Where are Americans Making Over 100k in a Year?

With the median salary in the US in 2022 set at $70,784 (down 0.5% from $71,186 in 2021), where are Americans making $100,000 or more?

From perfectly curated kitchens, social media has a knack for filtering “positive stories,” devoid of inflation and high prices. Nearly 61% of Americans are reportedly living paycheck to credit card debt. The US personal savings rate plummeted to 3.9% in August 2023 (down 0.2% from July). This is well below the decades-long average of roughly 8.9%, especially as debt accumulation rises to record highs.

The median weekly earnings of full-time workers in the four months ending December 2022 were $1,050 (less than $53,000/yr). Any amount above this could be considered a good salary. If Americans aren’t willing to cut expenses, the next best thing is to make more money. So in which professions to we need to bank on, to make over $100,000 a year?

Table of Contents

Facts and Stats about Americans Making More Than Six Figures:

13% of American workers aged 15 and above made more than 100,000 in 2021
- Mainly through the gig economy i.e. YouTube, modeling, entertainment, influencer
In 2022, over 34% of American households made over $100,000.
- This puts you in the top 24% of the US population.
From 2017 to 2022, American households earning over $100,000 a year increased by 2.9%.
- Asian American households represented the biggest earners.
The number of working American men who made six figures or more in 2021 was 9% more than women.

Here’s a list of professions and positions netting $100k+ a year. Maybe this information will help you enter this highly-desired bracket:

Income by Profession

When discussing how many people make over 100k a year, we should also track data on various professions. Research shows managerial, business & finance, healthcare, architecture & engineering, and law are some of the highest-paying careers.

And no, this doesn’t mean that making a high salary is exclusive to these jobs alone. You can make great pay through expertise, networking, or even by proxy to higher-paying degrees. For example, it’s not uncommon to fight that a human resource professional for a tech company making over $200,000 per year.

The average annual wage for senior management positions is $123,370

Top managers are recognizably part of the +$100k club. The exact figure depends on the specific management position and the field. However, most managers across various economic sectors earn more than the quoted amount.

CEOs

Some 200,480 Chief Executives heading companies across the United States are among the top-earning professionals, with an annual mean wage of $213,020.

The mean hourly wage is $102.41.
The median hourly wage is $86.31.

Top Executives

Another 3.2 million senior executives, including Chief Financial Officers (CFOs), Chief Operating Officers (COOs), and Chief Strategy Officers, are also handsomely compensated. The annual mean wage for this group is $120,520.

The mean hourly wage is $57.94.
The median hourly wage is $47.46.

Human Resource Managers

Data also shows that 166,530 human resource managers feature among the top earners in the United States. The annual mean wage for these professionals is $136,590.

The mean hourly wage is $65.67.
The median hourly wage is $60.69.

Financial Managers

The 681,070 registered financial managers dishing out professional financial advice are also in the top wage bracket. BLS data shows their annual mean wage is $153,460.

The mean hourly wage is $73.78.
The median hourly wage is $63.32.

The average annual mean wage for Business & Financial Operations positions is $82,610

Some of the highest-paid professionals in this field include agents, management analysts, financial analysts, and financial advisors.

Agents & Business Managers

The agents & business managers of artists, performers, and athletes also earn more than $100,000 per year. At the time of conducting the BLS research, there were 12,480 agents across all 50 states with an annual mean wage of $116,410.

The mean hourly wage is $55.97.
The median hourly wage is $37.70.

Management Analysts

Crunching management data is also a well-paying profession. The 768,450 management analysts working in various American companies earn an annual mean wage of $100,530.

The mean hourly wage is $48.33.
The median hourly wage is $44.71.

Financial Analysts and Advisors

Looking at metrics carefully to predict a trend and advising people on making the right financial moves is another well-rated career. The annual mean wage for the 716,930 professionals with such a job description is $106,340.

The mean hourly wage is $51.13.
The median hourly wage is $39.29

The average annual mean wage for Healthcare Practitioner positions is $91,100

Although the annual mean wage for practitioners across all fields falls below $100,000, several specialists rake in more than this amount.

Dentists

Dentists are some of the most well-paid healthcare professionals, with an annual mean wage of $177,770. The hourly rates for the 124,680 registered dentists also reflect a similar position.

The mean hourly wage is $85.47.
The median hourly wage is $78.47.

Pharmacists

The 312,550 pharmacists distributed across all 50 states are also well compensated, with an annual mean wage of $125,690. This is significantly higher than the national average salary.

The mean hourly wage is $60.43.
The median hourly wage is $61.81.

Surgeons

For the 58,280 surgeons with different specialties, the annual mean wage is $294,520.

The mean hourly wage is $141.60.

Physicians

Physicians are also top-earning health practitioners. The annual mean wage posted by the 641,380 professionals is $252,480.

The mean hourly wage is $121.38.

The average annual mean wage for Legal Occupations is $113,100

The bench is not shabby either, with judicial workers able to command competitive wages.

Lawyers

The annual mean wage earned by 681,010 lawyers across the US is $148,030.

The mean hourly wage is $71.17.
The median hourly wage is $61.54.

Judges, Magistrates, and Other Judicial Workers

The 48,950 legal professionals working in the US judicial system also attract top salaries with an annual mean wage of $119,690.

The mean hourly wage is $57.54.
The median hourly wage is $53.15.

The average annual mean wage for Architecture and Engineering Positions is $91,740

The only difference is that engineering positions command higher salaries than careers within architecture.

Architects, Surveyors & Cartographers

The annual mean wage commanded by the 176,840 architects, surveyors, and cartographers is $82,880.

The mean hourly wage is $39.85.
The median hourly wage is $37.34.

Engineers

Engineering is also a career that attracts superior salaries compared to most professions. Some 1.6 million engineers rake in an annual mean wage of $104,000.

The mean hourly wage is $50.00.
The median hourly wage is $47.62.

Final Thoughts

To be fair, the ideal $100,000 or more job seems elusive, getting into the right industry does the heavy lifting. Additionally, these jobs are often found in the NE of the US or in densely populated coastal cities.

In the end, it’s sadly not the money that counts but how you use it. There is a growing majority of high earners also living paycheck to paycheck. The bigger the wallet, the higher the price tag when keeping up with the Jones.

The best way to beat the averages is to do more with less while planning for your own future. Let your peer group put on expensive events, or buy lavish big-ticket items. Turns out, they will need friends to enjoy them.