Top 5 highest paying jobs in USA for international students in 2025

The USA is one of the top study destinations for the international student cohort, and this cohort contributed around US$ 44 billion to the local economy in 2023-24 and 378,175 jobs as per the additional analysis done by NAFSA. This number is increasing every year, and the reasoning is quite obvious: the US market offers one of the highest salaries in the world. It offers an extensive and vibrant professional network, which can open doors to a multitude of job options. How can we forget that every single giant firm belongs to US soil, such as Google, Apple, and Microsoft? The USA has amazing economic stability and a robust startup environment, where Silicon Valley leads the world in tech entrepreneurship. After pursuing studies in the USA, the student can apply for OPT, i.e., optional practical training that allows international students to work in the USA after completion of the program. The duration of the OPT is 12 months, but for STEM-related programs, the OPT can be granted for an additional 24 months.

The USA is topping the chart when it comes to the largest economies in the world, with US$29.17 trillion as per the IMF. It is so vast and stable that the US offers jobs in every single sector. It is the home of innovation, artificial intelligence, healthcare, and manufacturing. As mentioned above, it offers one of the best salary packages in the world, yet let’s try to understand the top 5 highest-paying jobs in the US.

Top 5 highest paying jobs in the USA

• Investment Bankers
• Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Engineers
• Surgeons
• Pilots
• IT Directors

1. Investment Bankers

Average Salary: US$170,000

Educational Requirements: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Investment Banking, with which major that includes Finance, Economics, Mathematics, Accounting, etc.

Reasoning:It would be no surprise that the USA is one of the largest financial markets in the world, and the economy of the USA is also booming. There are many factors that make the investment banking role competitive and put it on the list of high-paying jobs.

• Financial Centre of the World: Wall Street, the trading centre of the world’s largest economy, not only impacts US soil but also across the globe. On that street every day, the movement of trillions of dollars takes place. The New York Stock Exchange plus NASDAQ manage the highest trade volumes. The largest concentration of venture capitalists, hedge funds, and private equity firms that need investment banking services is found in the USA.
• Largest and Strongest Economy: The USA has the largest economy of the world by nominal gross domestic product and is the second largest by purchasing power parity. It is also home to plenty of Fortune 500 firms. These firms require investment banking services on a continuous basis for mergers & acquisitions, raising capital, financial restructuring, etc.
• Complexity in Financial Markets: One of the most advanced financial systems in the world is found in the USA, which calls for knowledgeable investment bankers to take care of stock markets and initial public offerings for especially new companies to go public every year, risk management and restructuring, etc.
• Plenty of Mergers and Acquisitions: The USA accounts for more than half of the global mergers and acquisitions. In this era of competition, every single firm is looking to expand, and investment bankers take this opportunity to identify targets, assess the value of acquisitions, negotiate the terms, and make the transaction easier.
  

2. Artificial intelligence and machine learning engineers

Average Salary: US$150,000

Educational Requirements: Bachelor’s or Master degree in computer science with a focus on AI or machine learning

Reasoning: It is the era of artificial intelligence, and every single nation is working hard to automate as many things as possible, plus we all know how robust the USA is with AI technology and advancement. There are lots of key factors that make AI and ML engineers’ jobs highly lucrative.

• World leader in technology and artificial intelligence: We are all aware that the US is a world leader in artificial intelligence and technology. There are so many companies that have their headquarters in the USA or are based on US soil. These firms or AI research labs are pushing the boundaries in the field of AI innovation. Some of the reputed names of giant AI companies are Google (Deepmind), OpenAI ( ChatGPT), Meta, Microsoft, etc. Every company is working very hard to recruit experienced or well-deserved engineers who can help them in building or designing AI models that are capable of carrying out tasks that usually require human intelligence.
• AI is everywhere. In the era of digitisation, AI is not limited to any single sector; it is omnipresent, such as in automotive, cybersecurity, e-commerce, healthcare, etc. There is a very famous example of AI: self-driving cars by Tesla and Waymo (formerly known as the Google self-driving car project).
• Growth of AI-Powered Decision Making and Big Data: Businesses require AI & ML experts to process, analyse, and extract meaningful insights from the vast amounts of data that are generated every second. Firms rely heavily on AI to analyse business performance, market current and expected trends, plus customer behaviour.
• Scarcity of real talent: The one thing that makes AI and ML engineers’ job profiles expensive is that, despite there being rapid growth in AI and technology, the USA is facing a scarcity when it comes to real AI and ML engineers. The demand is far ahead of the supply of engineers. This is the reason AI and ML engineers can even start with their package of US$ 150,000.

