Here’s the Highest-Paid Job in Your State — Excluding Doctors

There are a lot of things in life more important than money. However, you shouldn’t lose sight of the fact that money represents more than just the ability to buy things. After all, for the vast majority of people around the world, an hourly wage represents the price at which one sells their life. Your time should be priceless, but the reality is that it’s one of the many things money can buy.
See: Check Out:
As such, taking a long look at the highest-paid profession in your area can tell you a lot about what really matters to people. The fact that their services are so valuable often speaks to the importance of their role or how specialized their skill set is. To find the most lucrative jobs across America, GOBankingRates used the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS) May 2020 employment and wage data to find the highest-paying job in every state in terms of annual median wage, excluding healthcare professionals and chief executive officers.
However, one pattern that immediately emerges is that a few jobs — like CEOs and/or medical experts — top those lists in every state. So, to give a better sense of how each state differs from each other, this study omits healthcare professionals and chief executive officers. So, other than doctors, what profession do you think earns top dollar in your state?
Last updated: Aug. 3, 2021
Alabama: Architectural and Engineering Managers
- Salary: $144,480
- Total employment: 2,360
- Education requirement: Bachelor’s degree
- Work experience requirement: 5 years or more
Options:
Alaska: Judges, Magistrate Judges and Magistrates
- Salary: $162,490
- Total employment: 150
- Education requirement: Doctoral or professional degree
- Work experience requirement: 5 years or more
Find Out:
Arizona: Nuclear Engineers
- Salary: $152,280
- Total employment: N/A
- Education requirement: Bachelor’s degree
- Work experience requirement: None
Arkansas: Judges, Magistrate Judges and Magistrates
- Salary: $174,040
- Total employment: 240
- Education requirement: Doctoral or professional degree
- Work experience requirement: 5 years or more
California: Judges, Magistrate Judges and Magistrates
- Salary: $206,420
- Total employment: 1,650
- Education requirement: Doctoral or professional degree
- Work experience requirement: 5 years or more
Colorado: Airline Pilots, Copilots and Flight Engineers
- Salary: $185,720
- Total employment: 3,540
- Education requirement: Bachelor’s degree
- Work experience requirement: 1,500 flight hours
Unfortunately:
Connecticut: Judges, Magistrate Judges and Magistrates
- Salary: $183,440
- Total employment: 240
- Education requirement: Doctoral or professional degree
- Work experience requirement: 5 years or more
Delaware: Sales Managers
- Salary: $164,180
- Total employment: 990
- Education requirement: Bachelor’s degree
- Work experience requirement: Less than 5 years
District of Columbia: Public Relations and Fundraising Managers
- Salary: $183,900
- Total employment: 6,300
- Education requirement: Bachelor’s degree
- Work experience requirement: 5 years or more
Florida: Petroleum Engineers
- Salary: $180,540
- Total employment: N/A
- Education requirement: Bachelor’s
- Work experience requirement: None
Here Are the Best Jobs in America:
Georgia: Air Traffic Controllers
- Salary: $157,490
- Total employment: 1,020
- Education requirement: Associate’s degree
- Work experience requirement: None
Hawaii: Astronomers
- Salary: $157,060
- Total employment: 60
- Education requirement: Doctoral or professional degree
- Work experience requirement: None
Idaho: Architectural and Engineering Managers
- Salary: $147,580
- Total employment: 1,260
- Education requirement: Bachelor’s degree
- Work experience requirement: 5 years or more
Illinois: Airline Pilots, Copilots and Flight Engineers
- Salary: $194,530
- Total employment: 16,810
- Education requirement: Bachelor’s degree
- Work experience requirement: 1,500 flight hours
Indiana: Judges, Magistrate Judges and Magistrates
- Salary: $152,260
- Total employment: 730
- Education requirement: Doctoral or professional degree
- Work experience requirement: 5 years or more
Iowa: Architectural and Engineering Managers
