Top Dollar

For some people, choosing a profession is simple. They’re the lucky ones who knew what their career path would be even before graduating high school.

And then, there’s everyone else.

The good news is that the undecided have plenty of options when it comes to careers, many of which offer healthy financial compensation as well. We’ve explored some of the highest paying jobs in the U.S. today.

Anesthesiologist 

One of the top paying medical jobs is that of an anesthesiologist — doctors who administer medications to patients so they are in a sleep-like state during surgery.

Anesthesiologists monitor the patient’s breathing, heart rate and blood pressure while on the operating table. The responsibility of an anesthesiologist is immeasurable, as their job is to care for the patient before, during and after a surgery. They not only provide pain relief, but also must keep track of the patient’s vital signs, explain the risks involved with anesthesia and review medical and lab records. Ultimately, their goal is to keep the patient safe.

Committing to this career takes four years in undergraduate school, four years of medical school and a four-year residency along with exams that must be passed to become board certified.

But after all of that hard work, the salary is a nice reward.

In 2020, the median salary for an anesthesiologist was $331,190, but the salary differs in each state. In Florida, for example, the salary can be as high as $363,570.

Chief Executive Officer

When you’re the CEO (otherwise known as chief executive officer) of a company, the buck stops with you.

Some CEOs are as famous as the companies they oversee. Elon Musk, for example, is the genius behind SpaceX and Tesla and is high on the list of the most highly compensated CEOs on the Fortune 500 list in 2021.

The CEO is responsible for moving the company forward to expand and grow. It’s a position that requires plenty of backbone and decisiveness.

Salaries for CEOs average $213,020 per year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, but of course that number can be much higher depending on the company you work for.

To become a CEO, you need to have a strong understanding of the business world. Most have bachelor’s degrees in fields including computer science and economics. More than half of all CEOs worldwide have master’s degrees in business administration and some even have doctorate degrees.

While the degrees can certainly help you land a job as a CEO, you also need experience. Walmart’s CEO, Doug McMillon, for example, started loading Walmart trucks as a teenager. Twenty-five years later, he earned the title of CEO and is reportedly earning an annual salary of $22 million.

Psychiatrist 

The stress of the pandemic the last couple of years has increased the need for psychiatrists — doctors who diagnose and treat patients with mental health disorders.

While psychiatrists are in high demand, there don’t seem to be enough to go around. According to the Steinberg Institute, a nonprofit public policy organization, an estimated 55 counties across the United States don’t even have a psychiatrist in their area.

Becoming a psychiatrist requires about 12 years of schooling. One has to earn a medical degree and must complete a four-year residency program. There is also a written exam requirement to become certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.

Once board certified, you can make an average annual salary of an estimated $249,760.  And you can help improve the lives of others in the process.

Surgeon 

They have the most prestigious title out of all of the medical professions, and there’s a good reason why. When you’re a surgeon, you literally have someone’s life in your hands.

A general surgeon’s income is enticing as the average salary earned in the United States is $297,800.

But if you’re a surgeon with a specialty such as neurosurgery, for example, the salary can be $643,000.

If you want to be a surgeon, be prepared to make some sacrifices. Surgeons work long hours and becoming one can take as long as 13 years.

That includes obtaining a bachelor’s degree, then a medical degree, passing a licensure exam, surviving a surgical residency and then, finally, obtaining a state license to practice.

Financial Advisors

These are the people who help your money grow.

Financial advisors guide clients when making decisions about anything from retirement to investment opportunities.

Most financial advisors have a bachelor’s degree and though the major doesn’t matter, future advisors are encouraged to take classes in finance and investment.

Because the financial market can be volatile, the work of an advisor can be incredibly stressful. And you also face the challenge of building a hefty client base, which is why many advisors work more than 60 hours a week the first few years.

While they are making money for their clients, they’re making a good amount of money for themselves, too — the median annual salary for personal financial advisors is around $119,000.

Airline Pilot 

Having a front seat to the highways of the sky is a dream job for some.

There is currently a massive airline pilot shortage due partly to mandatory retirements at age 65 and because of early retirements taken during the pandemic. According to forbes.com, airlines throughout the world will need 790,000 new pilots by 2037.

