In this guide, we've put together everything you need to know about the highest-paying jobs for women. From job description and salary information to job outlooks, you can find them all here.
It鈥檚 already 2024, but women are still underrepresented in the highest-paying industries. Not only that, but women continue to earn less than their male counterparts.
But here's some good news鈥攖he gender pay gap is now narrower than ever. reports that young women are now out-earning men in certain US cities.
While it鈥檚 true that money isn鈥檛 everything, salary is still an important consideration for most women.
Lucky for you, we鈥檝e already rounded up the top 10 highest-paying jobs for women below. Read through our list to discover these female-dominated careers and explore the best ways to advance your career in them.
Forbes declared the healthcare industry , so it isn't surprising that physicians and surgeons are at the top of this list.
The healthcare industry used to be male-dominated. However, according to , 54.2% of doctors today are women, and only 45.8% are men.
With that said, the female-dominated medical specialties are as follows:
Obstetrics and Gynecology focuses on all health issues concerning female reproductive health鈥攆rom conception, pregnancy, and childbirth to contraception, STDs, and other reproductive problems.
Pediatrics specializes in diagnosing, treating, and delivering medical care to the younger generation (from babies to children to teenagers).
Dermatology is a specialty that concentrates on health conditions that affect the hair, nails, and skin.
Being a physician entails going to medical school, and it comes with a pre-requisite of a bachelor's degree, preferably in chemistry, biological science, or other health-related programs.
After medical school, you鈥檇 also need to pass the US Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE), finish a residency program based on your chosen specialty, and obtain your medical license.
BLS projects that the overall employment of physicians and surgeons will until 2032.
The rate varies depending on the specialization. Psychiatrists are expected to have the highest growth rate, while surgeons and pediatricians have the lowest.
According to Glassdoor, the average salary of physicians is , making it the highest-paying job for women.
The pay varies depending on your specialization, and the highest-paying medical and healthcare jobs in 2024 are Anesthesiologists, Surgeons, pediatricians, OB-gynecologists, and Internal Medicine Doctors.
It鈥檚 important to note that still exist in the healthcare sector. Studies show that male physicians earn about USD 900,000 (primary care) to USD 2.5 million (surgeons) more than their female counterparts throughout their careers.
Also called Information Technology (IT) managers or project managers, a Computer and Information Systems Manager oversees the planning, coordination, and direction of all the company's computer-related functions and activities.
They are responsible for assessing the company's digital technology needs, maintaining cybersecurity, and keeping up with the latest digital technology to keep its hardware and software up-to-date.
The IT workforce comprises and 71.5% men, so it鈥檚 a field dominated by men.
You must earn a bachelor鈥檚 degree in computer science, computer and information technology, or other computer-related programs.
Most employers in this sector require their managers to have a master's degree in business administration.
The employment of computer and information systems managers will , which is equivalent to 46,900 job openings yearly until 2032.
The estimated average pay for a Computer and Information Systems Manager is
While this industry offers a high salary for women, they are being paid less than men. Statistics show that female managers receive only for every dollar male managers earn.
Veterinarians are highly trained professionals in caring for, treating, and maintaining the health of animals, including house pets, exotic animals, livestock, and wildlife.
Aside from medical treatments and surgeries, they perform preventative services like vaccinations and health examinations.
Statistics show that women make up about , so women dominate this field.
It takes about 8 years to become a veterinarian. The steps and requirements usually include a four-year undergraduate degree and a four-year Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (VMD or DVM) degree.
Not only that, but you may also need to pass a state licensing exam to practice veterinary in most states in the US.
The need for veterinarians is expected to in the next few years. This growth is expected to generate about 20,000 job openings every year until 2032.
The estimated total pay for veterinarians is about per year.
Despite being a women-dominated sector, women veterinarians receive a lower salary than their male counterparts. According to statistics, women earned an annual salary of than men.
