High-Paying Careers for Women

Although the focus around women's paychecks tends to be centered on how they match up to those of men, there are also discrepancies between what women in different careers make compared to one another.

CEO

Chief executives plan, coordinate, and oversee a company's operations. They work to ensure that their companies meet their goals. Chief executives work in a variety of public- and private-sector industries.

Although they typically earn the highest salary of all management positions, they also work extremely long hours and are essentially responsible for the success of their companies.

Female chief executives earn a median annual income of $90,272.

Pharmacist

Pharmacists manage and dispense medications to patients who have received a prescription from their doctors. Pharmacists also offer advice on medication usage.

While most pharmacists work in grocery and drugstore pharmacies, others are employed in hospitals or in clinical settings.

Pharmacists must possess a Doctor of Pharmacy degree and must be licensed. Pharmacists can obtain licensure by passing two professional exams.

Women pharmacists make a median income of $98,280 per year.

Nurse Practitioner

Nurse practitioners coordinate patient care. Working independently or in collaboration with physicians, nurse practitioners provide either primary or specialty health care. They are also referred to as advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) and must have at least a master's degree in the field and a state license.

Women nurse practitioners earn a median annual income of $98,332.

Computer and Information Systems Manager

Computer and information systems managers—also known as information technology managers—devise, coordinate, implement, and analyze computer-related projects.

Their responsibilities may involve direct work in both software and hardware, web design database development, as well as the overarching job of designing a company's IT approaches and strategies.

Most IT managers possess a bachelor's degree in a related field, although many possess more specific graduate degrees.

Female IT managers earn a median annual income of $89,804.

Lawyer

Lawyers counsel and represent individual clients, businesses, non-profits, or government organizations on legal issues or in legal disputes. Becoming a lawyer requires a four-year bachelor's degree and three years of law school training.

In order to work professionally in the United States, lawyers must take and pass their state's bar examination.

Female attorneys earn a median annual income of $91,624.

Software Developer

Software developers create and help devise computer programs. They do everything from analyzing users' needs to designing applications and helping write code to improve existing software. This field is projected to grow quickly over the next few years. The Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts 22% growth between 2019 and 2029. That’s much faster than average.

Women software developers earn a median annual income of $85,488.

Physician Assistants

Physician Assistants (PAs) assess the medical status of patients, diagnose illnesses/injuries, and recommend treatments. They work in hospitals, healthcare facilities, and group medical practices. PAs consult with physicians and refer complex cases to physicians, surgeons, and specialists.

Female PAs earn a median annual income of $85,592.

Physician

Physicians examine patients, diagnose medical conditions, prescribe medications, and devise treatment plans. There are over 100 different specialties and subspecialties for physicians, including family physician, internal medicine, pediatrician, OB/GYN, and surgeon.

Women physicians earn a median annual income of greater than $87,204, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Engineer

Engineers design, modify and repair chemical, electrical, computer, mechanical, and other physical structures. They specialize in areas like civil, mechanical, computer, electrical, and chemical engineering.​

Earnings vary according to the engineering discipline, but median salaries often approach or exceed six figures. For example, chemical engineers earn a median annual salary of $96,616.1

The median annual income for a woman engineer, in general, is $65,468.

Human Resources Manager

Human resources managers are responsible for recruiting, interviewing, and hiring new members of a company's employee team.

In addition, they may be involved in other aspects of employee relations, including payroll, benefits, and training. Human resources workers must also be equipped to handle workplace conflict and be ready to resolve disputes.

Women human resources managers earn a median annual income of $69,160.