Uncovering six high-paying remote roles predicted to exceed $186,000 annually by 2025.
Did you catch that figure right? $186,000, you ask? Yep, that's no typo. According to a recent poll by Bankrate, that's the average annual income Americans believe they need to feel financially comfortable. The survey dug into the sentiments of various American worker demographics, ranging from Gen Z to Gen X, Black Americans, Hispanics, Westerners, and everyone in between, even those earning under $50,000 or over $100,000.
The findings were striking. To live comfortably, Americans think they need to earn more than half a million dollars, while $186,000 per year was necessary just to feel financially comfortable.
Interestingly, the survey showed that the more a person makes, the more they believe they need to earn. It also pointed out that Gen Zers and Black Americans have set the highest ceiling for what they think they need to earn to live comfortably, at $200,000 and $282,000, respectively.
Although these salary goals may seem staggering, Bankrate advised putting these salary aspirations into perspective considering inflation and the cost of living crisis. According to the report, a salary of $186,000 has the same purchasing power as:
- $48,444 in 1980
- $76,516 in 1990
- $101,567 in 2000
- $129,211 in 2010
So, it's no shock that the 'comfortable salary' line is moving higher for U.S. professionals. The question then becomes, what jobs or career paths could realistically allow someone to earn $186,000 or more by 2025?
7 Remote Jobs That Pay $186,000+ in 2025
The roles listed below not only pay above $186,000 on average in the United States but also are popular remote jobs based on research from Ladders (a job board for lucrative jobs paying over $100,000) and the World Economic Forum. They fall within the most popular categories for high-paying remote jobs:
- Telephysician – average salary range: $180,960 - $268,320
- Psychiatrist – average salary range: $242,206 - $296,048
- Chief Information Officer – average salary range: $299,914 - $411,352
- Finance director – average salary range: $139,151 - $264,648
- Head of product management – average salary range: $238,177 - $361,591
- VP (vice president) of marketing – average salary range: $189,015 - $294,835
- Project director – average salary range: $162,097 - $198,059
If you examine the list of high-paying remote jobs above, you'll find they have two commonalities: they are either highly specialized or in senior leadership and management roles.
This suggests two paths for career growth: either work your way up the ranks into leadership and management, or focus on advancing your career to become an expert or specialist in your field unless you want to avoid people management responsibility. This enables you to hone your skills and focus on what you're passionate about. Additionally, you can further your professional development through taking courses or pursuing a master's degree. By investing in your professional growth, you'll position yourself for higher-paying remote job opportunities, even if they don't involve management.
These jobs highlight that if you dedicate yourself to your craft and are dedicated to your profession, especially in technical, business management, or medical roles, you can achieve a salary of $186,000 or more, and enjoy financial comfort and stability.
Given the text's discussion of high-paying remote jobs and the importance of leadership and specialization for career advancement, here are two sentences containing the words 'leadership' and 'careers':
In order to secure a high-paying remote job, such as those listed in the article, it may be beneficial to focus on developing strong leadership skills and advancing in your field. Pursuing a career path in highly specialized areas, such as technology, business management, or healthcare, can increase your earning potential and ultimately lead to a leadership role with a salary of $186,000 or more.
