Ladders $250,000+ Job Report | Discover Insights & Trends Today

• Remote job availability for the highest income earners fell by nearly 60% in the past year
• Hybrid job availability for these earners fell by about 95%
• Employees today need to earn $212,000 to match the earning power of a $100,000 salary just one generation ago 

New York, New York, (May 20, 2024) – New research from Ladders, the career site for jobs that pay $100,000 or more annually, revealed there are almost no hybrid or remote job vacancies available for the highest wage earners. Research into more than half a million jobs posted over the past year showed about 4% of quarter million dollar jobs are now available as fully remote and fewer than one percent are available as hybrid. 

“Given the inflationary pressures on wages, this information impacts more people than you might think. You could even say that thanks to inflation wreaking havoc on family budgets, $200,000 is the new $100,000 when it comes to careers,” said John Mullinix, Ladders Director of Growth Marketing who led the research. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics inflation calculator, to match the buying power of a $100,000 job one generation ago in 1994, you’d need to earn $212,000 today. “It’s clear $100,000 is no longer the gold standard salary,” said Mullinix. 

High paying remote and hybrid opportunities plummeted over the past year
Both hybrid and remote career opportunities for $250,000 careers plummeted in the past year. Hybrid opportunities crashed 95% while remote opportunities tumbled about 60%. One year ago about 10% of these opportunities were remote and about 6% were hybrid.   

High pay requires high levels of commitment
According to Ladders data, to earn $250,000 or more annually, jobseekers will likely need advanced degrees and/or years of specialized training. “It’s absolutely a myth that you can earn this type of job income without making some serious sacrifices to get there. We’re talking advanced degrees, specialized residencies, certifications, and substantial experience,” said Mullinix.  Most of the highest paying jobs require at least 5 to 10 years of experience and the highest require 15 or more.

Ladders High Paying Jobs Competition Index reveals job titles with the most applicant competition
To determine the type of job openings with the most competition, Ladders divided the number of high paying jobs in a particular field by the number of applications submitted within that field. Operations professionals, general managers, and marketing employees are least likely to achieve a $250,000 salary. Healthcare, science, education, engineering and technology jobs pay the most. 

Top jobs that pay $250,000 or more

1. Physician: Medical doctors diagnose and treat illnesses. They require a Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO), residency training, and state licensure.
2. Dentist: Dentists diagnose and treat dental issues. Education includes a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry (DMD) and state licensure.
3. Psychiatrist: Psychiatrists specialize in mental health, including substance use disorders. They need an MD or DO, specialized residency training in psychiatry, and board certification.
4. Principal Software Engineer: This role involves high-level software development, system architecture, and often team leadership. Requirements typically include a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in computer science or a related field, along with extensive experience.
5. Physiatrist: Physical medicine and rehabilitation physicians focus on restoring function for people with physical impairments. An MD or DO, residency in physiatry, and board certification are required.
6. Chief Financial Officer (CFO): CFOs manage the financial actions of a company. This role typically requires an advanced degree in finance, accounting, or business, along with extensive experience.
7. Orthopedic Surgeon: These surgeons specialize in the musculoskeletal system. Education includes an MD or DO, residency in orthopedics, and often a fellowship in a subspecialty, plus board certification.
8. Primary Care Physician: These physicians provide first contact for a person with an undiagnosed health concern as well as ongoing care for varied medical conditions. MD or DO, residency in family medicine or internal medicine, and board certification are needed.
9. Veterinarians: care for the health of animals. They require a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree and licensure.
10. Medical Director: Typically a physician who oversees the clinical operations of a hospital or healthcare facility. Requires an MD or DO, board certification, and experience in clinical practice and administration.
11. Hand Surgeon: Surgeons specializing in operations of the hand, wrist, and forearm. They require an MD or DO, orthopedic or plastic surgery residency, hand surgery fellowship, and board certification.
12. Principal Product Manager: This role involves leading the development and strategic direction for a product. Generally requires a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in business or a technical field, along with substantial product management experience.
13. Dermatologist: Physicians specializing in skin health, including diseases, conditions, and aesthetics. Requires an MD or DO, dermatology residency, and board certification.
14. Endodontist: Dentists specializing in the treatment of dental pulp and nerve issues, typically involving root canals. Requires DDS or DMD, specialized residency in endodontics, and certification.
15. Neonatologist: Doctors who specialize in the care of newborns, especially the ill or premature. Requires an MD or DO, pediatrics residency, neonatology fellowship, and board certification.

About Ladders, Inc.

Ladders, Inc., is the number one career site for professionals seeking six-figure jobs and ongoing vocational enrichment. Ladders services, including Apply4Me and Ladders Premium, make top-end professionals’ lives easier. Ladders has more than seven million members who use the platform to manage, market and move up in their careers. Learn more at theladders.com.

Media Contact: Laurie Monteforte | [email protected] | 570-656-3767