The Highest-Paying Skills for 100-Plus Jobs
Photograph by Jeff Harris for Money; Prop styling by Renee Flugge
Want a fatter paycheck? For every industry, and every job title, there are specific skills that correlate with richer compensation. But for most workers, the first challenge is knowing which skills will pay off for them.
To that end, Money worked with compensation data and software company PayScale.com to identify exactly which three abilities deliver the greatest pay premium for 130 different professional jobs—from nuclear engineer to bank teller.
These skills correlate with as much as a 35% pay differential for some occupations — holding constant such factors as job title, experience, age, and location. That top premium goes to a credit analyst who knows SAS software; other big bumps go to market research analysts and survey researchers who know financial modeling (28.2% for both), or CEOs with a mastery of mergers and acquisitions (25.7%).
Even if most skills offer a more modest reward — 5% to 10%, on average — that's still more than the typical 2% annual cost-of-living raise most people get. So if you're looking for a way to ratchet up your own pay, scan the following list for your job title, and see which new abilities could propel you higher.
To see full coverage of Money's Best Career Skills 2016, click here.
| Occupation | Top 3 Skills/Specialties | Pay Boost |
|---|---|---|
| Accountant/Auditor | Forensic Accounting | 7.9% |
| Forecasting | 7.9% | |
| Sarbanes-Oxley Compliance Audit | 6.7% | |
| Actuary | Pricing | 5.7% |
| Statistical Analysis | 4.2% | |
| Financial Modeling | 3.4% | |
| Administrative Services Manager | Data Analysis | 13.9% |
| SEC Experience | 9.0% | |
| Payroll Tax Compliance | 8.7% | |
| Advertising and Promotions Manager | Contract Negotiation | 6.8% |
| Strategic Sales | 6.7% | |
| Strategy Development | 6.2% | |
| Advertising Sales Agent | Media / Public Relations | 2.1% |
| Strategic Marketing | 2.0% | |
| Project Management | 1.0% | |
| Aerospace Engineers | Aeros | 7.6% |
| Avionics | 4.8% | |
| UNIX | 1.9% | |
| Agricultural/Food Scientist | Sales | 7.4% |
| Product Development | 1.8% | |
| Data Analysis | 1.0% | |
| Aircraft Pilot/ Flight Engineer | Test Engineering | 0.9% |
| Operations Management | 0.9% | |
| Safety Compliance | 0.4% | |
| Architect | Microstation | 7.0% |
| Software Architecture | 6.5% | |
| Green Building | 6.4% | |
| Architectural/ Engineering Manager | Software Architecture | 12.4% |
| Software Development Management | 11.8% | |
| Java | 11.6% | |
| Astronomer/ Physicist | Radiation Therapy | 10.8% |
| Research Analysis | 2.8% | |
| Medical Physics | 2.6% | |
| Biological Scientist | Research Analysis | 5.5% |
| Quality Assurance / Quality Control | 4.2% | |
| Data Analysis | 3.7% | |
| Biological Technician | Protein Purification | 5.3% |
| Biotechnology | 2.8% | |
| Quality Assurance / Quality Control | 0.9% | |
| Biomedical Engineer | Clinical Research | 12.2% |
| Clinical Education | 7.9% | |
| Radiology | 6.8% | |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, or Auditing Clerk | Reconciliation | 8.3% |
| Month-End Close | 7.9% | |
| Financial Analysis | 5.0% | |
| Brokerage Clerk | Microsoft Excel | 13.0% |
| Client Interaction | 11.6% | |
| Microsoft Office | 10.4% | |
| Budget Analyst | Data Analysis | 4.4% |
| Budget Management | 3.3% | |
| Financial Analysis | 3.3% | |
| Buyer / Purchasing Agent | Product Development | 7.0% |
| Strategic Planning | 5.7% | |
