31 Jobs Where You Can Earn a Salary in the $80K a Year Range - Careertoolkit (2023)

$80K per year is a great salary by any stretch of the imagination.

This article outlines all the jobs that pay $80k a year in one convenient list.

To put this list together, we took a look at the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS.gov) May 2015 salary data and found all the jobs with a median salary in the $80K per year range. In addition to the median salary, you can see the high and low range of pay for each profession. We also include the typical education required and the expected job growth.

Jobs in the science industry top the list of $80Kjobs. These include atmospheric scientists, geoscientists, medical scientists, and biochemists. To work in these career fields you’ll typically need a Bachelor’s degree. For otherscience careers in this pay range you’ll need a Doctoral or professional degree.

In addition to science, there are several engineering careers earning in the $80K a year rangeincluding biomedical engineers, environmental engineers, and mechanical engineers. The typical education for each of these professions is a Bachelor’s degree.

Both science and engineering industries offer you the opportunity to creatively solve problems. If you’re an innovator, these careers may be a good fit for you.

There are also a few $80K jobs that only require a high school diploma or equivalent or an Associate’s degree. For example, nuclear technicians and radiation therapists often only have an Associate’s degree.

In addition to science and engineering, there are jobs from other professions on this list represented here too including; art, business, education, and many other industries. Just take a look below:

1. Atmospheric Scientists

Including Meteorologists

• Median Salary: $89,820per year according to BLS.gov
• Salary Range: $50,630 to $132,180 per year
• Job Growth: 9% (Faster than average)
• Typical Education: Bachelor’s degree

2.Art Directors

• Median Salary: $89,760per year according to BLS.gov
• Salary Range: $47,320 to $172,900per year
• Job Growth: 2% (Slower than average)
• Typical Education: Bachelor’s degree

3. Geoscientists

• Median Salary: $89,700per year according to BLS.gov
• Salary Range: $47,250 to $187,200+per year
• Job Growth: 10% (Faster than average)
• Typical Education: Bachelor’s degree

4.Personal Financial Advisors

Personal financial advisers help people manage their present and future finances. Their median salary is over $89,000 per year according to the BLS.gov. The expected job growth is at 30% which ismuch faster than average and the typical education is a Bachelor’s degree.

• Median Salary: $89,160per year according to BLS.gov
• Salary Range: $39,300 to $187,200+per year
• Job Growth: 30% (Much faster than average)
• Typical Education: Bachelor’s degree

5. Postsecondary Education Administrators

• Median Salary: $88,580per year according to BLS.gov
• Salary Range: $50,240 to $174,280per year
• Job Growth: 9% (Faster than average)
• Typical Education: Master’s degree

6. Nuclear Power Reactor Operators

• Median Salary: $88,560per year according to BLS.gov
• Salary Range: $66,520 to $116,780per year
• Job Growth: -6% (Decline)
• Typical Education: High school diploma or equivalent

7.Veterinarians

Veterinarians earn $88K a year on average with salaries topping $158K a year. The typical education is a Doctoral or professional degree and the expected job growth is faster than average at 9%. If you love animals, this may be a high paying career to consider in addition to the many assistant or support jobs for veterinarians which will pay less, but require less education.

• Median Salary: $88,490per year according to BLS.gov
• Salary Range: $53,210 to $158,260per year
• Job Growth: 9% (Faster than average)
• Typical Education: Doctoral or professional degree

8. Postsecondary Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers

• Median Salary: $88,270per year according to BLS.gov
• Salary Range: $45,960 to $143,710per year
• Job Growth: 13% (Faster than average)
• Typical Education: Doctoral degree or Master’s degree (less common)

9. Construction Managers

• Median Salary: $87,400per year according to BLS.gov
• Salary Range: $52,350 to $155,200per year
• Job Growth: 5% (As fast as average)
• Typical Education: Bachelor’s degree

10.Biomedical Engineers

• Median Salary: $86,220per year according to BLS.gov
• Salary Range: $51,480 to $139,520per year
• Job Growth: 23% (Much faster than average)
• Typical Education: Bachelor’s degree

11. Administrative Services Managers

• Median Salary: $86,110per year according to BLS.gov
• Salary Range: $46,430 to $153,570per year
• Job Growth: 8% (As fast as average)
• Typical Education: Bachelor’s degree

12.Computer Systems Analysts

• Median Salary: $85,800per year according to BLS.gov
• Salary Range: $51,910 to $135,450per year
• Job Growth: 21% (Much faster than average)
• Typical Education: Bachelor’s degree

13. Health and Safety Engineers

Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors

• Median Salary: $84,600per year according to BLS.gov
• Salary Range: $49,410 to $130,770per year
• Job Growth: 6% (As fast as average)
• Typical Education: Bachelor’s degree

14.Environmental Engineers

• Median Salary: $84,560per year according to BLS.gov
• Salary Range: $50,230 to $128,440per year
• Job Growth: 12% (Faster than average)
• Typical Education: Bachelor’s degree

15.Physical Therapists

Physical therapists earn an average of $84K a year and the typical education is a Doctoral or professional degree. However, it is possible to get started in this career field with an Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree for less pay as an assistant. The expected job growth is very high and earnings for physical therapists can top $119K a year.