- Salary: $124,300
- Total employment: 2,380
- Education requirement: Bachelor’s degree
- Work experience requirement: 5 years or more
Kansas: Air Traffic Controllers
- Salary: $139,640
- Total employment: 410
- Education requirement: Associate’s degree
- Work experience requirement: None
Kentucky: Judges, Magistrate Judges and Magistrates
- Salary: $141,070
- Total employment: 280
- Education requirement: Doctoral or professional degree
- Work experience requirement: 5 years or more
Louisiana: Athletes and Sports Competitors
- Salary: $86,700
- Total employment: 190
- Education requirement: None
- Work experience requirement: None
Maine: Judges, Magistrate Judges and Magistrates
- Salary: $134,650
- Total employment: 90
- Education requirement: Doctoral or professional degree
- Work experience requirement: 5 years or more
Maryland: Computer and Information Systems Managers
- Salary: $156,540
- Total employment: 11,730
- Education requirement: Bachelor’s
- Work experience requirement: 5 years or more
Massachusetts: Natural Sciences Managers
- Salary: $1188,240
- Total employment: 3,930
- Education requirement: Bachelor’s degree
- Work experience requirement: 5 years or more
Michigan: Political Scientists
- Salary: $139,790
- Total employment: 90
- Education requirement: Master’s degree
- Work experience requirement: None
Minnesota: Judges, Magistrate Judges and Magistrates
- Salary: $157,040
- Total employment: 560
- Education requirement: Doctoral or professional degree
- Work experience requirement: 5 years or more
Mississippi: Architectural and Engineering Managers
- Salary: $130,260
- Total employment: 920
- Education requirement: Bachelor’s degree
- Work experience requirement: 5 years or more
Missouri: Architectural and Engineering Managers
- Salary: $139,780
- Total employment: 2,120
- Education requirement: Bachelor’s degree
- Work experience requirement: 5 years or more
Montana: Chemical Engineers
- Salary: $121,370
- Total employment: 70
- Education requirement: Bachelor’s degree
- Work experience requirement: None
Nebraska: Law Teachers, Postsecondary
- Salary: $163,130
- Total employment: 110
- Education requirement: Doctoral or professional degree
- Work experience requirement: 6 years or more
Nevada: Judges, Magistrate Judges and Magistrates
- Salary: $174,080
- Total employment: 220
- Education requirement: Doctoral or professional degree
- Work experience requirement: 5 years or more
New Hampshire: Airline Pilots, Copilots and Flight Engineers
- Salary: $195,760
- Total employment: N/A
- Education requirement: Bachelor’s degree
- Work experience requirement: 1,500 flight hours
New Jersey: Natural Sciences Managers
- Salary: $187,330
- Total employment: N/A
- Education requirement: Bachelor’s degree
- Work experience requirement: 5 years or more
New Mexico: Architectural and Engineering Managers
- Salary: $173,970
- Total employment: 1,450
- Education requirement: Bachelor’s degree
- Work experience requirement: 5 years or more
New York: Financial Managers
- Salary: $201,920
- Total employment: 45,390
- Education requirement: Bachelor’s degree
- Work experience requirement: 5 years or more
Check Out:
North Carolina: Natural Sciences Managers
- Salary: $148,030
- Total employment: 3,250
- Education requirement: Bachelor’s degree
- Work experience requirement: 5 years or more
North Dakota: Judges, Magistrate Judges and Magistrates
- Salary: $147,780
- Total employment: 130
- Education requirement: Doctoral or professional degree
- Work experience requirement: 5 years or more
Ohio: Air Traffic Controllers
- Salary: $144,210
- Total employment: 720
- Education requirement: Associate’s degree
- Work experience requirement: None
Oklahoma: Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers
- Salary: $149,590
- Total employment: N/A
- Education requirement: Bachelor’s degree
- Work experience requirement: None
Oregon: Judges, Magistrate Judges and Magistrates
- Salary: $146,670
- Total employment: 340
- Education requirement: Doctoral or professional degree
- Work experience requirement: 5 years or more
Pennsylvania: Architectural and Engineering Managers
- Salary: $147,790
- Total employment: 6,660
- Education requirement: Bachelor’s degree