| Contract Negotiation | 5.7% | |
| Chemical Engineer | Business Development | 9.0% |
| Simulation | 8.6% | |
| Data Analysis | 5.8% | |
| Chemical Technician | Technical Analysis | 1.7% |
| Data Analysis | 1.3% | |
| Research Analysis | 1.2% | |
| Chemist / Materials Scientist | Project Management | 9.0% |
| Process Improvement | 5.9% | |
| Product Development | 5.7% | |
| Chief Executive | Mergers and Acquisitions | 25.7% |
| Strategic Sales | 22.2% | |
| Change Management | 18.7% | |
| Civil Engineer | Prolog | 9.6% |
| ANSYS | 7.6% | |
| Business Development | 6.3% | |
| Claims Adjuster / Appraiser / Examiner / Investigator | Verbal Communication | 9.3% |
| Construction Estimating | 7.7% | |
| Complex Litigation Case Management | 7.1% | |
| Clergy | People Management | 3.3% |
| Bereavement Counseling | 2.0% | |
| Patient Counseling | 1.3% | |
| Occupation | Top 3 Skills/Specialties | Pay Boost |
| Clinical Laboratory Technologist / Technician | Budget Management | 7.1% |
| Medical Terminology | 5.3% | |
| GMP Compliance | 4.6% | |
| Compensation and Benefits Manager | ADP Payroll System | 8.2% |
| Payroll Tax Compliance | 7.5% | |
| Accounting | 6.7% | |
| Compensation, Benefits, or Job Analysis Specialist | Payroll Tax Compliance | 10.4% |
| ADP Human Resources System | 7.5% | |
| 401k Plan Administration | 6.7% | |
| Compliance Officer | Data Analysis | 3.6% |
| Research Analysis | 3.5% | |
| Project Management | 3.5% | |
| Computer and Information Analyst | Big Data Analytics | 11.8% |
| Agile | 11.3% | |
| IBM WebSphere | 10.1% | |
| Computer and Information Research Scientist | Machine Learning | 6.2% |
| Big Data Analytics | 3.5% | |
| Python | 2.8% | |
| Computer and Information Systems Manager | Big Data Analytics | 18.9% |
| Service Oriented Architecture | 15.7% | |
| Data Modeling | 15.2% | |
| Computer Control Programmer / Operator | Engineering Design | 12.1% |
| CAD/CAM | 5.6% | |
| Computer Aided Drafting & Design | 5.3% | |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | System Administration | 10.3% |
| Engineering Design, Semiconductor | 6.2% | |
| Microsoft Active Directory | 6.1% | |
| Computer Operator | UNIX | 5.3% |
| Mainframe | 0.8% | |
| AS/400 | 0.4% | |
| Construction and Building Inspector | Commercial Building Inspection | 5.2% |
| Household or Property Inspection | 4.8% | |
| Windows Operating System General Use | 3.2% | |
| Construction Manager | Primavera P6 | 13.7% |
| Prolog | 13.1% | |
| Welding | 7.6% | |
| Cost Estimator | Financial Analysis | 5.6% |
| Contractor Management | 4.6% | |
| Data Analysis | 4.5% | |
| Counselor | Spanish Language | 8.1% |
| Functional Analysis | 6.6% | |
| Program Management | 6.1% | |
| Credit Analyst | Statistical Analysis System | 35% |
| Financial Modeling | 11% | |
| Banking | 8.9% | |
| Credit Counselor / Loan Officers | Commercial Loans | 7.4% |
| Financial Analysis | 3.7% | |
| Mortgage Loans | 3.4% | |
| Database and Systems Administrator / Network Architect | Cisco UCCE/IPCC | 20.8% |
| Puppet | 20.7% | |
| Software Development | 17.3% | |
| Dental Hygienist | Clinical Education | 6.4% |
| Anesthesia | 6.0% | |
| Software Knowledge | 5.1% | |
| Dentist | Oral Surgery | 10.8% |
| Medicine / Surgery | 5.8% | |
| Public Health | 0.2% | |
| Designer | Autodesk AliasStudio | 9.0% |
| NX Unigraphics | 8.4% | |
| Powerpoint | 6.9% | |
| Occupation | Top 3 Skills/Specialties | Pay Boost |
| Desktop Publisher | Adobe Illustrator | 3.7% |
| Adobe Photoshop | 3.2% | |
