For Love and Money: The Highest Paying Jobs in the USA

Entertainment, finance, sports and real estate are industries we all associate with high income. However, the million-dollar salaries earned in these fields belong to superstars whose talent, drive, ambition and persistence have propel them to the top. The rank-and-file workers in these fields make far less. For example, the average real estate broker makes $76,060 per year. And the average actor earns $28.44 per hour, and doesn’t work enough to garner yearly averages.

Fortunately, the ordinary person can enter many professions to earn an excellent living, with enough education and experience. The U.S. Department of Labor officially lists the highest paying jobs in the USA.

Not to anyone’s surprise, the top jobs go to medical practitioners, who are listed with their annual salaries:

1. Surgeons: $225,390
2. Anesthesiologists: $220,100
3. Oral Surgeons: $214,120
4. Obstetricians and Gynecologists: $210,340
5. Orthodontists: $200,290
6. General Internists: $189,480
7. Other Physicians and Surgeons: $180,870
8. General Practitioners: $173,860

Just as well, since these positions require long and demanding education: four years of undergraduate school, four years of medical school, and three to eight years of medical residency. Subspecialties, such as geriatrics for internal medicine, can add another one to two years of residency. Even orthodontists require at least four years of dental school after at least two years of undergraduate study. Most pursue their bachelor’s degrees while studying dentistry.

As for non-medical jobs, which would continue from number nine on the previous list, the highest paying jobs in the USA belong to the following:

1. Chief Executives: $173,350
2. Lawyers: $129,440
3. Natural Sciences Managers: $129,320
4. Petroleum Engineers: $127,970
5. Architectural and Engineering Managers: $125,900

All require at least a bachelor’s degree. Chief executives as well as natural sciences, architectural and engineering managers typically reach their positions only after many years of experiences. They often have masters degrees in either business administration or a technical field related to their company specialty. For chief executives, compensation beyond salaries can include stock options and performance bonuses. Lawyers need three years of law school beyond their college degrees.

The lowest of the highest salaries in the USA runs almost three times the average $44,410 earned by all workers in the U.S. The following jobs earn the closest amounts to that average income:

1. Radio Operators: $44,510
2. Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders: $44,510
3. Audio and Video Equipment Technicians: $44,460
4. Refractory Materials Repairers (for Furnaces) except Brickmasons: $44,450
5. Environmental Science and Protection Technicians: $44,440
6. Construction Riggers: $44,440

These jobs usually require a minimum high school diploma or equivalent. Formal technical training, not lasting more than two years, comes from a vocational institute or junior college. Some jobs, such as for construction riggers, can be learned through formal apprenticeships administered by local unions or trade associations.

© Copyright 2011 by Aurelio Locsin.