15 Highest Paying Jobs in the U.S.A

The United States of America has one of the most dynamic job markets in the world, with numerous employment opportunities available.

  • 5 min read
Pixabay

Healthcare careers

consistently ranked among the highest-paid professions, with a promising outlook for the future. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) anticipated a 13% increase in healthcare jobs from 2021 to 2031, translating to approximately two million new positions. This growth was primarily due to the need to replace workers who left their roles permanently. In comparison, overall U.S. job growth was projected at 5.3% during the same period.

Here’s a summary of the top-paying jobs:

Key Points:

  • Healthcare jobs led the list of highest salaries, with an expected 13% growth by 2031.
  • Of the 25 highest-paying jobs, 22 were in the healthcare sector.
  • Outside of healthcare, corporate chief executives had the highest earnings.
  • The average job growth rate across all occupations was projected at 5.3% from 2021 to 2031.
  • Salary potential can be significantly impacted by self-employment or owning a practice, though this is only considered for CEOs in this context.

Top-Paying Jobs:

  1. Cardiologist: $353,970 Cardiologists, who specialize in diagnosing and treating heart-related conditions, often worked 50 to 60 hours per week, including evenings, weekends, and holidays. Becoming a cardiologist required an undergraduate degree, medical school, and up to 14 years of residency and training.

Job Outlook: A 3% increase in employment was expected from 2021 to 2031.

  1. Anesthesiologist: $331,190 Anesthesiologists managed pain through anesthesia during surgeries and had unpredictable hours due to emergency procedures. They completed four years of medical school, a four-year residency, and possibly more training depending on their subspecialty.

Job Outlook: Employment was projected to grow by 1% from 2021 to 2031.

  1. Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon: $311,460 These surgeons treated issues related to the mouth, jaw, and face, working long hours with frequent on-call responsibilities. Their training included an undergraduate degree, dental school, and a residency.

Job Outlook: A 5% increase in employment was expected from 2021 to 2031.

  1. Emergency Medicine Physician: $310,640 Emergency medicine physicians provided urgent care and made rapid medical decisions, often working irregular hours. Their training path included a bachelor’s degree, medical school, a four-year residency, and certification.

Job Outlook: Employment was expected to rise by 3% from 2021 to 2031.

  1. Orthopedic Surgeon, Except Pediatric: $306,220 Orthopedic surgeons handled surgeries for musculoskeletal conditions, working in hospitals or private practices with demanding schedules. They needed a bachelor’s degree, medical school, and specialized training.

Job Outlook: A 3% increase in employment was projected from 2021 to 2031.

  1. Dermatologist: $302,740 Dermatologists treated skin, hair, and nail conditions, often working regular hours in private practices or clinics. Their education involved a bachelor’s degree, medical school, residency, and additional fellowship training.

Job Outlook: A 3% increase in dermatologist jobs was expected from 2021 to 2031.

  1. Radiologist: $301,720 Radiologists used imaging techniques to diagnose and treat diseases, generally working in office settings with regular hours. Their education included a bachelor’s degree, medical school, residency, and fellowship.

Job Outlook: A 4% increase in employment was projected from 2021 to 2031.

  1. Surgeon, Other: $297,800 Surgeons performed operations on patients with various conditions, often working 50 to 60 hours per week with on-call duties. They needed a science-based undergraduate degree, medical school, residency, and additional training.

Job Outlook: The number of surgeons was expected to grow by 3% from 2021 to 2031.

Other High-Paying Occupations:

Management Occupations, including Executives: Average annual income of $137,750 Legal Occupations, including Lawyers and Paralegals: Average annual income of $133,820 Computer and Mathematical Occupations: Average annual income of $113,140 Healthcare (Doctors, Nurses, and Technicians): Average annual income of $102,060 Architecture and Engineering Occupations: Average annual income of $99,090 Business and Financial Operations Occupations: Average annual income of $90,580 Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations: Average annual income of $87,870 Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations: Average annual income of $75,520 Educational Instruction and Library Occupations: Average annual income of $66,400 Construction and Extraction Occupations: Average annual income of $61,500

  1. Obstetrician-Gynecologist: $296,210 OB-GYNs specialized in reproductive health and childbirth, with unpredictable hours due to on-call responsibilities. Their training included a bachelor’s degree, medical school, and a residency in obstetrics and gynecology.

Job Outlook: A 2% increase in jobs was expected from 2021 to 2031.

  1. Pediatric Surgeon: $290,310 Pediatric surgeons treated children and adolescents, often working in hospitals with specialized teams. They needed extensive training, including medical school, general surgery residency, and fellowship in pediatric surgery.

Job Outlook: Employment was projected to grow by 3% from 2021 to 2031.

  1. Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric: $270,090 Ophthalmologists treated eye disorders and diseases, typically working in private practices with regular hours. Their education involved a bachelor’s degree, medical school, internship, residency, and board certification.

Job Outlook: A 6% increase in employment was expected from 2021 to 2031.

  1. Neurologist: $267,660 Neurologists diagnosed and treated disorders of the brain and nervous system, requiring a lengthy educational path including medical school, residency, and fellowship.

Job Outlook: A 3% increase in jobs was projected from 2021 to 2031.

  1. Orthodontist: $267,280 Orthodontists focused on correcting teeth alignment and often worked in large offices or owned their practices. They needed a dental school degree, residency, and licensing.

Job Outlook: The number of orthodontic jobs was expected to reach 6,300, reflecting a 5% increase by 2031.

  1. Physician, Pathologist: $267,180 Pathologists diagnosed diseases through lab tests, working in hospitals or research settings with full-time hours and occasional night shifts. They required extensive education, including medical school and pathology residency.

Job Outlook: A 4% increase in employment was expected from 2021 to 2031.

  1. Psychiatrist: $249,760 Psychiatrists treated mental health issues and specialized in various areas like child psychiatry or psychoanalysis. They worked in diverse settings, including private practices and hospitals.

Job Outlook: Psychiatry was projected to be one of the fastest-growing specialties, with a 9% increase in employment expected from 2021 to 2031.

Declaration

At Top-Jobs.info, our mission is to empower job seekers by providing access to diverse and high-quality job opportunities across various industries. We are committed to helping individuals find their ideal careers by offering a user-friendly platform, comprehensive resources, and up-to-date listings, ensuring that everyone can take the next step in their professional journey with confidence.

Quotes

“The only way to do great work is to love what you do.” — Steve Jobs

“Find a job you enjoy doing, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” — Mark Twain

“Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.” — Albert Schweitzer

Recommended for You

Highest Paying Jobs : IN 2023-2024

Highest Paying Jobs : IN 2023-2024

The term "good job" can have different meanings depending on the context, but generally, it refers to a job or work situation that is positively regarded for one or more of the following reasons.

Top 10 Most In-Demand Jobs in the US: IN 2023-2024

Top 10 Most In-Demand Jobs in the US: IN 2023-2024

The United States of America has one of the most dynamic job markets in the world, with numerous employment opportunities available. But if you were a student looking to stay back, job searching in the US can be very stressful. However, if you do have the relevant qualifications for those most in-demand jobs, then you could just get real lucky.