15 jobs that pay over $110K a year and are still hiring in 2026

You don’t have to be a doctor, lawyer, or tech founder to earn six figures. Plenty of “normal” jobs pay well into the $100,000s, and they’re hiring.

If you’re already working full time and feeling underpaid, these roles can give you a benchmark. They can also give you ideas for a new path if you’re willing to retrain, go back to school, or level up your skills.

All of these jobs pay more than $110,000 a year at the median and are in fields where employers are actively hiring, not cutting. Salaries come from recent federal wage data, and growth numbers show where opportunities are likely to stay strong in the coming decade. You won't necessarily earn the big bucks right away, but the potential is definitely there, if you're seriously looking for a high-paying career change.

Data scientist

Data scientists sit at the intersection of math, coding, and business. They work with big messy datasets, build models, and translate the results into decisions about pricing, features, ad spend, or fraud prevention. You’ll find them in tech, finance, healthcare, government, and even retail. The median salary is about $112,590 a year.

Demand is strong and still growing. Employment of data scientists is projected to grow about 34% from 2024 to 2034, much faster than average, with more than 23,000 openings a year as companies keep hiring people who can make sense of complex data.

Most data scientists have at least a bachelor’s degree in statistics, computer science, or a similar field, plus strong skills in Python or R and SQL. Many transition from analyst or engineer jobs. If you like numbers and solving puzzles, and you’re willing to learn, this is one of the most accessible six-figure careers over the long term.

Information security analyst

Information security analysts protect organizations from cyberattacks. They monitor networks for suspicious activity, investigate incidents, and help design secure systems and policies. The median salary is around $124,910 per year.

Cyber roles are about as “in demand” as it gets. Jobs for information security analysts are projected to grow about 29% from 2024 to 2034, with roughly 16,000 openings a year, far above average job growth.

You don’t necessarily need a computer science degree, but you do need to understand networks, operating systems, and security tools. Many people move into this work from help desk, system admin, or networking roles and then stack certifications like Security+, CISSP, or cloud security credentials over time. If you like problem-solving and staying one step ahead of attackers, this path pays very well.

Medical and health services manager

Medical and health services managers run the business side of healthcare. They coordinate staffing, budgets, compliance, and operations for hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, and large medical practices. The median pay is about $117,960 a year.

This job is in heavy demand as the population ages and healthcare systems get more complex. Employment for medical and health services managers is projected to grow around 23% from 2024 to 2034, much faster than average, with tens of thousands of openings expected each year.

You’ll typically need at least a bachelor’s in health administration, business, or a related field. Many managers also earn a master’s in healthcare administration (MHA) or MBA. If you’re organized, comfortable with numbers, and okay working in a regulated, fast-moving environment, this role offers high pay and steady job security.

Nurse practitioner (advanced practice nurse)

Nurse practitioners are advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) who diagnose, treat, and often manage ongoing care for patients. The federal data groups nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives, and nurse practitioners together, with a median wage of about $132,050 a year as of 2024.

Growth is huge. Employment for this group, and especially nurse practitioners, is projected to grow roughly 40% over the next decade, creating more than 30,000 openings a year as more states expand what these providers can do and primary-care shortages get worse.

You’ll need to become a registered nurse, complete a graduate NP program, and pass certification. The path isn’t cheap or fast, but NP roles can offer more flexibility, autonomy, and pay than traditional RN jobs. If you enjoy direct patient care and want a stable, well-paid clinical role, this is worth a serious look.

Physician assistant

Physician assistants (PAs) diagnose illnesses, develop treatment plans, prescribe medication, and assist in surgery under a physician’s supervision. They work in hospitals, clinics, urgent care, and specialty practices. The median salary is about $133,260 per year.

PAs are in strong demand, especially in primary care, emergency medicine, and underserved areas. Employment is projected to grow much faster than average through 2034, with around 12,000 openings a year as more practices use PAs to expand access and keep costs under control

You’ll need a master’s from an accredited PA program and a license. The training is intense, but shorter than medical school, and you can switch specialties more easily than physicians can. If you like medicine but don’t want the full MD path, being a PA gives you a high income, solid benefits, and a lot of career flexibility.

Veterinarian

Veterinarians diagnose and treat animals, from family pets to livestock and zoo animals. They perform exams, surgeries, prescribe medication, and advise owners on nutrition and preventive care. The median pay is about $125,510 a year.

This field is growing as pet ownership and spending keep rising. Employment for veterinarians is projected to increase about 10% from 2024 to 2034, faster than average, with roughly 3,000 openings per year.

You do need a veterinary doctorate, which is a major time and money investment. But once you’re licensed, you can work in clinics, emergency hospitals, public health, research, or industry roles (for example, pet food companies). If you love animals and can handle some emotional and physical stress, it’s a well-paid and meaningful career.

Pharmacist

Pharmacists do far more than count pills. They review prescriptions for safety, counsel patients on medications, manage drug therapies for chronic conditions, and increasingly work in clinical or hospital settings. The median pharmacist salary is around $137,480 a year.

Employment for pharmacists is expected to grow about 5% from 2024 to 2034, slightly faster than average, with over 14,000 openings a year as older pharmacists retire and demand grows in hospitals, clinics, and specialty pharmacies.

You’ll need a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) and a license, plus possibly a residency for more advanced clinical roles. Community retail jobs are more crowded and can be stressful, but hospital and clinical roles often come with better working conditions. If you’re precise, detail-oriented, and okay with long training, the financial payoff is strong.

