15 Jobs That Pay Over $100k a Year (Plus Main Duties)

The salary of a role may be a priority when choosing a career. While the specific salary of a job may depend on the qualifications and years of experience a candidate has, the average salary of a role can provide an insight into the income that professionals in that field can expect. If you’re looking for a career that has a potentially lucrative salary, understanding the different jobs with higher average salaries may be helpful in choosing a suitable career path. In this article, we explain 15 jobs that pay $100k a year or more, along with their key responsibilities.

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Listed below are 15 jobs that pay $100k a year or more, on average:

National average salary: $165,375 per yearSalary figures reflect data listed on Indeed Salaries at time of writing. Salaries may vary depending on the hiring organisation and a candidate’s experience, academic background and location.Primary duties: Construction managers work on building sites or in offices to plan and oversee construction projects. An important part of their job is to develop a time and cost plan that outlines the different construction stages. The professionals in this field schedule material deliveries and maintain the health and safety of the building site to meet industry standards.

National average salary: $67,878 per yearPrimary duties: Van drivers transport products, materials, livestock or food products from one location to another. The main responsibilities of a van driver are to pick up or deliver goods while driving safely. They may also be passenger services operators, driving groups of people to a specific destination, such as an airport shuttle van driver. They may also help to load items into their van and assist others with the unpacking process. A van driver may drive on behalf of a business to deliver products, like a retail company, or work for a transportation company.

National average salary: $131,383 per yearPrimary duties: A director of customer service ensures all staff members maintain a high standard of customer interaction. They develop employee training programs or introduce policies intended to inform employees of the best ways to communicate with stakeholders or address customer requests. A director of customer service may also implement initiatives to instil a culture that values great customer service, rewarding employees who receive positive customer reviews. They may monitor their employees’ customer service performance and develop strategies to improve it. Professionals in this position also communicate with employees and customers through email, phone and face-to-face interactions.Related: 17 Customer Service Skills: Definitions and Examples

National average salary: $108,144 per yearPrimary duties: A senior scientist develops hypotheses based on research and conducts experiments to prove or investigate their predictions. Senior scientists can perform these duties independently or in collaboration with other scientists. A senior position may require them to lead or manage a team of scientists, implementing health and safety protocols where necessary and creating guidelines for employees to follow. They may also liaise with engineering or marketing departments for a project.

National average salary: $118,555 per yearPrimary duties: A technical consultant optimises how a department or company uses technology to reach its business objectives. Their main tasks include conducting employee training, troubleshooting any technical issues their colleagues or clients experience and testing new software to streamline a business’s computer systems. The aim of a technical consultant is to grow a company’s capabilities and speed up processes for a more efficient employee and customer experience.

National average salary: $105,162 per yearPrimary duties: Business analysts conduct market research and develop effective business strategies within a company. Individuals in this profession analyse their research to identify the most innovative methods their company can adopt to optimise their business or supply chain processes. They may conduct research on the launches of popular products, new marketing strategies, the latest technology tools or upcoming computer system solutions. Upon completing their research and analysis, they may present their findings to senior management, stakeholders or business executives, who can then use it to make business decisions.

National average salary: $118,482 per yearPrimary duties: A human resources manager oversees a team that regulates the administrative processes of employment in a business or organisation. They’re in charge of recruiting new employees, conducting interviews, administering pay, managing holiday time and enforcing business codes of conduct. A human resources manager can work across most industries in companies that have a human resources department.

National average salary: $143,601 per yearPrimary duties: A financial controller acts as a company’s lead accountant, overseeing the financial records of a business to keep the information accurate. Their main duties include preparing financial reports, creating income statements, producing financial statements and analysing data. With their knowledge of a company’s financial records, the financial controller can present this information to the firm’s executives, helping them to make informed decisions regarding their budgeting.

National average salary: $124,402 per yearPrimary duties: The role of engineering managers includes directing, planning and coordinating design and engineering processes. Most engineering managers oversee a team of employees within an engineering company. They can also develop the overall ideas for new products and designs, while finding solutions to production problems, aiding efficiency.

National average salary: $128,922 per yearPrimary duties: A project manager oversees the entire process of completing a project. These professionals can work in a variety of industries, such as business and construction. Project managers plan the project by developing a timeline, creating a budget and assessing risks. They can also supervise a team of employees working on the project, producing shift schedules, delegating tasks and performing quality checks.Related: How to Be a Successful Project Manager: Skills and Qualifications

National average salary: $101,546 per yearPrimary duties: A physician is a medical professional who diagnoses and treats a patient’s symptoms, injuries or illnesses. To diagnose a patient accurately, they listen to a patient’s list of symptoms, check their medical history, perform a physical examination, run blood tests or conduct other diagnostic checks. For treatment, a physician can prescribe medication if it’s appropriate to do so or provide a patient with advice on diet, hygiene or other matters that may contribute to their symptoms. A physician can work in a hospital or doctor’s surgery.

National average salary: $121,445 per yearPrimary duties: Optometrists examine the eyes for both health and vision problems. They can work in private eye-wear dispensaries or in the healthcare industry. An optometrist’s duties usually include conducting eye tests, treating refractive errors and prescribing glasses or contact lenses if necessary. They can also offer vision therapy or low vision care plans depending on where they work. An optometrist may refer a patient to a hospital if they suspect a larger health issue or the patient is experiencing problems that exceed their scope of practice. Doctors may also refer their clients to see an optometrist if their symptoms involve the eyes.Related: How Much Do Optometrists Earn? (Plus Salary Considerations)

National average salary: $144,221 per yearPrimary duties: A software architect is an expert software developer who makes technical design choices for a company or organisation, optimising computer systems for both customers and employees. They ensure the infrastructure meets the IT industry’s technical quality standards and upholds data privacy regulations. Individuals in this profession can also oversee a team of IT developers, troubleshoot technical issues and implement security protocols.Related: What Is Software Development: Definition, Processes and Types

National average salary: $134,577 per yearPrimary duties: Corporate lawyers help clients with financing for acquisitions and mergers. They also assist their clients in drafting and negotiating contracts for the purchase and sale of businesses or portions of businesses. They apply their knowledge of business law to regulate corporate industry standards.

National average salary: $156,422 per yearPrimary duties: A chief financial officer (CFO) is responsible for managing a company’s financial activities. They keep track of cash flow and financial planning, which helps them analyse a company’s financial strengths and weaknesses. A CFO is also responsible for ensuring that the company follows national and state financial regulations.