Summary:
Only 12% of top-paying jobs are remote, mostly in the medical field.
Holding an advanced degree is crucial for landing high-paying positions.
Post-pandemic, companies are reversing remote work policies and linking pay to in-person attendance.
Remote jobs paying $200,000+ have declined from 37% to 12% since Q3 2022.
Job seekers must now choose between high pay or remote work flexibility.
The Dream of Remote High-Paying Jobs
Being able to save years of studying and debt by skipping college in favor of landing a $200,000 job that lets you work from home straight out of high school sounds like the dream. However, this is not the reality for most high-paying positions.
The Reality of Remote Work
While companies are increasingly dropping degree requirements and allowing remote work, these roles rarely lead to the big bucks. According to research from Ladders, only about 12% of the top-paying jobs listed are remote. The majority of these high-paying positions are found in the medical field, which typically requires extensive education and training.
The Importance of Advanced Degrees
John Mullinix, Ladders' director of marketing, states, “If you want the highest-paying jobs, you should hold an advanced degree and expect to work in person. If you are willing to do those two things, you will face low competition for jobs in your field.”
Shifting Trends Post-Pandemic
After the Great Resignation, where 50.5 million people left their jobs in 2022 for better pay, companies have begun to reverse their remote work policies. They are now walking back promises to keep remote work as a permanent option and are linking pay and career progression to in-person presence.
Declining Remote Opportunities for High Earners
Ladders’ data reveals a concerning trend: remote-work opportunities for high wage earners have decreased every quarter since Q3 2022. Remote listings for jobs paying $200,000 or more dropped from 37% to just 12% between Q3 2022 and Q4 2023. Conversely, in-person roles for top-paid jobs increased from 59% to nearly 85% in the same period.
The Choice Between Pay and Flexibility
Interestingly, the shift between in-person and remote roles offering over $200,000 is similar across both the tech and non-tech sectors. Mullinix concluded, “Applicants increasingly have to choose between going with the biggest paycheck or getting to stay home.”
Comments
Join Our Community
Create an account to share your thoughts, engage with others, and be part of our growing community.