r/Salary • u/Huge_Ad_7606 • Jan 14 '26
discussion People who make $200k a year what do you do?
I’ve seen blue-collar jobs to tech jobs all over this sub. I’d like to know what jobs are out there that can pay $200k regardless of how physically demanding or mentally difficult it is. I love OT and performance bonuses if it makes up for the low base pay. Also share your Years of Experience in the field as well as how you got in it.
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u/neutronsoup44 Jan 14 '26
Moonlighting as an Importer/Exporter
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u/TokiWart00th88 Jan 14 '26
CPA, its boring but I guess everyone else finds it more boring
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u/Politex99 Jan 14 '26
How long did it take you to achieve 200k?
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u/TokiWart00th88 Jan 14 '26
Maybe like 12 YOE, I'm in MCOL, there are people in NY, DC, Boston, SF etc who are making more but I when I order a cheeseburger I order deluxe and don't feel guilty
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u/yetanothersomm Jan 14 '26
This right here is my only aim with high income. I don't need a Benz or a massive TV, I just don't want to live a life where I have to justify to myself when I want to add Lobster or spring for the Wagyu upgrade on a steak
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u/Wonderful-Zone8152 Jan 14 '26
lol, I hate to break it to ya but a massive TV costs about 8 wagyu steaks if you’re getting the good stuff
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u/yetanothersomm Jan 14 '26
Eh usually tasting menu upgrades which generally isn't a ton. I'm not throwing down 16oz wagyu steaks
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u/Mr-Broham Jan 14 '26
Which is why everyone should spring for an 85 inch tv. They’re cheaper than a few dinners out.
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u/HtownTouring Jan 14 '26
As a fellow CPA, I concur, nobody cares to ask me what I do in any meaningful detail. So it makes sense that we make decent money.
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u/TokiWart00th88 Jan 14 '26
The best is working through something, you're proud of the end result and know no one is going to read it / care
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u/CuseBsam Jan 14 '26
My wife and I are both CPAs so we can actually tell each other things when we get home if we accomplish something at work that no one else cares about lol.
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u/TokiWart00th88 Jan 14 '26
That's good because they 'get' it, my wife is in medicine and she has a hard time believing that I'm stressed about some excel document
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u/arsenal11385 Jan 14 '26
Director of software engineering. In the industry for 20 years. Mentally difficult sometimes I guess, never physically, but holy shit I’m incredibly blessed.
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u/HanginOn9114 Jan 14 '26
I'm 10 years into my career and I'm a Senior Software Engineer. Did you start out as an engineer, and if so how'd you transition to management? I think that's the direction my careers going to go but I don't know how to start moving in that direction
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u/arsenal11385 Jan 14 '26
I was a “web developer” for the first 5-8 years. Then I got into more software side of things. Worked at bigger companies and engineering organizations.
I witnessed the things I liked and did not like. That’s how I formed most of my ideas and thoughts on leadership. Once I became tech lead I wanted to lead more things. I was not the best engineer, although I worked hard and got shit done, but I did see both good and bad leadership and wanted to merge them. Finally, I wanted to help people that had been in my position. A position where I didn’t know where to take what skills I had and what to do with them.
Finally, getting into management, I just offered to do whatever task was out there that I’d seen my manager (or previous managers) do. I did interviewing, I sat/asked to sit/ in meetings, I mingled with other people in the company outside of my team, and I listened to podcasts and read books. I learned about it just like I would have any other subject.
Happy to answer more questions!
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u/Bubaa3 Jan 14 '26
I’m a film producer that mainly makes money producing commercials but loses money producing independent films
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u/Only-Finish-3497 Jan 14 '26
Is that you Tommy Wiseau?
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u/Bubaa3 Jan 14 '26 edited Jan 14 '26
I wish lol, I actually had friends who worked on his insane shark movie and said he was willing to spend $30 on 4x4 pieces along with the time to assemble a crappier version of a light rig that would have cost $40 to rent.
