7 careers most likely to put you on a millionaire track before retirement, according to Reader's Digest

Most people think of becoming a millionaire as a matter of luck, inheritance, or venture capital stakes. The data suggests a simpler rule: certain careers pay enough — combined with consistent saving — to cross the seven-figure mark by retirement. That idea underpins Reader’s Digest’s list of professions where strong compensation, career longevity, and benefit structures make hitting $1 million in earnings and savings plausible over a full working life.

In those profiles, a handful of fields stand out. Some are obvious: technology and finance roles that have boomed over recent decades. Others come from sectors you might not expect — caregiving roles whose salaries, while moderate relative to tech, can still yield a solid wealth base with discipline and time. Franklin-style wealth building — earning enough to save and invest while costs are controlled — is central to all these paths.

What ties these careers together isn’t just high pay. It’s the combination of stable income growth, opportunities for advancement, and credentials that unlock premium compensation. High starting salaries matter, but longevity and upward mobility — plus retirement plans, bonuses, and profession-specific perks — tilt the odds toward early millionaire status.

Below are seven careers drawn from RD’s research that illustrate the earning pathways most likely to push workers into seven-figure territory before they retire.

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Engineering remains one of the most reliable paths to high earnings over a career. In Reader’s Digest’s lineup, engineers span disciplines from civil to electrical, and all share robust compensation trajectories that outpace inflation and often come with bonuses and stock options.

An engineer’s earning curve typically starts above many other professions and rises with experience and specialization. Early assignments may deal with design and analysis, but midcareer engineers frequently step into project leadership, systems architecture, or management roles — each accompanied by significant salary increases. With disciplined saving over decades, that cumulative income can translate into a seven-figure nest egg before traditional retirement age.

Importantly, engineering salary growth reflects real-world value: companies pay up for problem-solvers who keep products, infrastructure, and technology running. That value translates to sustained earnings potential, reflecting why RD includes engineers among careers linked with millionaire outcomes.

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Becoming a certified public accountant gives professionals access to high-value work at the intersection of finance, tax, and corporate strategy. RD’s list highlights CPAs as a wealth-friendly career largely because of their steady, above-average incomes and demand across sectors.

CPAs often start with solid salaries in public accounting or corporate finance, and many go on to partnership roles or executive financial positions that bring compensation packages well into six figures. Add client billings, consulting work, or fractional CFO engagements, and the upside increases further. With longevity in the field, those earnings compound into substantial lifetime income.

The appeal for aspiring millionaires is that CPAs rarely rely on speculative income swings. Annual raises, certifications, and diverse employer demand keep compensation predictable and robust — ideal conditions for disciplined savings over decades.

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At first glance, teaching doesn’t scream millionaire-maker. Yet Reader’s Digest includes teachers precisely because, over long careers, consistent income combined with retirement benefits and disciplined saving can yield a seven-figure outcome.

Public and private school teachers may start with moderate salaries, but many accrue pension benefits, solid retirement plans, and incremental pay increases tied to experience or advanced credentials. In some districts, summer programs, leadership roles, and supplemental instruction add to total compensation.

For those who avoid lifestyle creep and contribute steadily to retirement accounts, teachers’ predictable career income — even without explosive peaks — can stack into substantial wealth over 30 to 40 working years. It’s a model built on consistency more than blockbuster paychecks.

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Human resources managers sit in a unique career sweet spot: they’re indispensable to organisations but also well compensated, especially at senior levels. That makes this HR leadership track a viable path to accumu­lated wealth, according to RD’s list.

Early roles in HR focus on recruiting, compliance, and employee relations, often at solid salaries. As HR professionals attain management and director titles, their compensation climbs into six figures, and executive titles bring bonuses and long-term incentives. In industries such as tech, healthcare, and finance, total rewards packages for HR leaders can rival those of other business units.

For professionals who navigate HR career ladders well, decades of steady income and benefits — particularly retirement match programs — make it possible to build a million-dollar portfolio without the dramatic peaks of sales or engineering pay.

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Software developers are central to the digital economy, and RD’s list reflects how powerful that can be for lifetime earnings. Development roles start with strong compensation and often include equity, bonuses, and rapid growth opportunities.

The tech sector has a well-documented trend of rising developer pay tied to demand for apps, infrastructure, and digital services. Over a career, many developers move into system architecture, product leadership, or technology management roles — each adding higher salary tiers.

Beyond base pay, stock options and performance bonuses amplify total earnings. Even outside the highest-profile tech hubs, developers can earn well above median salaries in many global markets, which makes disciplined saving and investment a realistic route to millionaire status.

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Sales managers combine leadership with direct impact on revenue, and RD’s list names this as a career with strong millionaire potential. Compensation structures in sales often include commissions and performance bonuses that push total earnings above base salary.

At the management level, professionals influence strategy, coach teams, and handle key accounts — all activities tied to higher pay tiers. In many sectors, sales compensation scales rapidly with results, meaning the top quarter of performers can average well into six figures.

Critical to the wealth-building argument is that sales managers often enjoy variable pay on top of base pay, which can accelerate income growth if targets are met consistently. Over decades, that can make a significant difference in cumulative earnings.

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Reader’s Digest includes airline pilots as a career with solid earnings through longevity and industry pay scales. Pilots often enter with specialized credentials and accrue significant pay increases with experience and seniority on major carriers.

Once fully qualified, airline pilots regularly earn higher pay bands compared with many other professional careers. Combined with benefits such as travel perks, retirement plans, and potential for overtime, total compensation can be a strong foundation for long-term savings.

For individuals who commit to disciplined saving and manage lifestyle costs, decades of pilot pay can stack into seven figures by retirement, especially in unionized or high-demand markets.