To become a pilot, you need a bachelor’s degree from a college with an aviation program approved by the Federal Aviation Administration. The next step is your private pilot’s license and then studying the instruments used while flying in challenging weather and altitudes. One also needs a commercial pilot license and must log at least 1,500 flight hours, which is usually done through training classes.

It’s a lot of work, but pilots reap the reward, which includes their salaries. A pilot’s average annual income is an estimated $134,630.

Computer and Information Systems Managers 

Over the next several years, experts believe that the job of a computer and information systems manager will be in high demand.

Why? Because businesses are continuing to expand their digital platforms.

A computer and information systems manager’s median annual salary in 2021 was $159,610. The manager is typically in charge of a company’s technology department so they must be knowledgeable about everything from programming languages to operating systems to device drivers.

These are things you can learn about in school, preferably while earning a bachelor’s degree in computer science. Many managers also hold graduate degrees because the more marketable you are, the higher your chances of getting the job you want.

Dentist 

A dentist landed the number one spot for the best job in America in 2017. And, five years later, it’s still in the top 10.

So why is it so popular? A dentist can be his or her own boss, have flexible hours, help people improve one of their best features — their smile -— and the job pays well.

Dentists’ median salary in 2021 was $167,160 but some earned more than $200,000.

To become a dentist, you need a bachelor’s degree, as well as four years of dental school. But if you’d like to specialize in something like oral or maxillofacial surgery, you’d have to dedicate another four to six years of residency training.

The University of Michigan was considered to be the best dental school in the United States in 2021. The University of North Carolina and Harvard School of Dental Medicine weren’t far behind, according to dentistrytoday.com

Attorney

If a parent doesn’t want their child to be a doctor when they grow up, then attorney is often next on that list.

An average annual salary for an attorney is an estimated $127,000, but the number could increase depending on the kind of law one practices. Attorneys can choose to specialize in many different fields, including real estate, immigration or personal injury law.

To become an attorney, you first need a bachelor’s degree in fields such as political science or economics. You also need to take the law school admission test. After law school, you’re required to receive your Juris Doctor degree (only four states allow you to practice law without it: California, Vermont, Washington and Virginia) and your last challenge is the bar exam, known to stumble the brightest students of the law.

Once you receive your law license, you have a few options. You can join a law firm or go into private practice. Some even become judges, teachers or politicians. A law degree gives a person many options for future careers, which is another reason why it’s so appealing.

Civil Engineer

If science and math are two of your favorite subjects, then you might want to consider being a civil engineer.

An annual median salary for a civil engineer is $88,050 and because the population continues to grow at a fast pace, civil engineers are needed now more than ever.

You need a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and should also be well-versed in computer programming before applying for these positions.

Civil engineers are responsible for many things that most of us take for granted, like the levees that prevent floods, the bridges that connect communities and even subway stations and jetliners.

Civil engineers make our towns better, which means it’s a job that is not only lucrative but fulfilling as well.

On The Lighter Side

If you’re looking for a job that’s unique, fun and doesn’t require years of schooling, read below. We found a few options that could even tempt a prestigious attorney to start a new path.

Dog Walker

A perfect job for animal lovers, dog walkers can spend their days strolling with canines in tow. The prices charged are subjective, but typically walkers charge anywhere from $20 to $40, depending on the number of dogs and how long the walk is.

Food Stylist

Yes, people are paid to make food look like pieces of art for things like magazine covers, cookbooks and even television commercials. It can pay $78,000 a year. Having an appreciation for good food and an educational background in culinary arts wouldn’t hurt.

Disc Jockey

Do you love music and entertaining a crowd? You could use your passion to be the life of the party as a disc jockey. They make an average of about $30 an hour, but that number could be much higher if you continuously network and find the right gigs. Who knows, maybe you could even make celebrity status just as popular disc jockey Calvin Harris did. His salary in 2018 was $48 million!

Lego Master Builder

These people get paid to play with Legos. A Lego master builder can earn as much as $37,000 a year creating statues the size of buildings for private buyers or at one of the Legoland parks.

Personal Shopper

Some people’s schedules are so busy that they don’t have time to shop, so they’re willing to pay someone to do it for them.

It’s the perfect gig for someone who loves to shop. An average salary for a personal shopper is an estimated $49,000, but if you’re a pro at your job and you have a high-end client, you could make as much as a six-figure salary.