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13 Jobs That Pay Over $70,000 (And Are Desperate for Applicants)

These in-demand careers pay well and have real hiring momentum behind them.

By Josh Koebert , Edited by Calista Headrick

Updated Nov. 11, 2026

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Finding work that pays well and actually wants to hire you is not as rare as it sounds. Entire fields are growing faster than employers can staff them right now.

Some of these paths start with a bachelor's degree, others ask for a graduate credential, and a few reward the experience you stack up on the job.

What these 13 jobs share is pay that clears the $70,000 mark and employers who keep posting roles, which can help you get ahead financially instead of just keeping up.

Editor's note: All salary, education, and job outlook data is from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), with wages from May 2025.

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Computer and information systems manager

Median annual salary: $175,140

These managers plan and direct an organization's IT operations, from analyzing tech needs to overseeing the installation of hardware and software and managing security measures. Employment is projected to grow 16% from 2025 to 2035, with an average of about 53,500 openings a year from a mix of new roles and managers who retire or move on.

Entry typically requires a bachelor's degree in computer science or information technology along with several years of related IT work experience, and some employers prefer a graduate degree.

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Financial manager

Median annual salary: $166,570

Financial managers prepare financial reports, direct investment activity, and chart an organization's long-term financial strategy. Employers need roughly 65,600 of these professionals every year to fill new positions and replace people who leave the field, and employment is projected to grow 10% from 2025 to 2035.

The role usually requires a bachelor's degree plus five or more years of experience in a related business or financial occupation such as accountant, securities sales agent, or financial analyst.

Software developer

Median annual salary: $135,980

Software developers design, build, and test the programs and systems behind everyday technology, documenting specifications and maintaining their work after launch. Employment is projected to grow 10% from 2025 to 2035, and the broader group that includes developers, quality assurance analysts, and testers sees about 106,100 openings a year. Many openings are due to workers leaving the field and the ongoing growth of AI and automation applications.

Most developers enter with a bachelor's degree in computer and information technology or a related field such as engineering or mathematics, often paired with an internship, and some employers prefer a master's degree for certain positions.

Nurse practitioner

Median annual salary: $132,300

Nurse practitioners serve as primary and specialty care providers, assessing patients and managing their health, and many work independently to prescribe medications and order diagnostic tests for a specific population such as pediatric, adult and geriatric, or psychiatric patients.

Employment is projected to grow 41% from 2025 to 2035, largely because health care systems are leaning harder on NPs to close primary and specialty care gaps. Nurse practitioner employment is expected to increase by 137,800 over that decade.

Candidates need at least a master's degree from an advanced practice nursing program, an active RN license, a passing score on a national certification exam, and a state APRN license.

Actuary

Median annual salary: $130,000

Actuaries analyze statistical data to estimate the probability and economic cost of events like death, sickness, accidents, or natural disasters, then design insurance policies and business strategies to manage that risk. About 1,500 openings come up each year, and employment is projected to grow 9% from 2025 to 2035 as companies lean harder on data-driven risk planning.

Entry typically calls for a bachelor's degree in mathematics, actuarial science, statistics, or a related analytical field, plus passing a series of certification exams.

Information security analyst

Median annual salary: $129,180

These analysts plan and carry out the measures that protect an organization's networks and systems, monitoring for breaches, maintaining firewalls and encryption software, and hunting for vulnerabilities. Roughly 14,100 openings come up each year, and employment is projected to grow 21% from 2025 to 2035 as cyber threats push companies to strengthen their defenses.

A bachelor's degree in computer science or a related field plus related work experience is standard, and employers often prefer candidates with a professional security certification.

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Medical and health services manager

Median annual salary: $123,860

These managers plan and coordinate medical and health services for a whole facility, a clinical department, or a medical practice, setting efficiency and quality goals, ensuring regulatory compliance, preparing budgets, and supervising staff. About 62,300 openings are expected each year, and employment is projected to grow 24% from 2025 to 2035 as the health care sector keeps expanding and existing workers retire or change occupations.

Entry usually requires a bachelor's degree plus work experience in an administrative or clinical role in a health care facility, and some positions, such as nursing home administrator, require a state-issued license.

Statistician

Median annual salary: $105,650

Statisticians design surveys, experiments, and opinion polls, analyze the resulting data with statistical software, and communicate findings through reports, tables, and charts for technical and nontechnical audiences alike.

About 2,000 openings for statisticians and mathematicians combined are projected annually from 2025 to 2035, with employment growing 11% over that decade, as organizations lean more heavily on data analysis and companies need to replace retiring workers and career changers.

A master's degree in statistics or a related field is the typical entry point, though some entry-level roles, especially with the federal government, accept a bachelor's degree with significant math coursework.

Physical therapist

Median annual salary: $102,760

Physical therapists build individualized treatment plans that use exercise, stretching, hands-on therapy, and equipment to ease pain, improve mobility, and prevent further injury, and they track patient progress along the way. About 13,400 openings are expected annually, and employment is projected to grow 12% from 2025 to 2035 as demand for rehabilitative care rises and existing workers leave the occupation.

Entry requires a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from an accredited program and state licensure, which includes passing a qualifying exam.

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Occupational therapist

Median annual salary: $100,330

Occupational therapists evaluate and treat people with injuries, illnesses, or disabilities, helping them regain the skills needed for daily living and work and recommending adaptive equipment such as wheelchairs and eating aids. The field sees about 10,000 openings each year, with employment projected to grow 15% from 2025 to 2035. The growth of the aging population is one contributor to demand, as well as existing workers exiting the occupation or retiring.

All states require a license, which means earning a master's degree in occupational therapy from an accredited program that includes supervised fieldwork and then passing a qualifying exam.

Genetic counselor

Median annual salary: $100,040

Genetic counselors assess a client's risk for inherited conditions such as birth defects, review genetic test results with individuals and families, and help guide decisions based on those results. It is a small but steadily growing field, with about 300 openings expected each year and employment projected to grow 10% from 2025 to 2035. Technological advances and the need to replace retiring workers and career changers contribute to the demand.

Candidates typically need a master's degree in genetic counseling, and nearly every state requires licensure, which usually means passing a board certification exam.

Operations research analyst

Median annual salary: $88,940

Operations research analysts use mathematics and logic to help organizations solve problems, from allocating resources and building production schedules to overseeing supply chains and setting prices. About 7,500 openings crop up every year, and employment is projected to grow 12% from 2025 to 2035 as more businesses lean on data to guide big decisions. Spots will also open as existing analysts retire or change careers.

A bachelor's degree in operations research or a related field such as applied mathematics, business, engineering, or computer science is the typical path in, though some employers require or prefer a master's degree.

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Market research analyst

Median annual salary: $78,760

Market research analysts gather and analyze data on consumers, competitors, and market conditions to gauge how well a product or service might sell, then prepare reports and present results to clients and management. With about 82,000 openings projected annually and 7% growth from 2025 to 2035, it is one of the higher-volume roles on this list. Increased data use is a major contributor to this growth, along with the need to replace exiting workers.

A bachelor's degree in market research or a related business, communications, or social science field is typically needed, and some employers prefer a master's degree.

Bottom line

Strong pay and steady hiring do not follow a single playbook. Some of these fields reward years of schooling, while others reward the experience you build once you are working.

If you're weighing a switch, look for the lane that fits both your interests and the amount of training you can realistically take on. Also, review your finances to see how much runway you have while you make the move and look for ways to put extra cash in your pocket.

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