3. Surgeons

Average Salary: US$220,000

Educational Requirements: Bachelor’s degree, preferably in science. Appear for the MCAT exam, then attend medical school + residency/fellowship training

Reasoning: Doctors and surgeons are the backbone of healthcare. Surgeons is also one of the high-paying jobs in the USA due to several factors, such as:

• High responsibility and skills: Surgeons carry out complex operations that call for accuracy, prompt judgement, and in-depth medical knowledge, plus their ability to work under pressure. They have a huge responsibility for someone’s life; one small mistake would have serious consequences. Their job has a significant impact on patients and their families, whether they are performing life-saving heart surgery, removing a tumour, or repairing a broken bone.
• Increasing chronic disease: The number of chronic diseases, such as cancer, diabetes, hepatitis, arthritis, and stroke, is increasing rapidly. With the help of surgical interventions, they can manage, improve, or eliminate certain conditions. For example, in Crohn’s disease, surgeons do not cure the disease but remove damaged parts of the intestine, which can reduce symptoms.
• Comprehensive training and education: It takes a decade for a candidate to become a surgeon. It starts with a bachelor’s degree in science, then four years of study in medical school, and after that, 3-6+ years of residency training are required. This lengthy educational process and expensive fee structure are factors in the high salary.
• Scarcity of medical experts: Since it is a high-pressure and huge-responsibility job, most of the medical experts take early retirement, which increases the gap between demand and available experts. The US is already facing a scarcity of medical experts due to long training and education, plus the complexity of the work. These factors make it unique and put it on the list of high-paying jobs.
  

4. Pilots

Average Salary: US$200,000

Educational Requirements: High school graduate or GED, private pilot license, or commercial pilot license

Reasoning: The aviation industry is booming, and the flight experience is becoming more accessible in this era of technology to most people. Air travel demand has surged after COVID-19, with both domestic and international travel. There are certain factors that make pilot jobs high-paying pay cheque.

• Rigorous training, education, and hefty fee structure: The expense of training to become a pilot is expensive; the flying schools charge a hefty amount ranging between $90,000 and $170,000. To become a commercial airline pilot, you need a private pilot licence, a commercial pilot licence, and an airline transport licence.
• High responsibility and skills: We would agree that the pilot uniform and cap look cool, but it is a job full of responsibility and a high level of skills; hundreds of lives on the board solely depending on the pilot’s decision-making. A pilot job requires extensive training and extraordinary problem-solving skills. There is also no particular shift timing; they work irregular schedules. They spend most of the time in the air and away from home.
• Demand and supply are not matching: As mentioned above, the aviation industry is booming, and plenty of senior pilots are retiring. Airlines are offering very high salaries to attract new talent. Since a pilot job profile requires extensive knowledge and training, the scarcity of professional pilots would increase, and the consequences would be the same: pilot roles would be in high demand.
  

5. IT Directors

Average Salary: US$200,000

Educational Requirements: Bachelor’s or master’s degree in computer science, information technology or computer information systems

Reasoning: The United States has become a global centre for technology, and IT plays a crucial role in promoting innovation, economic growth, and international competitiveness. It is home to tech giants such as Amazon, Google, Meta, etc.; it has an amazing tech ecosystem and Silicon Valley. Whether it is a start-up or a well-reputed firm, it requires IT directors, as they play an important role in managing a firm’s technology strategy.

• Strong Need for Technological Management – Businesses benefit from technology because it keeps their systems efficient and well-organised. Additionally, it shields private information from hackers and online dangers. In addition to that, firms use technology to make new products, improve current products, and stay ahead in the market. it is the duty of the IT directors to make sure that the system runs smoothly and securely, plus to reduce downtime and risks.
• Data security – IT directors use robust firewalls, encryption, and security procedures to shield firm data from hackers and cyberthreats. To identify and stop such cyberattacks, they routinely monitor networks. They assist companies in avoiding fines by ensuring adherence to data protection regulations such as the CCPA and GDPR. To lower the chance of data breaches, they also train staff members on cybersecurity best practices. Their proactive strategy preserves client trust and protects company information.
• Cost control and budgeting – To make sure organisations run smoothly, IT directors allot funds for software investments and IT projects. To invest in the newest technology while minimising needless costs, they meticulously arrange their budgets. They assist businesses in being competitive without going over budget by striking a balance between cost effectiveness and the adoption of cutting-edge technologies. In order to obtain the greatest prices on hardware and software solutions, they frequently bargain with suppliers. They keep IT operations within budget while maximising value through strategic financial decisions.
• Overseeing Big Teams & Budgets – When it comes to overseeing significant technology expenditures and strategic initiatives, IT directors are essential. They oversee IT departments to make sure staff members have the resources, support, and systems they need to do their jobs well. In the digital age, their leadership keeps companies safe, creative, and competitive.

There are some other job profiles also which pay amazingly well, such as CEO, CFO of the company, software engineer, dentists, petroleum engineer, electrical engineer, risk manager, lawyer, etc. So now more waiting, as you know the code now.

Happy Learning