We all dream of working a high paying job that we love. So, naturally, people want to know which jobs have the highest salaries. I’ve created this infographic called “The Highest Paying Jobs of 2015” that shows which jobs earn the highest yearly incomes based on median salary data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The highest-paying jobs in America are dominated by the tech industry, with software engineers, graphic designers, and computer scientists among the highest earners.
But there are plenty of non-tech jobs on the list as well. Most of them require specialized skills in areas like math or science, but there are also some surprising opportunities for those with less technical skill sets.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics recently released its Occupational Employment and Wages report for May 2016, which includes median annual wages for more than 800 occupations.
The following 10 jobs pay more than $100,000 per year on average:
Which jobs have the highest salary
Introduction
It’s no secret that we all want to make more money. But the sad truth is that most of us are stuck in a job search cycle with no idea about how to find a job with a high salary. Sure, we could go back to school for years and rack up debt for the chance at a higher-paying career, but who has time for that? We’re not all going to become CEOs or dentists overnight, but there are plenty of other jobs out there with salaries worth writing home about. So let’s take a look at the highest-paying jobs out there—no doctorate required.
CEO
CEOs are the highest paid professionals in the world. The average salary for a CEO is approximately $1,192,000 per year. This is more than twice as much as what their counterparts at other companies make; this difference can be attributed to the fact that CEOs of large corporations have more responsibilities and duties than those who work in smaller firms. In addition, they often have shares in their company which make up a significant portion of their total compensation package.
Physician (general practice)
Physician (general practice): $195,000
Physicians are medical doctors who diagnose and treat illnesses. Their salaries vary based on where they work, their level of experience, and what type of speciality they have. For example, a cardiologist will earn more than a family practitioner; and an orthopedic surgeon will earn more than both.
Physician assistant
- Physician assistant: A physician assistant is a medical professional who provides medical services under the supervision of a physician and works with many different types of patients.
- Average salary: $102,730
- Job description: A physician assistant can perform many duties, including conducting physical examinations, diagnosing illnesses and injuries, ordering medical tests to help diagnose illnesses and injuries, providing health advice for disease prevention, ordering medications for treatment of various illnesses or injuries.
- Education requirements: There is no degree required to become a physician assistant; however most employers require at least an associate’s degree or certificate program in order to be hired by them. Physician assistants are also trained in graduate school during their clinical rotations while they’re earning their Master’s degree. Once they graduate from school they must pass their national certifying exam before they are allowed to practice medicine independently on their own at any particular facility or within the area where they’ve been licensed as a physician assistant (PA).
Dentist
The highest-paid professionals in the United States are dentists, and for good reason. Dentists have a median annual salary of $158,440 (as of May 2019), which is almost twice as much as a high school teacher who earns $69,280 per year on average. The job outlook for dental hygienists is expected to grow by 17 percent between 2014 and 2024, making it one of the fastest growing professions in America.
This professional field isn’t just about smiling faces; it’s also about teeth! Dentists work with patients to keep their oral health healthy through preventive measures such as regular checkups and cleanings or fillings when necessary. They also assist with more serious procedures like tooth extractions or root canals if there’s an infection present. In addition to working with people directly in private practice settings, dentists may also work at hospitals or other institutions that provide preventative care services for low-income families who cannot afford private dental insurance plans (or any type of insurance).
Petroleum engineer
Petroleum engineers are responsible for the development of oil and gas fields. They explore new areas, study rocks and other geological formations to determine where there might be an oil or gas field, estimate how much oil is likely to be found in that area, and then evaluate whether it’s worth going through the process of drilling down into the earth to extract those resources.
Petroleum engineers work on the development of new oil and gas fields. They research existing technologies related to mining different types of minerals (such as gold), which can then be used in conjunction with technology related specifically towards finding petroleum deposits within rock formations deep underground using seismic surveys.*
Pharmacist
Pharmacists are the third highest paid job in the U.S., with an average salary of $122,890 per year. Pharmacists prepare medications and counsel patients on their use and potential side effects. They can work in hospitals or retail stores, for example, as well as many other settings where medications are dispensed to patients. Pharmacists must earn a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree from an accredited program before getting licensed by state licensing boards. There’s also a certification exam that can be taken upon completion of an accredited program to earn certification; however, it’s not required in order to become licensed as a pharmacist
Nurse anesthetist
- Nurse anesthetist is a registered nurse with additional education and certification.
- They administer anesthesia and monitor the patient during surgery.
- They work in hospitals or private offices, or travel to other facilities for surgeries that require their expertise.
- The median salary for nurse anesthetists was $166,840 in May 2017.*
Lawyer
Lawyers are the highest paid professionals in the United States, with a median annual salary of $160,000 (more than twice that of the runner-up). Lawyer jobs have a high level of job security and are in demand.
Podiatrist
Podiatrists are doctors who specialize in treating foot and ankle problems. They typically receive a four-year degree from an accredited podiatric medical school, and then they must pass the National Board of Podiatric Medical Examiners’ examination to become licensed to practice. After finishing their training, many podiatrists complete a residency program focused on surgical procedures or foot surgery.
After completing their education, most podiatrists provide general care for patients with all types of foot or ankle disorders such as bunions and ingrown toenails. Some general practitioners specialize in certain areas such as pediatrics (children’s feet), sports medicine or wound care.
These jobs have the highest salaries.
The highest paying job in the U.S. is a radiologist, who makes an average of $316,000 per year. They work in hospitals and other healthcare settings, reading and interpreting diagnostic imaging for patients. That’s more than double what a paralegal makes ($106,000), who ranks second on the list; these professionals are responsible for doing legal research, drafting documents and representing clients in courtrooms or administrative hearings. Nurses come next at $101,000 annually followed by research scientists at $89K and lawyers at $84K (who actually ranked higher than investment bankers). The rest of your options are listed below:
5th highest-paid profession: Pediatricians – $170K
6th highest-paid profession: Pharmacists – $153K
7th highest-paid profession: Software Engineers – 168K
Conclusion
We hope you’ve enjoyed this look into the jobs with the highest salaries. Although it isn’t a comprehensive list, it does give you an idea of how much you can earn at certain jobs that require specific skills or education levels. Many of these high paying positions require years of experience and a lot of work hours, but they
