If you’re feeling stuck in your job and wondering how people reach the $200,000 salary mark, you’re not alone.
On Reddit, someone posted a question asking what people do to earn $200,000 or more per year and how they achieved this level of success.
Many people chimed in to share what they do, how they got there, and what they wish they knew earlier.
Turns out, there are a few standout paths that come up again and again, and many of them don’t require Ivy League degrees.
1. Sales: The Most Mentioned $200K Career
If there’s one clear takeaway from the thread, it’s this: sales dominates.
Whether it’s tech, software, medical devices, or even cars, sales roles repeatedly came up as the quickest and most common route to $200K.
One person shared, “Started at 19 selling lawn supplies at a big box store, moved to cars, then guns, then insurance, and I’m now back in cars on the fleet side. Took me 10 years from start to finish, and five jobs to hit $200K.”
Many in sales emphasized the importance of switching companies every few years to get significant pay bumps.
Roles like key account manager, territory manager, and sales director were frequently mentioned.
2. Tech and Engineering: Consistent High Earners
Tech continues to be a reliable path to high earnings, even outside of FAANG companies.
Software engineers, cybersecurity leads, cloud architects, and IT directors all reported total compensation well above $200K.
One person working as a software engineer said, “$450K/year—good work-life balance now. Grinded in college and early career. I’m 37 now with three kids and just hoping the robots don’t steal my job.”
Another added, “In-demand tech skills (Not FAANG, btw), constantly finding out what the in-demand tech skills are and adding them to my resume… switching jobs every few years.”
Some had nontraditional degrees or even started in support roles and worked their way up.
A few had MBAs, but most success stories were built more on adaptability, networking, and knowing how to communicate technical ideas clearly.
3. Healthcare and Pharma: High Pay, Long Roads
Healthcare showed up a lot too, but it usually takes longer to hit that kind of income.
People mentioned nurse anesthetists, nurse practitioners, dentists, and doctors as common examples in the $200K-and-up crowd.
Others reached high earnings in pharmaceutical or clinical development roles.
One person shared, “Went from $45K five years ago to $250K annually. I work from home and travel for conferences and meetings. I wanted to be a physician and failed at it, but fell in love with research.”
4. Trades, Heavy Machinery, and Energy: Big Bucks, Less Talked About
Surprisingly, many tradespeople reported breaking into high earnings without college degrees.
Roles included junk haulers, gravel delivery operators, elevator techs, and heavy machinery operators.
One mentioned earning over $200K with “no degree, but about four years of training and building up experience.”
In oil and gas, both engineers and technicians frequently cited salaries over $200K, often tied to travel or international assignments. One offshore engineer reported making $220K at age 30.
5. Finance, Accounting, and Law: Still Strong Earning Paths
Finance careers, especially in capital markets, investing, and corporate strateg, were well represented.
CPAs, financial consultants, and M&A analysts all shared income ranges north of $200K.
A few did it through Big 4 accounting firms, others by starting their own firms or getting into niche advisory roles.
One person wrote: “Do a commerce degree and work in finance, or accounting.”
Lawyers who hit the $200K+ level had typically been practicing 10+ years or worked in-house at corporations. Stress and burnout were common tradeoffs.
6. Creative and Business Owners: The Wild Cards
A few creatives reached these earnings through unique mixes of talent, side hustles and investing.
One VP-level designer said they made themselves valuable in multiple ways, including licensing artwork, having an Etsy store, and getting in early on Bitcoin and Nvidia.
Plenty of others hit $200K or more by building small service businesses after gaining experience in areas like marketing, real estate, or design.
Lessons From the $200K Club
Common advice across industries included:
- Switch jobs every 2–3 years to stay competitive and get raises.
- Avoid relying solely on internal promotions.
- Develop soft skills like communication, problem-solving, and leadership.
- Be the person who makes their boss’s life easier.
- Take calculated risks and embrace opportunities, even if you’re not fully ready.
One person shared a mentor’s advice: “Your 20s are for gaining experience. Move around. Find something you like. Your 30s are for getting good at what you chose… Your 40s+ might be when you are the boss.”
A lot of people earning over $200K said they got there by staying persistent, making smart moves, and not being afraid to change jobs when the time was right.
If you’re feeling stuck, the road to a higher paycheck might take effort, but it’s not out of reach.
You might be closer than you think.