Updated May 2026 · BLS OEWS 2025 reference period
Jobs Paying $50K to $75K a Year (2026)
12 U.S. occupations have a national median salary $50k to $75k based on Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS 2025 data, employing roughly 3,993,390 workers. The highest-paying role in this band is Secondary School Teacher ($74,502 median); the lowest is Automotive Technician ($54,808). Pay varies significantly by metro — top-paying cities can run 30–60% above the listed median for high-skill occupations.
These are the 12 BLS-tracked occupations with national median salaries between $50,000 and $75,000 — the accessible middle range of the U.S. labor market. The list includes early-career professionals, technicians, healthcare-support roles, and many service-sector specialties.
$50K–$75K is the entry tier for many bachelor's-degree professionals and the journeyman tier for many skilled-trade and technician roles. In lower-cost metros, this band can offer comfortable middle-class purchasing power; in high-cost coastal cities, it requires careful housing budgeting.
Top 10 $50K to $75K Jobs
National median $74,502 · 619,840 jobs nationally · top metro: San Jose ($108,230)
Secondary School Teachers earn $74,502 median nationally. Pay typically scales with experience and metro — top-paying metros for this role can pay 45% above the national median.
National median $72,327 · 194,140 jobs nationally · top metro: San Jose ($117,620)
Public Relations Specialists earn $72,327 median nationally. Pay typically scales with experience and metro — top-paying metros for this role can pay 63% above the national median.
National median $71,823 · 20,850 jobs nationally · top metro: San Jose ($118,810)
Writer/Authors earn $71,823 median nationally. Pay typically scales with experience and metro — top-paying metros for this role can pay 65% above the national median.
National median $71,661 · 807,710 jobs nationally · top metro: Sacramento ($103,390)
Elementary School Teachers earn $71,661 median nationally. Pay typically scales with experience and metro — top-paying metros for this role can pay 44% above the national median.
National median $69,663 · 282,530 jobs nationally · top metro: San Jose ($107,560)
Plumbers earn $69,663 median nationally. Pay typically scales with experience and metro — top-paying metros for this role can pay 54% above the national median.
National median $69,189 · 459,620 jobs nationally · top metro: Portland ($105,090)
Electricians earn $69,189 median nationally. Pay typically scales with experience and metro — top-paying metros for this role can pay 52% above the national median.
National median $64,170 · 286,300 jobs nationally · top metro: San Jose ($99,250)
Paralegals earn $64,170 median nationally. Pay typically scales with experience and metro — top-paying metros for this role can pay 55% above the national median.
National median $63,888 · 130,670 jobs nationally · top metro: San Jose ($97,360)
Graphic Designers earn $63,888 median nationally. Pay typically scales with experience and metro — top-paying metros for this role can pay 52% above the national median.
National median $63,789 · 204,150 jobs nationally · top metro: New York ($96,930)
Clinical Laboratory Technologists earn $63,789 median nationally. Pay typically scales with experience and metro — top-paying metros for this role can pay 52% above the national median.
National median $60,398 · 407,300 jobs nationally · top metro: San Francisco ($89,200)
Carpenters earn $60,398 median nationally. Pay typically scales with experience and metro — top-paying metros for this role can pay 48% above the national median.
Full Ranking (12 Occupations)
| Rank | Role | Category | Median Salary | Top Metro | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Secondary School Teacher | Education | $74,502 | San Jose | 619,840 |
| 2 | Public Relations Specialist | Creative | $72,327 | San Jose | 194,140 |
| 3 | Writer/Author | Creative | $71,823 | San Jose | 20,850 |
| 4 | Elementary School Teacher | Education | $71,661 | Sacramento | 807,710 |
| 5 | Plumber | Trades | $69,663 | San Jose | 282,530 |
| 6 | Electrician | Trades | $69,189 | Portland | 459,620 |
| 7 | Paralegal | Legal | $64,170 | San Jose | 286,300 |
| 8 | Graphic Designer | Creative | $63,888 | San Jose | 130,670 |
| 9 | Clinical Laboratory Technologist | Healthcare | $63,789 | New York | 204,150 |
| 10 | Carpenter | Trades | $60,398 | San Francisco | 407,300 |
| 11 | Welder | Trades | $56,053 | Hartford | 181,670 |
| 12 | Automotive Technician | Trades | $54,808 | San Jose | 398,610 |
Education and Credentials Required
This band is especially mixed in education requirements. Many roles are accessible without a four-year degree (technicians, paralegals, mid-tier administrative roles). Where bachelor's degrees are required, the roles are usually in education, social services, or early-career business and creative fields.
How to Use This List
The figures above are national medians. Actual pay varies by metro area, employer size, and individual experience and credentials. For role-specific city data, click any occupation to see the full BLS percentile breakdown by metro. For pay benchmarking against your own offer, the salary percentile calculator places any number you enter into the BLS distribution.
For reaching this pay band, the practical path differs by occupation. Healthcare specialist roles in higher pay bands require specific licensure that takes years; technology roles often require demonstrated specialization plus a track record at well-paying employers; management roles require time-in-role plus willingness to take on scope. Each role page covers the typical credential and experience profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
12 BLS-tracked occupations have a national median salary $50k to $75k as of 2026 (BLS OEWS 2025 reference period). Total employment across these occupations is approximately 3,993,390 workers. The figures are base wages — bonus, equity, and other compensation are excluded.
The highest-paying role with a median $50k to $75k is Secondary School Teacher at $74,502. Top-paying metros for this role can pay materially more — see San Jose, CA ($108,230).
The figures listed are raw BLS national medians (employment-weighted across metros). Actual purchasing power depends on local cost of living — a salary in San Francisco or New York buys materially less than the same number in a low-cost metro. Each role page on this site shows COL-adjusted pay for every BLS-tracked metro.
This band is especially mixed in education requirements. Many roles are accessible without a four-year degree (technicians, paralegals, mid-tier administrative roles). Where bachelor's degrees are required, the roles are usually in education, social services, or early-career business and creative fields.
Every wage figure comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program at bls.gov/oes — public domain federal survey data covering about 1.2 million U.S. employers across all industries. The OEWS publishes annual percentile wages by occupation and metropolitan area; the figures on this page are national medians employment-weighted across all BLS-tracked metros.
Related Pages
National medians are employment-weighted across BLS-tracked metros, using OEWS 2025 data. Roles sorted by national median salary.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2026.