25 Highest Paid Jobs and Occupations in the U.S. - Investopedia

Rankings are based on salary data from the BLS. Instead of using median salaries for each occupation, which signify the annual wage of a typical employee in ... Careers Salaries&Compensation Salaries&Compensation GuidetoUnemployment TableofContents Expand TheMethodologyWeUsed 1.Anesthesiologists 2.Surgeons 3.Obstetricians-Gynecologists 4.Orthodontists 5.OralandMaxillofacialSurgeons 6.Physicians(Other) 7.Psychiatrists 8.Prosthodontists: 9.FamilyMedicinePhysicians 10.InternalMedicinePhysicians 11.ChiefExecutives 12.Dentists(AllOtherSpecialties) 13.NurseAnesthetists 14.PilotsandFlightEngineers 15.Pediatricians,General 16.Dentists(General) 17.InformationSystemsManagers 18.EngineeringManagers 19.NaturalSciencesManagers 20.MarketingManagers 21.PetroleumEngineers 22.FinancialManagers 23.JudgesandMagistrates 24.Pharmacists 25.SalesManagers:$147,580 TheBottomLine Healthcarejobstoppedthelistofthehighest-payingoccupations,andthesector’sfutureisverybright.AccordingtotheU.S.BureauofLaborStatistics(BLS),employmentofhealthcareoccupationsisprojectedtogrow16%from2020to2030—addingabout2.6millionnewjobs.Thisgrowth“ismainlyduetoanagingpopulation,leadingtogreaterdemandforhealthcareservices,”accordingtotheagency. KeyTakeaways Severalhealthcarejobstoppedthelistofthehighest-payingoccupations;thetop10jobsallbelongedtothissector.Corporatechiefexecutivesareinthehighest-paidprofessionoutsideofthehealthcarefields.TheU.S.BureauofLaborStatistics(BLS)publisheditsmostrecentlistofNationalOccupationalEmploymentand WageEstimates attheendofMarch2021. TheMethodologyWeUsed RankingsarebasedonsalarydatafromtheBLS.Insteadofusingmediansalariesforeachoccupation,whichsignifytheannualwageofatypicalemployeeinthatrole,theBLSusesmean,oraveragesalariesintheannualreport,NationalOccupationalEmploymentand WageEstimates. ThesalaryfiguresandjoboutlookprojectionsarebasedondatacollectedthroughMay2020,whichisthelasttimetheBLSupdateditsoccupationalstatistics. 1.Anesthesiologists:$271,440 TheBLSdefinesanesthesiologistsasphysicianswho“administeranestheticsandanalgesicsforpainmanagementpriorto,during,oraftersurgery.”Thishighlyspecializedcareerhastoppedthelistofhighest-earningprofessions. Workhoursforananesthesiologistfollowthescheduleoftheoperatingroom,whichcanbelongandunpredictable.That’sbecauseanesthesiologistsneedtobethereforbothscheduledsurgeriesandemergencyprocedures,suchastraumaticeventsandchildbirth. Education—Followingfouryearsofmedicalschool,aspiringanesthesiologistsintheU.S.typicallycompleteafour-yearresidencyinanesthesiologyandpossiblyevenmore,dependingonthesubspecialty.JobOutlook—Overall,employmentisexpectedtodrop1%overthenextdecade,accordingtotheBLS. 2.Surgeons:$251,650 Althoughbecomingasurgeonrequiresseveralyearsofspecializedtraining,thesephysiciansarerewardedwithoneofthehighest-payingcareers.Surgeonsmayfindthemselvesworkinglong,irregularhours,dependingontheirspecialty.Whilethosefocusingonpreventativeandelectivesurgeriesmayhaveamorepredictableschedule,surgeonsworkinginfieldssuchastraumaorneurosurgeryoftenworkextended,evenovernight,shifts. Surgeonsperformoperationstotreatbrokenbonesanddiseases,suchascancer.Surgeonshelpmanagethepatient’scarebeforeandaftersurgery.Evenwhenthey’renotscheduledforwork,asurgeonmayneedtoaddresspatientconcernsoverthephone,andon-callsurgeonssometimesmakeemergencytripstoahospital. Education—Becomingasurgeonrequiresthesuccessfulcompletionofmedicalschool,amulti-yearresidencyprogram,andsometimesaspecializedfellowship.JobOutlook—Overall,employmentisprojectedtoincrease3%overthenextdecade,accordingtotheBLS. 