Which Jobs Pay the Most?

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A List of the Most Lucrative Professions of the Year

Which Jobs Pay the Most?

The good news is these jobs pay a whole lot of money. Unfortunately, you have to spend a lot of money on schooling and specialized education to nab one of those huge paychecks.

Careercast is back with its annual list of highest paying jobs. Healthcare occupations rule the day for the most part, taking a whopping seven spots on the list. But even the ones that aren’t in the medical industry require many years of higher education and years of training. Which often means there is substantial debt that goes along with these big time checks.

The list was formed using the Jobs Rated report along with information culled from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.

9. Drilling Engineer

Job: Oil and Gas Drilling Engineer
Median salary: $84,059

These are the people who design oil wells and come up with ways to extract oil and gas from them. It involves drilling down beneath the surface of the Earth to get the intended resource out from both new and existing wells.

A bachelor’s degree is almost always needed for this job, which consists of work in laboratories and going out to drill sites.

8. Attorney

Job: Attorney
Median salary: $110,058

This one is a little vague since there are a lot of different types of attorneys, but generally speaking they make good money.

Whether you’re a criminal defense attorney, prosecutor, real estate lawyer, etc., you need a bachelor’s degree along with a law degree from an accredited institution of higher learning. Attorneys must also pass the bar exam in whichever states they wish to practice.

7. Pharmacist

Job: Pharmacist
Median salary: $121,443

Pharmacists – the real kind not the Walter White variety – are the ones who make and dispense prescription medications as prescribed by doctors. Often working in hospitals or independent pharmacies located in drug stores, pharmacists make the medication, talk with people about side effects and allergies, and dispense meds to the customers.

A 4-year professional Doctor of Pharmacy degree is required, and pharmacists must also be licensed which entails passing at least two exams.

6. Orthodontist

Job: Orthodontist
Median salary: $128,589

Although they’re every kid’s worst nightmare, orthodontists bring home quite a hefty paycheck for doing specialized work.

When something goes really wrong with your teeth, orthodontists examine and treat you for dental anomalies. They also specialize in devising and implementing braces and other methods of realignment for teeth, which helps improve normal function and appearance.

This job generally requires four years of college, four years of dental school, and several years of post-graduate orthodontics training, as well as various licensing exams.

5. Dentist

Job: Dentist
Median salary: $150,815

Even though few people like going to the dentist, they enjoy a substantial salary.

Like orthodontists, dentists also make their living working with teeth. But unlike the specialists, dentists treat and diagnose general problems with teeth and gums, doing things like filling cavities, performing routine cleanings, and other procedures such as root canals.

Four years of undergraduate studies, four years of dental school to receive a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree, and state licensure must all be obtained.

4. Podiatrist

Job: Podiatrist
Median salary: $179,923

Who knew feet were so profitable?

Podiatrists – aka foot doctors – are doctors that deal with issues affecting people’s lower extremities. They diagnose and treat people with malformations and other problems involving their feet, ankles, and lower legs.

In addition to four years of college, they must also earn a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine degree, complete a 3-year residency requirement, and obtain licensure that varies by state.

3. Physician

Job: Physician
Median salary: $184,118

General practitioner physicians make enough to afford way more than an apple a day.

These physicians, known as generalists, treat a general client base to ensure proper injury care, disease prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and recovery. They also prescribe and administer medications, perform vaccinations, and counsel people on general health and hygiene.

But with the high salary comes high demand, especially in terms of education. Almost all physicians complete at least four years of college, four years of medical school, and between three and eight years of internships and residencies.

2. Psychiatrist

Job: Psychiatrist
Median salary: $201,799

Some people need to lay down on the couch when they realize just how much psychiatrists make.

Psychiatrists study and observe patients to determine if they have behavioral, mental, or emotional disorders. Then they work to diagnose said complications, determine a course of treatment, and prescribe medication when necessary.

While some psychiatrists only have a master’s degree, most need some kind of doctoral degree or specialty degree in psychology.

1. Surgeon

Job: Surgeon
Median salary: $346,802

The highest qualified people doing something only a handful of others can do, get the highest pay.

Surgeons need to remove tumors, correct deformities, and improve patient function by operating on people. Obviously, those charged with opening up the human body with death as an ever present consequence require more than a decade of schooling, which is why the payout is so high.

Want More Money? Negotiate Your Salary!

Whether you’re just starting out or you’re going for one of these jobs on the list, it’s imperative to negotiate your salary. Salary.com can help you get paid fairly what you do.

The first thing you should do is research, so you’re able to come to the table armed with the knowledge of what your job is worth. Use our free Salary Wizard below to find out what’s a fair salary for your position. You can enter your location, education level, years of experience and more to find out an appropriate salary range before you negotiate.

Good luck.

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