In this guide, we’ll break down the top-paying careers, the industries offering the highest salaries, and where to find these lucrative jobs worldwide.
What Is the Highest-Paying Job in the World?
The #1 Best-Paying Job in 2025
Neurosurgeons have the highest average salaries globally due to the extensive education, training, and expertise required to perform complex brain and spinal surgeries. The amount of time and dedication - as well as the cost of schooling - required to achieve this role is exceptional.
Let's presume you're interested in other roles as well.
| Rank |
Job Title |
Average Salary (2025) |
| 1 |
NBA Player |
$5M – $120M (incl. sponsorships) |
| 2 |
F1 Driver |
$1M – $60M |
| 3 |
Hedge Fund Manager |
$1M+ (performance-based) |
| 4 |
Investment Banker (Managing Director) |
$400,000 – $1M |
| 5 |
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) |
$350,000 – $1M+ |
| 6 |
McKinsey & Deloitte Partner |
$300,000 – $1.4M |
| 7 |
Neurosurgeon |
$500,000 – $800,000 |
| 8 |
Anesthesiologist |
$450,000 – $600,000 |
| 9 |
Corporate Lawyer |
$200,000 – $500,000 |
| 10 |
AI Engineer |
$180,000 – $350,000 |
Top 10 Highest-Paying Jobs in 2025
1. Technology Careers
The tech sector continues to dominate the high-salary landscape. Some of the best-paying roles include:
- Artificial Intelligence Engineer – $180,000 to $350,000
- Data Scientist – $150,000 to $250,000
- Cybersecurity Specialist – $120,000 to $250,000
- Blockchain Developer – $130,000 to $220,000
2. Healthcare Careers
Medical professionals remain some of the highest-paid workers globally:
- Neurosurgeon – $500,000 to $800,000
- Anesthesiologist – $450,000 to $600,000
- Nurse Practitioner & Physician Assistant – $100,000 to $150,000
3. Finance & Business Careers
Finance executives and investment professionals continue to see massive earnings:
- Hedge Fund Manager – $1M+ based on fund performance
- Investment Banker – $220,000 to $500,000
- Corporate Lawyer – $200,000 to $400,000
- Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – $350,000 to $1M+
Where Are the Highest-Paying Jobs?
Top Locations for High-Salary Careers
- United States – San Francisco, New York, Seattle (Tech, Finance, AI)
- Internationally – London, Tokyo, Dubai (Finance, Technology, Oil & Gas)
January's top roles in North America for middle managers (growth stage):
You can see the roles in more detail, including the best paid remote roles currently open, in our review of open vacancies in January 2025.
Highest-Paying Jobs in Dubai
- Investment Banker – AED 600,000 to AED 2M ($163,000–$545,000)
- Surgeons & Medical Specialists – AED 800,000+ ($218,000+)
- IT Directors & AI Engineers – AED 500,000 to AED 1M ($136,000–$272,000)
Best-Paying Jobs That Don’t Require a Degree
Not all high-paying jobs require a college degree. Some alternative career paths include:
| Job Title |
Average Salary (2025) |
Certification Required |
Country/Region |
| Commercial Pilot |
$100,000 – $250,000 |
FAA (US), EASA (Europe), GCAA (UAE), DGCA (India) |
US, Europe, UAE, India |
| Air Traffic Controller |
$130,000 – $180,000 |
FAA (US), EASA (Europe), GCAA (UAE) |
US, Europe, UAE |
| Radiation Therapist |
$80,000 – $120,000 |
ARRT (US), HCPC (UK), DHA (UAE), OAMHP (Canada) |
US, UK, UAE, Canada |
| Web Developer |
$75,000 – $130,000 |
Google IT Certificate, Meta Certification, Udemy |
Global (Online Certifications) |
| Real Estate Broker |
$60,000 – $200,000 |
State Licensing (US), RERA (UAE), NFOPP (UK), RECA (Canada) |
US, UAE, UK, Canada |
| Electrician |
$50,000 – $100,000 |
NEC (US), NVQ Level 3 (UK), DM Certification (UAE) |
US, UK, UAE |
| Plumber |
$55,000 – $90,000 |
Journeyman License (US), NVQ Level 3 (UK), DM Certification (UAE) |
US, UK, UAE |
| Heavy Equipment Operator |
$60,000 – $120,000 |
NCCER (US), CPCS (UK), NPORS (Europe), DM License (UAE) |
US, UK, Europe, UAE |
| Paramedic |
$50,000 – $110,000 |
NREMT (US), HCPC (UK), DHA (UAE), HPCS (Canada) |
US, UK, UAE, Canada |
The Highest-Paid Sports in 2025
Athlete salaries continue to skyrocket, with endorsements playing a huge role in earnings:
| Sport |
Top Player Earnings (2024-2025) |
Average Player Salary (2025) |
Notes (Sponsorships & Bonuses) |
Major Leagues & Countries |
| Soccer (Football) |
Lionel Messi – $130M+ (incl. $50M endorsements) |
$3M – $8M (Top 5 leagues) |
Saudi Pro League salaries now exceed $100M for some stars |
Premier League (UK), La Liga (Spain), Saudi Pro League |
| Basketball |
LeBron James – $120M+ (incl. $80M endorsements) |
$5M – $12M (NBA), $500K – $2M (Europe/China) |
NBA superstars make more from endorsements than salary |
NBA (US), EuroLeague (Europe), CBA (China) |
| Golf |
Jon Rahm – $200M+ (LIV contract) |
$500K – $3M (PGA Tour average) |
Top players earn more from sponsorships than winnings |
PGA Tour (US), LIV Golf (Saudi Arabia), European Tour |
| American Football (NFL) |
Patrick Mahomes – $60M+ (incl. bonuses) |
$2M – $5M (starter), $500K (rookies) |
QB contracts in NFL reach $50M+ annually |
NFL (US) |
| Formula 1 |
Max Verstappen – $60M+ (incl. $20M endorsements) |
$1M – $3M (mid-tier drivers), $500K (rookies) |
Top drivers get performance bonuses from sponsors |
F1 (Global), IndyCar (US), Formula E (Global) |
| Tennis |
Novak Djokovic – $40M+ (incl. $25M endorsements) |
$250K – $1M (ATP Top 100), $50K (lower-ranked) |
Grand Slam wins bring $3M+ per tournament |
ATP/WTA (Global), Grand Slams (US, UK, France, Australia) |
| Boxing |
Tyson Fury – $50M+ per fight |
$1M – $5M (champion level), $50K (lower ranks) |
PPV sales drive fighter payouts |
WBC, WBO, IBF, UFC (Global) |
| Cricket |
Virat Kohli – $40M+ (incl. $30M endorsements) |
$1M – $3M (IPL stars), $500K (international) |
IPL (India) offers massive short-term contracts |
IPL (India), The Ashes (UK/Australia), BBL (Australia) |
| Baseball |
Shohei Ohtani – $70M+ (incl. $50M endorsements) |
$3M – $8M (MLB), $1M (Japan) |
MLB players have large guaranteed contracts |
MLB (US), NPB (Japan), KBO (South Korea) |
| Ice Hockey |
Connor McDavid – $20M+ (incl. $5M endorsements) |
$3M – $7M (NHL), $500K (European leagues) |
Bonuses from playoff wins & endorsements |
NHL (US/Canada), KHL (Russia), SHL (Sweden) |
Related Articles & Next Steps
To dive deeper into high-paying careers, check out our specialized guides:
For real-time salary updates, visit our latest insights: 📢 Highest-Paying Jobs in January 2025
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