. Veterinarian
Median salary: US$125,510
5. Medical and health services manager
Median salary: US$117,960
6. Speech-language pathologist
Median salary: US$95,410
7. Operations research analyst
Median salary: US$91,290
8. Epidemiologist
Median salary: US$83,980
9. Logistician
Median salary: US$80,880
10. Wind turbine technician
Median salary: US$62,580
share on
Follow us on Telegram and on Instagram @humanresourcesonline for all the latest HR and manpower news from around the region!
Related topics