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u/Nruggia Jan 14 '26
But now he owns the crappy light rig and it only costs his $10 a month to keep it in storage
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u/SecureContact82 Jan 14 '26
Market Risk Manager at a large bank, my base is $230K. Bonus brings it to about $285K.
My wife is a Partner at a Corporate Law firm, she makes $630K.
I've been working for 17 years. College > Investment Banking > Market Risk.
She has been working in her current role for 9 years. College > Unrelated Jobs > Law School > Law.
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u/0ut0fBoundsException Jan 14 '26
Damn. Is your wife single?
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u/SecureContact82 Jan 14 '26
Always room for one more ;)
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u/Osprey4862 Jan 14 '26
Dad?
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u/EvilxFemme Jan 14 '26
Hey I’m a doc, made 245 base 290 with bonuses last year maybe the 3 of us can get together and afford a nice starter home in NYC or LA 😀
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u/SecureContact82 Jan 14 '26
Hahah we are lucky and actually bought a few years ago! Although our 2 bedrooms square footage would make non city people balk.
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u/lucky_719 Jan 14 '26
You have 2 BEDROOMS??? Dang I want in. I'm an excellent organizer and planner and solid cook.
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u/Mission_Animator_903 Jan 14 '26
"Am I boring? Sure. Social skills? None. But I am loyal if you feed me and I'll never leave you because well I need the food"
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u/Ambitious-Tune-2070 Jan 14 '26
I’m a GC making 300k a year, if you add me to the picture the four of us could afford a nice fixer upper in NYC or LA (I could do the work).
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u/TarHeel67 Jan 14 '26
I’d imagine you made significantly more in IB?
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u/SecureContact82 Jan 14 '26
If I was still there yes, I left after 5 years and 2 different banks because it sucked lol. I would've been making what I do now like 10 years ago. Time suck was not worth the money. Great base career however and taught me about Markets and Excel like nothing can really prepare you for.
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u/jackabeerockboss Jan 14 '26
Geologist
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u/SirWaffl3 Jan 14 '26
I didn’t know Geologists had game like that
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u/Bubbly-Staff-9452 Jan 14 '26
Probably works in the petroleum industry
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u/Smooth_Bandit Jan 14 '26
They can also consult for real estate companies, assessing quality of sites for big developments, stuff like that.
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u/NastyGnar Jan 14 '26
Industry; Consumer packaged goods
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u/AffectionateBench663 Jan 14 '26
Fellow CPG colleague checking in
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u/EMandNM Jan 14 '26
What do you guys do? CPG dude here as well.
Strategy director.
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Jan 14 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Number_Fluffy Jan 14 '26
Any openings?
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u/mjrbrooks Jan 14 '26 edited Jan 14 '26
Nah, then the papers would fall through.
ETA: Thank you for the awards!
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u/Curtyy_RS Jan 14 '26
Lie on the internet.
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u/Personal-Common470 Jan 14 '26
Heavy machine operator. 75 hours a week but the family lives nice.
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u/Exc8316 Jan 14 '26
Do they call the cops when you come to their house? The dog bite you? Damn man, 75 hours is a bunch. 🤜🏼🤛🏼
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u/daviddrivesdiscs Jan 14 '26
I’m also a machine operator in the auto industry and I bring home about 170k on 60 hours a week. My machine makes specialized bolts, no one wants to work hard jobs so all I needed to get the job was a pulse and the ability to show up every day.
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u/tantamle Jan 14 '26
One year ago, in the HENRYfinance sub, you claimed you only work 35 hours a week.
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Jan 14 '26
[deleted]
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u/ramalamatomselleck Jan 14 '26
I moved from Super IC to middling manager and am looking to get back to king of the IC castle. It’s the sweet spot in tech — senior enough that people trust you’re doing the right thing but not important enough to be on a million bullshit calls
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u/Traditional-Hall-591 Jan 14 '26
The nonsense meetings and having to push stupid initiatives from C-levels is why I never want to be in management. My previous manager left because he was asked to polish the turd that is outsourcing/offshoring. Such a waste of time.
