The Highest-Paying Industries in the U.S. for 2025
While the United States remains one of the top-paying countries in the world, average salaries vary widely depending on the industry.
Using the latest data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) as of March 2025, this breakdown ranks average annual earnings across key private-sector industries. Salaries were calculated by multiplying average weekly earnings by 52.
💼 Top-Paying Industries in 2025
The national average salary across all private U.S. industries is roughly $64,000 per year. Leading the pack is the utilities sector, where the average annual income reaches nearly $114,000.
Here’s how each major industry stacks up in terms of average annual earnings:
| Industry | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Utilities | $113,823 |
| Information | $99,602 |
| Mining and Logging | $92,065 |
| Financial Activities | $92,021 |
| Professional and Business Services | $82,639 |
| Construction | $80,191 |
| Wholesale Trade | $77,749 |
| Manufacturing | $73,498 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | $62,118 |
| Private Education and Health Services | $59,701 |
| Other Services | $53,728 |
| Retail Trade | $38,757 |
| Leisure and Hospitality | $30,167 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, March 2025.
⚡ Why Utilities Comes Out on Top
Jobs in the utilities sector—such as electric power generation—are not only in high demand, but also among the fastest-growing in the country. Careers like wind turbine technician and solar photovoltaic installer are driving the sector’s growth and commanding strong salaries.
The information industry, which includes software development, data services, and other tech-based roles, comes in second with an average salary nearing $100,000. It’s also one of the most profitable industries in the U.S.
Other strong performers include mining and logging and financial activities, both offering average salaries above $92,000. Meanwhile, industries like professional services, construction, and manufacturing also beat the national average.
🧾 Industries on the Lower End
At the bottom of the list is the leisure and hospitality sector, with an average annual salary of just over $30,000. Close behind is retail trade, which employs millions but offers a modest average income of $38,757. Despite their size and economic contribution, these sectors continue to struggle with wage growth.
📈 Which Industries Are Hiring the Fastest?
Over the 12-month period ending April 2025, the private education and health services sector led job creation, adding 894,000 new positions—about 70% of which were in health care.
Other growing industries:
- Leisure and Hospitality: +225,000 jobs
- Transportation and Warehousing: +151,000 jobs
- Construction: +143,000 jobs
Meanwhile, the public sector added 322,000 jobs, though the Federal government saw a slight decline of 6,000 positions.