Database architect

Database architects design the structure behind the scenes so companies can store and use data safely and efficiently. They decide how information is organized, how systems talk to each other, and how to keep everything secure and fast. The median salary for database architects is about $135,980 per year.

Overall employment for database administrators and architects is projected to grow around 4% from 2024 to 2034, about as fast as average, with roughly 7,800 openings a year driven by ongoing demand for data-driven systems and cloud migrations.

Many people start as general database administrators or analysts and move into architecture as they gain experience with SQL, cloud platforms, and data modeling. A bachelor’s in computer science or information systems helps, but hands-on skills and certifications carry a lot of weight. If you enjoy structure and long-term system design more than constant firefighting, this can be a high-pay, stable role.

Sales engineer

Sales engineers combine technical knowledge with relationship-building. They work for companies that sell complex products, think software platforms, industrial equipment, or medical devices, and help customers understand how those products solve real problems. The median salary is about $121,520 a year, often with commission on top.

Employment of sales engineers is projected to grow around 5% from 2024 to 2034, a bit faster than average, with about 5,000 openings each year.

You usually need a technical degree or background in engineering, computer science, or a related field, plus solid communication skills. If you’re comfortable presenting, asking questions, and explaining complex tools in everyday language, sales engineering can give you a high income without sitting behind a screen all day coding.

Electrical and electronics engineer

Electrical and electronics engineers design and test systems ranging from power grids and renewable energy equipment to sensors, robotics, and communications hardware. The combined median wage for electrical and electronics engineers is about $118,780 per year, with electrical engineers at $111,910 and electronics engineers at $127,590.

Overall employment for these engineers is projected to grow around 7% from 2024 to 2034, faster than average, with about 17,500 openings annually as companies upgrade infrastructure and develop new devices.

You’ll need at least a bachelor’s degree in electrical or electronics engineering. Many engineers move into specialized areas like power systems, aerospace, or hardware design, and some later shift into management. If you like hands-on projects and want a role that touches everything from EVs to satellites, this is a strong six-figure path.

Chemical engineer

Chemical engineers design processes to turn raw materials into useful products like fuels, plastics, fertilizers, pharmaceuticals, and more. They work in plants, labs, and offices, focusing on safety, efficiency, and cost. The median pay is about $121,860 a year.

Chemical engineers are needed in energy, manufacturing, biotech, and environmental fields. While growth varies by industry, the profession overall continues to offer solid wages and steady openings, especially in higher-value manufacturing and clean-energy projects.

You’ll need a bachelor’s in chemical engineering and strong grounding in math, chemistry, and physics. Internships or co-ops help a lot with getting that first job. If you like both lab work and big-picture process thinking, this career can give you both, and a comfortable income.

Nuclear engineer

Nuclear engineers work on nuclear power plants, medical radiation equipment, naval reactors, and safety systems. They design, test, and oversee systems that handle nuclear materials. The median salary is about $127,520 per year.

While overall employment of nuclear engineers is projected to decline about 1% from 2024 to 2034, there are still roughly 800 openings a year, mostly replacing retirees and people leaving the field.

This is a specialized career that typically requires at least a bachelor’s in nuclear, mechanical, or electrical engineering. Many roles are with utilities, federal agencies, the military, or large engineering firms. If you’re comfortable with heavy regulation, safety protocols, and long-term projects, nuclear engineering offers niche but well-paid opportunities.

Actuary

Actuaries analyze risk using statistics and financial theory. They build models that help insurance companies, pension funds, and other organizations decide how to price products and plan for the future. The median annual wage is about $125,770.

Demand is strong: actuarial jobs are projected to grow about 22% from 2024 to 2034, much faster than average, with around 2,400 openings a year.

You’ll typically major in math, statistics, or actuarial science and then pass a series of professional exams. The exam process is long, but you can work and get raises as you progress. If you genuinely like math and don’t mind exam prep, you can build a very stable, high-income career with predictable hours, unusual for six-figure jobs.

Computer network architect

Computer network architects design and build the networks that let organizations move data securely and reliably, from office LANs to large cloud-based systems. They choose hardware, design architectures, and plan upgrades. The median salary is about $130,390 per year.

Employment for computer network architects is projected to grow around 12% from 2024 to 2034, much faster than average, with roughly 11,200 openings annually as organizations keep investing in digital infrastructure and cloud networking.

Most people in this role start with degrees or experience in networking, plus time spent as a network or systems administrator. Certifications like Cisco’s CCNP or cloud networking credentials can help. If you like working with infrastructure, hate downtime, and enjoy designing systems that “just work,” this path can lead to a very comfortable income.

Aerospace engineer

Aerospace engineers design and test aircraft, spacecraft, satellites, and missiles. They work on aerodynamics, propulsion, structures, and control systems for both commercial and defense projects. The median salary is about $134,830 a year.

Employment of aerospace engineers is projected to grow around 6% from 2024 to 2034, faster than average, with about 4,500 openings a year driven by commercial aviation, space exploration, and defense spending.

You’ll need at least a bachelor’s degree in aerospace or mechanical engineering. Many engineers work for aircraft manufacturers, space companies, or government agencies. The work can be high-pressure, but if you’re fascinated by flight and space, this is one of the best-paid ways to turn that interest into a long-term career.

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Byline: Katy Willis