Industries where its easiest to earn first six figures

Study ranks U.S. industries on how quickly workers reach six figures, analyzing pay, hours, growth, and workforce trends.

• Healthcare is the industry where it’s easiest to make the first $100K, with workers earning it in just a year and a half.
• Physical and skilled trade sectors, such as construction, help workers reach six figures more quickly than many white-collar fields.
• The information industry pays the highest hourly wage at $52.60, allowing workers to reach a six-figure salary in just 52 weeks.
• Nearly one-quarter of all new U.S. jobs created over the next decade are expected to offer six-figure salaries.

A new study by Gambulls set out to identify the industries where reaching the first $100K comes fastest.

The analysis considered two key employment factors: the number of weeks needed to reach a six-figure income and the industry’s projected employment growth rate. These were combined into a final score, ranking industries on ease of earning.

Additional context was provided by looking at hourly wages, average weekly hours, and workforce size.

Here is a summary of the findings:

1. Health Care

Health care is the easiest sector in which to reach a six-figure salary, earning a score of 99.

More than 23.4 million people work in the field, nearly double the workforce of any other industry included in the ranking. Employment is also growing faster than in any other ranked sector, at 2.9%.

The average worker earns approximately $35 per hour and works around 35 hours per week, taking about 85 weeks to earn $100,000.

2. Finance

Finance ranks second, with a score of 81.

Employees can earn their first $100,000 in approximately 54 weeks, while working around 35 hours per week.

The industry offers an average hourly rate of approximately $48, making it one of the highest-paying fields in the ranking. Employment growth remains steady at 0.8%, supporting a workforce of around 6.75 million people.

3. Construction

Construction ranks third among the easiest industries in which to reach a six-figure income, receiving a score of 80.

Employment in the sector is growing at 1.2%, nearly twice the rate recorded in finance. Its workforce of 8.31 million people is the second largest in the ranking.

Construction workers earn approximately $40 per hour, allowing them to reach $100,000 in around 64 weeks.

4. Utilities

Utilities ranks fourth, with a score of 79.

Workers in this sector reach six figures faster than those in any other ranked industry, taking only 46 weeks, or less than one year.

Employment growth remains steady at 1.1%, while average hourly pay stands at approximately $52, the second-highest rate in the ranking.

5. Information

Information rounds out the top five industries where it is easiest to earn $100,000, receiving a score of 77.

It offers the highest hourly pay of any ranked industry, at approximately $53 per hour. Workers also have one of the shortest average working weeks, at around 37 hours.

This combination allows employees to reach $100,000 in approximately 52 weeks, the second-shortest timeframe overall.

6. Manufacturing

Manufacturing ranks sixth, with a score of 72.

The sector employs approximately 12.73 million people, making it one of the largest workforces included in the study.

Workers earn approximately $35 per hour and generally work around 35 hours per week, reaching their first $100,000 in approximately 71 weeks.

7. Real Estate

Real estate ranks seventh among the industries where it is easiest to earn six figures, receiving a score of 65.

Employment in the industry is growing at 1.9%, the second-highest growth rate in the ranking.

Employees typically work around 36 hours per week and earn approximately $35 per hour, allowing them to reach $100,000 in around 78 weeks.

8. Mining, Oil & Gas

Mining, oil and gas ranks eighth, with a score of 63.

Workers can reach $100,000 in approximately 54 weeks, the same timeframe recorded for finance.

Employees earn around $48 per hour and generally work approximately 37 hours per week, creating a relatively short path to a six-figure income.

9. Transportation

Transportation ranks ninth, with a score of 62.

Employment in the sector is growing at approximately 1.2%, matching the growth rate recorded in construction.

Workers earn around $32 per hour and typically work a standard workweek, reaching their first $100,000 in approximately 76 weeks.

10. Education

Education completes the ranking, receiving a score of 53.

The sector recorded annual employment growth of approximately 1.1%, matching the growth rate in utilities.

Education employees work around 33 hours per week and earn approximately $31 per hour. At this rate, workers need around 96 weeks to earn their first $100,000.

A spokesperson from Gambulls commented: “Hitting six figures isn’t only about pay; it also reflects how industries value skills, responsibility, and risk. Some sectors reward specialized expertise or critical impact, while others rely on scale and consistency. Understanding this helps frame career growth beyond just dollars.”