20 High Earning Jobs Likely to Build $1 Million in Savings
Becoming a millionaire takes more than hustle, it takes a job that leaves money left over after the bills are paid. Some careers make that possible faster than others, and the math tells the whole story.
In this gallery, we’ll break down jobs that can make you a millionaire before retirement, based on salary, spending, and time to hit $1 million.
👉 Click or Scroll to see which careers actually have millionaire potential.
Table of Contents
Jobs That Add Up to $1 Million in Savings
GOBankingRates used salary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, then subtracted federal taxes and typical living costs to find what’s actually left to save each year.
Based on that number, they calculated how long it would take to reach $1 million in pure savings.
The study doesn’t include education costs, but it also doesn’t count any investment growth, which could speed things up.
👉 Keep reading to see which jobs can realistically get you to $1 million before retirement.
Petroleum Engineers: High-Income Jobs for Future Millionaires
Petroleum engineers make an average of $142,800 a year, and after taxes and living costs, they’re left with around $40,600 in usable savings annually. At that pace, it takes just under 25 years to hit the million mark.
That’s assuming no investment growth, just straight cash saved. If you work in oil and don’t blow the paycheck, the math works in your favor.
HR Managers: Career in Human Resources With Millionaire Potential
Human Resources managers earn about $145,750 annually, leaving them with roughly $42,600 to save after essentials. That puts them on track to become millionaires in just over 23 years.
The role offers consistent upward mobility in large organizations. For those who stick with it, HR can quietly build real wealth.
17 Jobs Where Extroverts Can Make $100K or More
Advertising Managers: Marketing Jobs That Build Wealth Fast
With an average salary of $147,050 and about $43,500 left after expenses, advertising and promotions managers can reach millionaire status in less than 23 years.
These roles are in demand, about 36,600 job openings per year. Creativity alone won’t cut it, but strong leadership and strategy can pay off big. It’s a career path where smart thinkers earn real money.
Sales Managers: Leadership Careers With $1M Earning Potential
Sales managers average $150,530 a year, and once the bills are paid, about $45,880 remains. That’s enough to reach $1 million in under 22 years, without factoring in bonuses or commission.
If you know how to lead a team and hit quotas, this role can be a fast lane to financial freedom. Good managers earn more than many small business owners.
15 Typical Jobs of Millionaires Without Degrees
Judges and Magistrates: Legal Roles That Pay Off Long-Term
Judges and magistrate roles offer serious income stability, with average salaries around $153,700 and leftover income of about $48,050. Based on the data, they can reach $1 million in savings in just over 20 years.
While the path in law is long, once you get the gavel, the financial picture changes. For those who value security and long-term payoff, it’s a solid bet.
Computer Research Scientists: Tech Jobs That Lead to Millions
Computer and information research scientists bring in about $155,880 a year, with roughly $49,500 left after taxes and basic expenses. That’s enough to reach $1 million in just over 20 years.
These are high-skill roles at the frontier of innovation, think AI, algorithms, and machine learning. If you like solving hard problems and want pay that reflects it, this job checks both boxes.
AI Isn’t Just Taking Jobs, It’s Creating Them Too: 15 New AI-Related Roles
Marketing Managers: Creative Careers That Can Make You Rich
Marketing managers earn about $158,280 annually, with an estimated $51,181 left after taxes and everyday expenses. At that rate, they can stack $1 million in savings in just under 20 years.
The job blends analytics and creativity, and demand remains strong across industries. If you know how to sell the story, the paycheck follows.
Engineering Managers: Technical Jobs With Big Payoffs
Architectural and engineering managers average $163,310 a year, with roughly $54,812 left to save each year. That puts them on a 18-year path to millionaire status, quicker if bonuses or stock options are in play.
These roles often come after years of technical experience, but the payoff is worth it. It’s one of the few jobs where management and deep knowledge combine for serious earnings.
🙋♂️If you like what you are reading so far, subscribe to the DadisFIRE newsletter and follow DadisFIRE on YouTube.💪
Lawyers: Legal Careers That Can Hit $1M Before Retirement
Lawyers pull in around $163,770 annually, and after taxes and living costs, they’ve got about $55,154 left to bank. At that pace, hitting $1 million in savings takes just over 18 years.
Not every legal career pays this well, but if you specialize or make partner, the ceiling rises fast. For those who can handle the grind, the money is real.
Financial Managers: Finance Jobs With $1M Career Payout
With a $166,050 salary and $56,854 in potential savings per year, financial managers are on track to reach $1 million in just over 17 years. These roles are booming, about 75,100 openings are projected each year.
