I think many of you heard from your high school teacher or guidance counsellor to follow your passion; some follow their passion irrespective of its income prospect, but many of us wonder: Where’s the money?
This article is for both of those people. People who follow their passion will know what their passion will bring for them in terms of money, and people who are still thinking about their college major might get motivated by the salaries of these jobs.
So, if you want to land the highest paying job, the medical field might be suitable for you. A medical degree holder would have the highest-paid job, as per the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Getting a medical degree isn’t a piece of cake. You would have to be persevering in your studies, must have the ability to handle stress and responsibilities to pursue this career.
Qualified people will get paid for what they are worth. That is why the top 10 positions on this list are from the medical field.
There is a high chance that you are not in one of high paying jobs. Still you can add value to people’s life. After this article, you can communicate to your younger relatives or son about the high paying jobs.
You can show light to someone today, so that they can build up a brighter tomorrow.
Here are the highest-paying jobs based on the Bureau of Labour Statistics data with some description, job responsibilities, and educational requirements.
1.Anaesthesiologists
Salary: $267,020 per year
An anesthesiologist is a medical doctor who focuses on anaesthesiology in the medical profession.
Education needed: It’s evident that the educational requirement for this profession is pretty high. You would need to complete four years of medical school and a four-year anesthesiology residency program to become an anesthesiologist.
Responsibilities:
- They carry out assessments in critical care units.
- They advise about pain management.
- They provide pain relief before, during, and after the surgery
2. Surgeons
Salary: $255,110 per year
A surgeon is a physician who performs invasive, minimally invasive, or non-invasive surgery to treat diseases, injuries, and deformities.
What education needed: You need to complete four years of undergraduate study, then four years of medical school for M.D. and three to eight years of surgical residency at a hospital to become a surgeon.
Responsibilities:
- They make a preoperative diagnosis of the patient for operating and provide the patient with postoperative surgical care and treatment.
- Review patient medical history and plan the best procedure for treatment.
- Evaluate and advise patients on the uncertainty involved with having surgery.
- Oversee all treatment before and post-surgery and identify associated risks.
3.Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
Salary: $242,370 per year
These surgeons are more specialised than dentists. These are the surgeons who treat your facial trauma and maintain your face, mouth, and jaw’s aesthetics.
Education needed: To become an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, you would need two to four years of a bachelor’s degree, four years of dental studies, and four to six years of residency training.
Responsibilities:
- They help patients manage diseases in their teeth and surrounding tissues.
- They restructure bones to correct congenital disabilities or repair wounds.
- They treat injuries and deformities in other parts of the head and neck.
- They diagnose and treat patients with head, neck, and oral cancer.
- Remove tumours and other abnormal growths of the oral and facial sections using surgical instruments.
4. Obstetricians-Gynaecologists
Salary: $238,320 per year
These are the doctors who specialise in women’s reproductive health and childbirth. They help bring new life into the world.
Education needed: The pathway to becoming OB/GYN is first to complete an undergraduate degree then undertake a medical degree program in medicine or osteopathy. Then you need to complete a residency program at a hospital.
Responsibilities:
- They perform a wide range of tests, including pap smears, pelvic, and breast exams.
- Monitoring and treating expectant mothers during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum
- They diagnose and prescribing treatments for disorders and diseases.
- They also conduct routine check-ups on patients.
5.Orthodontists
Salary: $225,760 per year
These doctors make your teeth look perfect. They specialise in braces and other realignment steps and the restoration of regular functions.
Education needed: It is essential to obtain a bachelor’s degree, a dental degree, as well as an orthodontic certification acquired by residency for you for becoming an orthodontist.
Responsibilities:
- You would fit patients for dentures, braces, and other orthodontic appliances.
- Orthodontists also treat occlusion issues and other oral conditions.
- You would also need to plaster models of teeth, and X-rays to develop treatment plans for patients.
6.Psychiatrist
Salary: $220,380 per year
These physicians perform more evaluations than just asking, “How does that make you feel?” as shown in the movies. And don’t confuse them with a psychologist; they are not M.D.s.
