Highest-paying jobs with a doctoral or professional degree
The best-paid is pediatric surgeons, with a median of $559,030 a year. 42 of the 73 occupations here have a median of $100,000 or more. The median for all U.S. occupations is $50,980.
How this list is built. Occupations where the Bureau of Labor Statistics lists “Doctoral or professional degree” as the typical education needed to enter the occupation (Employment Projections 2025–35). Some workers in these jobs have more or less education than the typical entrant.
Source BLS-OEWS · Period May 2025 · # = national rank shown on each page73 records · annual wages, USD
| No. | Occupation | Median | Top 10% earn over | Typical entry | Jobs 2025–35 | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pediatric Surgeons | $559,030 | $726,660 | Doctoral/prof. | +2.0% | 1,190 |
| 2 | Cardiologists | $496,010 | $712,130 | Doctoral/prof. | +4.8% | 17,290 |
| 3 | Radiologists | $420,860 | $594,410 | Doctoral/prof. | +3.4% | 26,770 |
| 4 | Surgeons, All Other | $414,010 | $655,320 | Doctoral/prof. | +4.0% | 25,140 |
| 5 | Anesthesiologists | $391,490 | $557,130 | Doctoral/prof. | +3.6% | 38,760 |
| 6 | Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric | $358,550 | $659,290 | Doctoral/prof. | +4.0% | 14,100 |
| 7 | Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons | $352,220 | $622,640 | Doctoral/prof. | +5.6% | 4,910 |
| 8 | Emergency Medicine Physicians | $335,550 | $495,910 | Doctoral/prof. | +3.2% | 32,880 |
| 9 | Dermatologists | $328,730 | $578,560 | Doctoral/prof. | +6.8% | 11,370 |
| 10 | Physicians, Pathologists | $312,400 | $449,970 | Doctoral/prof. | +4.8% | 11,110 |
| 11 | Prosthodontists | $311,180 | $344,750 | Doctoral/prof. | +5.8% | 870 |
| 12 | Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric | $300,080 | $489,710 | Doctoral/prof. | +4.5% | 8,950 |
| 13 | Obstetricians and Gynecologists | $292,910 | $437,300 | Doctoral/prof. | +1.7% | 21,260 |
| 14 | Orthodontists | $289,140 | $416,000 | Doctoral/prof. | +6.0% | 6,210 |
| 15 | Psychiatrists | $281,870 | $446,520 | Doctoral/prof. | +7.2% | 27,980 |
| 16 | Physicians, All Other | $265,930 | $452,360 | Doctoral/prof. | +3.4% | 342,720 |
| 17 | General Internal Medicine Physicians | $256,560 | $475,430 | Doctoral/prof. | +4.0% | 67,150 |
| 18 | Neurologists | $248,560 | $450,780 | Doctoral/prof. | +6.4% | 10,590 |
| 19 | Family Medicine Physicians | $244,180 | $428,550 | Doctoral/prof. | +3.3% | 107,510 |
| 20 | Dentists, All Other Specialists | $224,990 | $402,700 | Doctoral/prof. | +1.3% | 5,230 |
| 21 | Pediatricians, General | $210,040 | $338,500 | Doctoral/prof. | +1.5% | 39,390 |
| 22 | Physicists | $172,250 | $274,110 | Doctoral/prof. | +7.2% | 20,430 |
| 23 | Dentists, General | $170,950 | $319,630 | Doctoral/prof. | +5.7% | 124,390 |
| 24 | Podiatrists | $160,300 | $309,670 | Doctoral/prof. | +2.0% | 9,680 |
| 25 | Lawyers | $159,670 | $351,600 | Doctoral/prof. | +4.7% | 754,500 |
| 26 | Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates | $153,990 | $221,710 | Doctoral/prof. | +2.8% | 24,030 |
| 27 | Pharmacists | $140,910 | $174,230 | Doctoral/prof. | +5.2% | 321,970 |
| 28 | Optometrists | $136,570 | $202,180 | Doctoral/prof. | +9.5% | 42,790 |
| 29 | Veterinarians | $130,100 | $215,700 | Doctoral/prof. | +9.4% | 83,900 |
| 30 | Astronomers | $128,820 | $195,190 | Doctoral/prof. | +7.8% | 2,120 |
| 31 | Law Teachers, Postsecondary | $128,500 | $287,900 | Doctoral/prof. | +2.6% | 20,060 |
| 32 | Biochemists and Biophysicists | $127,410 | $201,110 | Doctoral/prof. | +12.3% | 33,830 |
| 33 | Economics Teachers, Postsecondary | $123,920 | $224,200 | Doctoral/prof. | +2.4% | 11,560 |
| 34 | Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers | $117,860 | $207,480 | Doctoral/prof. | 0.0% | 16,370 |
| 35 | Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary | $109,270 | $210,370 | Doctoral/prof. | +7.8% | 40,270 |
| 36 | Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $107,310 | $322,020 | Doctoral/prof. | +17.9% | 221,270 |
| 37 | Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $103,410 | $177,780 | Doctoral/prof. | +12.6% | 172,340 |
