Drea Knufken
What are the highest paying jobs you can get today? The answer mostly depends on your industry. The health care, business, engineering, law and science industries all offer jobs that guarantee a comfortable life. If you can land a management position, even outside of these industries, all the better.
We’ve compiled the 50 highest paying jobs in America. All annual salaries are based on mean annual salaries as recorded by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
For an updated 2012 list, check out: 50 Best High-Paying Careers
Health care
Ten of the 20 fastest-growing occupations are in health care. Aging Baby Boomers and increased longevity deserve a lot of credit for this boom. Predictably enough, doctors and dentists are the highest paid practitioners.
10. Dentist
Annual salary: $156,850
9. Pediatrician
Annual salary: $161,410
8. Psychiatrist
Annual salary: $163,660
7. Family and general practitioner
Annual salary: $168,550
6. Internist
Annual salary: $183,990
5. Obstetrician & gynecologist
Annual salary: $204,470
4. Oral & maxillofacial surgeon
Annual salary: $210,710
3. Anesthesiologist
Annual salary: $211,750
2. Surgeon
Annual salary: $219,770
1. Cardiologist
Annual salary: $274,000
Business
Being a manager or executive in the business world pays handsome dividends. And unlike the medical field, it takes less than 10 years of schooling. Just nab that MBA (or a good set of connections), work your butt off, land that corner office, and collect, baby.
10. Purchasing manager
Annual salary: $96,910
9. Actuary
Annual salary: $97,450
8. Advertising and promotions manager
Annual salary: $97,670
7. Public relations manager
Annual salary: $101,850
6. Human resources manager
Annual salary: $105,510
5. Operations manager
Annual salary: $110,550
4. Sales manager
Annual salary: $111,570
3. Financial manager
Annual salary: $113,730
2. Marketing manager
Annual salary: $120,070
1. Chief executive officer (CEO)
Annual salary: $167,280
Engineering & Technology
Even in engineering, management is where you need to land in order to start raking in six figures. Specializing in fields like computers, oil, or nukes definitely doesn’t hurt.
10. Electronics engineer (except for computers)
Annual salary: $91,540
59Chemical engineer
Annual salary: $91,670
8. Aerospace engineer
Annual salary: $96,270
7. Computer Software Engineer for systems software
Annual salary: $96,620
6. Nuclear engineer
Annual salary: $100,350
5. Computer hardware engineer
Annual salary: $101,410
4. Computer or information scientist
Annual salary: $105,370
3. Petroleum engineer
Annual salary: $119,960
2. Computer or information systems manager
Annual salary: $120,640
1. Engineering manager
Annual salary: $122,810
Science
What is it with management? Even in the sciences, being a manager is the way to go if you want enough money for that vacation home in Breckenridge. Other appealing fields include physics, astronomy, and good ol’ math.
10. Medical scientist (except epidemiologist)
Annual salary: $84,760
9. Atmospheric or space scientist
Annual salary: $85,160
8. Biochemist or biophysicist
Annual salary: $88,550
7. Chemical engineer
Annual salary: $91,670
6. Geoscientist (but not hydrologist or geographer)
Annual salary: $92,710
5. Mathematician
Annual salary: $93,920
4. Physical scientist
Annual salary: $94,880
3. Astronomer
Annual salary: $102,740
2. Physicist
Annual salary: $111,250
1. Natural sciences manager
Annual salary: $127,000
Other
We couldn’t leave lawyers off this list–they make bank, as you probably know. Other types of jobs that rake it in represent a smorgasboard of industries, from financial services to aviation. See where else you can make the big bucks below.
10. Personal financial advisor
Annual salary: $94,180
9. College or university education administrator
Annual salary: $95,340
8. Economist
Annual salary: $96,320
7. Political scientist
Annual salary: $101,050
6. Industrial/organizational psychologist
Annual salary: $102,570
5. Judge, magistrate judge, or magistrate
Annual salary: $103,990
4. Air traffic controller
Annual salary: $106,990
3. Law professor
Annual salary: $109,150
2. Airline pilot
Annual salary: $117,060
1. Lawyer
Annual salary: $129,020
Additional sources: Payscale, CNBC, and Salary.com.