3.Obstetricians-Gynecologists:$239,120 Doctorsspecializinginvaginal,ovarian,uterine,andcervicalreproductivehealthandchildbirth,knownas obstetricians-gynecologists,orOB-GYNs,makeslightlymorethantheannualwageslistedfororthodontistsandoralandmaxillofacialsurgeons. SuccessfulOB-GYNsaregoodatcommunicatinginformationtopatientsthatimprovetheirhealthandthatoftheirbabies.Theyalsoexcelathandlinghigh-stresssituations—mostnotablychildbirths—thatcanoccuratoddhoursoftheday. Education—BecominganOB-GYNrequiresgraduationfrommedicalschoolaswellasthecompletionofanobstetricsprogramandagynecologyresidencyprogram,whichtypicallylastfouryears.Afterward,thesephysicianshavetopassalicensureexambeforetheybegintopractice.JobOutlook—ThenumberofOB-GYNjobsisexpectedtodecreaseby2%by2030,accordingtotheBLS. 4.Orthodontists:$237,990 Orthodontistsspecializeincorrectivemeasuresfortheteethandareoftenreferredoutbythepatients’dentists.ThesedoctorsfrequentlytakeX-rays,applybraces,createmouthguards,andperformotherproceduresasneeded. High-achievingorthodontistsrequiregoodcommunicationskills,astheyworkwithpatientsdirectly,plusstronganalyticalandproblem-solvingabilities.Whilesomeworkforlargeorthodonticoffices,othersowntheirownpractice,whichrequiresstrongmanagementskills. Education—Afterearningacollegedegree,futureorthodontistsneedtocompleteadentalschoolprogramthatinvolvesclassroomandclinicalexperience.Thesenewlyminteddoctorsmustthencompleteaspecializedresidencyprogramandsitforalicensingexam.JobOutlook—By2030,theBLSexpectsthenumberoforthodonticjobsintheU.S.toreach6,900,reflectingan8%increasefrom2020. 5.OralandMaxillofacialSurgeons:$234,990 Oralandmaxillofacialsurgeonstreatawiderangeofdiseases,injuries,anddefectsinandaroundthemouthandjaw.Amongthemorecommonproblemsthey’relikelytomanageareproblematicwisdomteeth,misalignedjaws,tumors,andcystsofthejawandmouth.Theymayalsoperformdentalimplantsurgery. Education—Typically,oralandmaxillofacialsurgeonsrequireanundergraduatedegree,afour-yeardentaldegree,andatleastfouryearsofresidency.Aftertheirtraining,surgeonsoftentakeatwo-partexamtobecomecertifiedintheUnitedStatesbytheAmericanBoardofOralandMaxillofacialSurgery.JobOutlook—From2020to2030,employmentisexpectedtoincrease8%,accordingtotheBLS. 6.Physicians(Other):$218,850 Ifyoutakethemeansalaryofallphysiciansworkinginallotherspecialties,theywouldcomeinsixthplace.This“other”groupingincludesjobsasvariedasallergists,cardiologists,dermatologists,oncologists(whotreatcancer),gastroenterologists(digestivesystemspecialists),andophthalmologists(eyespecialists).Italsocoverspathologists,whostudybodytissueforpossibleabnormalities,andradiologists,whoanalyzemedicalimagesandadministerradiationtreatmenttocancerpatients. Education—Anymedicaldoctor(M.D.)ordoctorofosteopathicmedicine(D.O.)isgoingtorequiremedicalschoolafterattainingabachelor’sdegree.Mostclinicalprofessionsalsorequirethecompletionofaresidencyprogram,althoughsomemaygoonandreceivefellowshiptrainingafterthat.JobOutlook—Totalemploymentamongallphysiciansisexpectedtoincrease5%by2029,accordingtotheBLS. 