| 38 | Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | $103,170 | $203,190 | Doctoral/prof. | +2.4% | 9,900 |
| 39 | Physical Therapists | $102,760 | $135,140 | Doctoral/prof. | +11.9% | 267,330 |
| 40 | Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $101,420 | $148,920 | Doctoral/prof. | +2.8% | 1,520 |
| 41 | Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $100,580 | $180,960 | Doctoral/prof. | +11.7% | 75,990 |
| 42 | Physics Teachers, Postsecondary | $100,310 | $177,850 | Doctoral/prof. | +2.4% | 13,090 |
| 43 | Anthropology and Archeology Teachers, Postsecondary | $99,650 | $171,310 | Doctoral/prof. | +2.6% | 5,240 |
| 44 | Business Teachers, Postsecondary | $99,080 | $209,470 | Doctoral/prof. | +5.9% | 82,150 |
| 45 | Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | $98,700 | $163,150 | Doctoral/prof. | +2.9% | 8,920 |
| 46 | Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $98,070 | $174,660 | Doctoral/prof. | +2.5% | 16,970 |
| 47 | Geography Teachers, Postsecondary | $97,590 | $165,460 | Doctoral/prof. | +2.7% | 3,330 |
| 48 | Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $96,980 | $170,200 | Doctoral/prof. | +4.9% | 35,480 |
| 49 | Architecture Teachers, Postsecondary | $96,870 | $159,030 | Doctoral/prof. | +2.6% | 7,700 |
| 50 | Audiologists | $95,780 | $133,120 | Doctoral/prof. | +11.0% | 13,660 |
| 51 | Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $94,980 | $164,190 | Doctoral/prof. | +2.7% | 6,690 |
| 52 | Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary | $93,250 | $172,110 | Doctoral/prof. | +2.3% | 19,980 |
| 53 | Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | $85,020 | $160,420 | Doctoral/prof. | +2.7% | 11,300 |
| 54 | Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $84,620 | $169,900 | Doctoral/prof. | +7.3% | 50,190 |
| 55 | Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary | $84,290 | $160,140 | Doctoral/prof. | +2.2% | 11,850 |
| 56 | History Teachers, Postsecondary | $83,820 | $162,160 | Doctoral/prof. | 0.0% | 18,790 |
| 57 | Library Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $80,340 | $129,120 | Doctoral/prof. | +2.7% | 3,630 |
| 58 | Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary | $80,340 | $153,600 | Doctoral/prof. | +4.0% | 41,530 |
| 59 | Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary | $80,260 | $139,580 | Doctoral/prof. | +2.0% | 20,460 |
| 60 | Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary | $80,250 | $129,500 | Doctoral/prof. | +17.1% | 77,960 |
| 61 | Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $79,940 | $139,340 | Doctoral/prof. | +1.7% | 47,670 |
| 62 | Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary | $79,350 | $136,050 | Doctoral/prof. | +0.2% | 19,830 |
| 63 | Chiropractors | $79,200 | $146,080 | Doctoral/prof. | +8.7% | 39,630 |
| 64 | English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary | $78,760 | $137,250 | Doctoral/prof. | 0.0% | 57,720 |
| 65 | Communications Teachers, Postsecondary | $78,580 | $143,720 | Doctoral/prof. | +2.1% | 29,420 |
| 66 | Postsecondary Teachers, All Other | $77,640 | $160,700 | Doctoral/prof. | +2.0% | 149,840 |
| 67 | Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary | $77,570 | $126,790 | Doctoral/prof. | +2.6% | 12,610 |
| 68 | Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | $77,270 | $134,890 | Doctoral/prof. | +2.2% | 12,630 |
| 69 | Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary | $76,590 | $140,240 | Doctoral/prof. | +1.5% | 13,150 |
| 70 | Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | $75,870 | $130,790 | Doctoral/prof. | +2.4% | 2,770 |
| 71 | Education Teachers, Postsecondary | $75,350 | $126,860 | Doctoral/prof. | +2.5% | 60,830 |
| 72 | Social Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, All Other | $72,990 | $164,420 | Doctoral/prof. | +1.6% | 16,580 |
| 73 | Judicial Law Clerks | $64,920 | $113,140 | Doctoral/prof. | +2.8% | 13,290 |
“No.” is the position in this list. Each occupation page shows its rank among all occupations. Wages exclude the self-employed, overtime and non-production bonuses.