The first three lists in this section are the most important of all. First is the list of the 250 best-paying jobs, listed in order of their annual earnings. These jobs are the basis for most of the other lists in this book. For each job you'll find figures for the average earnings, the projected growth through 2014, and the expected annual job openings during that time period.
Of course, a high-paying job does you no good if you can't get hired for it. Some of the occupations on the list of 250 are growing much faster than others and producing many more job openings than others, so the next two lists present the 100 jobs with the best figures for projected percentage growth and number of annual openings.
This section also includes two lists of best-paying jobs in which the pay is distributed in certain desirable patterns (for example, jobs in which almost everyone is well-paid); a list of the jobs and industries where pay is highest; a list of the jobs and metropolitan areas where pay is highest; and a list of jobs where women's average earnings are not greatly lower than men's.
Descriptions for all of the jobs in these lists are included in Part II.
The 250 Best-Paying Jobs
This is the list that most people want to see first. It includes the 250 jobs that pay on average better than what 75 percent of American wage-earners make. (The section in the introduction called "How the 250 Best-Paying Jobs Were Selected" explains in detail how we selected the jobs on this list.)
Although health-care jobs dominate the top 20, you'll also find jobs in management, transportation, science, and the law. Not far behind you'll see jobs in engineering, finance, and technology. If you're interested in seeing the 250 jobs broken down by interest areas, turn to some of the lists later in Part I. If you're wondering how much education, training, or experience you'll need to qualify for these jobs, we also have lists that break down the 250 jobs by these requirements.
Consider this first list a starting place, not the final word. Your career decision should not be based solely on expected income, so look at the other lists, read the job descriptions in Part II for any job that interests you, and do a lot of additional career exploration before committing to a career goal.
| The 250 Best-Paying Jobs | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Job | Annual Earnings | Percent Growth | Annual Openings |
| 1. Anesthesiologists | more than $145,600 | 24.0% | 41,000 |
| 2. Internists, General | more than $145,600 | 24.0% | 41,000 |
| 3. Obstetricians and Gynecologists | more than $145,600 | 24.0% | 41,000 |
| 4. Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons | more than $145,600 | 16.2% | fewer than 500 |
| 5. Orthodontists | more than $145,600 | 12.8% | 1,000 |
| 6. Prosthodontists | more than $145,600 | 13.6% | fewer than 500 |
| 7. Psychiatrists | more than $145,600 | 24.0% | 41,000 |
| 8. Surgeons | more than $145,600 | 24.0% | 41,000 |
| 9. Chief Executives | $142,440 | 14.9% | 38,000 |
| 10. Government Service Executives | $142,440 | 14.9% | 38,000 |
| 11. Private Sector Executives | $142,440 | 14.9% | 38,000 |
| 12. Family and General Practitioners | $140,400 | 24.0% | 41,000 |
| 13. Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | $138,170 | 17.2% | 7,000 |
| 14. Pediatricians, General | $136,600 | 24.0% | 41,000 |
| 15. Dentists, General | $125,300 | 13.5% | 7,000 |
| 16. Air Traffic Controllers | $107,590 | 14.3% | 2,000 |
| 17. Astronomers | $104,670 | 10.4% | fewer than 500 |
| 18. Engineering Managers | $100,760 | 13.0% | 15,000 |
| 19. Podiatrists | $100,550 | 16.2% | 1,000 |
| 20. Lawyers | $98,930 | 15.0% | 40,000 |
| 21. Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates | $97,570 | 6.9% | 1,000 |
| 22. Computer and Information Systems Managers | $96,520 | 25.9% | 25,000 |
| 23. Natural Sciences Managers | $93,090 | 13.6% | 5,000 |
| 24. Petroleum Engineers | $93,000 | -0.1% | 1,000 |
| 25. Marketing Managers | $92,680 | 20.8% | 23,000 |