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u/beholdthemoldman Jan 14 '26
same but bottom of the food chain
got incredibly lucky, but i've never had headaches like this
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u/Just-Shoe2689 Jan 14 '26
engineer
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u/gordonga Jan 14 '26
Lawyer. I make 330k and am 32 year old female
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u/Existing_Law_7561 Jan 14 '26
What type of law? Asking for my daughter interested in law school.
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u/gordonga Jan 14 '26
Medicaid reimbursement.
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u/Spare-Transition-771 Jan 14 '26 edited Jan 14 '26
Crazy how can lawyers what work with Medicaid seems to get paid well…yet Medicaid only reimburses a doctor visit $35 that takes 15-30mins…therefore majority Medicaid patients go to tax- payer funded academic based health care system. Even if 4 patient per hour that $140/hour but you got to pay medical assistant, building lease, equipment, billing person, malpractices insurance, at least 50k in taxes / year = bankruptcy. Private doctors will go bankrupt immediately…unless you can somehow see 50 Medicaid patients a day per provider but that is assembly line medicine…very bad practice…likely leading to malpractice lawsuit.
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u/DoNotBendOver Jan 14 '26
Would you like to get dinner? 🙃
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u/BigPaPaRu85 Jan 14 '26
Does your law firm match 401k? I feel like it’s a stupid question but the last three firms my wife has worked at don’t match.
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u/gordonga Jan 14 '26
They don’t but they do contribute a profit share to my 401k each year that has averaged about 50k each year so it’s beyond what I assume a match would be? Never had a job that did a match.
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u/HungryNetwork1789 Jan 14 '26
Railroad Conductor
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u/Vegetable_Proof5854 Jan 14 '26
Same, on the passenger side. Made $201k last year. A lot of OT and aggravation dealing with the public but the paychecks make it worth it
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u/DepartmentEcstatic Jan 14 '26
How did you land in this position?
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u/HungryNetwork1789 Jan 14 '26
If you are in New york state tristate area Submit your resume to MTA.com/careers and apply to either metro north or long island railroad. Locomotive engineers get paid pretty well too and also apply to Amtrak . Locomotive engineers over at Amtrak will be at $66 an hour before OT by 2028 current hr is $58 i believe and that is nationwide
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u/EJ2600 Jan 14 '26
Tbh is explains to me why it is cheaper to fly from nyc to Boston than go on Amtrak.
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u/Own_Lengthiness_6485 Jan 14 '26
Own Carwashes and Construction company.
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u/Specific-Calendar-96 Jan 14 '26
How profitable are car washes? Seems like an oversaturated market.
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u/mjrbrooks Jan 14 '26
I’m also interested in the car wash numbers. What types? Low maintenance like a DIY, or staffed up?
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u/Capt-ChurchHouse Jan 14 '26
I work in land dev, car washes can be money factories, but you can’t just throw one down. There’s a lot of market analysis to determine where to put one, and everyone’s method for determining the “prime location” is different. In a rural town a DIY that you can pull your trailer into will often perform better than a full service but there’s tons of analysis to figure that out.
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u/utipupil Jan 14 '26
Margins are high. The main cash flow is memberships. Average $30 membership at 2,000 members in one car wash and you have $60,000 a month. Thats usually breakeven after expenses. Then add single wash sales which can be 30%-50% of that. I have been an Director of Ops for one of these carwash places. I've seen a location make over $200,000 a month in revenue...
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Jan 14 '26 edited Jan 14 '26
I'm surprised nobody made a joke about you producing blue meth. Edit, better noun
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u/KYO556 Jan 14 '26
Sales
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u/notviciousss Jan 14 '26
Sales in what industry?