• Median Salary: $84,020per year according to BLS.gov
• Salary Range: $57,060 to $119,790per year
• Job Growth: 34% (Much faster than average)
• Typical Education: Doctoral or professional degree

16.Mechanical Engineers

• Median Salary: $83,590per year according to BLS.gov
• Salary Range: $53,640 to $128,430per year
• Job Growth: 5% (As fast as average)
• Typical Education: Bachelor’s degree

17. Industrial Engineers

• Median Salary: $83,470per year according to BLS.gov
• Salary Range: $53,300 to $126,920per year
• Job Growth: 1% (Little or no change)
• Typical Education: Bachelor’s degree

18. Postsecondary Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers

• Median Salary: $83,150per year according to BLS.gov
• Salary Range: $42,850 to $152,310per year
• Job Growth: 13% (Faster than average)
• Typical Education: Doctoral degree or Master’s degree (less common)

19. Postsecondary Physics Teachers

• Median Salary: $82,840per year according to BLS.gov
• Salary Range: $45,220 to $156,280per year
• Job Growth: 13% (Faster than average)
• Typical Education: Doctoral degree or Master’s degree (less common)

20. Medical Scientists

• Median Salary: $82,240per year according to BLS.gov
• Salary Range: $44,510 to $155,180per year
• Job Growth: 8% (As fast as average)
• Typical Education: Doctoral or professional degree

21. Civil Engineers

• Median Salary: $82,220per year according to BLS.gov
• Salary Range: $52,900 to $129,850per year
• Job Growth: 8% (As fast as average)
• Typical Education: Bachelor’s degree

22.Biochemists and Biophysicists

Biochemists and biophysicists earn a median salary of about $82K a year. As a biochemist or biophysicist you will study living cells and tissues in the hopes of advancing our knowledge of medicine and finding treatments. The expected job growth is as fast as average and a Doctoral or professional degree is the typical education requirement.

• Median Salary: $82,150per year according to BLS.gov
• Salary Range: $44,640 to $153,810per year
• Job Growth: 8% (As fast as average)
• Typical Education: Doctoral or professional degree

23. First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives

• Median Salary: $82,090per year according to BLS.gov
• Salary Range: $48,930 to $131,570per year
• Job Growth: 4% (Slower than average)
• Typical Education: High school diploma or equivalent or some college

24.Database Administrators

• Median Salary: $81,710per year according to BLS.gov
• Salary Range: $45,460 to $127,080per year
• Job Growth: 11% (Faster than average)
• Typical Education: Bachelor’s degree

25.Management Analysts

• Median Salary: $81,320per year according to BLS.gov
• Salary Range: $45,970 to $150,220per year
• Job Growth: 14% (Much faster than average)
• Typical Education: Bachelor’s degree

26. Elevator Installers and Repairers

• Median Salary: $80,870per year according to BLS.gov
• Salary Range: $40,140 to $111,370per year
• Job Growth: 13% (Faster than average)
• Typical Education: High school diploma or equivalent

27.Financial Analysts

Financial analysts earn approximately $80K a year and as much as over $160K a year so the earnings are high. The expected job growth is faster than average and the typical education is a Bachelor’s degree.

• Median Salary: $80,310per year according to BLS.gov
• Salary Range: $49,450 to $160,760per year
• Job Growth: 12% (Faster than average)
• Typical Education: Bachelor’s degree

28. Nuclear Technicians

• Median Salary: $80,260per year according to BLS.gov
• Salary Range: $47,730 to $130,750per year
• Job Growth: -5% (Decline)
• Typical Education: Associate’s degree

29.Radiation Therapists

• Median Salary: $80,220per year according to BLS.gov
• Salary Range: $54,220 to $121,110per year
• Job Growth: 14% (Much faster than average)
• Typical Education: Associate’s degree

30.Occupational Therapists

• Median Salary: $80,150per year according to BLS.gov
• Salary Range: $53,250 to $116,030per year
• Job Growth: 27% (Much faster than average)
• Typical Education: Master’s degree

31.Statisticians

• Median Salary: $80,110per year according to BLS.gov
• Salary Range: $44,900 to $130,630per year
• Job Growth: 34% (Much faster than average)
• Typical Education: Master’s degree

That ends our list of 31 careers paying in the $80K a year range. If you’d like to review more high paying jobs then checkout our $90K jobs list or the list of 44 jobs that pay in the $70K range.

In addition, our Career Explorer Tool can help you find the perfect job by sorting jobs based on criteria you enter. Take a look at our additional career resources and find the perfect job for you!