Top 100 Highest Paying Jobs & Careers in the U.S of All Time
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| Higest paying jobs in America. Photo: KnowInsiders |
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Healthcare jobs topped the list of the highest-paying jobs, and the sector’s future is very bright in the US. Though high-paying jobs are at the top of many people's lists when searching for a new position or career, jobs that pay well are not important to all job seekers. If a good salary is important to you, check out our list of the highest-paying jobs.
When you’re deciding what career to pursue, there are plenty of factors to consider. You want to choose a job that feels well-suited to your skillset and needs, your experience, your interests, and your personality.
What Are The Highest Paying Jobs and Careers in America?
1. Anesthesiologists: $271,440
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| Photo: Stacker |
The BLS defines anesthesiologists as physicians who “administer anesthetics and analgesics for pain management prior to, during, or after surgery.” This highly specialized career has topped the list of highest-earning professions.
Work hours for an anesthesiologist follow the schedule of the operating room, which can be long and unpredictable. That’s because anesthesiologists need to be there for both scheduled surgeries and emergency procedures, such as traumatic events and childbirth.
Education — Following four years of medical school, aspiring anesthesiologists in the U.S. typically complete a four-year residency in anesthesiology and possibly even more, depending on the subspecialty.
Job Outlook — Overall, employment is expected to drop 1% over the next decade, according to the BLS.
2. Surgeons: $251,650
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| Photo: OwlGuru |
Surgeons top the list of the highest paying careers due to the critical nature of their job. A surgeon's profession involves high risk and requires extensive knowledge and a long learning path; the necessary ingredients for a high paying career.
Although becoming a surgeon requires several years of specialized training, these physicians are rewarded with one of the highest-paying careers. Surgeons may find themselves working long, irregular hours, depending on their specialty. While those focusing on preventative and elective surgeries may have a more predictable schedule, surgeons working in fields such as trauma or neurosurgery often work extended, even overnight, shifts.
Surgeons perform operations to treat broken bones and diseases, such as cancer. Surgeons help manage the patient’s care before and after surgery. Even when they’re not scheduled for work, a surgeon may need to address patient concerns over the phone, and on-call surgeons sometimes make emergency trips to a hospital.
* Education — Becoming a surgeon requires the successful completion of medical school, a multi-year residency program, and sometimes a specialized fellowship.
* Job Outlook — Overall, employment is projected to increase 3% over the next decade, according to the BLS.
3. Obstetricians-Gynecologists: $239,120
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| Photo: Worldwide Tweets |
Doctors specializing in vaginal, ovarian, uterine, and cervical reproductive health and childbirth, known as obstetricians-gynecologists, or OB-GYNs, make slightly more than the annual wages listed for orthodontists and oral and maxillofacial surgeons.
Successful OB-GYNs are good at communicating information to patients that improve their health and that of their babies. They also excel at handling high-stress situations—most notably childbirths—that can occur at odd hours of the day.
Education — Becoming an OB-GYN requires graduation from medical school as well as the completion of an obstetrics program and a gynecology residency program, which typically last four years. Afterward, these physicians have to pass a licensure exam before they begin to practice.
Job Outlook — The number of OB-GYN jobs is expected to decrease by 2% by 2030, according to the BLS.
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4. Orthodontists: $237,990
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| Photo: Sierra Dental & Orthodontics |
Orthodontists specialize in corrective measures for the teeth and are often referred out by the patients’ dentists. These doctors frequently take X-rays, apply braces, create mouth guards, and perform other procedures as needed.
High-achieving orthodontists require good communication skills, as they work with patients directly, plus strong analytical and problem-solving abilities. While some work for large orthodontic offices, others own their own practice, which requires strong management skills.
* Education — After earning a college degree, future orthodontists need to complete a dental school program that involves classroom and clinical experience. These newly minted doctors must then complete a specialized residency program and sit for a licensing exam.
* Job Outlook — By 2030, the BLS expects the number of orthodontic jobs in the U.S. to reach 6,900, reflecting an 8% increase from 2020.
5. Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons: $234,990
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| Photo: Careers in Healthcare |
Oral and maxillofacial surgeons treat a wide range of diseases, injuries, and defects in and around the mouth and jaw. Among the more common problems they’re likely to manage are problematic wisdom teeth, misaligned jaws, tumors, and cysts of the jaw and mouth. They may also perform dental implant surgery.
Education — Typically, oral and maxillofacial surgeons require an undergraduate degree, a four-year dental degree, and at least four years of residency. After their training, surgeons often take a two-part exam to become certified in the United States by the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.
Job Outlook — From 2020 to 2030, employment is expected to increase 8%, according to the BLS
6. Physicians (Other): $218,850
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| Photo: Nightingale College |
If you take the median salary of all physicians working in all other specialties, they would come in sixth place. This “other” grouping includes jobs as varied as allergists, cardiologists, dermatologists, oncologists (who treat cancer), gastroenterologists (digestive system specialists), and ophthalmologists (eye specialists). It also covers pathologists, who study body tissue for possible abnormalities, and radiologists, who analyze medical images and administer radiation treatment to cancer patients.
