Many of the highest paying careers offer the opportunity to positively impact the world around you.
Every day, doctors, lawyers, managers, and engineers inspire the next generation of leaders, care for those who need it most, and solve problems on a large scale.
If you are passionate about making an impact and relish a good challenge, you may want to pursue one of these high paying careers.
Highest Paying Careers
Many of the highest-paying careers involve longer academic paths, but they can also be extremely rewarding. As listed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, here are the descriptions and projected job growth over the next ten years for some of the highest paid professions.
These may be the best careers for future work, offering plenty of opportunity for growth, a lot of different job prospects, and plenty of job security.
Anesthesiologists
Annual Median Salary: $208,000 or more
Job Growth: -1%
An anesthesiologist is responsible for administering numbing medicine when a patient undergoes surgery, preventing them from feeling pain during the process. Their role also includes prescribing post-op pain medication, conducting assessments, and providing advice.
In order to become an anesthesiologist, it’s necessary to earn your undergraduate degree and then your medical degree. After that, you will be required to complete a four-year residency program, followed by a state licensing exam and a board certification test.
Surgeons
Annual Median Salary: $208,000 or more
Job Growth: -3%
Not only do surgeons perform operations, but they also assess patient conditions that may lead to surgery. There are many different areas a surgeon can specialize in, including neurosurgery, intestinal surgery, and pediatric surgery.
The educational path to becoming a surgeon is a long one. It consists of a four-year degree, around 4 years of medical school, and a surgical specialty and residency. Depending on your particular university, residency programs can last up to 5 years and may require final exams.
Obstetricians and Gynecologists
Annual Median Salary: $208,000 or more
Job Growth: -2%
Obstetrics deals with all things pregnancy-related. This includes delivering babies as well as providing pre-natal and post-natal care. Gynecology focuses on overall female reproductive health, such as conducting screenings like pelvic exams and pap smears.
In order to become an OB-GYN, you’ll earn your bachelor’s degree and then complete around 4 years of medical school. That will be followed by a 4 year residency program focusing on obstetrics and gynecology, plus an extra 3 year residency in your chosen specialty. Lastly, you’ll be required to pass a board certification exam.
Orthodontists
Annual Median Salary: $208,000 or more
Job Growth: 8%
Orthodontics is a specialized area of dentistry that focuses on correcting a patient’s smile and bite. Orthodontists straighten teeth by applying braces, diagnose current tooth and jaw problems, and work to prevent further complications in the future.
Becoming an orthodontist begins by completing your bachelor’s degree. Then you can attend and complete dental school and enter into a residency program specific to your specialty. Finally, you will be asked to pass the National Board Dental Examination. Some states may require you to pass an additional test prior to obtaining a license.
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
Annual Median Salary: $208,000 or more
Job Growth: 8%
Oral and maxillofacial surgeons perform surgery or cosmetic procedures around the mouth, neck, jaws, and face. You might turn to this type of surgeon for help repairing a cleft lip or an eye socket that’s been damaged in an accident.
Similar to other careers that make a lot of money, you will start this academic road by earning a bachelors and then attending dental school. You can then transition to a 4-year residency program. Upon completion of your residency, you can take the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery exam and enter into the profession fully certified.
Physicians (All Other) and Ophthalmologists (Except Pediatric)
Annual Median Salary: $208,000 or more
Job Growth: 5%
A physician is defined as anyone who is equipped to practice medicine. An ophthalmologist is a type of physician who specializes in eye diseases and surgery. They can also diagnose and correct poor vision by writing prescriptions for glasses and contacts.
The specific education required to become a physician will depend on the area you’d like to focus on. If you choose to enter into ophthalmology, it’s necessary to obtain a bachelors and complete around 4 years of medical school. Then you can enter into a 4 year residency program, which will include a 3 year period in a surgical program and a yearlong internship.
Annual Median Salary: $208,000 or more
Job Growth: 13%
Psychiatrists handle the diagnoses of mental and emotional disorders in their patients. It is helpful to remember that a psychiatrist is also a physician. So, they are a licensed medical doctor who can prescribe medicine and treatments for physical illnesses that result from psychological disorders.
As with many of the highest paying jobs, the journey to becoming a psychiatrist begins with a bachelor’s degree. You can go on to attend 4 years of medical school, after which you’ll be required to obtain a license and a board certification in order to be qualified to practice psychiatry.
Prosthodontists
Annual Median Salary: $100,950
Job Growth: 8%
Prosthodontics is a specialized area of the dentistry field that focuses on restoring your teeth and jaw. If you have lost a tooth in an accident, have needed a crown, or have required dentures, then you have likely seen a prosthodontist.
In order to practice prosthodontics, you are required to complete the same bachelors and dental degree as a regular dentist, but you will finish an additional 3 years of residency training. Prior to your residency, you will also be required to pass the written and clinical portions of the National Board Dental Examination.
Family Medicine Physicians
Annual Median Salary: $208,000 or more
Job Growth: 5%
These physicians are your primary care providers, and they are qualified to provide healthcare for patients of any age. Family medicine physicians do everything from developing strong relationships with patients, providing preventative care, and helping people understand and use the health care system successfully.
After you receive your bachelors, it generally takes about 7 years to complete the schooling and training required to be a family medicine doctor. Four of these years will be spent in medical school, while the last three will consist of residency training. In order to be fully licensed, it’s necessary to pass a board exam.
General Internal Medicine Physicians
Annual Median Salary: $208,000 or more
Job Growth: -1%
General internal medicine physicians, or “internists,” are doctors who diagnose complicated medical issues. They are tasked with the job of keeping patients healthy, preventing disease, and providing care for chronic illnesses.
They often treat patients with conditions such as obesity or diabetes, and they may also choose to specialize in a specific area, such as cardiology. After obtaining a bachelor’s degree, you’ll go on to complete a four-year medical degree program. This is followed by a residency program, which generally lasts about 3 years.
To be qualified to practice general internal medicine, you will be required to pass a licensing exam and become board certified.
Pediatricians (General)
Annual Median Salary: $170,480
Job Growth: -2%
A pediatrician provides comprehensive healthcare to children of all ages, including infants, school-aged children, teens, and young adults. Routine check-ups, prescriptions, health advice, and the diagnosis and treatment of different illnesses are all responsibilities of a pediatrician.
You will need to complete around 4 years of undergraduate studies and 4 years of medical school to begin your journey into pediatrics. After medical school, you can complete your 3 year residency in a pediatrics program. If you choose to specialize in a specific area within pediatrics, you will undergo additional training. Your last step is to pass a certification exam.
Chief Executives
Annual Median Salary: $179,520
Job Growth: -6%
A chief executive—such as a CEO or other C-suite roles—leads a company by overseeing multiple aspects of operation, including goals, profits, and growth. Most people who step into these roles possess strong financial skills and have previous managerial experience under their belt.
The requirements to become a chief executive vary between companies and departments, but most ask that you have a bachelor’s degree, at the very least. Because it is necessary for a chief executive to have an excellent understanding of a business’s operations, most in this position have at least 5 years of experience with a company.
Nurse Anesthetists