| Technical Writing | 2.1% | |
| Detective / Criminal Investigator | Geographic Information Systems | 6.4% |
| Forensic Interviewing | 4.8% | |
| Signals Intelligence | 4.6% | |
| Diagnostic Related Technologist or Technician | Obstetrics | 9.7% |
| Interventional Radiology | 4.0% | |
| Pediatrics | 3.7% | |
| Dietitian / Nutritionist | Training | 9.2% |
| Diabetes Educator | 2.9% | |
| Nutrition Support | 1.7% | |
| Drafter | CATIA | 8.7% |
| AutoCAD MEP | 6.0% | |
| Autodesk Revit Structure | 5.9% | |
| Economist | Policy Analysis | 5.5% |
| Data Modeling | 5.0% | |
| Statistical Analysis | 2.5% | |
| Education Administrator | Strategic Marketing | 7.7% |
| Operations Management | 4.6% | |
| Strategic Planning | 3.7% | |
| Electrical or Electronics Engineer | Instrument Control | 6.4% |
| Engineering Design, Semiconductor | 6.2% | |
| AutoCAD MEP | 5.9% | |
| Elementary or Middle School Teacher | Spanish Language | 3.4% |
| Curriculum Planning | 1.9% | |
| Childhood Education | 1.3% | |
| Engineering Technician | C (programming language) | 14.1% |
| Industrial Hydraulics | 10.3% | |
| Distributed Control Systems | 9.7% | |
| Environmental Engineer | Title V Permitting | 14.6% |
| Windows Operating System General Use | 2.4% | |
| Project Management | 2.4% | |
| Environmental Scientist / Geoscientist | Data Modeling | 3.7% |
| Regulatory Compliance | 2.3% | |
| Project Management | 2.3% | |
| Farmer / Rancher / Agricultural Manager | Budget Management | 13.2% |
| Operations Management | 8.6% | |
| Machine Operation | 0.6% | |
| Financial Analyst / Advisor | Valuation | 9.0% |
| Due Diligence | 8.7% | |
| Market Research | 8.1% | |
| Financial Examiner | Financial Applications | 7.8% |
| Anti-Money Laundering | 6.4% | |
| Microsoft Word | 3.7% | |
| Financial Manager | Business Strategy | 14.0% |
| Sarbanes-Oxley Compliance Audit | 13.1% | |
| Sarbanes-Oxley Knowledge | 10.4% | |
| First-Line Supervisor of Office and Administrative Support Workers | Facility Maintenance & Coordination | 15.8% |
| Process Improvement | 15.7% | |
| Contract Management | 12.1% | |
| First-Line Supervisor of Sales Workers | Profit & Loss Statements | 12.3% |
| Budget Management | 6.8% | |
| Human Resources | 6.6% | |
| General or Operations Manager | Field Sales | 18.2% |
| Mergers and Acquisitions | 16.0% | |
| Tax Consulting | 14.0% | |
| Health Practitioner Support Technologist or Technician | Oncology | 8.1% |
| Open Heart | 5.7% | |
| Long-Term Care | 4.3% | |
| Occupation | Top 3 Skills/Specialties | Pay Boost |
| Health Teacher (Postsecondary) | Critical Care | 5.2% |
| Emergency Room | 3.2% | |
| Clinical Education | 2.6% | |
| Human Resources Manager | Strategy | 11.0% |
| Change Management | 10.8% | |
| Applicant Tracking System | 9.0% | |
| Human Resources Worker | Legal Compliance | 14.7% |
| Payroll Tax Compliance | 10.5% | |
| Strategic Planning | 9.7% | |
| Industrial Engineer | Chemical Process Engineering | 17.0% |
| Linux | 8.3% | |
| Operations Management | 6.6% | |
| Industrial Production Manager | Six Sigma Black Belt | 11.3% |
| Six Sigma Green Belt | 8.7% | |
| Engineering Design | 7.9% | |
| Instructional Coordinator | Design | 3.6% |
| Training Program Development | 2.5% | |
| Articulate - E-Learning Software | 2.4% | |
| Insurance Sales Agent | Field Sales | 14.3% |
| Leadership | 6.1% | |
| Account Sales | 2.6% | |
| Lawyer or Judicial Law Clerk | Mergers and Acquisitions | 23.8% |
| Corporate | 15.7% | |
| Tax Compliance | 9.8% | |
| Librarian | Legal Research | 10.5% |