Education needed: Four years of undergraduate school, four years of med school, and a further three to seven years of internship and advanced residency training are required for psychiatrists.
Responsibilities:
- They diagnose, treat, and work to prevent disorders relating to the mind and mental health.
- They assess and screen patients by conducting psychiatric evaluations.
- Psychiatrists also analyse data and results of assessments to diagnose patients.
7.Physician
Salary: $196,490 per year
When people say they are going to the doctors, they almost always mean the physicians. They are trained for general care.
Education needed: After a four-year bachelor’s degree in biology or pre-medicine, you must complete a four-year M.D. degree program and medical residency.
Responsibilities:
- They administer pharmaceuticals, other drugs, and therapy regimens to treat known and recorded medical problems,
- Issue lab and radiology tests and refer patients, as needed, and required, to experts.
- They review papers, test outcomes, medical history, and exams to diagnose patient conditions and recommend treatment options.
8.Paediatrician
Salary: $183,240 per year
Paediatricians are the people who take care of our children from infancy to young adulthood. They fix baby’s little concerns.
Education needed: Like all doctors, they also need to go through the same rigorous process.
Four years of both college and medical school, and then three years in an accredited residency program is needed to treat the little children.
Responsibilities:
- They take patients’ medical histories, examine patients, order any necessary medical tests, and create a treatment plan for the patient.
- They administer vaccinations
- They provide preventative healthcare
- They also teach parents about providing preventative healthcare.
9.Dentist
Salary: $175,840 per year
These are the doctors who we go to when we have teeth related problems like toothache, filling cavities etc. They specialise in dentistry.
Education needed: You need to have an undergraduate degree before you can complete a four-year dental program. Then you can earn a doctoral degree in dental medicine.
Responsibilities:
- They do everything from extracting teeth, fitting dentures and filling cavities.
- They promote oral health and disease prevention.
- They perform all kinds of teeth, cleaning, surgery.
- They also interpret x-rays and diagnostic tests.
10.Nurse anaesthetist
Salary: $174,790 per year
A nurse anaesthetist is an advanced practice nurse who administers anaesthesia during surgery or other surgical treatments.
Education needed: To become a nurse anaesthetist, you must have a bachelor’s degree in nursing. Then you need to complete a Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.). Then obtain R.N. licensure. You also must have a minimum of one year of experience in an acute care setting. After that, you need to complete a national certification exam. But soon, you will need a doctorate instead of a master’s.
Responsibilities:
- They examine patients’ histories for allergies or illnesses that would affect anaesthesia.
- They evaluate and preparing patients, providing education about surgery and recovery, and discussing the side effects of anaesthesia with them.
- They determine the amount and type of anaesthesia needed for the patient and the best way to administer it.
- They prepare and administer the proper dose of anaesthesia.
- They also monitor patients’ vital signs and their dose of anaesthesia during medical procedures.
11.Petroleum engineer
Salary: $156,370 per year
Petroleum engineers are those who are responsible for constructing facilities to extract oil from reservoirs, which are dense rock pockets holding oil and gas reserves.
Education needed: You will need just a bachelor’s degree in engineering, preferably in petroleum engineering, to become a petroleum engineer.
Responsibilities:
- They design drilling equipment, which is used to extract oil and gas from both onshore and offshore reserves.
- Make recommendations on cost, effort and feasibility.
- Devise plans and methods to drill fields to recover oil and gas effectively.
- Monitor drilling operations as needed
12. I.T. manager
Salary: $152,860 per year
These are the guys who guide the company to new modern technologies for the betterment of the company.
Education needed: You will need just a bachelor’s degree in computer science, information science, or a related field and relevant work experience. For some companies, you might need a graduate degree like an M.B.A.
Responsibilities:
- They Evaluate project costs and benefits.
- Determine necessary upgrades
- Explore new technologies
- Oversee the work of other I.T. professionals
- Keep computer networks and information security.
13. Marketing manager
Salary: $147,240 per year
A marketing manager oversees the promotion and positioning of a brand or the goods and services that a business offers.
Education needed: For you to become a marketing manager, you will need at least a bachelor’s degree in marketing, business, communications, or another similar field. Many employers might require an M.B.A. degree.
