Source: Wikimedia Commons 
 
 25. Akamai 
 
 > Median total compensation: $140,000 
 
 > Industry: Tech 
 
 > Headquarters: Cambridge, MA 
 
 Responsible for the distributed computing platform that handles as much as 30% of the world’s web traffic on a typical day, Akamai’s software engineers must have substantial programming skill and experience. According to Glassdoor, the average senior software engineer at Akamai needs at least five years experience with C++ and internet protocols such as TCP/IP, UDP/IP, and HTTP to be qualified, and earns between $121,000 and $161,000 a year. 
 
 Source: Wikimedia Commons 
 
 24. Palo Alto Networks 
 
 > Median total compensation: $140,020 
 
 > Industry: Tech 
 
 > Headquarters: Santa Clara, CA 
 
 Palo Alto Networks is a cybersecurity company that provides firewall technology to more than 31,000 customers worldwide, including the vast majority of Fortune 100 companies. A rapidly growing company, Palo Alto Networks attracts and retains its employees with some of the highest salaries in the tech industry. The typical company employee earns $140,020 annually, more than the average salary for all software engineer positions reported on Glassdoor of $95,195 and far more than the $51,336 median for all job postings on the site. 
 
 23. F5 Networks 
 
 > Median total compensation: $140,555 
 
 > Industry: Tech 
 
 > Headquarters: Seattle, WA 
 
 Founded in 1996, F5 Networks has grown from its first $1 million sales month in December 1998 to $2 billion in annual revenue in fiscal 2016. F5 Networks has managed to maintain its rapid growth through a number of large acquisitions and by attracting top talent with some of the most competitive salaries in the tech industry. The typical F5 employee earns $140,555 annually, far more than the $95,195 average for all software engineer positions reported on Glassdoor. 
 
 22. Twitter 
 
 > Median total compensation: $142,000 
 
 > Industry: Tech 
 
 > Headquarters: San Francisco, CA 
 
 San Francisco-based Twitter’s stock price has plunged approximately 65% since its 2013 IPO, disappointing many shareholders. The social media company’s 3,860 employees have less to complain about, however, as the majority of those working in the U.S. earn over $140,000 a year. 
 
 Source: Wikimedia Commons 
 
 21. Visa Inc. 
 
 > Median total compensation: $142,000 
 
 > Industry: Finance 
 
 > Headquarters: Foster City, CA 
 
 One of the older companies on this list, Visa was founded in 1958 and has since grown to become one of the largest credit card networks in the world. The typical Visa employee earns $142,000 annually, far more than the $51,336 median for all job postings on Glassdoor. ||||| American wages vary widely, from the minimum wage to six-figure salaries, and more. Often, it is the industry, in addition to the job, that determines the level of pay. 
 
 The highest-paying jobs tend to be found in tech firms, consulting groups, medical facilities, and financial institutions. In certain companies in these industries, it is not just the top tier of earners that are paid well. At some companies, the typical employee earns six figures. 
 
 Based on figures provided by employee review website Glassdoor in a report titled “Glassdoor’s Highest Paying Companies in America for 2017,” 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the highest paying companies in America. Consulting firm A.T. Kearney leads U.S. companies with workers reporting a median total annual compensation of $175,000. Technology company Akamai rounds out the top 25 with a median compensation of $140,000 a year. 
 
 Click here to see America’s highest paying companies. 
 
 While jobs that require hard work do not necessarily pay more, occupations that require advanced skill and education levels tend to pay much more than most. An education increases workers’ skill sets, making them more valuable to employers. The additional cost of education also means employers in a field must sometimes offer greater compensation as an incentive to invest in higher education. 
 
 In the United States, the typical worker with just a high school diploma earns about $29,000 a year. The median annual earnings for an American worker with a bachelor’s degree is nearly $51,000, and the typical holder of a professional degree earns about $67,000 a year. 
 
 The companies that pay their employees the most operate primarily in two industries: consulting and tech. Only one of the top 25 paying companies, Visa, does not fall into one of these two categories. These 25 companies offer high salaries to attract some of the nation’s most highly-skilled workers. The typical job at these companies likely requires at least a bachelor’s degree, and many workers at consulting firms also have MBAs. 
 
 “This report reinforces that high pay continues to be tied to in-demand skills and higher education, which in part is why we see several companies on this list among the consulting and technology industries,” said Dr. Andrew Chamberlain, chief economist at Glassdoor. 
 
 Chamberlain went on to add that there are other barriers to entry driving up salaries at these companies. Those applying for jobs at consulting firms are often hired in part based on their reputations and personal contacts in the industry. All of these demands minimize the talent pool of workers and drive up wages at these companies. 
 
 To identify the 25 highest paying jobs in America, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed companies with the highest median total compensation package (including base salary and other forms of compensation, such as commissions, tips, bonuses, etc.), as reported by U.S.-based employees on Glassdoor over the past year (3/2/16 – 3/1/17) published in Glassdoor’s 25 Highest Paying Companies in America for 2017. Companies considered for this report must have received at least 50 salary reports in U.S. currency by U.S-based employees during the timeframe. Only companies for which all forms of compensation were reported were considered. 
 
 These are America’s highest paying companies.
– If you're offered a job at any of these companies in the US, you best take it. According to 24/7 Wall St, they're the highest-paying employers. The top 10, all within the consulting or tech industries, along with the median total compensation per year: AT Kearney: $175,000 Strategy&: $172,000 VMware: $167,050 Splunk: $161,010 Cadence Design Systems: $156,702 Google: $155,250 Facebook: $155,000 Nvidia: $154,000 McKinsey & Company: $153,000 Amazon Lab126: $152,800 Click for the full list of 25 or see the top jobs in the US.