"For decades, aspiring professionals have chased after six-figure careers like banking, law, and consulting. But working for a Big Four firm or Wall Street titan is no longer the surefire way to earn big and hold down a steady gig. Indeed just dropped its best jobs of 2026 ranking -and not every role requires a degree, the majority are in healthcare, and the top 10 all pay more than $100,000 a year."
"Owner-operator truck driver came in second on Indeed's best U.S. jobs of 2026 list, paying $160,000 yearly: the most of any role on the 50-job ranking. Postings for the gig have shot up 34% since 2023, with 7,529 open roles per one million postings on Indeed, signaling high demand for skilled talent. No college degree is required to land the job-candidates only need a high-level commercial drivers license (CDL), usually acquired through hundreds of hours of behind-the-wheel training."
"Healthcare and social services dominated Indeed's list which ranks professions on their three-year growth trends against current openings. The number one role, cardiac medical tech, pays a median annual salary of $133,907 and has boasted wage and job posting growth of 34% over the past three years. The healthcare industry is heralded as the labor hotspot for secure, high-paying jobs. As AI continues to swipe white-collar roles, medical careers have proven to be largely resistant to automation and recessionary career woes."
Six-figure careers are shifting away from traditional corporate paths toward healthcare and skilled roles with strong pay and growth. Owner-operator truck driver earned $160,000 median pay with postings up 34% since 2023 and requires a CDL rather than a college degree; fully autonomous trucking is not expected to displace drivers until around 2032. Cardiac medical tech ranks first with a median salary of $133,907 and 34% wage and posting growth over three years. Seven of the top ten roles fall within healthcare and social services, which remain resilient to automation and economic downturns.
Read at Fortune
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