When deciding on a career to pursue, it’s good to know what kind of pay you can expect to make. Even though it’s great to have a job that you love, you also want one that will help you to have a good financial life. Let’s breakdown this full list of the highest paying careers based on the amount of education you need and the demand for that position. Maybe you will find one that sounds exciting for you and your future.
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In the Medical Field
It’s no surprise to see that many of the highest paying jobs are in the medical field. The sheer amount of education involved in some of these jobs would constitute for the extra pay.
What is surprising, though? There are some on this list that won’t need more than a bachelor’s degree, and one that you can begin right out of trade school.
Surgeon
Surgeons are considered one of the most prestigious doctors in the field. There is a variation in the range of pay, depending on the type of surgery in which one specializes.
The highest pay goes to orthopedic surgeons at around $465,000 per year, while a general surgeon can earn about $336,000 per year.
Another career that is closely related to surgery but not a surgeon is an anesthesiologist. You can expect to make around $300,000 per year, depending on where you live.
Both surgeons and anesthesiologists need to graduate from medical school. Then complete an internship and residency.
Obstetrician and Gynecologist
Doctors in this field can make anywhere between $120,000 to $225,000.
If you want to birth babies and enjoy a more close-knit experience with the mother, you could become a nurse-midwife. They make around $118,000 per year.
Ob/gyns need the same education as a doctor, while midwives need to have a master’s in nursing with a specialization in midwifery.
Physician
Next in the medical field is the job of being a physician. This can vary widely depending on your area of expertise. A family doctor makes the lower range of this at around $145,000, but if you work for a hospital, you can earn over $200,000.
A physician’s assistant can earn up to $120,000, and a nurse practitioner can earn around $110,000 per year.
Physicians need to graduate from medical school while physician’s assistants only need a master’s degree.
Pharmacist
Pharmacists can make between $110,000 to $140,000 per year, depending on where they practice. They need to have a PharmD degree, which usually takes about four years to get after getting a bachelor’s degree.
Dentist
Dentists and orthodontists can both earn an average of $160,000 per year.
That career we mentioned earlier? The one that you can get with only a trade school certificate and still earn plenty of money?
Well, it’s time for the big reveal.
That job is a dental hygienist. You can earn up to $65,000.
In the Financial Field
Dealing with money daily can earn you a lot of money of your own. These careers will keep you in the green.
Actuary
Otherwise known as a risk manager, this job can pay around $100,000 per year.
Financial Analyst
Unlike an actuary, this position checks the finances of a corporation from a broader perspective. Because of this, their pay rate is slightly lower than the actuary at around $85,0000 per year.
Both actuaries and financial analysts call for a master’s in finance. You’ll further need certification in your selected field.
Economists
If you like to look at the financial stability of an area as a whole, working as an economist is a great choice. They can make between $80,000 to $100,000 per year.
In the Technology Field
This booming industry has a lot of opportunities for those looking to start a successful career. Some want to see extra schooling, while others accept trade school or on the job training.
Computer Network Architect
In this high demand job, you can expect to make $85,000 per year with a bachelor’s degree in computer science.
Software Engineer Manager
Leading the team of software engineers at your company, you can expect to earn around $110,000 per year. Those under you will only need a bachelor’s in computer science, but you will need a master’s in software engineering or a similar degree.
IT Manager
This high paying job won’t need more than a bachelor’s degree, but it will take plenty of hands-on experience to become a manager. This job can pay between $70,000 to $90,000 per year.
Air Traffic Controller
You can become an air traffic controller and make over $120,000 working for the right people. You can become certified through an air traffic controller program, which generally takes two to three years.
Elevator Mechanic
If you have a mechanical brain, you can earn good money fixing elevators. This job makes, on average, $78,000 per year. You only need to complete an apprenticeship program to qualify.
Aircraft Mechanic
Aircraft mechanics can make around $65,000 per year and can enter this field straight out of high school.
In the Business Field
Operations Research Analyst
This career can earn you close to $100,000 per year and requires a bachelor’s degree and lots of experience in the field.
Strategy Manager
If you’re good at planning and finding solutions to problems, you’ll enjoy this career and the money it includes. You can expect to earn over $100,000 with the potential for bonuses.
Creative Director
Most creative directors have only a bachelor’s degree in a related field and can make up to $125,000 per year.
Construction Manager
Managing the construction of a big project involves overseeing a lot of moving parts, quite literally. For this reason, construction managers can earn a good salary of around $93,000 per year.
You can earn this job by completing an associate’s degree, but if you are outstanding, you can move up the line directly through years of experience.
In the Law Field
Good at arguing? Has your mom ever told you you’d make a good lawyer? Here’s your best choice at a high paying career:
Corporate Counsel
Depending on what clientele you get, you can earn anywhere from $85,000 to $120,000 per year in this career. You will need a law degree for this job.
Intellectual Property Lawyers
You can earn similar money with this area of law. Again, you will need a law degree.
Tax Attorneys
You can earn even more by representing people for tax purposes. These lawyers can earn over $90,000 on average. Of course, you’ll also need to get a law degree for this job.
As this list proves, you don’t always have to wear a suit and tie to get one of the highest-paid positions. Perhaps a few of the careers listed surprised you even. Demand can often increase the pay of individual professions that didn’t use to earn quite so much.
Doing some research into the jobs that looked most enticing can help you make your final decision of which career to pursue. If your goal is to land a job you will love that will love you back with some extra green — this list will certainly help!