| Budget Management | 3.9% | |
| Operations Management | 1.6% | |
| Licensed Practical or Licensed Vocational Nurse | Nursery | 6.8% |
| Triage | 5.3% | |
| Intensive Care Unit | 4.1% | |
| Logistician | Project Management | 6.5% |
| Logistics Support Analysis | 6.0% | |
| SAP Enterprise Resource Planning | 5.7% | |
| Management Analyst | Big Data Analytics | 17.7% |
| Mergers and Acquisitions | 16.7% | |
| Strategy | 15.6% | |
| Market Research Analyst or Marketing Specialist | Financial Modeling | 28.2% |
| R (programming language) | 16.5% | |
| Tableau Software | 13.6 | |
| Marketing or Sales Manager | Software as a Service | 11.8% |
| Marketo | 11.7% | |
| Vendor Management | 10.3% | |
| Materials Engineer | Robotic Welding | 4.2% |
| Manufacturing Process Engineering | 3.7% | |
| Material Science | 3.4% | |
| Mechanical Engineer | SCADA | 6.1% |
| SQL | 5.5% | |
| Simulation | 5.4% | |
| Medical or Health Services Manager | Business Development | 12.2% |
| Six Sigma Black Belt | 9.3% | |
| Surgery | 9.2% | |
| Medical Records and Health Information Technician | Microsoft Excel | 7.3% |
| Data Analysis | 5.2% | |
| Microsoft Office | 4.9% | |
| Medical Scientist | Oncology | 9.1% |
| Molecular Biology | 6.1% | |
| Generalist Duties | 5.8% | |
| Medical, Dental, or Ophthalmic Laboratory Technician | Wound Care | 2.8% |
| CAD/CAM | 1.8% | |
| Casting | 0.6% | |
| Occupation | Top 3 Skills/Specialties | Pay Boost |
| Meeting, Convention, or Event Planner | Strategic Marketing | 9.4% |
| Project Management | 6.1% | |
| Budget Management | 6.0% | |
| Natural Sciences Manager | Engineering Design | 8.0% |
| Technical Writing | 5.9% | |
| Problem Solving | 4.0% | |
| News Analyst, Reporter or Correspondent | Financial Reporting | 10.6% |
| Video Editing | 1.8% | |
| Social Media Optimization | 0.7% | |
| Nuclear Engineer | Project Management | 5.6% |
| Engineering Design | 3.6% | |
| Technical Analysis | 2.5% | |
| Nurse Anesthetist | Obstetrics | 9.1% |
| Pediatrics | 6.8% | |
| Obstetrical Anesthesia | 6.2% | |
| Nurse Practitioner | Emergency Room | 6.9% |
| Dermatology | 5.3% | |
| Pain Management | 4.1% | |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialist or Technician | Risk Management / Risk Control | 5.2% |
| Regulatory Compliance | 4.7% | |
| Microsoft Word | 3.8% | |
| Operations Research Analyst | R (programming language) | 11.9% |
| Automation Scripting | 10.0% | |
| Statistical Analysis System | 9.1% | |
| Paralegal or Legal Assistant | Prosecution | 10.8% |
| Data Analysis | 10.7% | |
| Concordance Discovery Management Software | 10.6% | |
| Petroleum Engineer | Microsoft Excel | 7.8% |
| Well Production Engineering | 6.3% | |
| Simulation | 4.1% | |
| Pharmacist | Operations Management | 6.4% |
| Oncology | 4.0% | |
| Critical Care | 3.8% | |
| Physician Assistant | Emergency Medicine | 9.4% |
| Psychiatry | 6.5% | |
| General Surgery | 5.6% | |
| Physician or Surgeon | Obstetrics | 17.8% |
| Critical Care | 15.8% | |
| Emergency Medicine | 12.9% | |
| Podiatrist | Surgery | 7.2% |
| Medicine / Surgery | 1.7% | |
| Wound Care | 1.6% | |
| Property, Real Estate, or Community Association Manager | Financial Analysis | 8.6% |
| Negotiation | 7.7% | |
| Budget Management | 6.4% | |
| Psychologist | Health and Wellness | 6.3% |
| Pain Management | 5.0% | |
| Clinical Supervision | 3.3% | |
| Public Relations or Fundraising Manager | Strategic Planning | 6.7% |
| Branding | 5.0% | |
| Corporate Communications | 4.5% | |