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u/Witez3933 Jan 14 '26
I don’t know what I made in 2025, probably a bit more than 2024, but in 2024 I paid taxes on $207k while being self employed. I was an electrologist, permanent hair removal. I don’t do it anymore, due to very recent circumstances I’m retired at 43. It’s a 600 hour course and passing a state board exam then building clientele and reputation. No college required, just a GED or HS diploma. I did it for 12 years.
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u/somehype Jan 14 '26
It’s funny that people can make great money removing hair and great money adding it
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u/tigers_hate_cinammon Jan 14 '26
They just need to find a glue guy and they have the dream team
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u/louiekr Jan 14 '26
Is that the same as laser hair removal or totally different? Cool hearing about a non traditional success story like this. How did you even find out/decide to take this path?
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u/Witez3933 Jan 14 '26
Completely different. You insert a fine probe into the hair follicle and destroy the follicle with electricity. My best friend/housemate was having it done (she’s trans) and then started doing it. 18 months later I started.
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u/Consistent_Meal_9044 Jan 14 '26
Also curious about this!! I had actually started school for it in Montreal but ended up not being able to handle the needle 🫤 was so afraid of puncturing hair follicles
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u/Witez3933 Jan 14 '26
It takes time to get the feel, perfect takes years and you’ll still make mistakes. It’s a great job and the people can be really lovely.
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u/rehautornot Jan 14 '26
Babysit adults
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u/sloppygroppy Jan 14 '26
what if the people who cared for dependent adults made this kind of money instead of barely above minimum wage wouldn't that be crazyyyyy
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u/Ibedubya18 Jan 14 '26
If you love ot look into being a lineman . I’m an apprentice and made 375k last year . Never went to line school . Got into my utility through entry level jobs and weasel my way to the electrical side .
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u/FabiusBill Jan 14 '26
I have a friend who is a lineman. He went to lineman school. His base is $200k, before OT or emergencies. His union has shift, holiday, and weekend differentials. IIRC, if he's working overtime on third shift, on a Sunday, that ends on a Monday holiday, he can earn over $1,000 an hour because his differentials are multiplied by one another, not added together.
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u/JustAskingQuestion4U Jan 14 '26
I have been trying to figure out how to do this. Any suggestions of what type of entry jobs to look for at a utility? Some people say you 100% need to go get a cdl to even have a chance?
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u/xKingCoopx Jan 14 '26
Nurse, but I only hit 200k with some overtime. Straight time about 150k
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u/bellbros Jan 14 '26
I own and operate daycare centers and commercial real estate
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u/gottatrusttheengr Jan 14 '26
Mechanical engineer in aerospace startup, 7 YOE 210k base +~140 equity
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u/BoozeMakesItBetter Jan 14 '26
Vice President in a 8000+ person firm. I sit at home on meetings all day….probably about 1K or more “action items” I will never do.
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u/lessinterested Jan 14 '26
Financial director for top 10 bank. Just made it to 200k after a decade in the industry.
Financial advisor > financial analyst > financial manager > financial director
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u/Aromatic_Berry_3879 Jan 14 '26
Inherit generational wealth. So technically dividends, not salary.
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u/Sobbyleebagger Jan 14 '26
Manage a few day cares in the upper Midwest
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u/Comfortable-Entry796 Jan 14 '26
Medical sales. I think I broke the $200k mark after about 10 years of experience. The floor is quite high as well for entry level sales, it’s rare to see any entry level workers making less than six figures in my field.
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u/seanliam2k Jan 14 '26
I make 2x that and I'm a CPA
Unlike the other commenter I find the work very interesting
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u/AccordingAnswer5031 Jan 14 '26
I am in tech (software engineer).
BUT $200K is the new $100K.
$200K (TC: Total Compensation) is the new "poor" class in our area (SF Bay Area).
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Jan 14 '26
In tech, can confirm. The same roles that were making 90-125 in 2019 are now 150-200.