7.Psychiatrists:$217,100 Whileallpsychiatristshelptreatmentalhealthissues,it’safieldwithavastrangeofspecialties.Someworkonchildandadolescentpsychiatry,forexample,whileothersspecializeinforensic(legal)psychiatry,addictionpsychiatry,orconsultationpsychiatry,whichoccursinamedicalsetting.Othersspecializeinpsychoanalysis,wherethepsychiatristhelpsthepatientrememberandexaminepasteventsandemotionstobetterunderstandtheircurrentfeelings. Psychiatristscanbefoundinanynumberofworkenvironments:privatepractice,hospitals,communityagencies,schools,rehabilitationprograms,andevenprisons. Education—Unlikepsychologists,whoalsotreatmentalhealthissues,psychiatristsaremedicaldoctors.Afterreceivinganundergraduatedegree,theyhavetocompletemedicalschool,followedbyaresidencyprogram.AccordingtotheAmericanPsychiatricAssociation,thefirstyearofresidencytypicallyinvolvesworkinginahospitalsettingandmanagingavarietyofmedicalconditions,followedbythreeormoreyearsfocusedonmentalhealth.Thereafter,graduatesoftenapplyforcertificationfromtheAmericanBoardofPsychiatryandNeurology. JobOutlook—Amongphysicians,psychologyisexpectedtobeoneofthefastest-growingspecialtiesoverthenextseveralyears.TheBLSpredictsthatemploymentwillgrow13%from2020to2030. 8.Prosthodontists:$214,870 Prosthodontistsfixdamagedteethormissingteethwithartificialdevicessuchasdentalimplants,dentures,bridges,crowns,andveneers.Physicianswhothriveinthisspecialtyhaveastronginclinationtowardscience,areabletodiagnosecomplexdentalproblems,andpossessthemechanicalacumentoproperlyaddressailments.Manyofthemworkwithcancerpatients,makingitimportanttounderstandtheneedsofsurgicalpatientsandtreatindividualsgoingthroughradiationorchemotherapy. Education—Acareerinprosthodonticsrequiresacollegedegree,followedbycompletionofadentalschoolprogram,wheretheybecomeeitheradoctorofdentalsurgery(DDS)oradoctorofdentalmedicine(DDM).Candidatesfollowthatupwitharesidencyprogramandultimatelyapplyforcertificationfromthe AmericanBoardofProsthodontics.JobOutlook—It’saprettyexclusiveclub—thereareonlyabout700prosthodontistsintheU.S.However,thenumberofprosthodontistsisexpectedtogrow8%overthenextdecade,accordingtoBLSprojections. 9.FamilyMedicinePhysicians:$214,370 TheBLSdefinesthiscategoryasphysicianswho"diagnose,treat,andprovidepreventivecaretoindividualsandfamiliesacrossthelifespan."Thesemedicaldoctorsoftenreferpatientstospecialistsforadvancedtreatments. Familymedicinephysicians,alsoknownasprimarycarephysicians,aretypicallywherepatientsgoforperiodicexamsandthetreatmentofcommonhealthailments,suchassinusandrespiratoryinfections,aswellaschronicillnesses,suchasdiabetes,asthma,andheartdisease. Someprimarycaredoctorsspecificallyworkwithadults(internists)orchildren(pediatricians).Thosewhotreatpatientsofallages,fromchildhoodtoadvancedage,areknownasfamilyphysicians.Becauseoftheirvariedpatientpopulation,familypracticedoctorsgenerallymanageawiderrangeofmedicalconditions. Education—Aftergraduationfrommedicalschool,familymedicinephysicianscompletearesidencyprogram.Doctorsarerequiredtocompleteacertainnumberofmonthsineachtrainingareabeforeapplyingforboardcertification.JobOutlook—AccordingtotheBLS,employmentamongfamilymedicinedoctorsisexpectedtogrow5%from2020to2030. 10.InternalMedicinePhysicians:$210,960 AttheNo.10spot,youguessedit—anothermedicalrole.Internists,whooftenserveasprimarycaredoctorsorhospitalists,specializeinthecareofadultpatients.Aswithothergeneralpracticephysicians,internistswhoworkinaprimarycarecapacityseealotofpatientsandneedtotreatarangeofailments,fromasthmaanddiabetestohighcholesterolandhypertension.Withvisitsoftenlasting15or30minutes,quickdecision-makingskillsareamust. Education—Afterreceivingacollegedegreeandsuccessfullycompletingmedicalschool,interniststypicallycompletearesidencyprogramwheretheyrotatethroughmultiplehealthcarespecialties.Somepursuemorespecializedtraininginareassuchascardiology,pulmonology,andoncology.Internistswhoareboard-certifiedhaveamajoredgeinthejobmarket.JobOutlook—Employmentamonggeneralmedicineinternistsisexpectedtodrop1%by2030,accordingtotheBLS. 