| Purchasing Manager | Business Analysis | 10.7% |
| Product Development | 10.2% | |
| Strategic Planning | 8.7% | |
| Real Estate Broker or Sales Agent | Property Management | 4.3% |
| Customer Relations | 1.5% | |
| Leasing Software | 1.3% | |
| Registered Nurse | Trauma Intensive Care Unit | 4.7% |
| Open Heart | 4.4% | |
| Pediatric Intensive Care Unit | 3.9% | |
| Sales Engineer | IT Security & Infrastructure | 22.2% |
| Cisco Networking | 15.5% | |
| Field Sales | 9.1% | |
| Sales Representative (Wholesale and Manufacturing) | Strategic Planning | 10.1% |
| Financial Analysis | 10.0% | |
| Business Analysis | 8.0% | |
| Secondary School Teacher | Leadership | 3.2% |
| Information Technology Support | 2.7% | |
| Mathematica | 1.3% | |
| Secretary or Administrative Assistant | Event Management | 12.3% |
| Information Technology Support | 11.9% | |
| Benefits Administration | 8.7% | |
| Securities, Commodities, or Financial Services Sales Agent | Investment Management | 11.2% |
| Financial Analysis | 5.4% | |
| Business Development | 2.8% | |
| Social or Community Service Manager | Clinical Supervision | 8.4% |
| Budget Management | 7.5% | |
| Counseling | 7.0% | |
| Occupation | Top 3 Skills/Specialties | Pay Boost |
| Social Worker | Utilization Review | 18.1% |
| Hospice Care | 14.4% | |
| Oncology | 9.8% | |
| Sociologist | Research Analysis | 5.5% |
| Legislative Policy | 4.4% | |
| Policy Analysis | 3.5% | |
| Software Developer or Programmer | Machine Learning | 25.2% |
| Scala | 21.5% | |
| Algorithm Development | 18.9% | |
| Statistical Assistant | PL/SQL | 13.7% |
| Financial Modeling | 12.3% | |
| R (programming language) | 11.8% | |
| Statistician | Data Modeling | 7.9% |
| Data Mining / Data Warehouse | 5.0% | |
| SQL | 4.3% | |
| Survey Researcher | Financial Modeling | 28.2% |
| R (programming language) | 16.5% | |
| Tableau Software | 13.6% | |
| Surveying or Mapping Technician | Computer Aided Drafting & Design | 5.1% |
| Global Positioning Systems | 4.7% | |
| AutoCAD | 2.9% | |
| Surveyor, Cartographer, or Photogrammetrists | AutoCAD Civil 3D | 4.8% |
| Global Positioning Systems | 2.6% | |
| Land Surveying | 2.5% | |
| Tax Examiner, Collector or Preparer, or Revenue Agent | Legal Research | 9.1% |
| Tax Consulting | 3.2% | |
| Auditing | 3.1% | |
| Teacher Assistant | Spanish Language | 3.2% |
| Curriculum Planning | 1.3% | |
| Activities for Children | 0.1% | |
| Television, Video, or Motion Picture Camera Operator or Editor | Adobe InDesign | 8.5% |
| Project Management | 5.0% | |
| Microsoft Office | 2.0% | |
| Teller | Account Sales | 11.0% |
| Sales Management | 8.6% | |
| Operations Management | 5.8% | |
| Therapist | Geriatrics | 3.4% |
| Home Care | 3.2% | |
| Home Health / Home Care | 2.7% | |
| Training and Development Manager | Strategic Planning | 13.1% |
| Change Management | 8.9% | |
| Leadership | 6.2% | |
| Training and Development Specialist | Clinical Education | 14.4% |
| Project Coordinating | 6.8% | |
| Leave of Absence Administration | 6.6% | |
| Transportation, Storage, or Distribution Manager | SAP Materials Management | 10.1% |
| Risk Management / Risk Control | 6.3% | |
| Budget Management | 5.8% | |
| Urban or Regional Planner | Project Management | 6.5% |
| Adobe InDesign | 4.7% | |
| Graphic Design | 3.7% | |
| Veterinarian | Anesthesia | 5.0% |
| Emergency Medicine | 4.3% | |
| Phlebotomy | 3.7% | |
| Writer or Editor | Advertising | 6.5% |
| Strategic Marketing | 5.5% | |
| Dreamweaver | 5.0% |