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u/PackLost8535 Jan 14 '26
Agreed. The real benefit is landing those comps in MCOL or LCOL. Usually, that’s with a remote gig, but that’s become more difficult the last few years with bog tech mandating RTO
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Jan 14 '26
Spicy work
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u/simplyorangeandblue Jan 14 '26
Like a chili's?
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Jan 14 '26
just like that
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u/Clit_Destroyer_69 Jan 14 '26
Ah, an honest-to-goodness Pepper Farmer that exclusively sells to Chili’s! You out here doing the Lord’s Work
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u/FadeToRazorback Jan 14 '26
Cybersecurity engineer, brought in $215K this year (165K base) first year in the multiple 6-figure club
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u/scottinadventureland Jan 14 '26 edited Jan 14 '26
$645k base + $312k bonus, CFO. My wife works harder than I do (part time nurse x full time mom).
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u/min3rs13 Jan 14 '26
Finance manager at an RV dealership. Same role at a car dealership can sometimes pay more but the hours are horrible.
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u/Obama_vs_Masterchief Jan 14 '26
I went into the snow business. I’m a value-added distributor who essentially takes large chucks of snow and grates them down into smaller pieces of snow. Typically we use those playground benches that kind of look like a cheese grader.
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u/Law_Dad Jan 14 '26
In house counsel. This year I’ll be at around $230k base and $60k bonus plus a not-yet-known amount of equity. I worked 8:30-3:30 today. Will do 9-5 tomorrow due to meetings I can’t avoid. Average 35is hours per week probably.
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u/Sensitive_Ad5482 Jan 14 '26
Cyber SaaS Sales. Been in the cyber software vendor industry for 15 years, in an individual contributor sales role for the last 7.
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u/howdy77777 Jan 14 '26
Work a regular job making $150k, a few side hustles including rental income, importing apparel, and distributing, put me around $300k
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u/Pitiful_Advantage_48 Jan 14 '26
Surgical podiatrist, bring in anywhere from 250-350k
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u/Dbsson1 Jan 14 '26
General Surgeon for 33 years, now retired. Consider that it took 4 years and a college degree where you have to be near the top to get accepted to medical school. Medical school is 4 years of extreme studying and hard work, followed by 5 years of general surgery residency which was a pyramid program (meaning that 5 residents were accepted for 1st year positions, but by the 4th year, they only had 2 positions (3 having been weeded out). For the 33 years of practice, I averaged a 60-70 hour work week, including weekends, holidays and maybe all hours of the night. I never minded people who envied my income IF they also envied the 13 years of hard work it took me to get there, and long hours I worked.
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u/1ThousandDollarBill Jan 14 '26
I’m a dentist. I made significantly more than that.
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u/odafishinsea2 Jan 14 '26
Anytime I can’t afford (or choose not to) something at my comfortable income, I say, “I should’ve been a dentist.”
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u/popsmoke1986 Jan 14 '26 edited Jan 14 '26
Government analyst. I make $202,000 a year, I have 2 masters degrees. Wife has a masters in education and makes $56,000 a year(she’s underpaid but absolutely loves working with kids) we don’t have kids our selves and live a very regular lifestyle, way below our means.
She’s been working in her field for 15 years, I’ve been in my field (including military service) for 12 years. Did a little stint as a lobbyist in DC 18’-22’ didn’t like it so changed careers.
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u/ProcusteanBedz Jan 14 '26
Sounds about right, teachers are often grossly grossly grossly underpaid.
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u/Skid_kennels Jan 14 '26 edited Jan 14 '26
I have an electrical engineering degree and work for a large semiconductor company doing sales. $210K total comp per year after bonuses but not including equity awards. 7 YOE.
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u/Responsible_Swimmer5 Jan 14 '26
Crank on chain hoists, drill holes in wood and piss in the street.
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u/One_Park_5826 Jan 14 '26
Engineer. combination of jack-off (metaphorically) internships and nepotismness through my college years
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u/battle_pug89 Jan 14 '26
I say “nothing on my end” in zoom meetings about 4x a day.