Highest-Paying Licensed Professions in Every State (2026)
Which licensed professions pay the most? We analyzed salary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics across 37 licensed professions and all 50 states to create a ranking based on BLS salary data of highest-paying licensed careers in 2026. Whether you are choosing a career path or considering a license in a new state, this data will help you make an informed decision.
Key Findings
- Highest-paying combination: Professional Engineer in District of Columbia with a median salary of $167,270/year
- Highest national median: Optometrist at $134,830/year
- Best ROI: Notary Public — licensing costs average $41 with a median salary of $41,270 (1007x return)
- Salaries for the same profession can vary by $30,000–$60,000+ depending on state
- We analyzed 1,857 data points across 37 professions
Top 20 Highest-Paying Licensed Professions (National Median)
Ranked by BLS national median salary. The “Highest-Paying State” column shows where each profession earns the most.
| # | Profession | National Median | Highest-Paying State | State Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Optometrist | $134,830 | Alaska | $165,830 |
| 2 | Professional Engineer | $117,750 | District of Columbia | $167,270 |
| 3 | Physical Therapist | $101,020 | California | $123,300 |
| 4 | Occupational Therapist | $98,340 | California | $119,470 |
| 5 | Architect | $96,690 | District of Columbia | $114,480 |
| 6 | Speech-Language Pathologist | $95,410 | California | $116,000 |
| 7 | Dental Hygienist | $94,260 | Alaska | $129,760 |
| 8 | Registered Nurse | $93,600 | California | $140,330 |
| 9 | Audiologist | $92,120 | California | $123,600 |
| 10 | CPA | $81,680 | District of Columbia | $103,030 |
| 11 | Respiratory Therapist | $80,450 | District of Columbia | $104,240 |
| 12 | Chiropractor | $79,000 | Hawaii | $102,260 |
| 13 | General Contractor | $78,690 | New Jersey | $103,850 |
| 14 | Dietitian | $73,850 | California | $93,640 |
| 15 | Land Surveyor | $72,740 | California | $103,790 |
| 16 | Home Inspector | $72,120 | California | $101,160 |
| 17 | Social Worker | $69,480 | Nevada | $109,220 |
| 18 | PTA | $65,510 | California | $79,410 |
| 19 | Plumber | $62,970 | Illinois | $96,200 |
| 20 | Electrician | $62,350 | Oregon | $97,320 |
Best Return on Investment: Licensing Cost vs. Salary
Which licenses give you the biggest bang for your buck? We compared average licensing fees to national median salary to find the professions with the best ROI. A higher ratio means you earn more relative to what you spent getting licensed.
| # | Profession | Avg. License Cost | Median Salary | ROI Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Notary Public | $41 | $41,270 | 1007x |
| 2 | Electrician | $87 | $62,350 | 717x |
| 3 | Insurance Agent | $112–$114 | $60,370 | 530x |
| 4 | Plumber | $122 | $62,970 | 516x |
| 5 | Teacher | $134 | $62,340 | 465x |
| 6 | CPA | $195 | $81,680 | 419x |
| 7 | Esthetician | $111 | $41,560 | 374x |
| 8 | Security Guard | $99–$107 | $38,370 | 359x |
| 9 | Dental Assistant | $136–$137 | $47,300 | 345x |
| 10 | Audiologist | $354 | $92,120 | 260x |
Note on ROI
The ROI ratio compares government licensing fees (application, exam, and license issuance costs) to median annual salary. It does not include education or training costs, which vary significantly. Professions like registered nursing have high salaries but also require expensive degree programs not reflected in licensing fees alone.
Highest-Paying Licensed Professions by State
Salaries vary dramatically by location. Here are the top-paying licensed professions in 10 major states:
California
| 1 | Registered Nurse | $140,330/year |
| 2 | Optometrist | $137,070/year |
| 3 | Professional Engineer | $128,830/year |
| 4 | Audiologist | $123,600/year |
| 5 | Physical Therapist | $123,300/year |
Texas
| 1 | Optometrist | $128,360/year |
| 2 | Professional Engineer | $115,950/year |
| 3 | Physical Therapist | $103,710/year |
| 4 | Audiologist | $103,460/year |
| 5 | Occupational Therapist | $101,760/year |
New York
| 1 | Optometrist | $163,040/year |
| 2 | Professional Engineer | $113,380/year |
| 3 | Speech-Language Pathologist | $108,870/year |
| 4 | Registered Nurse | $105,600/year |
| 5 | Respiratory Therapist | $103,820/year |
Florida
| 1 | Optometrist | $129,500/year |
| 2 | Professional Engineer | $103,920/year |
| 3 | Occupational Therapist | $99,070/year |
| 4 | Physical Therapist | $98,880/year |
| 5 | Speech-Language Pathologist | $97,150/year |
Illinois
| 1 | Optometrist | $136,200/year |
| 2 | Professional Engineer | $109,380/year |
| 3 | Physical Therapist | $103,380/year |
| 4 | General Contractor | $100,360/year |
| 5 | Occupational Therapist | $98,900/year |
Ohio
| 1 | Optometrist | $130,000/year |
| 2 | Professional Engineer | $113,880/year |
| 3 | Physical Therapist | $99,740/year |
| 4 | Architect | $97,130/year |
| 5 | Occupational Therapist | $95,880/year |
Pennsylvania
| 1 | Optometrist | $128,260/year |
| 2 | Professional Engineer | $103,580/year |
| 3 | Physical Therapist | $99,570/year |
| 4 | Architect | $95,640/year |
| 5 | Occupational Therapist | $94,120/year |
Georgia
| 1 | Optometrist | $129,690/year |
| 2 | Professional Engineer | $115,790/year |
| 3 | Physical Therapist | $101,930/year |
| 4 | Audiologist | $101,920/year |
| 5 | Architect | $100,870/year |
Washington
| 1 | Optometrist | $157,650/year |
| 2 | Dental Hygienist | $125,370/year |
| 3 | Professional Engineer | $125,080/year |
| 4 | Registered Nurse | $112,180/year |
| 5 | Audiologist | $105,120/year |
Colorado
| 1 | Optometrist | $137,370/year |
| 2 | Professional Engineer | $125,330/year |
| 3 | Speech-Language Pathologist | $108,070/year |
| 4 | Dental Hygienist | $106,730/year |
| 5 | Occupational Therapist | $103,970/year |
Choosing the Right Licensed Career
Salary is important, but it is not the only factor. Consider these when choosing a licensed profession:
- Time to licensure: Higher-paying professions generally require more education and training time. Check our timeline comparison for details.
- Total cost: Factor in education costs, not just licensing fees. See our cost comparison.
- Job availability: A high salary means less if jobs are scarce. Look at employment numbers and job growth rates on each profession's page.
- Location flexibility: Some licenses transfer easily between states (via reciprocity), while others require starting over.
- Career growth: Many licensed professions offer advancement paths — from technician to supervisor to business owner.
Once you have chosen your path, investing in quality exam prep materials helps you pass on the first attempt and start earning sooner.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the highest-paying licensed profession?▼
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Methodology
Salary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, May 2024 estimates. Licensing costs compiled from official state licensing board websites. We analyzed 1,857 data points across 37 licensed professions and all 50 states. ROI calculations use national median salary divided by average total government licensing fees (excluding education and training costs). Data last verified April 2026.
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