What each profession pays at the top of its own ladder, ranked. Peak figures are not starting figures, and the years and cost it takes to reach them vary enormously — the entry barrier is on each profession's own page.
1💹
Investment BankerBusiness & Finance
$1.5M+at peak
2🫀
SurgeonMedicine & Life
$558kat peak
3🤖
AI ResearcherEngineering & Technology
$1M–$10M+at peak
4✈️
PilotFrontier & Field
$450k+at peak
5📦
MLOps EngineerEngineering & Technology
$350k+at peak
6🔌
Semiconductor EngineerEngineering & Technology
$300k+at peak
7🧿
Quantum EngineerScience & Research
$300k+at peak
8🧠
PsychiatristMedicine & Life
$350k+at peak
9🩺
PhysicianMedicine & Life
$400k+at peak
10💻
Software EngineerEngineering & Technology
$400k+at peak
11🔐
Cybersecurity SpecialistEngineering & Technology
$250k+at peak
12⚖️
JudgeLaw & Public Service
£232kat peak
13🛰️
Aerospace EngineerEngineering & Technology
$220k+at peak
14🧫
Clinical Data ScientistScience & Research
$280k–$400k+at peak
15💊
PharmacistMedicine & Life
$168k+at peak
16👔
LawyerLaw & Public Service
$239,200+at peak
17🦾
Robotics EngineerEngineering & Technology
$220k+at peak
18📊
Data ScientistScience & Research
$280k–$400k+at peak
19💱
EconomistBusiness & Finance
$500k+at peak
20🌬️
Renewable Energy EngineerEngineering & Technology
$200k+at peak
21🚀
EntrepreneurBusiness & Finance
$1M–$1B+at peak
22🗺️
Product ManagerBusiness & Finance
$400k+at peak
23🌿
Sustainability ManagerBusiness & Finance
$190k+at peak
24🏅
AthleteMedia & Performance
$50M–$260Mat peak
25🧮
MathematicianScience & Research
$450k+at peak
26🔎
UX ResearcherArts & Creation
$190k+at peak
27🌉
Civil EngineerEngineering & Technology
$200k+at peak
28🎮
Game DesignerArts & Creation
$250kat peak
29🧾
AccountantBusiness & Finance
$500k+at peak
30📣
MarketerBusiness & Finance
$350k+at peak
31🧩
PsychologistEducation & Humanities
$190k+at peak
32⚓
Ship CaptainFrontier & Field
$215kat peak
33🕹️
Esports ProMedia & Performance
$3M–5M+ (rep.)at peak
34⚛️
PhysicistScience & Research
$300k+at peak
35🎬
Film DirectorArts & Creation
$10M–$25M+at peak
36🎓
ProfessorEducation & Humanities
~$160kat peak
37🧬
Genetic CounselorMedicine & Life
$135k+at peak
38🐾
VeterinarianMedicine & Life
$212,890+at peak
39🧪
ChemistScience & Research
$210k+at peak
40🔭
AstronomerScience & Research
$190k+at peak
41👨🚀
AstronautFrontier & Field
≈$190kat peak
42💉
NurseMedicine & Life
$212kat peak
43🕊️
DiplomatLaw & Public Service
$203kat peak
44🏗️
ArchitectArts & Creation
$159,800+at peak
45🎭
ActorMedia & Performance
$20M+/filmat peak
46🧬
BiologistScience & Research
$250k+at peak
47🚒
FirefighterLaw & Public Service
$150k+at peak
48📜
HistorianEducation & Humanities
$200k+at peak
49🪚
CarpenterCraft & Trade
$150kat peak
50🍷
SommelierCraft & Trade
$160kat peak
51🏔️
Mountain GuideFrontier & Field
$130k+at peak
52⌚
WatchmakerCraft & Trade
$130k+at peak
53🎞️
AnimatorMedia & Performance
$180k–$250k+at peak
54📋
Civil ServantLaw & Public Service
~£200kat peak
55🚓
Police OfficerLaw & Public Service
$180kat peak
56🏫
TeacherEducation & Humanities
€120k+at peak
57🍳
ChefCraft & Trade
$250k+at peak
58🧵
TailorCraft & Trade
£150k+at peak
59🌐
TranslatorEducation & Humanities
$120kat peak
60📖
LibrarianEducation & Humanities
$130k+at peak
61🏺
ArchaeologistFrontier & Field
$130kat peak
62📰
JournalistMedia & Performance
$250k+at peak
63📷
PhotographerMedia & Performance
$500k+at peak
64🌾
FarmerFrontier & Field
$250k+at peak
65🎻
MusicianArts & Creation
$250k+at peak
66🖌️
PainterArts & Creation
$1M+at peak
67🔥
BlacksmithCraft & Trade
$150k+at peak
68✍️
NovelistArts & Creation
$1M+/yrat peak
Figures are typical peak earnings in the market named on each profession's page, not global averages.