11.ChiefExecutives:$197,840 Chiefexecutives representthehighest-paidprofessionoutsideofthemedicalordentalfields.Asthehighest-rankingemployeeofacompany,theCEO’sjobistomakecriticaldecisionsregardingthemanagementteam,steertheorganizationtowardnewmarketsorproductareas,andinterfacewiththeboardofdirectors. Whilehighlypaid,manychiefexecutiveshavedauntingschedules.A2018HarvardBusinessReviewsurveyfoundthattheaverageCEOspends62.5hoursperweekonthejob,withabouthalftheirtimespentintheofficeandhalftraveling. Education—Notsurprisingly,aForbesstudyfoundthatthemajorityofFortune100CEOs(53%)receivedabachelor’sdegreeinbusinessadministration.However,manyhadundergraduatemajorsinunrelatedfields(thoughsomelaterreceivedamasterofbusinessadministration,orMBA,degree).Manyexecutivesintech-relatedcompaniesstudiedengineeringasundergraduates. JobOutlook—Thenumberofpeopleworkingastopexecutivesisexpectedtogrowabout8%overthenextdecade. 12.Dentists(AllOtherSpecialties):$194,930 Dentistswhospecializeinotherpracticeareasalsogetcompensatedquitewell.TheBLSlumpstheseotherspecialistsintoonegrouping,whichbringsinanaveragesalaryof$194,930,accordingtothebureau’slatestdatafrom2020. Amongthepractitionersincludedinthiscategoryareendodontists,whoperformrootcanalsandotherproceduresdealingwiththeinsideofthetooth,andperiodontists,who treatthegumsandbonesaroundtheteeth. Education—Mostdentalprogramsrequireabachelor’sdegreewithcourseworkinbiologyandchemistry.Likeotherdentalprofessionals,specialistsmusttaketheDentalAdmissionTesttogetacceptedintoanaccrediteddentalprogram.Afterdentalschool,specialiststypicallycompletetwotothreeyearsofadditionaltraininginthefieldoftheirchoice.JobOutlook—TheBLSexpectsemploymentinthespecialtieslistedabovetoincrease5%overthenextdecade. 13.NurseAnesthetists:$189,190 Nursingtendstopaywellingeneralcomparedwithmostothercareerpaths,althoughnurseanesthetists doparticularlywell.PertheBLS,nurseanesthetists“administeranesthesiaandprovidecarebefore,during,andaftersurgical,therapeutic,diagnostic,andobstetricalprocedures.” Whiletheirroleissimilartothatofananesthesiologist,theydon’tcompletethesameleveloftraining.Thatmeansbecominganurseanesthetisttakeslesstimeandmoneythangoingtomedicalschoolandbecomingaphysician.Certifiedregisterednurseanesthetists(CRNAs)mayworkinabroadarrayofdifferentsettings,includinghospitalsurgicalsuites,obstetricaldeliveryrooms,ambulatorysurgicalcenters,doctor’soffices,andpainmanagementcenters. Education—Candidateshavetograduatewithamaster’sdegreefromanaccreditedprogram,whichtypicallytakes24to51months.Somegoontocompleteafellowshipprogram,particularlyifthey’respecializingwithinthefield.TobecomeaCRNA,candidatesalsoneedatleastoneyearoffull-timeexperienceworkingasaregisterednurseinacritical-caresetting.JobOutlook—It’shardtofindajobthatwillgrowfasterthannurseanesthetistsoverthenextseveralyears;theBLSexpectsemploymenttogrow45%by2029. 