Physician Assistants are healthcare professionals who have received advanced training and education that allow them to provide direct patient care and perform almost the same responsibilities as a general physician.
Some of their tasks include performing health examinations, formulating treatment plans, requesting and interpreting diagnostic tests, and providing patient education.
Physician assistants work with (but not under) a supervising physician, and their responsibilities vary depending on state laws.
In 2021, there will be more women than men in this industry. Demographic information states that the sector is made up of and 33.3 % men.
The pre-requisite for admission to a PA school is an undergraduate degree in biology, chemistry, or other STEM-related fields and work experience.
After getting a master鈥檚 in PA studies from an accredited program, you need to successfully take the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE) provided by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA).
The employment for Physician Assistants will until 2032. With this growth, the industry expects to have 12,200 job openings yearly in the next few years.
A physician assistant makes around annually.
Gender wage gaps also exist in this industry, with female PAs earning only of the salary of male PAs.
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Pharmacists are healthcare professionals knowledgeable and skilled in using, storing, preserving, and dispensing medicines to patients.
In addition to filling physician prescriptions, they are also responsible for educating patients on its proper use and potential side effects.
Pharmacy is another female-dominated industry. According to Data USA, it鈥檚 comprised of and only 41% men.
To apply as a pharmacist, you must get a Doctor of Pharmacy degree (PharmD) from an accredited pharmacy program and a state licensure.
You must pass two types of exams to obtain your license鈥攖he North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX) for practical pharmacy skills and knowledge and the Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Exam (MPJE) for pharmacy law.
With only a , the pharmacy industry will grow only as fast as most occupations.
Despite this, this sector is still expected to generate about 13,400 new jobs every year until 2032.
The estimated total pay for pharmacists is around .
The pharmacy industry is one of the few sectors wherein women earn more than their male counterparts. In 2021, female pharmacists earned male pharmacists receive.
A nurse practitioner is a registered nurse with advanced training and education.
Because of this, they also perform the same duties and responsibilities as registered nurses (i.e., taking medical history and administering medication).
However, their responsibilities go beyond the regular RN work. Their tasks include providing patients with diagnostic services, treatment management, and preventive care.
Almost of the Nurse Practitioner workforce is made up of women, so there鈥檚 no doubt that you can find your spot in this industry.
In addition to the basic RN requirements (Bachelor's in Nursing degree and state licensure), you must complete either a master's or doctorate focusing on NP programs.
You'd also have to pass the Nurse Practitioner Board Certification Exam.
The future of this industry seems bright, with BLS projecting that it will grow by in the next few years.
This faster-than-average growth will equal about 29, 200 job openings by 2032.
Nurse practitioners receive an estimated average annual salary of about . On the other hand, women can earn a good salary working as registered nurses, earning a median annual wage of .
Despite the massive difference in the gender composition, there鈥檚 still a gender wage gap in this industry. According to reports, women are paid only for every dollar men earn.
Psychologists are healthcare professionals who help people navigate and manage various mental health challenges and disorders. They do this by facilitating patients in processing their emotions, feelings, and social issues through psychotherapy or talk therapy.
Currently, the psychology industry is composed of women and only 35.2% men.
The minimum requirement for getting a psychologist position in school and industrial settings is a master's degree, while a Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) is recommended for psychologists in the research, clinical, and counseling sectors.
If you're planning to build your practice, getting an is the best way to learn the ropes of the business.
The psychology industry is expected to until 2032. With this, it's expected to generate 12 800 job openings yearly in the next few years.
The estimated pay for a psychologist is per year.
In 2021, female psychologists only make for every dollar male psychologists earn.
HR Managers are the professionals responsible for planning, coordinating, and directing a company鈥檚 administrative functions.
Their main goal is to ensure that the employees will have a good working environment and the company will have the best human resources possible.
They oversee talent acquisition, promote employee education, training, and development, and formulate and revise workplace policies.
As of 2021, the HR industry is composed of and 26.6% men.
