How to Get a High-Paying Job (With Helpful Tips and FAQs)

Updated February 11, 2023

As an employee, your career goals may involve becoming more highly paid as you move through jobs. A high-paying job offers stability and financial security and can help you achieve your professional and personal goals. Understanding how to develop your skills and resume can help you to secure a position with better pay. In this article, we discuss how to get a high-paying job, share tips to guide you, and answer frequently asked questions ( FAQs) on the subject.

How to get a high-paying job

You can follow these steps to understand how to get a high-paying job that offers better financial security:

1. Improve your performance in your current position

Performing well at your current job can show that you're a valuable and competent employee. This can be helpful if you're looking for a higher-paid position with the company or seeking employment elsewhere. You may attract your employer's attention by excelling in your job, leading to a raise. Diligent working may also help you to achieve positive results that you can discuss when seeking a high-paying position.

2. Build your professional network

A useful resource that may help you secure a high-paying job is a network of experts. You can meet and connect with these experts by attending networking events, seminars, and conferences within the field. You can introduce yourself and interact with them during or after the event. Aside from assisting you in securing a high-paying job, these experts can provide mentorship and help you excel in your current position. They may do this by offering advice and guidance on setting and meeting career goals.

3. Develop your skills

High-paying positions typically require an extensive set of skills and knowledge. When searching for a better job, it can be helpful to develop your skills to meet the position's requirements. Adding new skills to your resume may make you a competitive candidate for promotions within your current job or during a job search. Do some research into the position that you intend to apply for to identify the skills or certifications that may increase your employment chances.

4. Seek new responsibilities

Aside from developing the skills necessary to assume a higher-paid position, it may be beneficial to build your knowledge and experience by taking on new responsibilities. You can seek and accept duties in your current role that enable you to use your newly-acquired skills to complete an objective. These additional responsibilities may help you to secure a raise that aligns with your current workload. You may also consider other options, such as volunteering, internship, or apprenticeship.

5. Research your current position and salary

You can assess whether you're receiving fair compensation for your services by researching how much people in comparable roles are earning. Your research may include colleagues at your current job and within the industry. The more knowledge you gather about your current compensation, the easier it may be to find opportunities that align with the compensation you deserve.

6. Explore internal options

If you're currently working with a company and find the work environment satisfactory, you may consider seeking promotion opportunities within the company. Many employers prefer filling mid- and senior-level positions internally, so you can discover your promotion options by making relevant enquiries. If the company isn't currently looking to fill any higher positions, you may be able to gain insight into future openings that may increase your rank and compensation.

7. Check job listings

You can expand your employment options by reviewing job listings for high-paying jobs. The skills and experiences you've developed may make you a competitive and appealing candidate for these positions. Building your skills and experience may help to elevate your status, and your network may inform you of open positions or provide a reference.

8. Update your resume and submit your application

Update your resume to outline the new skills you've gained and your achievements from accepting new responsibilities. Choose a resume format that aligns with your skills and experiences to highlight your strengths. A chronological format is often suitable, but a functional or hybrid format may be preferable if you have minimal experience in your desired field. When sending your application, customize your resume's content for each job. Using the relevant keywords from the job posting can enhance your ranking on the applicant tracking system that hiring managers use to streamline recruitment.

Tips to guide you when seeking high-paying positions

The following tips may guide you when seeking a high-paying job:

Improve your education

You can distinguish yourself from other candidates applying for the same position by pursuing additional education. This can be particularly beneficial if you have gaps in your employment history because personal development and education may compensate. You may consider pursuing a postgraduate degree or other certifications to boost your resume and improve your qualifications. Researching the job to understand its requirements can help you make strategic decisions.

Get a career coach

Using a career coach can be an effective strategy when searching for a high-paying position because they can help you attain your career goals faster. These experts can identify your strengths and distinctive aspects of your professional experience and assist you in marketing them to potential employers. They can also help you to develop your professional network and draft a long-term career plan.

Develop leadership skills

As many high-paying positions involve leadership responsibilities, it's a good idea to build and improve your leadership abilities. With these skills, you can manage, guide, and motivate others effectively. Consider volunteering to lead groups or projects to gain valuable experience and develop these skills.

FAQs on securing a high-paying job

Here are some FAQs about securing a high-paying position:

How can I tell if a job is high paying?

You can find out if a job is high paying by researching the average compensation for that role within the industry. Streamlining this research by your location or province may provide you with a more accurate understanding. It's worth noting that people may have different expectations of a high salary. While some professions and industries generally pay better than others, the compensation you consider high may depend on your past salaries, circumstances, or what's usual for your chosen field.

Do I need a degree to secure a high-paying position?

While many high-paying positions require an undergraduate or postgraduate degree, there may be others that don't. Investing in your skills and career development may make securing a high-paying job more achievable regardless of your educational background. After identifying the position you want, you can do some research to understand the educational requirements.

When is it necessary to consider a higher-paying job?

Monetary compensation may not be the only reason for seeking a high-paying job. Your happiness and work satisfaction are also important. Even when you work in your desired field, you may seek better opportunities if you're not getting appropriate compensation for your efforts and time. Here are some reasons you may consider seeking better opportunities:

Absence of raise: After working at a company for an extended period of time, you may expect to receive regular raises that recognize your performance and the cost of living. You may want to seek better opportunities if there's no compensation for your long-term service.
Improved performance: Becoming more familiar with your job enables you to develop and refine required skills, which results in improved performance. As this makes the company more productive, you may expect a performance-based pay increase.
Under-utilization of your skills: If you feel that your current employer is not taking advantage of your skills and that you can manage more, you may consider looking for better opportunities. Finding a position that aligns with your skill set may provide better compensation and be more fulfilling.

How to Get a High-Paying Job (With Helpful Tips and FAQs)