Take a Look at 44 Jobs that Pay in the $70K a Year Range

professional-wealthy-4-600Considering the annual median wage is $36,200 per year according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS.gov), jobs that pay over $70K are approximately double the average wages.  Earning twice the average will certainly set you up for a nice lifestyle!

All the jobs that pay between $70K and just under $80K per year according to BLS.gov May 2015 salary statistics are listed here. In addition to the median salary, this guide also includes the salary range, expected job growth, and typical education required.

If you take a look at the list, you’ll notice a few of the $70K jobs are for postsecondary teachers. These are essentially college professors or higher education instructors. These positions typically require a Doctoral degree or less frequently a Master’s degree so a fair amount education is required to gain employment in this field.

In contrast, if you’re interested in a job with lower educational requirements, there are many on this list including dental hygienists, nuclear medicine technologists, and power plant operators to name a few.

1. Hydrologists

  • Median Salary: $79,550 per year according to BLS.gov
  • Salary Range: $50,410 to $120,370 per year
  • Job Growth: 7% (As fast as average)
  • Typical Education: Bachelor’s degree

2. Computer Programmers

  • Median Salary: $79,530 per year according to BLS.gov
  • Salary Range: $44,450 to $130,800 per year
  • Job Growth: -8% (Decline)
  • Typical Education: Bachelor’s degree

3. Postsecondary Environmental Science Teachers

  • Median Salary: $78,770 per year according to BLS.gov
  • Salary Range: $44,830 to $146,530 per year
  • Job Growth: 13% (Faster than average)
  • Typical Education: Doctorate degree or Master’s degree (less common)

4. Operations Research Analysts

The median salary for operations research analysts is over $78,000 per year. With an expected job growth at 30% which is much faster than the average occupation and a typical education of only a Bachelor’s degree, this career is worth considering especially if you like solving business problems.

operations-research-500

  • Median Salary: $78,630 per year according to BLS.gov
  • Salary Range: $43,520 to $132,500 per year
  • Job Growth: 30% (Much faster than average)
  • Typical Education: Bachelor’s degree

5. Financial Examiners

  • Median Salary: $78,010 per year according to BLS.gov
  • Salary Range: $45,540 to $149,390 per year
  • Job Growth: 10% (Faster than average)
  • Typical Education: Bachelor’s degree

6. Network and Computer Systems Administrators

  • Median Salary: $77,810 per year according to BLS.gov
  • Salary Range: $47,460 to $124,090 per year
  • Job Growth: 8% (As fast as average)
  • Typical Education: Bachelor’s degree

7. Postsecondary Anthropology and Archeology Teachers

  • Median Salary: $77,650 per year according to BLS.gov
  • Salary Range: $43,080 to $141,370 per year
  • Job Growth: 13% (Faster than average)
  • Typical Education: Doctorate degree or Master’s degree (less common)

8. Industrial-Organizational Psychologists

  • Median Salary: $77,350 per year according to BLS.gov
  • Salary Range: $52,270 to $158,990 per year
  • Job Growth: 19% (Much faster than average)
  • Typical Education: Doctorate or professional degree

9. Detectives and Criminal Investigators

  • Median Salary: $77,210 per year according to BLS.gov
  • Salary Range: $41,200 to $128,690 per year
  • Job Growth: 4% (Slower than average)
  • Typical Education: High school diploma or equivalent

10. Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels

  • Median Salary: $76,780 per year according to BLS.gov
  • Salary Range: $38,310 to $134,950 per year
  • Job Growth: 9% (Faster than average)
  • Typical Education: Bachelor’s degree

11. Social Scientists and Related Workers

  • Median Salary: $76,380 per year according to BLS.gov
  • Salary Range: $45,390 to $118,080 per year
  • Job Growth: -1% (Little or no change)
  • Typical Education: Master’s degree

12. Postsecondary Political Science Teachers

Do you like the idea of teaching and helping shape the leaders of future generations? If so, becoming a postsecondary political science teacher may be a good career fit for you.  This career boasts a salary of over $76,000 a year and has a faster than average expected job growth.  The educational requirements are high however, with the typical education being a Doctorate degree.

postsecondary-teacher-500

  • Median Salary: $76,370 per year according to BLS.gov
  • Salary Range: $40,150 to $151,940 per year
  • Job Growth: 13% (Faster than average)
  • Typical Education: Doctorate degree or Master’s degree (less common)

13. Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products

  • Median Salary: $76,190 per year according to BLS.gov
  • Salary Range: $38,570 to $153,940 per year
  • Job Growth: 7% (As fast as average)
  • Typical Education: Bachelor’s degree or sometimes just a High school diploma

14. Commercial Pilots

  • Median Salary: $76,150 per year according to BLS.gov
  • Salary Range: $34,800 to $147,890 per year
  • Job Growth: 5% (As fast as average)
  • Typical Education: Bachelor’s degree

15. Architects

Except Landscape and Naval

  • Median Salary: $76,100 per year according to BLS.gov
  • Salary Range: $46,080 to $125,520 per year
  • Job Growth: 7% (As fast as average)
  • Typical Education: Bachelor’s degree

16. Power Plant Operators

  • Median Salary: $75,660 per year according to BLS.gov
  • Salary Range: $47,560 to $101,630 per year
  • Job Growth: -6% (Decline)
  • Typical Education: High school diploma or equivalent

17. Postsecondary Geography Teachers

  • Median Salary: $75,400 per year according to BLS.gov
  • Salary Range: $41,250 to $124,190 per year
  • Job Growth: 13% (Faster than average)
  • Typical Education: Doctorate degree or Master’s degree (less common)

18. Postsecondary Business Teachers

  • Median Salary: $75,370 per year according to BLS.gov
  • Salary Range: $35,370 to $170,640 per year
  • Job Growth: 13% (Faster than average)
  • Typical Education: Doctorate degree or Master’s degree (less common)

19. Postsecondary Biological Science Teachers

  • Median Salary: $75,320 per year according to BLS.gov
  • Salary Range: $41,170 to $149,710 per year
  • Job Growth: 13% (Faster than average)
  • Typical Education: Doctorate degree or Master’s degree (less common)

20. Agricultural Engineers

  • Median Salary: $75,090 per year according to BLS.gov
  • Salary Range: $47,490 to $116,830 per year
  • Job Growth: 4% (Slower than average)
  • Typical Education: Bachelor’s degree

21. Postsecondary Chemistry Teachers

  • Median Salary: $75,060 per year according to BLS.gov
  • Salary Range: $41,800 to $145,300 per year
  • Job Growth: 13% (Faster than average)
  • Typical Education: Doctorate degree or Master’s degree (less common)

22. Audiologists

Audiologists specialize in hearing. The typical education for audiologists is a Doctoral or professional degree.  The expected job growth rate is at 29% (which is much faster than average), however the rigorous education requirements are a make it or break it proposition for many for this $70K career field.

audiologist-500

  • Median Salary: $74,890 per year according to BLS.gov
  • Salary Range: $49,760 to $111,450 per year
  • Job Growth: 29% (Much faster than average)
  • Typical Education: Doctoral or professional degree

23. Postsecondary Computer Science Teachers

  • Median Salary: $74,840 per year according to BLS.gov
  • Salary Range: $37,570 to $145,450 per year
  • Job Growth: 13% (Faster than average)
  • Typical Education: Doctorate degree or Master’s degree (less common)

24. Logisticians

  • Median Salary: $74,260 per year according to BLS.gov
  • Salary Range: $45,830 to $115,960 per year
  • Job Growth: 2% (Slower than average)
  • Typical Education: Bachelor’s degree

25. Geographers

  • Median Salary: $74,260 per year according to BLS.gov
  • Salary Range: $45,450 to $102,930 per year
  • Job Growth: -2% (Decline)
  • Typical Education: Bachelor’s degree

26. Postsecondary Architecture Teachers

  • Median Salary: $73,920 per year according to BLS.gov
  • Salary Range: $38,360 to $144,380 per year
  • Job Growth: 13% (Faster than average)
  • Typical Education: Doctorate degree or Master’s degree (less common)

27. Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay

  • Median Salary: $73,810 per year according to BLS.gov
  • Salary Range: $49,800 to $95,890 per year
  • Job Growth: -4% (Decline)
  • Typical Education: Postsecondary nondegree award

28. Sociologists

  • Median Salary: $73,760 per year according to BLS.gov
  • Salary Range: $36,200 to $145,250 per year
  • Job Growth: -1% (Little or no change)
  • Typical Education: Master’s degree

29. Speech-Language Pathologists

  • Median Salary: $73,410 per year according to BLS.gov
  • Salary Range: $46,000 to $114,840 per year
  • Job Growth: 21% (Much faster than average)
  • Typical Education: Master’s degree