Responsibilities:
- They develop a pricing strategy that maximises profits and market share but considers customer satisfaction.
- Identify new customers.
- Support sales and lead generation efforts.
- They also create promotions with advertising managers.
14.Financial manager
Salary: $146,830 per year
Financial managers are the doctors of an organisation. They take care of the financial health of an organisation.
Education needed: You will need at least a bachelor’s degree in finance or a related field, such as economics, accounting, or business. You will also need on-the-job learning, including at least five years’ experience in a finance-related position, such as a financial analyst or accountant.
Responsibilities:
- They prepare year-end financial statements and company budgets,
- Ensure the legal requirements are being maintained,
- Supervise employees and coach them,
- Review company financial reports, find ways to reduce costs,
- They also Analyse market trends to find opportunities for expansion or for acquiring other companies.
15. Pilot
Salary: $146,660 per year
These guys are responsible for flying and operating aircraft like aeroplanes and helicopters for airlines, private corporations, law enforcement agencies, and the military.
Education needed: You can become a pilot after a high school degree, but some airlines require a bachelor’s degree. Either way, you will receive a lot of on-the-job training. You should also have strong math skills and a good grasp of mechanics.
Responsibilities:
- They are performing pre and post-flight inspections of fuel, equipment, and navigational systems.
- Operating the aircraft safely and maintaining a reasonable professionalism
- Monitoring weather conditions communicate with air traffic control during flights.
- They also liaise with co-pilots and flight crew throughout the flight.
- They are also responsible for updating and reassuring passengers and crew during emergencies.
16.Natural Sciences Managers
Salary: $145,450 per year
They supervise the work of scientists, also the chemists, physicists, and biologists.
Education Needed: You need at least a bachelor’s degree in a scientific discipline to enter this field. A master’s or PhD degree in natural science is required to advance in the field.
Responsibilities:
- Helping top executives to set goals and strategies for research works,
- Budget resources for projects and programs calculating staff, resources etc.
- Recruitment activities for scientists, technicians and other staffs,
- Monitor the staff members research methodology and research results
17.Lawyer
Salary: $144,230 per year
They are licensed professionals who advise and represent others in legal matters. They can sometimes be referred to as an attorney, counsel, or counsel.
Education needed: You will need four years of undergraduate study, followed by three years of law school. After that, you will have to sit for a bar examination.
Responsibilities:
- They provide legal advice and guidance.
- Write contracts.
- Meet clients (individuals or businesses)
- Attend court hearings.
- Read witness statements.
- Collate evidence and researching case studies.
- They also need to keep up to date with changes in the law.
18.Podiatrists
Salary: $142,680 per year
Podiatrists are foot doctor. They treat disorders of the foot, ankle, and lower extremity.
Education Needed: You must first get a bachelor’s degree and then apply to an accredited podiatric medical college. After studying for four years, you will receive a degree of Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (D.P.M.).
Responsibilities:
- They deal with patients’ legs to determine diseases,
- They perform foot surgeries such as removing bone spurs.
- They treat sports-related foot and leg injuries such as fractures.
19.Advertising and promotions managers
Salary: $141,890 per year
They are responsible for increasing the sales of a company. They would do all kinds of advertising related activities so that brand awareness grows. People become interested in buying products of that company.
Education Needed: You would need a bachelor’s degree in advertising or journalism to enter this sector.
Responsibilities:
- They mainly work with an advertising budget.
- They work with other teams to implement an advertising plan.
- They design all the coupons, giveaways, contents to increase market share and sales.
- They also plan a paid advertising campaign on online and print media.
20.Sales manager
Salary: $140,320 per year
The person responsible for managing and coaching a team of salespeople is a sales manager.
Education needed: You will need a bachelor’s or master’s degree in business administration, focusing on marketing. Computer skills are also useful for record-keeping and data management.
Responsibilities:
- They manage organisational sales.
- They set the sales target, monitor individuals sales performance.
- They also evaluate the performance of the sales team.
- Another focus is to coordinate the lead generation.
21.Compensation and Benefits Managers
Salary: $134,210 per year
They are responsible for ensuring fair and accurate compensation, including regular salaries, bonuses, stock options, pensions.