14.AirlinePilots,Copilots,andFlightEngineers:$186,870 Workingintheaviationindustrycanmeanalotoftimeawayfromhome,butitalsoleadstoanicepaycheckinmanycases.TheBLSlumpsairlinepilots,copilots,andflightengineersintoonecategory,whichgeneratesameansalaryof$186,870in2020. Thepilot,orcaptain,typicallyhasthemostexperienceoperatingaplaneandoverseestheothermembersoftheflightcrew.Thecopilotisthesecondincommandduringtheflightandhelpsthecaptainwithresponsibilitiesinthecockpit. Flightengineersdopreflightchecks,monitortheplane’scabinpressure,assesshowmuchfuelisbeingburned,andperformotherimportantduties.However,becauseoftheincreasedamountofautomationinnewaircraft,therearefewerjobsforflightengineersthanthereusedtobe. Education—Airlinepilotsusuallyrequireabachelor’sdegreeandhaveanAirlineTransportPilotcertificatefromtheFederalAviationAdministration.Theyoftenstartoutascommercialpilotsandaccruethousandsofhoursofexperienceinthecockpitbeforegainingemploymentwithanairline.JobOutlook—Thereareroughly85,500individualsemployedasairlinepilots,copilots,andflightengineersintheUnitedStates.TheBLSexpectsthatnumbertoriseby14%between2020and2030. 15.Pediatricians(General):$184,570 Pediatricians—physicianswhospecificallytreatchildren—makelessthaninternistsandgeneralpractitionersbutarestillamongthehighest-paidprofessionals.Thesegeneralpractitionersperformcheckupsandexamsforyoungerpatients,treatcommonailments,andadministerimmunizations.Theyoftenreferpatientstoaspecialistwhentheirhealthissuesaremorecomplex. Pediatriciansrequirestrongcritical-thinkingskills,especiallygiventhelargenumberofpatientstheyoftenserve,aswellasexcellentinterpersonalskillsandempathy. Education—Aftermedicalschool,pediatriciansenterresidencyprogramsthatallowthemtodeveloptheirskillsinaclinicalenvironment.Theymustpasslicensingexamstopractice,andmostreceiveboardcertificationtoboosttheirprospectsinthejobmarket.JobOutlook—Therearecurrentlyaround30,200pediatricianspracticingintheUnitedStates,althoughtheBLSexpectsthatnumbertodropby2%overthenextdecade. 16.Dentists(General):$180,830 Dentistsoftenshowupinlistsofthebestjobsinhealthcare.Whilethepaytendstobeattractive,thecombinationofrelativelylowstressandflexibleschedulingcertainlyaddstotheappeal. Inatypicalweek,dentalpractitionersmightfindthemselvesanalyzingX-rays,fillingcavities,extractingdamagedteeth,andadministeringsealants.It’sajobthatrequiresastronggraspofbestpracticesinthefield,attentiontodetail,andtheabilitytodevelopagoodrapportwithpatients. Education—Whilenotalwaysrequiredtodoso,dentistsoftenselectbiologyorothersciencemajorsasanundergraduate.Aftercollege,theytaketheDentalAdmissionTest(DAT)togetintoadentalschool,wheretheylearnaboutsubjectssuchaslocalanesthesia,anatomy,periodontics,andradiology.Theyalsoreceiveclinicalexperienceunderthesupervisionofapracticingdentist.JobOutlook—TheBLSexpectsoverallemploymentamongdentiststoincreaseby8%by2030. 17.ComputerandInformationSystemsManagers:$161,730 Computerandinformationsystems(IS)managersoverseefunctionssuchaselectronicdataprocessing,informationsystems,systemsanalysis,andcomputerprogramming.Theyevaluatetheinformationtechnology(IT)needsofabusinessorgovernmentbodyandworkwithtechnicalstafftoimplementcomputersystemsthatmeetthoseobjectives. Successfulmanagersneedtodevelopsoundplansthatmeshwiththegoalsoftheorganization,aswellastheabilitytomotivateemployeeswhoareundertheirsupervision. BeforebecomingISmanagers,individualsgenerallyhaveseveralyearsofexperienceundertheirbeltinarelatedfield.Ingeneral,largerorganizationsrequiremore-seasonedITmanagersthansmallercompaniesorstartups.AccordingtotheBLS,achieftechnologyofficer(CTO),whosupervisestheentiretechnologyfunctionatalargerorganization,willoftenneedmorethan15yearsofITexperience. Education—Mostcomputerandinformationsystemsmanagershavereceivedabachelor’sdegreeinacomputer-relatedmajor.Somehavegraduatedfrommanagementinformationsystems(MIS)programs,whichaddbusinesscourseworktothenormalcomputerprogrammingandsoftwaredevelopmentclasses.Toadvanceintoamanagerialrole,ITprofessionalssometimesworktowardamasterofbusinessadministration(MBA)orothergraduatedegrees.MBAprogramsusuallytaketwoyearstocompletefulltime,althoughsomeemployerstakecoursespart-timewhiletheycontinuetoworkinanITcapacity.JobOutlook—TheBLSprojectsthattotalemploymentwilljump11%by2030,muchfasterthantheeconomy-wideaverage. 18.ArchitecturalandEngineeringManagers:$158,100 Thesemanagersarechargedwithcoordinatingallthetechnicalaspectsofarchitectureorengineeringprojects.Thatcanincludeconsultingwithclientsandpreparingspecificationsfortheproject,analyzingthefeasibilityofworkbeingproposed,andreviewingcontractsandbudgets. Inadditiontohavingstrongadministrativeskills,managersinthesefieldsneedabackgroundinarchitectureorengineeringtounderstandthedemandsofaparticularproject. Education—Whilesomeengineeringmanagementpositionsmayonlyrequireabachelor’sdegree,someemployersrequireamaster’s.Forpositionsthatarenontechnicalinnature,managersoftenpursueamaster’sinbusinessadministration.Forthoseinmoretechnicalroles,however,degreessuchasamaster’sinengineeringmanagementareoftenmorebeneficial.JobOutlook—Jobsinarchitecturalandengineeringmanagementareexpectedtogrow4%by2030,oraboutaverageforalloccupations,accordingtotheBLS. 19.NaturalSciencesManagers:$154,930 Movinguptheorganizationalchartisthetickettoagoodpaydayinjustaboutanyfield,andthesciencesarenodifferent.Professionalswhosupervisechemists,physicists,biologists,andotherscientistsareinthetop25ofalloccupationswhenitcomestomeanpay. Naturalsciencesmanagerscanhaveanynumberoftitles,including healthsciencesmanager,laboratorymanager,researchanddevelopmentdirector,researchmanager,seniorinvestigator,andseniorscientist.Whattheyhaveincommonisaresponsibilitytocoordinateactivitiessuchastesting,qualitycontrol,andproductionandtooverseeresearchanddevelopment. Education—Thetypicalcareerpathformanagersbeginsasascientist.Insomecases,thatmayonlyrequireabachelor’sdegree,althoughmanyrolesnecessitateamaster’sdegreeorPh.D.inascientificfield.Somemanagerspursueaprofessionalsciencemaster’s(PSM)degreeprogram,whichfusesadvancedscientificlearningwithbusinesscoursework.JobOutlook—The2020–2030outlookfornaturalsciencesmanagerslooksbright,with6%employmentgrowthexpectedbytheBLS. 20.MarketingManagers:$154,470 Productsandservicesdon’tsellthemselves.Ittakestalentedprofessionalstoanalyzehowmuchdemandthereisforaparticularofferingandfindwaystobringittomarket.Marketingdepartmentsalsodeterminethepricethatwillmaximizeprofitforthecompany. Thesefunctionsarecrucialtoabusiness'sbottomline,soitmaynotbeasurprisethat marketingmanagers areamongthehighest-paidprofessionsintheU.S.In2020,themeanannualwageforthistitlewasacool$154,470. Toflourish,marketingmanagershavetodemonstrateablendofcreativityandbusinessacumen.Day-to-dayactivitiesincludeeverythingfromacquiringmarketresearchtoplanningpromotionalactivitiestodevelopingwebsitesandsocialmediacampaigns. Education—Marketingmanagerstypicallyneedabachelor’sdegree,withclassworkinareassuchasmanagement,economics,finance,computerscience,andstatisticsbeingparticularlyhelpful.Highlycompetitivejobsmayrequireamaster’sdegree.JobOutlook—TheBLSexpectsthejobmarketformarketingmanagerstogrowfasterthanaverage,withanestimated10%growthby2030. 