- Work experience requirement: 5 years or more
Rhode Island: Compensation and Benefits Managers
- Salary: $173,600
- Total employment: 40
- Education requirement: Bachelor’s degree
- Work experience requirement: 5 years or more
Take a Look:
South Carolina: Physical Scientists
- Salary: $131,150
- Total employment: 60
- Education requirement: Bachelor’s degree
- Work experience requirement: None
South Dakota: Sales Engineers
- Salary: $144,700
- Total employment: N/A
- Education requirement: Bachelor’s degree
- Work experience requirement: None
Tennessee: Air Traffic Controllers
- Salary: $134,070
- Total employment: 610
- Education requirement: Associate’s degree
- Work experience requirement: None
Texas: Airline Pilots, Copilots and Flight Engineers
- Salary: $171,650
- Total employment: 9,860
- Education requirement: Bachelor’s degree
- Work experience requirement: 1,500 flight hours
Utah: Law Teachers, Postsecondary
- Salary: $188,040
- Total employment: 100
- Education requirement: Doctoral degree
- Work experience requirement: 7 years or more
Vermont: Judges, Magistrate Judges and Magistrates
- Salary: $160,250
- Total employment: 70
- Education requirement: Doctoral or professional degree
- Work experience requirement: 5 years or more
Virginia: Computer Hardware Engineers
- Salary: $164,970
- Total employment: 1,750
- Education requirement: Bachelor’s degree
- Work experience requirement: None
Washington: Computer Hardware Engineers
- Salary: $164,970
- Total employment: 1,750
- Education requirement: Bachelor’s degree
- Work experience requirement: None
West Virginia: Architectural and Engineering Managers
- Salary: $134,090
- Total employment: 480
- Education requirement: Bachelor’s degree
- Work experience requirement: 5 years or more
Wisconsin: Sales Managers
- Salary: $132,980
- Total employment: 4,340
- Education requirement: Bachelor’s degree
- Work experience requirement: Less than 5 years
Wyoming: Industrial Production Managers
- Salary: $129,050
- Total employment: 400
- Education requirement: Bachelor’s degree
- Work experience requirement: 5 years or more
- What Money Topics Do You Want Covered: Ask the Financially Savvy Female
- 5 Things Most Americans Don’t Know About Social Security
- 20 Home Renovations That Will Hurt Your Home’s Value
- What Income Level Is Considered Middle Class in Your State?
Joel Anderson contributed to the reporting for this article.
Methodology: GOBankingRates used the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS) May 2020 employment and wage data to find the highest-paying job in every state in terms of annual median wage, excluding healthcare professionals and chief executive officers. Supplemental information on each job’s total employment in the state and median hourly wage from the same source and on each job’s education and experience requirements from the BLS’ Occupational Outlook Handbook was also provided. All data was collected on and up to date as of July 26, 2021.
Share this article:
Related Content


Grant Cardone: Here's Why the 'Middle Class' Is a Trap That You Need To Break Out Of
December 05, 2023
8 min Read


Half a Million New Yorkers Fled the State In Search of Lower Cost of Living -- Here's Where They Went
December 05, 2023
8 min Read

I'm a Financial Planner: Here are 5 Things You Should Never Spend Money On If You Want to be Rich
December 05, 2023
8 min Read



How Big Is the Average Social Security Check of a Middle-Class Retiree?
December 05, 2023
8 min Read

This Rare Bicentennial Quarter Has Nearly $20K Value -- 7 More Worth Over $1,000
December 05, 2023
8 min Read

Should You Spend Your Sacagawea Dollars, Half Dollars or Other Interesting Coins?
December 05, 2023
8 min Read


Sign Up For Our Free Newsletter!
Get advice on achieving your financial goals and stay up to date on the day's top financial stories.
By clicking the 'Subscribe Now' button, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can click on the 'unsubscribe' link in the email at anytime.
Thank you for signing up!


Sending you timely financial stories that you can bank on.
Sign up for our daily newsletter for the latest financial news and trending topics.
For our full Privacy Policy, click here.