30. Nuclear Medicine Technologists

  • Median Salary: $73,360 per year according to BLS.gov
  • Salary Range: $52,950 to $100,080 per year
  • Job Growth: 2% (Slower than average)
  • Typical Education: Associate’s degree

31. Ship Engineers

  • Median Salary: $72,870 per year according to BLS.gov
  • Salary Range: $38,200 to $145,250 per year
  • Job Growth: 9% (Faster than average)
  • Typical Education: Bachelor’s degree

32. Dental Hygienists

The typical education for dental hygienists is an Associate’s degree (you will have to complete an accredited training program along with passing a state exam) and the job growth is 19% which makes this profession a hot career choice for many.

dental-assistant-500

  • Median Salary: $72,330 per year according to BLS.gov
  • Salary Range: $50,140 to $98,440 per year
  • Job Growth: 19% (Much faster than average)
  • Typical Education: Associate’s degree

33. Postsecondary Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers

  • Median Salary: $72,300 per year according to BLS.gov
  • Salary Range: $37,830 to $139,970 per year
  • Job Growth: 13% (Faster than average)
  • Typical Education: Doctorate degree or Master’s degree (less common)

34. First-Line Supervisors of Fire Fighting and Prevention Workers

  • Median Salary: $72,230 per year according to BLS.gov
  • Salary Range: $41,790 to $114,900 per year
  • Job Growth: 5% (As fast as average)
  • Typical Education: Postsecondary nondegree award

35. Genetic Counselors

  • Median Salary: $72,090 per year according to BLS.gov
  • Salary Range: $49,760 to $109,650 per year
  • Job Growth: 29% (Much faster than average)
  • Typical Education: Master’s degree

36. Budget Analysts

  • Median Salary: $71,590 per year according to BLS.gov
  • Salary Range: $47,550 to $108,600 per year
  • Job Growth: 3% (Slower than average)
  • Typical Education: Bachelor’s degree

37. Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents

  • Median Salary: $71,550 per year according to BLS.gov
  • Salary Range: $32,680 to $187,200 per year
  • Job Growth: 10% (Faster than average)
  • Typical Education: Bachelor’s degree

38. Chemists

Becoming a chemist is another career option in the $70K per year salary range. This career even has an upper end over $125K a year so it can be very lucrative especially considering the typical education is only a Bachelor’s degree. However, the expected job growth rate is only 3% which is slower than average.

chemist-500

  • Median Salary: $71,260 per year according to BLS.gov
  • Salary Range: $41,110 to $125,450 per year
  • Job Growth: 3% (Slower than average)
  • Typical Education: Bachelor’s degree

39. Funeral Service Managers

  • Median Salary: $70,890 per year according to BLS.gov
  • Salary Range: $38,530 to $142,750 per year
  • Job Growth: 5% (As fast as average)
  • Typical Education: Associate’s degree

40. Postmasters and Mail Superintendents

  • Median Salary: $70,640 per year according to BLS.gov
  • Salary Range: $54,100 to $88,300 per year
  • Job Growth: -28% (Decline)
  • Typical Education: High school diploma or equivalent

41. Clinical, Counseling, and School Psychologists

  • Median Salary: $70,580 per year according to BLS.gov
  • Salary Range: $40,920 to $116,960 per year
  • Job Growth: 19% (Much faster than average)
  • Typical Education: Education specialist degree

42. Postsecondary Psychology Teachers

  • Median Salary: $70,260 per year according to BLS.gov
  • Salary Range: $36,630 to $133,810 per year
  • Job Growth: 13% (Faster than average)
  • Typical Education: Doctorate degree or Master’s degree (less common)

43. Technical Writers

  • Median Salary: $70,240 per year according to BLS.gov
  • Salary Range: $41,610 to $112,220 per year
  • Job Growth: 10% (Faster than average)
  • Typical Education: Bachelor’s degree

44. Occupational Health and Safety Specialists

  • Median Salary: $70,210 per year according to BLS.gov
  • Salary Range: $40,890 to $102,980 per year
  • Job Growth: 4% (Slower than average)
  • Typical Education: Bachelor’s degree

That concludes the list of 44 different $70K a year jobs.  As you can see, there are many different industries represented on this list of high paying professions. Hopefully you’ll found a couple of options that look interesting to you.

If you’d like to review more high salary careers, take a look at our list of $80K a year jobs. In addition, the list of $60K a year jobs may also interest you.

If you’d like to be able to sort jobs by criteria you select, then our Career Explorer Tool is another resource you may find valuable.