Highest salaries require degrees, in-person work: Ladders study
NEW YORK, UNITED STATES — Landing a job paying over $200,000 annually requires advanced degrees and in-person work, according to new research from career site Ladders.
The High Paying Jobs Competition Index reveals a sharp decline in the availability of high-paid remote positions in the United States. In the last quarter of 2023, only 12% of jobs offering salaries of $200,000 or more were advertised as remote, a significant drop from 37% in the third quarter of 2022.
“Applicants increasingly have to choose between going with the biggest paycheck or getting to stay home,” said John Mullinix, Ladders’ Director of Marketing.
A Resume Builder survey previously found that remote employees are 24% less likely to get promotions and raises compared to in-office staff, though they report greater job satisfaction. Dell Technologies now bars fully remote workers from promotions or role changes.
While some companies emphasize skills over degrees, Ladders’ data indicates the most lucrative positions still mandate advanced education.
The highest paying roles were concentrated in healthcare and required extensive schooling, with the top five being medical professions like family practitioners, dentists, and physicians.
“It makes sense that many of the highest-paying jobs have these requirements. Obviously, your dentist will have advanced schooling and won’t be able to fill your cavity remotely,” Mullinix explained.
— The Ladders (@LaddersHQ) February 22, 2024
The study also analyzed competition levels, finding healthcare had the least competition for high-paying openings due to workforce shortages. In contrast, marketing, media, and design faced the fiercest competition.
“Considering America’s aging population and increasing need for medical professionals, I expect healthcare will remain a top high-paying job for decades to come,” Mullinix noted.
Nurse practitioner roles topped the U.S. News & World Report 2024 Best Jobs rankings, reflecting strong demand and high salaries in healthcare roles.
On the other hand, Payscale and Everee surveys revealed that employees in this industry are dissatisfied and planning to quit due to stressful work conditions and inflexible return-to-office policies.
Despite Ladders’ data, the World Economic Forum projects a 25% increase in digital jobs by 2030, coming to around 92 million globally. An economist also predicted that current rates of remote and hybrid work would remain consistent over the next five years.