21.PetroleumEngineers:$154,330  Energysources,includingfossilfuelssuchasoilandgas,arethelifebloodoftheeconomy.However,extractingthoseimportantresourcesefficientlyrequiressomeseriousknow-how,andpetroleumengineersplayabigrole. TheirmaingoalistodevelopmethodstopulloilandgasfromnewdepositsbelowtheEarth’ssurfaceanddesignnewwaystoextractfossilfuelsfromexistingwells.Typically,theresponsibilitiesofapetroleumengineerincludeascertainingoperationalmethods,performingacost-benefitanalysisforagivenproject,andanalyzingsurveyorgeographicdata. Amongthetitlestheymaypossessarecompletionsengineers,whohelpdevisetheoptimalwaytofinishawell;drillingengineers,whofigureouthowtoefficientlyandsafelydrillthewell;productionengineers,whoevaluateoilandgasproductionafterthewellhasbeencreated;andreservoirengineers,whoestimatetheamountofoilandgasavailableinundergrounddeposits,whichareknownasreservoirs. Education—Futurepetroleumengineersbenefitfromtakingextensivecourseworkinmathandscienceasearlyashighschool.Entry-leveljobsinthefieldrequireatleastabachelor’sdegree,withcourseworkgenerallyfocusingonengineeringprinciples,thermodynamics,andgeology.Someuniversitiesofferfive-yearcombinedprogramsthatleadtoabachelor’sandamaster’s,whichmaybenecessaryforsomeemployersorforthosehopingforgreateradvancement.JobOutlook—Whenitcomestoemploymentgrowth,theBLSexpectspetroleumengineeringtoberoughlyaverageoverthenextdecade,at8%. 22.FinancialManagers:$151,510 Thefinancedepartmentplaysapivotalrole,especiallyinmedium-andlarge-sizedorganizations.Amongtheirresponsibilitiesareplanninginvestmentactivitiesandassessingmarkettrendstomaximizeprofitswhilecontrollingrisk.Theyalsocreatefinancialreportsthathelptheseniormanagementteammakedecisionsandinformshareholders. Jobsthatfallwithinthefast-growingfinancialmanagercategoryincludecontrollers,whopreparefinancialreportssuchasincomestatementsandbalancesheets;treasurers,whodeviseinvestmentstrategiesfortheorganization;andriskmanagers,whousevariousmeasurestolimitthecompany’sexposuretofinancialorcurrencyrisk. Education—AccordingtotheBLS,financialmanagersusuallyneedabachelor’sdegreeorhigherinfieldssuchasfinance,accounting,economics,orbusinessadministration.Beforeassumingamanagerrole,mostfinanceprofessionalshaveseveralyearsofexperienceinjobssuchasloanofficer,accountant,securitiessalesagent,orfinancialanalyst.JobOutlook—Theneedforfinancialmanagersislikelytogrowmuchfasterthanthejobmarketoverall.TheBLSforeseesa17%increaseintotalemploymentbetween2020and2030. 23.Podiatrists:$151,510 Podiatristsdiagnoseandtreatdiseasesanddeformitiesofthefoot,ankle,andlowerleg.Theyprovidemedicalandsurgicalcare. Mostpodiatristsworkinofficesofpodiatry,eitherontheirownorwithotherpodiatristsorhealthpractitioners.Othersworkinprivateandpublichospitals,inoutpatientcarecenters,orforthegovernmentatafederalexecutivebranch. Education— PodiatristsmusthaveaDoctorofPodiatricMedicine(DPM)degreefromanaccreditedcollegeofpodiatricmedicine.ADPMdegreeprogramtakesfouryearstocomplete.AfterearningaDPM,podiatristsmustapplytoandcompleteathree-yearpodiatricmedicineandsurgeryresidency(PMSR)program.Residencyprogramstakeplaceinhospitalsandprovidebothmedicalandsurgicalexperience.Theymayneedtocompleteadditionaltraininginspecificareas,suchaspodiatricwoundcareordiabeticfootcare.JobOutlook— Onedrawbackofafuturecareerasapodiatristisapotentiallackofjobopenings.AccordingtotheBLS,employmentinthissectorisprojectedtogrow2%from2020to2030,slowerthantheaverageforalloccupations.However,anaverageof900openingsforpodiatristsareprojectedeachyear.Mostoftheseopeningsmayresultfromtheneedtoreplaceworkerswhotransferorretire. 