{"id":6431,"date":"2024-03-26T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-03-26T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/theforage.wpengine.com\/?p=6431"},"modified":"2025-02-11T16:31:32","modified_gmt":"2025-02-11T21:31:32","slug":"jobs-that-pay-200k","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theforage.wpengine.com\/careers\/jobs-that-pay-200k","title":{"rendered":"14 Jobs that Pay $200K a Year (or Close to It)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

While loving your job and doing something you enjoy is important, so is paying the bills. And while you want a job that pays you enough to cover those expenses<\/a>, you may want a salary that ensures you have a little extra at the end of the month. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jobs that pay $200k a year fit the bill (and then some), but landing them takes a little more than a killer resume<\/a> and cover letter<\/a>. You’ll need top-notch skills, determination, and some patience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, what jobs that pay $200k a year are out there? And which one is right for you? We\u2019ll go through some of the top jobs that pay $200K a year, then share a fun quiz on how to figure out which ones might be right for you \u2014 and some advice on how to land them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Jump to Jobs That Pay $200k a Year Quiz \ud83e\udd11<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Top Jobs that Pay $200K a Year<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Before we share our top picks, be aware that most, if not all, of these roles are not entry-level. While it would be awesome if you could graduate with a bachelor’s degree and get a job that pays $200k a year right off the bat, it’s highly unlikely that will happen. But if it does, please let me know!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Think of this list of jobs that pay $200k a year as aspirational. To get to the $200k pay level, you have to put in a lot of work, develop a strong skill set, and build a track record of proven results in your field. So, use this list as a guide for your career planning<\/a> so you know what to do now to land one of these jobs later. (Here’s a hint: a Forage virtual job simulation<\/a> can get you on your way.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

>>MORE:<\/strong> 10 Jobs That Pay $100K a Year<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also, this list doesn’t include many jobs that pay over $200k a year (on average). Most jobs that pay over $200k a year include doctors and lawyers, two fields that require education beyond a bachelor’s degree, additional licensing, and specialized training.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Actuary<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Estimated total salary: <\/strong><\/a>$217,000<\/a>
Projected job outlook:<\/strong> <\/a>22% (much faster than average)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Actuaries<\/a> work at the intersection of finance, data science<\/a>, and statistics. They spend most of their time analyzing data to predict and quantify financial risks. The company uses that analysis to chart a path that mitigates the risk. While you can work as an actuary after completing a bachelor’s degree, you’ll need to pass a series of licensing exams before becoming a full-fledged actuary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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2. CEO<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Estimated total salary:<\/strong> <\/a>$374,000<\/a>
Projected job outlook:<\/strong> <\/a>6% (as fast as average)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

CEOs are responsible for everything<\/em> at a company, which is probably why it pays well over $200k a year. And when we say “everything,” we mean it. While the CEO delegates a lot of the work, they design the strategic plan, choose which ideas are worth pursuing, and support those efforts. This drives the company’s growth and profitability, making CEOs responsible for maintaining the financial health and longevity of the business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\t

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Venture Capital<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Try your hand at venture capital in this free course from H2 Ventures. Learn how to scout and value startups and learn more about how VC funding helps companies grow.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\tSkills you’ll build:<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tStartup scouting, growth hacking, venture capital financial modeling\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tEnroll Now\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n
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3. Chief Financial Officer<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Estimated total salary:<\/strong> $329,000
<\/a>Projected job outlook:<\/strong> 6% (as fast as average)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A chief financial officer’s (CFO) role is similar to the CEO’s in that they play a significant role maintaining the company’s health and longevity. However, the CFO is responsible for devising methods for tracking the company’s cash flow and ensuring there’s enough on hand to pay the bills. They’re also expected to identify financial issues before they become crisis-level and suggest solutions for them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\t

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Investment Banking<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Take your investment banking skills to the next level in this free course from Citi. Create a profile for a target company, project a company's financials, and more.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\tSkills you’ll build:<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tEnterprise value, financial modeling, forecasting, comparison analysis\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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4. Chief Marketing Officer<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Estimated total salary:<\/strong> <\/a><\/a>$326,000<\/a>
Projected job outlook:<\/strong> <\/a>6% (as fast as average)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another C-suite role, the chief marketing officer (CMO) oversees the company’s marketing efforts. The CMO is responsible for identifying the company’s audience and devising outreach efforts to attract paying customers. While the CMO is the leader of all marketing efforts, they often work cross-functionally to collaborate<\/a> with multiple teams, like sales, marketing<\/a>, and content, to ensure the company has a unified marketing strategy across channels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Cloud Architect<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Estimated total salary: <\/strong><\/a>$202,000<\/a>
Projected job outlook:<\/strong> 13% (much faster than average)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cloud architects design and maintain a company’s cloud computing system. They may contribute to the front end of a system, the part users interact with, or work on the backend system, like data storage. No matter what part of the cloud system the architect works on, they are responsible for troubleshooting when things go wrong, securing the system from hacks, and ensuring the system is stable for users.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\t

