To earn a six-figure salary, you need to find a career that pays over $88,333 per month. Careers in engineering, tech, real estate, and many others are among the top jobs offering six-figure incomes. If you’re looking for some of the highest paying jobs in 2022, you have many options.
To many people, a six-figure salary is the mark of success. In many parts of the country, earning six figures is common. For instance, in Washington, D.C. having high earners of over $100,000 a year is not unheard of. While it may mean more in some regions than others, it’s still an impressive median salary.
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As you might expect, formal education is often necessary to earn a six-figure income in some positions. But this is no longer universally true: you can earn a six-figure income without taking out a student loan. Yes, this means instead of racking up debt, you can earn a high annual income.
Coding bootcamps, trade schools, and other alternative education programs train people for these high-earning positions. Plus, these learning pathways often cost less than a college degree.
Plenty of surprising jobs pay six figures a year. In this article, we’ll feature the top ten jobs offering six-figure paycheques, whether you’re a four-year college degree holder or not. Read on and see if any of these over-$100,000-a-year positions sounds interesting to you.
The Six-Figure Salary: A Common Income in the Tech Industry
Careers that require tech skills are the highest-paying jobs. So, if you’re looking for a six-figure salary this is the way to go. In San Francisco alone, the influence of tech drove the average salary to approximately $155,000 annually. That’s a 7 percent jump from 2019 to 2020.
Data scientists, for example, who choose a coding bootcamp education go on to make an average of $122,618 annually. The tech industry’s reputation for high salaries is deserved, making it one of the highest-paid fields in the country. To gain technical skills for a tech career, consider some of the best web design bootcamps, web development bootcamps, or general coding bootcamps.
A six-figure salary in the tech industry is so common that we could write a list of 10 jobs that write six-figure paychecks in the tech industry alone. Yet not everybody wants a career path in tech, so we’ve included many other career fields for you to consider for a six-figure salary.
Top 10 Six-Figure Jobs in 2022
Below is a list of the top six-figure jobs that can help you achieve financial success.
| Job | Median salary | Minimum education |
|---|---|---|
| Owner-Operator Truck Driver | $295,602 | High school diploma |
| Petroleum Engineer | $137,330 | Bachelor’s degree |
| Car Dealership General Manager | $132,290 | High school diploma |
| Airline and Commercial Pilot | $130,440 | High school diploma |
| Air Traffic Controller | $130,420 | Bachelor’s degree or Associate degree |
| Data Scientist | $126,830 | Bachelor’s degree or Coding Bootcamp |
| Software Engineer | $110,140 | Bachelor’s degree or Coding Bootcamp |
| Full Stack Web Developer | $103,869 | Bachelor’s degree or Coding Bootcamp |
| Construction Manager | $97,180 | Bachelor’s degree |
| Senior Business Consultant | $88,799 | Bachelor’s degree |
1. Owner-Operator Truck Driver
Experienced truckers may want to consider becoming an owner-operator. This position requires investing in your own truck as well as other expenses like health insurance. Once you do, you can pocket the enormous profit that you’ll generate after paying for fuel and other expenses.
How to Become an Owner-Operator Truck Driver
Basic education, such as a high school diploma or a GED, and a commercial driver’s license can get you into truck driving. You can also attend an accredited community college or a truck driving school.
2. Petroleum Engineer
Working in oil companies, particularly petroleum engineering, is a popular high-paying job for many people. Keep in mind, however, that oil fieldwork requires long hours and tends to be dangerous.
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How to Become a Petroleum Engineer
BLS mentions that petroleum engineers are on the six-figure jobs that must have at least a bachelor’s degree. Although the common choice of major is petroleum engineering, degrees in mechanical, civil, or chemical engineering are also accepted.
3. Car Dealership General Manager
Car dealerships work with some pretty expensive items, and general managers bring home big paychecks. Business at a dealership can be inconsistent. This is mainly due to more and more people turning to other sources to purchase new or used vehicles.
It may take a bit of time to work up to the position of manager, but it is worth sticking around for that promotion. The average pay for dealership general managers can go up to six figures.
How to Become a Car Dealership General Manager
You generally won’t need a bachelor’s degree to become a car dealer. You can start working at a car dealership with a high school diploma or equivalent accreditation. However, most managers hold a bachelor’s degree in management, marketing, communications, or a related field.
4. Airline and Commercial Pilot
Commercial pilots earn impressive paychecks. You get to fly massive commercial airliners and travel frequently. This can be an advantage or a disadvantage depending on how much time you are willing to be away from home. If you want a chance to see the world and perform important work, consider becoming an airline pilot.
How to Become a Commercial Pilot
Contrary to what most people may think, you don’t need an aviation degree to become a commercial pilot. BLS confirms that a high school diploma can get you started. However, here’s the catch, you’ll need to complete flight training with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)-certified instructors. All commercial pilots are required to hold a commercial pilot license before flying, with or without a degree.
5. Air Traffic Controller
Air traffic controllers have an enormously important job and their salary reflects it. These professionals monitor flight paths, ensuring that airplanes don’t collide and can land and take off safely. This makes the role one of the most stressful jobs in the world. If you can keep cool under pressure then this career might be a good pick for you.
