12 Jobs Paying Over $100,000 That Are Desperately Short of Workers Right Now

White-collar hiring has cooled across corporate America, but beneath that headline, certain high-paying fields face severe shortages driven by retirement waves clearing out senior cohorts, surging demand that training pipelines never anticipated, and a trickle of new entrants that hasn't kept pace. 

For workers in their 50s looking to grow their wealth or reinvent their careers, these fields are worth a serious look.

Editor's note: All salary data is from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Airline pilot

Median annual salary: $226,600

Airline pilots fly commercial passengers and cargo on scheduled routes, managing complex aircraft systems alongside their crews.

Federal regulations require retirement at 65, and pandemic-era early retirements thinned the workforce faster than training could compensate. Entry requires 1,500 flight hours and an Airline Transport Pilot certificate.

Air traffic controller

Median annual salary: $144,580

Air traffic controllers issue clearances and monitor radar to keep aircraft safely separated at airports and en-route facilities.

The FAA mandates retirement at 56, among the lowest in any federal career, and the agency has operated understaffed for years. Most positions require an associate's degree or equivalent experience, followed by FAA Academy training.

Financial manager

Median annual salary: $161,700

Financial managers direct investment activity, prepare financial reports, and lead accounting teams. CFOs, controllers, and treasurers all fall under this category.

Baby boomer financial executives are retiring en masse, and the replacement pipeline hasn't kept pace. A finance or accounting degree is the standard entry point; CPA or CFA credentials accelerate advancement significantly.

Pharmacist

Median annual salary: $137,480

Pharmacists dispense medications, counsel patients on drug interactions, and increasingly deliver clinical services such as immunizations and chronic disease management.

Rural communities are hardest hit, with entire counties losing pharmacy access as burnout drives experienced pharmacists out of the field. A Doctor of Pharmacy degree is required for licensure.

Physician assistant

Median annual salary: $133,260

Physician assistants diagnose illnesses, develop treatment plans, and prescribe medications, working alongside physicians in hospitals, clinics, and specialist offices.

Demand is surging as health care systems rely on PAs to fill gaps left by physician shortages, especially in rural and underserved areas. Entry requires a master's degree and passage of the national certifying exam.

Advanced practice registered nurse

Median annual salary: $132,050

Advanced practice registered nurses provide high-level clinical care, diagnosing conditions and prescribing medications, often serving independently in underserved communities.

An aging population and deepening physician shortages are driving sustained demand. The path requires an RN license followed by a master's or doctoral degree in a specialty.

Veterinarian

Median annual salary: $125,510

Veterinarians diagnose and treat animal diseases and injuries across private practices, research facilities, and government agencies. The shortage is sharpest in rural areas serving livestock and food-producing animals.

Federal programs subsidize tuition in exchange for rural service commitments because the training pipeline has never met demand. A Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree is required.

Actuary

Median annual salary: $125,770

Actuaries use mathematics and statistical modeling to assess financial risk for insurers, pension funds, and government agencies.

As climate losses mount and cybersecurity exposures grow, demand for risk modeling has risen sharply. A math or statistics degree is the entry point; most employers hire candidates before finishing all exams and sponsor them through.

Construction manager

Median annual salary: $106,980

Construction managers oversee building projects from site preparation through completion, coordinating subcontractors, budgets, timelines, and safety compliance.

Federal infrastructure spending has intensified a shortage already driven by an aging tradesperson workforce. A four-year degree is one path in, but many managers rise from the trades; experience often substitutes for a diploma.

Elevator installer and repairer

Median annual salary: $106,580

Elevator installers and repairers assemble, maintain, and troubleshoot elevators, escalators, and moving walkways in commercial and residential buildings.

No four-year degree is required. Entry is through a four- to five-year apprenticeship, which limits how many new workers enter the field each year and keeps the shortage persistent.

Power plant operator

Median annual salary: $103,600

Power plant operators monitor and control the machinery that generates electricity, adjusting equipment to maintain safe and efficient output.

A nuclear energy revival is underway, with new reactor projects in development for the first time in decades. No degree is required; most operators train on the job, and utilities actively recruit veterans.

Radiation therapist

Median annual salary: $101,990

Radiation therapists administer prescribed doses of radiation to cancer patients, operating specialized equipment and monitoring reactions throughout each session.

Rising cancer rates have increased demand steadily, but accredited training programs are limited in number and capacity. Most positions require an associate's or bachelor's degree in radiation therapy, followed by state licensure and certification.

Bottom line

Several of these roles don't require a four-year degree, including elevator installation, power plant operations, and air traffic control. For those in their 50s, the leverage sits with workers right now: These fields are actively competing for qualified people. Exploring smart moves for seniors alongside a job search could help make the transition smoother.