* Education — Any medical doctor (M.D.) or doctor of osteopathic medicine (D.O.) is going to require medical school after attaining a bachelor’s degree. Most clinical professions also require the completion of a residency program, although some may go on and receive fellowship training after that.
* Job Outlook — Total employment among all physicians is expected to increase 5% by 2029, according to the BLS.
7. Psychiatrists: $217,100
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| Photo: Medical News Today |
While all psychiatrists help treat mental health issues, it’s a field with a vast range of specialties.
Some work on child and adolescent psychiatry, for example, while others specialize in forensic (legal) psychiatry, addiction psychiatry, or consultation psychiatry, which occurs in a medical setting. Others specialize in psychoanalysis, where the psychiatrist helps the patient remember and examine past events and emotions to better understand their current feelings.
Psychiatrists can be found in any number of work environments: private practice, hospitals, community agencies, schools, rehabilitation programs, and even prisons.
Education — Unlike psychologists, who also treat mental health issues, psychiatrists are medical doctors. After receiving an undergraduate degree, they have to complete medical school, followed by a residency program. According to the American Psychiatric Association, the first year of residency typically involves working in a hospital setting and managing a variety of medical conditions, followed by three or more years focused on mental health. Thereafter, graduates often apply for certification from the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.
Job Outlook — Among physicians, psychology is expected to be one of the fastest-growing specialties over the next several years. The BLS predicts that employment will grow 13% from 2020 to 2030.
8. Prosthodontists: $214,870
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| Photo: OwlGuru |
Prosthodontists fix damaged teeth or missing teeth with artificial devices such as dental implants, dentures, bridges, crowns, and veneers. Physicians who thrive in this specialty have a strong inclination toward science, are able to diagnose complex dental problems, and possess the mechanical acumen to properly address ailments. Many of them work with cancer patients, making it important to understand the needs of surgical patients and treat individuals going through radiation or chemotherapy.
* Education — A career in prosthodontics requires a college degree, followed by completion of a dental school program, where they become either a doctor of dental surgery (DDS) or a doctor of dental medicine (DDM). Candidates follow that up with a residency program and ultimately apply for certification from the American Board of Prosthodontics.
* Job Outlook — It’s a pretty exclusive club—there are only about 700 prosthodontists in the U.S. However, the number of prosthodontists is expected to grow 8% over the next decade, according to BLS projections.
9. Family Medicine Physicians: $214,370
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| Photo: Stacker |
The BLS defines this category as physicians who "diagnose, treat, and provide preventive care to individuals and families across the lifespan." These medical doctors often refer patients to specialists for advanced treatments.
Family medicine physicians, also known as primary care physicians, are typically where patients go for periodic exams and the treatment of common health ailments, such as sinus and respiratory infections, as well as chronic illnesses, such as diabetes, asthma, and heart disease.
Some primary care doctors specifically work with adults (internists) or children (pediatricians). Those who treat patients of all ages, from childhood to advanced age, are known as family physicians. Because of their varied patient population, family practice doctors generally manage a wider range of medical conditions.
Education — After graduation from medical school, family medicine physicians complete a residency program. Doctors are required to complete a certain number of months in each training area before applying for board certification.
Job Outlook — According to the BLS, employment among family medicine doctors is expected to grow 5% from 2020 to 2030.
10. Internal Medicine Physicians: $210,960
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| Photo: Stacker |
At the No. 10 spot, you guessed it—another medical role. Internists, who often serve as primary care doctors or hospitalists, specialize in the care of adult patients. As with other general practice physicians, internists who work in a primary care capacity see a lot of patients and need to treat a range of ailments, from asthma and diabetes to high cholesterol and hypertension. With visits often lasting 15 or 30 minutes, quick decision-making skills are a must.
Education — After receiving a college degree and successfully completing medical school, internists typically complete a residency program where they rotate through multiple healthcare specialties. Some pursue more specialized training in areas such as cardiology, pulmonology, and oncology. Internists who are board-certified have a major edge in the job market.
Job Outlook — Employment among general medicine internists is expected to drop 1% by 2030, according to the BLS.