If you’re fluent in risk, ROI, and spreadsheets, this is a powerful path. It’s one of the fastest wealth-building roles outside of tech and medicine.
24 (Easy To Get) Certifications If You Want A Higher Paying Job
Nurse Anesthetists: Medical Jobs That Build Wealth Quickly
Nurse anesthetists bring in roughly $205,770 a year, and after taxes and costs, can still stash about $85,628 annually. That puts them on a millionaire timeline of under 12 years.
It’s one of the highest-paying nursing specialties, and demand continues to rise in hospitals and surgical centers. For a healthcare career without med school debt, this one delivers.
Airline Pilots: Aviation Careers That Fly Toward $1 Million
Airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers average $225,740 per year, with nearly $98,738 left after living costs. They can hit the $1 million savings mark in just over 10 years, if they stay grounded on spending.
The training is intense, but once you’re in, the benefits stack up fast. Few jobs offer this kind of pay with such a structured career path.
We also made this related Video: The Most Common Jobs of Millionaires, According to The Millionaire Next Door
Chief Executives: Executive Jobs That Stack Wealth Fast
CEOs and top executives earn around $246,440 a year, leaving them with about $112,287 to save. That means millionaire status can come in under nine years, faster with equity or performance bonuses.
Leadership at this level isn’t easy, but the compensation matches the responsibility. For those who make it to the corner office, the math speaks for itself.
Psychiatrists: High-Paying Mental Health Careers
Psychiatrists earn around $247,350 per year, with approximately $112,857 left after taxes and average living costs. That savings rate puts them on track to reach $1 million in about 8 years and 10 months.
Mental health demand is growing, and psychiatrists are among the top earners in the field. It’s a rare combination of purpose-driven work and financial upside.
23 Jobs No One Wants, So Retirees Are Going Back To Work
Neurologists: Specialist Medical Jobs With High ROI
Neurologists bring in about $255,510 annually and can save roughly $117,969 per year. They can cross the $1 million savings mark in just over 8 years.
The role requires years of training, but the long-term payoff is undeniable. This is one of the most financially rewarding specialties in all of medicine.
Emergency Physicians: Fast-Track Medical Careers to $1M
Emergency medicine physicians earn roughly $316,600 per year, with about $156,243 left over after costs. That’s enough to reach $1 million in just over 6 years.
Long hours and high-stress situations come with the job, but so does a big paycheck. In May, healthcare added 62,000 new jobs, proving just how strong the demand remains.
Dermatologists: Skin Care Jobs That Make You Rich
Dermatologists average $327,650 annually, with estimated annual savings of $163,165 after all expenses. That’s a 6-year route to millionaire status. It’s one of the most lucrative and stable medical careers, without the overnight shifts or emergency calls.
If you’re looking for high pay with better work-life balance, this is a top-tier option.
16 High Demand Jobs Projected to Grow Over the Next 10 Years
Surgeons: Medical Roles With Millionaire Paychecks
Surgeons in all specialties earn around $347,870 a year, with $175,833 in possible savings. That income puts them on pace to save $1 million in just under 6 years.
It’s a long road to get there, but once you do, the compensation is among the best in any field. These roles consistently rank among the highest-earning jobs in the U.S.
Athletes: Sports Careers That Score Millionaire Status
Professional athletes and sports competitors earn about $358,080 annually and can save an average of $182,230 per year. That means they can reach $1 million in under 5 and a half years.
The window is short and the odds are long, but for those who make it, the income hits fast. It’s a high-risk, high-reward career with a millionaire timeline few jobs can match.
Short Careers That Pay Well Without a 30-Year Commitment
Cardiologists: Medical Careers That Reach $1M Fastest
Cardiologists top the list with an average salary of $421,330 and potential savings of $221,855 per year. That puts them on track to save $1 million in just 4 years and 6 months.
It’s the highest-earning career in this lineup and proof that some paths are built for speed. If you can handle the training and the pressure, cardiology pays like few others.
High-Paying Jobs That Can Lead to $1 Million
Becoming a millionaire isn’t magic, it’s math. These jobs pay enough to build real wealth if you don’t spend like you’ve already made it. The trick isn’t earning a fortune in one year, it’s stacking what’s left over every year.
Pick the right career, stay consistent, and the numbers take care of themselves.
🙋♂️If you like what you just read, subscribe to the DadisFIRE newsletter and follow DadisFIRE on YouTube. 💪 Also be sure to follow DadisFIRE on Medium💰