To get into the HR field, you must complete a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration or , communications, or psychology.
However, a Master's in Business Administration or MBA in labor relations or human relations is necessary for higher-paying roles.
The employment of human resources managers is expected to in the next few years.
This projection means the industry will generate about 15,500 job openings annually in the coming years.
Human Resources Managers earn an average salary of per year.
With women receiving only for every dollar men earn, the gender pay disparity in the HR industry is quite wide.
An occupational therapist is an allied health professional specializing in helping patients manage and treat the physical, social, and mental challenges that prevent them from performing their daily activities and responsibilities.
They deal with injuries and chronic disabilities that get in the way of your daily routine. These include burns, strokes, carpal tunnel syndrome, autism spectrum disorder, developmental delays, and many more.
As of 2021, of occupational therapist positions, and only 11.7% are held by men.
A Master鈥檚 in occupational therapy degree is the minimum requirement to apply as an occupational therapist. You'd also need to obtain state licensure by passing the national certification examination provided by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT).
This sector can expect to see a , which is equivalent to 9 600 annual job openings until 203.
The estimated pay for an occupational therapist is annually.
According to NarrowtheGap, women healthcare workers (which include occupational therapists) earn only about for every dollar that male healthcare workers earn.
Marketing managers organize campaigns designed to raise awareness and generate demand for their company's products and services.
Their duties include managing campaign budgets, putting together social media marketing strategies, and formulating and evaluating current campaigns.
With women making up of the marketing manager positions, this sector is another female-dominated field you should look into.
Getting into the marketing industry requires a bachelor's degree in marketing or any other business-related field.
A master's degree in business and related field and work experience will give you the edge over other candidates.
As per the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the estimated growth rate for marketing managers is around or about 34, 000 yearly job openings until 2032.
According to Glassdoor, a marketing manager earns an average annual salary of .
Although women can earn a good salary in this occupation, they are still than their male counterparts.
Aside from these jobs, other high-paying careers for women include being a Public Relations Manager, Finance Analyst, and Physical Therapist.
The highest-paying job for women in 2024 will be a physician or doctor. Doctors have an average annual salary of . The earnings in this industry may go as high as USD 355, 000 and as low as USD 195, 000.
The average salary varies depending on the specialization, but the highest-paying specializations have an annual median wage ranging from (Internal Medicine) to (Anesthesiologist).
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Since gender discrimination is still rampant in these high-paying industries, women need to have the necessary soft and hard skills to get ahead of the game.
The hard skills will vary depending on the sector you want to specialize in, but having the following soft skills is necessary if you want to stand out in any industry:
Communication
Collaboration
Empathy
Attention to detail
Confidence
Creativity
Negotiation
Emotional Intelligence
And Networking
If you wish to know if you have the skills needed to get the best paying jobs for women, .
A Bachelor's degree is a good stepping stone for most jobs. However, a master's degree in a related field or business administration will give you a competitive edge, especially for the managerial and supervisory roles.
For male-dominated occupations, like IT manager, having a doctoral degree will make you a more marketable candidate.
Leadership and management are two skills you must have regardless of your sector, especially in male-dominated fields. An advanced business degree like MBA or BBA can help you acquire these skills.
More than that, these programs will also help you become proficient in entrepreneurship, marketing, computer programming and learning, business psychology, and analysis. All these core competencies can help you rise to management levels or start your own business or practice.
Gender discrimination may still be rampant in most of the best-paying industries. Still, it doesn't erase the fact that the different sectors are more welcoming to women now than ever.
But since women need to work harder than men to land any of these high-paying occupations, it鈥檚 critical that you engage in continual learning and education.
That鈥檚 why getting a BBA, MBA or MS degree is the best way to show future employers that you can be an indispensable part of their organization. Fortunately, 色库TV offers USA-accredited online programs that can provide you with the learnings you need in the most convenient and accessible way possible.