24.Lawyers:$148,910 Representclientsincriminalandcivillitigationandotherlegalproceedings,drawuplegaldocuments,ormanageoradviseclientsonlegaltransactions.Mayspecializeinasingleareaormaypracticebroadlyinmanyareasoflaw.Lawyersactasbothadvocatesandadvisors. Lawyersmayhavedifferenttitlesanddifferentduties,dependingonwheretheywork.Assuch,theymayreceivethetitleofassociates,defenseattorneys,prosecutors,governmentcounsels,corporatecounsels,andpublic-interestlawyers. Inadditiontoworkingindifferentindustries,lawyersmayspecializeinparticularlegalfields,liketheenvironment,taxes,intellectualproperty,andfamily,amongothers. Education—Becomingalawyertakesfouryearsofundergraduatestudy,followedbythreeyearsoflawschool.MoststatesandjurisdictionsrequirelawyerstocompleteaJurisDoctor(J.D.)degreefromalawschoolaccreditedbytheAmericanBarAssociation.Then,prospectivelawyersmusttakealicensingexamcalledthe“barexam.”Lawyerswhoreceivealicensetopracticelaware“admittedtothebar.”JobOutlook—Employmentoflawyersisprojectedtogrow9%from2020to2030,aboutasfastastheaverageforalloccupations.Althoughlawfirmswillcontinuetobeamongthelargestemployersoflawyers,manylargecorporationsareincreasingtheirin-houselegaldepartmentssincehiringoutsidecounsellawyerscanbecostly. 25.SalesManagers:$147,580 Salesmanagersplayavitalroleinmostcompanies—creatingsalesterritories,identifyinggoalsforsalespeople,anddevelopingtrainingprogramsthathelpteammemberssellproductsandservicesmoreeffectively.Theyalsoporeoversalesdatatoidentifythemostpromisingproductsandmarketsandtoassesstheperformanceofsalesemployees. Whilethepaytendstobeverygood,salesmanagersoftenhavetotraveltovisitlocalsalesofficesandmeetwithdistributors.Becausetheyshoulderalotoftheresponsibilityforgeneratingrevenuewithinanorganization,servingasasalesmanagercanalsobestressful. Education—Companiesgenerallylookforindividualswithseveralyearsofsalesexperiencefortheirsalesmanagerpositions.Whilesomejobsmaynotrequireacollegeeducation,manydemandabachelor’sdegreeorhigher.JobOutlook—TheBLSprojectsemploymentgrowthtobeaboutaverageoverthenextdecade,witha7%increaseinthenumberofworkingsalesmanagers. TheBottomLine Whenitcomestohigh-payingjobs,it’shardtobeatacareerinhealthcare.Specialiststendtoearnthelargestpaychecks,butgeneralpractitionersandevennonphysicianroles,suchasnurseanesthetists,certainlybringinattractivesalaries.Ifthemedicalfieldisn’tforyou,thencareerssuchasengineeringandmanagementcanalsoleadtolucrativejobs. *TheU.S.BureauofLaborStatisticsannualNationalOccupationalEmploymentandWageEstimatesreportreflectstheaveragemeanwage,notthemediansalary. ArticleSources Investopediarequireswriterstouseprimarysourcestosupporttheirwork.Theseincludewhitepapers,governmentdata,originalreporting,andinterviewswithindustryexperts.Wealsoreferenceoriginalresearchfromotherreputablepublisherswhereappropriate.Youcanlearnmoreaboutthestandardswefollowinproducingaccurate,unbiasedcontentinour editorialpolicy. U.S.BureauofLaborStatistics.“HealthcareOccupations.”AccessedNov.27,2021. U.S.BureauofLaborStatistics."OccupationalEmploymentandWages,May2020:29-1211Anesthesiologists.”AccessedNov.27,2021. 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