Education Needed: In general, you will require a bachelor’s or master’s degree in business or H.R. and many years of human resources experience.
Responsibilities:
- Design, implement and manage salary classification and compensation programs.
- Prepare occupational classifications, job descriptions, and salary scale.
- Improve recruitment and retention.
- Oversee competitive analysis, merit increases, and salary structure.
22.Business operations manager
Salary: $123,880 per year
Business operations managers collaborate through divisions to coordinate staff, set targets, enforce strategies, and enhance procedures to make the enterprise operate smoothly and efficiently.
Education needed: A bachelor’s or master’s degree in business administration is necessary for this job. A significant experience may also contribute to promotion to this role within an organisation.
Responsibilities:
- They collaborate with relevant parties to create a budget.
- Oversee money handling, accounting, and bank processes.
- Employ strategies to ensure the company’s growth.
- Implement plans to address stock losses and theft.
- Employ means to control company costs.
- Conduct performance reviews judiciously and motivating staff.
23.Pharmacist
Salary: $123,670 per year
Pharmacists are pharmacy practitioners who play a vital part in helping patients achieve the best benefits from their drugs.
Education needed: You need a bachelor’s degree or at least two years in college or university where you take prerequisites like organic chemistry and biology. Then you must complete a Doctor of Pharmacy then become licensed.
Responsibilities:
- They serve patients by preparing medications, giving pharmacological information to the multidisciplinary health care team, and monitoring patient drug therapies.
24. Financial advisor
Salary: $121,770 per year
A financial adviser or financial counsellor is a specialist who offers financial advice to clients depending on their financial situation.
Education needed: You need a bachelor’s degree in Finance or Business Administration to prepare for this job. It would be best if you spend a lot of time on-the-job learning. You can get licensed as it will help you move further.
Responsibilities:
- They talk to clients to determine their expenses, income, insurance coverage, financial objectives, tax status, retirement strategies—this help to develop a financial plan.
- Answer client questions about financial plans and strategies and giving financial advice.
- Advise clients in insurance coverage, investment planning, cash management, and other areas to help them reach financial objectives.
25.Optometrist
Salary: $119,980 per year
When we have problems with our eyesight, these are the doctors that help us. They prescribe glasses or contacts for near- or farsightedness.
Education Needed: It starts with a bachelor’s degree, then you have to complete a four-year Doctor of an Optometry degree program.
Responsibilities:
- Perform thorough routine eye inspections.
- Identify the patient’s visual alertness, the field of vision, and hand-eye coordination.
- Diagnose sight problems, such as near-sightedness and colour blindness.
- Prescribe corrective lenses and medications.
26.Actuary
Salary: $116,250 per year
An actuary is a business practitioner who deals with risk and uncertainty assessment and control.
Education Needed: First, you have to complete your bachelor’s degree in mathematics, statistics, or actuarial science. Then get an internship. After that, you need to pass a series of actuarial exams to be a certified actuarial.
Responsibilities:
- They apply advanced actuarial techniques across all tasks.
- Develop, maintain, and analyse projection models
- Coordinate with the external actuary and auditing firms for interim and annual actuarial information
- Apply sound actuarial principles and maintain actuarial qualifications in compliance with regulations
27.Political scientist
Salary: $115,300 per year
Political scientists are part scholar, part observer, and part forecaster.
Education Needed: You need to finish a master’s degree or PhD program in political science, public administration, or a related field. Before that, you need to complete your undergraduate courses in writing, statistics, and political science.
Responsibilities:
- They research political subjects, such as the U.S. political system and foreign relations.
- Collect and analyse data from sources such as public opinion surveys
- Criticise policies and laws on government, businesses, and people
- Monitor current events, policy decisions, and other related issues
Conclusion:
If you are not working in a medical profession, you don’t have to lose your heart. You have plenty of other options to earn money.
In this blog, I write about several ways to make money and achieve financial freedom. Read my other articles. I am sure you will get a concrete path to financial freedom.
What is stopping you from getting the ball rolling? Follow your passion and start working towards your financial freedom.
I know you can.