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Cloud Platform<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Level up your cloud computing skills in this free course from Verizon and New York Jobs CEO Council. Work with the command line, research security methods, and more.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tEnroll Now\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\tSkills you’ll build:<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tCoding, agile, concept demonstration, Python\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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6. Design Director<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Estimated total salary:<\/strong> $198,000
<\/strong><\/a>Projected job growth:<\/strong> 3% (as fast as average)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Design directors are responsible for the “big ideas” behind products. They may conceive of the product’s overall design, look, and function, but they let product designers<\/a> handle the details. However, since the director is responsible for the overarching creative direction of the product, they need excellent communication skills<\/a> to ensure the product is produced as intended.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7. Director of Product Management<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Estimated total salary:<\/strong> $306,000
<\/strong><\/a>Projected job growth: <\/strong>3% (as fast as average)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A product management<\/a> director’s role is similar to a design director, but it’s not quite the same. Once a product is developed, the product manager<\/a> steps in and oversees the product’s life cycle. They ensure the sales team markets the product, gather user feedback to enhance it, then create a plan for sunsetting the product when it no longer makes sense for the company to produce it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\t

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X. Ventures<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Help a small business customer come up with a new strategy in this free course from BCG. You'll map the customer journey, build a personalization engine, and more.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\tSkills you’ll build:<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tEthnography, systems design, journey mapping, digital roadmapping\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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8. Information Security Director<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Estimated total salary:<\/strong> $343,000
<\/strong><\/a>Projected job growth: <\/strong>17% (much faster than average)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Companies that store personal and sensitive data in their systems are responsible for keeping it secure. That duty (and more) falls to the information security director. This role is responsible for developing the strategies and policies to keep digital information safe and ensuring that the team follows those guidelines. Information security directors are also responsible for making sure the company follows local laws and regulations on information security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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9. Investment Banker<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Estimated total salary: <\/strong>$399,000
<\/strong><\/a>Projected job growth:<\/strong> 7% (faster than average)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Investment bankers<\/a> often start their careers as financial analysts<\/a> at large banks, learning how to analyze complex information that helps clients make financial decisions. While an investment banker handles similar tasks, they are ultimately responsible for making recommendations and executing the plan. For example, an investment banker may participate in a merger and acquisition (M&A)<\/a>, price a company’s IPO<\/a>, or directly manage assets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\t

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Investment Banking<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Experience what it's like working in investment banking in this free course from Bank of America. Analyze historic performance, design financial models, and more.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tEnroll Now\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\tSkills you’ll build:<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tSWOT analysis, M&A screening, ECM, DCM, DCF, valuation\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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10. Pharmaceutical Sales Representative<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Estimated total salary:<\/strong> $161,000
<\/strong><\/a>Projected job growth: <\/strong>4% (as fast as average)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You may be surprised to see pharmaceutical sales on our list of jobs that pay $200k a year, given the salary. However, it’s important to note the estimated total salary is just that \u2014 salary! It doesn’t include commissions, which pharma reps often get in addition to salary, which can boost their pay well beyond $200k.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pharmaceutical sales representatives market a drug or several drugs to doctors, hospitals, and clinics. They explain the benefits of the drug, educate about the potential side effects, and come up with a price point and supply that satisfies the customer’s needs and budget.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\t

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Sales<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Try your hand at sales in this free course from PepsiCo. Create a sales pitch and learn how to motivate team members.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\tSkills you’ll build:<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tManaging team members, collaboration, executing, leading\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tEnroll Now\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n
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11. Pilot<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Estimated total salary: <\/strong>$249,000
<\/strong><\/a>Projected job growth:<\/strong> 5% (as fast as average)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Being a pilot is a specialized role that takes years of training. And once you’re a pilot, you’ll do a lot more than fly the plane. Pilots are also responsible for inspecting the aircraft before and after every flight, ensuring the plane is well-balanced and the weight is evenly distributed, checking the fuel supply, monitoring weather conditions, and looking out for the safety of every person on board.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

>>MORE:<\/strong> Not sure how to choose a career? Learn how with this quiz.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

12. Senior Engineer<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Estimated total salary: <\/strong>$226,000
<\/strong><\/a>Projected job growth:<\/strong> 8% (faster than average)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Though nearly every kind of engineering relies on math, science, chemistry, and physics, you’ll focus on a specific type of engineering. For example, a structural engineer makes sure buildings (like houses and parking garages) are structurally sound and won’t collapse. But an industrial hygienist checks buildings for mold, asbestos, and other dangerous chemicals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\t

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Explore Engineering<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Try your hand at engineering in this free course from GE Aerospace. You'll compare and select the energy source for a new engine and create a presentation on turbines.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tEnroll Now\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\tSkills you’ll build:<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tData analysis, judgement, decision making, communication\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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13. Senior Software Engineer<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Estimated total salary: <\/strong>$214,000
<\/strong><\/a>Projected job growth:<\/strong> 17% (much faster than average)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A software engineer<\/a> writes the instructions that make a computer program run. Once they’ve written the program, they may test it to see that it works and check it for bugs and errors. Software engineers also write updates and upgrades for the software and sometimes ensure the program works for different operating systems, devices, and circumstances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We’ve got 32 software engineering virtual job simulations<\/a>. Find the one that’s right for you!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

14. Senior Quantitative Analyst<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Estimated total salary:<\/strong> $255,000
<\/strong><\/a>Projected job growth: <\/strong>9% (faster than average)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also known as a quant, quantitative analysts<\/a> use their unique analytical skills<\/a> to help companies make sound business and financial decisions. Many quants work for companies that buy and sell stocks and securities, though some quants develop software or evaluate financial data and information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\t

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Quantitative Research<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

See what it's like to work as a quant in this free course from JPMorgan Chase. You'll write code to analyze data, create a prototype pricing model, and more.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\tAvg. Time:<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t6-7 hours\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\tSkills you’ll build:<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tPython, statistics, dynamic programming, data analysis\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tEnroll Now\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Which Job That Pays $200k a Year Is Right for You?<\/h2>\n\n\n