How to Become an Air Traffic Controller
Because this job is highly competitive, becoming an air traffic controller can be a challenge. You’ll need to earn either a bachelor’s degree or an associate degree from an Air Traffic Collegiate Training Initiative (AT-CTI) program.
Before signing up, make sure that the program you chose is Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)-approved. After completing the program, you’ll then be required to take the Air Traffic Selection and Training Exam. All air traffic controllers must also secure an Air Traffic Control Tower Operator Certificate.
6. Data Scientist
Data science is another coding bootcamp career that doesn’t require a college degree. Programmers in this position manage databases and analyze data. As the data science field is rapidly advancing, you won’t lose your job anytime soon.
How to Become a Data Scientist
You can become a data scientist by either pursuing a degree in data science or a related field or attending any of the best data science bootcamps. The former usually takes four years to complete while the latter will take you less than a year.
7. Software Engineer
Software engineers are in charge of the design and development of software solutions. They spend their days diagnosing hardware and software systems for bugs and errors and resolve these accordingly.
Software engineers remain in high demand because of companies’ increasing need for new, innovative, and custom-built software. The software engineering field branches out to other more-specialized disciplines, such as gaming, security, blockchain, and mobile engineering.
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How to Become a Software Engineer
You can take the traditional college route and earn a bachelor’s degree in computer science, software engineering, or a related field. Or you could opt for the much faster and more affordable yet just-as-effective route of coding bootcamps.
The best web development bootcamps, such as Galvanize, Flatiron, and General Assembly, offer immersive programs in software engineering that last less than a year. These bootcamps also offer an array of financing options to help you save money.
8. Full Stack Web Developer
A full stack web developer is one of the top-paying jobs that combines the skills of front and back end programmers. They handle the entire development and operation of a website all the way from the server to the desktop.
How to Become a Full Stack Web Developer
Full stack developers often don’t need a college degree if they attend some of the best coding bootcamps. If you choose the former, you’ll need to pursue a computer science degree or a related field. Yet if you’re looking for quick and intensive training bootcamps that offer immersive programs in software engineering or web development is your best bet.
9. Construction Manager
Construction managers, as the name implies, watch over the construction site and make sure everything goes according to plan. Their job requires long hours and often dealing with hundreds of people to make sure a project goes smoothly.
How to Become a Construction Manager
You can go one of three ways to become a construction manager. First, you can pursue a bachelor’s degree in construction science, construction management, architecture, or engineering.
Alternatively, you can take a much-shorter route by pursuing a two-year associate degree in construction management or construction technology. Lastly, if you only have a high school diploma, you may qualify for the role if you have years of greater responsibility at work.
10. Senior Business Consultant
If you have extensive business experience or connections, consider becoming a business or management consultant and working your way to a senior level. Business consulting is a difficult industry to break into.
Beginners are expected to work long hours before they find a secure position in the field. However, those who succeed routinely rake in tons of money worth over $100,000 annually. Business school students are most likely to pursue a career in this field.
How to Become a Senior Business Consultant
To become a senior business consultant, you’ll need a bachelor’s degree in commerce, business administration, or economics, at the very least. Also, consider doing an MBA to boost your chances of becoming a senior business consultant.
If you can’t attend business school, bootcamp education can help you. You’ll gain the technical and soft skills required for a business career. A business analytics bootamp program is the ideal choice for this. Consider that choosing the untraditional path will take much longer.
How to Train For a Six-Figure Salary Career in Tech
You can rely on bootcamp education to learn the tech skills and soft skills for a six-figure salary in tech. Attending a coding bootcamp is a proven way to break into tech, especially if you have no prior experience in the industry. Before you jump in, it’s essential to prepare for enrollment.
Coding bootcamps are one of the fastest tracks to achieving a tech career, and one that pays six figures. If you’re looking for a challenge and a way to pocket that big paycheck, start learning now.
These programs can help you launch a career in some of the highest-paying jobs. However, many senior positions will require tonnes of experience if you choose the bootcamp route, making it easier to gain a four-year degree.
Earning a six-figure salary is more possible in 2022, as there are many education pathways available. It’s vital to earn an annual salary that lessens your financial responsibilities. So, consider these top ten careers to help you.
FAQs
Earning a 6 figure income is usually the epitome of success for many. A six-figure salary is definitely good pay but you do have to take into account other factors. These include geography, cost of living, and the size of your household. If you want to save more of your income, consider living in less expensive cities.
Jobs that pay 7 figures a year include working as a corporate CEO, an investment banker, a professional athlete, and a law firm partner.
Yes. Tech jobs are generally considered to be 6 figure jobs due to the high demand, remuneration, and bonuses they receive. Among the highest-paid tech professionals are data scientists, big data engineers, software architects, and product managers.
Some of the easiest six-figure jobs include senior consultant, IT security specialist, product manager, and senior web developer. You can also earn a handsome salary by working as a front end developer, audit manager, or technical lead.
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