Top 100 Highest-Paying Jobs in the U.S 2021/2022
(Ranked by Indeed)
1. Cardiologist
National average salary: $351,827 per year
2. Anesthesiologist
National average salary: $326,296 per year
3. Orthodontist
National average salary: $264,850 per year
4. Psychiatrist
National average salary: $224,577 per year
5. Surgeon
National average salary: $216,248 per year
6. Periodontist
National average salary: $214,896 per year
7. Physician
National average salary: $202,387 per year
8. Dentist
National average salary: $196,417 per year
9. Internal medicine physician
National average salary: $194,938 per year
10. Obstetrician
National average salary: $191,931 per year
11. Nurse anesthetist
National average salary: $185,856 per year
12. Pediatrician
National average salary: $180,202 per year
13. General practitioner
National average salary: $170,283 per year
14. Enterprise architecture manager
National average salary: $168,762 per year
15. Quantitative analyst
National average salary: $153,539 per year
16. Vice president
National average salary: $151,358 per year
17. Director of information security
National average salary: $149,204 per year
18. Enterprise architect
National average salary: $142,355 per year
19. Software architect
National average salary: $139,127 per year
20. Software engineering manager
National average salary: $138,933 per year
21. Senior clinical pharmacist
National average salary: $136,971 per year
22. Data warehouse architect
National average salary: $134,999 per year
23. Site reliability engineer
National average salary: $134,840 per year
24. Chief marketing officer
National average salary: $133,440 per year
25. Cloud engineer
National average salary: $123,688 per year
26. Chief information officer
National average salary: $123,155 per year
27. Data scientist
National average salary: $121,673 per year
28. Optometrist
National average salary: $118,486 per year
29. Solutions engineer
National average salary: $114,155 per year
30. Chief executive officer
National average salary: $112,591 per year
31. Pharmacy manager
National average salary: $112,546 per year
32. Corporate controller
National average salary: $112,203 per year
33. Podiatrist
National average salary: $112,181 per year
34. Full stack developer
National average salary: $111,846 per year
35. Associate general counsel
National Average Salary: $110,733 per year
36. Financial planning and analysis manager
National average salary: $110,418 per year
37. Nurse practitioner
National average salary: $110,164 per year
38. Corporate counsel
National average salary: $109,691 per year
39. Analytics manager
National Average Salary: $108,565 per year
40. Actuary
National average salary: $108,313 per year
41. Software engineer
National average salary: $106,119 per year
42. Physician assistant
National average salary: $105,594 per year
43. Plant manager
National average salary: $104,902 per year
44. System engineer
National average salary: $104,213 per year
45. Midwife
National average salary: $103,311 per year
46. Java developer
National average salary: $103,292 per year
47. Financial reporting manager
National average salary: $102,178 per year
48. Mathematician
National average salary: $100,351 per year
49. Economist
National average salary: $98,716 per year
50. Aeronautical engineer
National average salary: $98,396 per year
51. Veterinarian
National average salary: $95,762 per year
52. Senior scientist
National average salary: $95,203 per year
53. Director of operations
National average salary: $95,007 per year
54. Database administrator
National average salary: $92,298 per year
55. Nuclear engineer
National average salary: $91,119 per year
56. User experience designer
National average salary: $89,915 per year
57. IT manager
National average salary: $89,577 per year
58. Attorney
National average salary: $89,487 per year
59. Political affairs officer
National average salary: $89,085 per year
60. Environmental health and safety officer
National average salary: $88,684 per year
61. Construction superintendent
National average salary: $87,285 per year
62. Psychologist
National average salary: $86,181 per year
63. Application developer
National average salary: $86,120 per year
64. Systems administrator
National average salary: $86,059 per year
65. Engineer
National average salary:: $85,621 per year
66. Statistician
National average salary: $84,336 per year
67. Judge
National average salary: $83,715 per year
68. Director of marketing
National average salary: $83,656 per year
69. Mechanical engineer
National average salary: $83,230 per year
70. Information security analyst
National average salary: $83,001 per year
71. Research scientist
National average salary: $82,927 per year
72. Clinical director
National average salary: $82,422 per year
73. Senior MRI technologist
National average salary: $82,111 per year
74. Associate professor
National average salary: $81,957 per year
75. Senior physical therapist
National average salary:: $81,715 per year
76. Civil engineer
National average salary: $81,425 per year
77. Loan officer
National average salary: $81,223 per year
78. Project manager
National average salary: $81,214 per year
79. Senior radiation therapist
National average salary: $80,891 per year
80. Occupational therapist
National average salary: $80,424 per year
81. Marine engineer
National average salary: $79,531 per year
82. Systems analyst
National average salary: $78,974 per year
83. Management analyst
National average salary: $78,300 per year
84. Construction manager
National average salary: $77,190 per year
85. Biomedical engineer
National average salary: $75,564 per year
86. Sales manager
National average salary: $75,263 per year
87. Director of public relations
National average salary: $74,798 per year
88. Industrial engineer
National average salary: $73,905 per year
89. Environmental manager
National average salary: $73,829 per year
90. Speech pathologist
National average salary: $73,248 per year
91. Cost estimator
National average salary:: $72,751 per year
92. Purchasing manager
National average salary: $72,633 per year
93. Certified public accountant
National average salary: $72,414 per year
94. Registered nurse case manager
National average salary: $69,055 per year
95. Broker
National Average Salary: $68,341 per year
96. Laboratory manager
National average salary: $66,687 per year
97. School psychologist
National average salary: $66,643 per year
98. Market researcher
National average salary: $65,349 per year
99. Chiropractor
National average salary: $65,201 per year
100. Marketing manager
National average salary: $64,259 per year