| 26. Pharmacists | $89,820 | 24.6% | 16,000 |
| 27. Physicists | $89,810 | 7.0% | 1,000 |
| 28. Nuclear Engineers | $88,290 | 7.3% | 1,000 |
| 29. Optometrists | $88,040 | 19.7% | 2,000 |
| 30. Sales Managers | $87,580 | 19.7% | 40,000 |
| 31. Financial Managers, Branch or Department | $86,280 | 14.8% | 63,000 |
| 32. Treasurers, Controllers, and Chief Financial Officers | $86,280 | 14.8% | 63,000 |
| 33. Industrial-Organizational Psychologists | $84,690 | 20.4% | fewer than 500 |
| 34. Computer Hardware Engineers | $84,420 | 10.1% | 5,000 |
| 35. Political Scientists | $84,100 | 7.3% | fewer than 500 |
| 36. Aerospace Engineers | $84,090 | 8.3% | 6,000 |
| 37. Computer Software Engineers, Systems Software | $82,120 | 43.0% | 37,000 |
| 38. Actuaries | $81,640 | 23.2% | 3,000 |
| 39. General and Operations Managers | $81,480 | 17.0% | 208,000 |
| 40. Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $78,030 | 9.7% | 11,000 |
| 41. Chemical Engineers | $77,140 | 10.6% | 3,000 |
| 42. Computer Software Engineers, Applications | $77,090 | 48.4% | 54,000 |
| 43. Public Relations Managers | $76,450 | 21.7% | 5,000 |
| 44. Purchasing Managers | $76,270 | 7.0% | 8,000 |
| 45. Industrial Production Managers | $75,580 | 0.8% | 13,000 |
| 46. Education Administrators, Elementary and Secondary School | $75,400 | 10.4% | 27,000 |
| 47. Sales Engineers | $74,200 | 14.0% | 8,000 |
| 48. Training and Development Managers | $74,180 | 25.9% | 3,000 |
| 49. Atmospheric and Space Scientists | $73,940 | 16.5% | 1,000 |
| 50. Economists | $73,690 | 5.6% | 1,000 |
| 51. Electrical Engineers | $73,510 | 11.8% | 12,000 |
| 52. Marine Architects | $72,920 | 8.5% | fewer than 500 |
| 53. Marine Engineers | $72,920 | 8.5% | fewer than 500 |
| 54. Construction Managers | $72,260 | 10.4% | 28,000 |
| 55. Physician Assistants | $72,030 | 49.6% | 10,000 |
| 56. Biomedical Engineers | $71,840 | 30.7% | 1,000 |
| 57. Geologists | $71,640 | 8.3% | 2,000 |
| 58. Materials Scientists | $71,450 | 8.0% | fewer than 500 |
| 59. Biochemists | $71,000 | 21.0% | 1,000 |
| 60. Biophysicists | $71,000 | 21.0% | 1,000 |
| 61. Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers | $70,680 | 10.1% | 1,000 |
| 62. Education Administrators, Postsecondary | $70,350 | 21.3% | 18,000 |
| 63. Medical and Health Services Managers | $69,700 | .22.8% | 33,000 |
| 64. Materials Engineers | $69,660 | 12.2% | 2,000 |
| 65. Compensation and Benefits Managers | $69,130 | 21.5% | 4,000 |
| 66. Storage and Distribution Managers | $69,120 | 12.7% | 15,000 |
| 67. Transportation Managers | $69,120 | 12.7% | 15,000 |
| 68. Veterinarians | $68,910 | 17.4% | 8,000 |
| 69. Advertising and Promotions Managers | $68,860 | 20.3% | 9,000 |
| 70. Computer Systems Analysts | $68,300 | .31.4% | 56,000 |
| 71. Environmental Engineers | $68,090 | 30.0% | 5,000 |
| 72. Mechanical Engineers | $67,590 | 11.1% | 11,000 |
| 73. Chiropractors | $67,200 | 22.4% | 4,000 |
| 74. Sales Agents, Financial Services | $67,130 | 11.5% | 37,000 |
| 75. Sales Agents, Securities and Commodities | $67,130 | 11.5% | 37,000 |
| 76. Industrial Engineers | $66,670 | 16.0% | 13,000 |
| 77. Management Analysts | $66,380 | 20.1% | 82,000 |
| 78. Nuclear Power Reactor Operators | $66,230 | -0.5% | 1,000 | 79. Civil Engineers | $66,190 | 16.5% | 19,000 | 80. First-Line Supervisors/Managers of Police and Detectives | $65,570 | 15.5% | 9,000 | 81. Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineers | $65,210 | 13.4% | 2,000 | 82. Industrial Safety and Health Engineers | $65,210 | 13.4% | 2,000 | 83. Product Safety Engineers | $65,210 | 13.4% | 2,000 | 84. Agricultural Engineers | $64,890 | 12.0% | fewer than 500 | 85. Administrative Services Managers | $64,020 | 16.9% | 25,000 | 86. Art Directors | $63,950 | 11.5% | 10,000 | 87. Financial Analysts | $63,860 | 17.3% | 28,000 | 88. Hydrologists | $63,820 | 31.6% | 1,000 | 89. Geographers | $63,550 | 6.8% | fewer than 500 | 90. Personal Financial Advisors | $63,500 | 25.9% | 17,000 | 91. Computer Programmers | $63,420 | 2.0% | 28,000 | 92. Database Administrators | $63,250 | 38.2% | 9,000 | 93. Financial Examiners | $63,090 | 9.5% | 3,000 | 94. Physical Therapists | $63,080 | 36.7% | 13,000 | 95. Architects, Except Landscape and Naval | $62,850 | 17.3% | 7,000 | 96. Statisticians | $62,450 | 4.6% | 2,000 | 97. Radiation Therapists | $62,340 | 26.3% | 1,000 | 98. Operations Research Analysts | $62,180 | 8.4% | 7,000 | 99. First-Line Supervisors/Managers of Non-Retail Sales Workers | $61,970 | 1.9% | 38,000 | 100. Network Systems and Data Communications Analysts | $61,750 | 54.6% | 43,000 | 101. Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $61,730 | 34.1% | 15,000 | 102. Nuclear Equipment Operation Technicians | $61,120 | 13.7% | 1,000 | 103. Nuclear Monitoring Technicians | $61,120 | 13.7% | 1,000 | 104. Dental Hygienists | $60,890 | 43.3% | 17,000 | 105. Fashion Designers | $60,860 | 8.4% | 2,000 | 106. Forest Fire Fighting and Prevention Supervisors | $60,840 | 21.1% | 4,000 | 107. Municipal Fire Fighting and Prevention Supervisors | $60,840 | 21.1% | 4,000 | 108. Sales Representatives, Agricultural | $60,760 | 14.4% | 47,000 | 109. Sales Representatives, Chemical and Pharmaceutical | $60,760 | 14.4% | 47,000 | 110. Sales Representatives, Electrical/Electronic | $60,760 | 14.4% | 47,000 | 111. Sales Representatives, Instruments | $60,760 | 14.4% | 47,000 | 112. Sales Representatives, Mechanical Equipment and Supplies | $60,760 | 14.4% | 47,000 | 113. Sales Representatives, Medical | $60,760 | 14.4% | 47,000 | 114. Logisticians | $60,110 | 13.2% | 7,000 | 115. Gaming Managers | $59,940 | 22.6% | 1,000 | 116. Computer Security Specialists | $59,930 | 38.4% | 34,000 | 117. Network and Computer Systems Administrators | $59,930 | 38.4% | 34,000 | 118. Nuclear Medicine Technologists | $59,670 | 21.5% | 2,000 | 119. Elevator Installers and Repairers | $59,190 | 14.8% | 3,000 | 120. Power Distributors and Dispatchers | $59,160 | 0.0% | 1,000 | 121. Budget Analysts | $58,910 | 13.5% | 6,000 | 122. Chemists | $57,890 | 7.3% | 5,000 | 123. Market Research Analysts | $57,300 | 19.6% | 20,000 | 124. Real Estate Brokers | $57,190 | 7.8% | 12,000 | 125. Clinical Psychologists | $57,170 | 19.1% | 10,000 | 126. Counseling Psychologists | $57,170 | 19.1% | 10,000 | 127. School Psychologists | $57,170 | 19.1% | 10,000 | 128. Microbiologists | $56,870 | 17.2% | 1,000 | 129. Occupational Therapists | $56,860 | 33.6% | 7,000 | 130. Commercial Pilots | $55,810 | 16.8% | 2,000 | 131. Child Support, Missing Persons, and Unemployment Insurance Fraud Investigators | $55,790 | 16.3% | 9,000 | 132. Criminal Investigators and Special Agents | $55,790 | 16.3% | 9,000 | 133. Immigration and Customs Inspectors | $55,790 | 16.3% | 9,000 | 134. Police Detectives | $55,790 | 16.3% | 9,000 | 135. Police Identification and Records Officers | $55,790 | 16.3% | 9,000 | 136. Locomotive Engineers | $55,520 | -2.5% | 2,000 | 137. Urban and Regional Planners | $55,170 | 15.2% | 3,000 | 138. Technical Writers | $55,160 | 23.2% | 5,000 | 139. Teachers, Postsecondary | $55,100 | 32.2% | 329,000 | 140. Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay | $54,970 | -0.4% | 2,000 | 141. Speech-Language Pathologists | $54,880 | 14.6% | 5,000 | 142. Registered Nurses | $54,670 | 29.4% | 229,000 | 143. Plant Scientists | $54,530 | 13.9% | 1,000 | 144. Soil Scientists | $54,530 | 13.9% | 1,000 | 145. Diagnostic Medical Sonographers | $54,370 | 34.8% | 5,000 | 146. Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators | $54,360 | 15.5% | fewer than 500 | 147. Landscape Architects | $54,220 | 19.4% | 1,000 | 148. Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters | $54,040 | 20.3% | 3,000 | 149. Directors-Stage, Motion Pictures, Television, and Radio | $53,860 | 16.6% | 11,000 | 150. Producers | $53,860 | 16.6% | 11,000 | 151. Program Directors | $53,860 | 16.6% | 11,000 | 152. Talent Directors | $53,860 | 16.6% | 11,000 | 153. Technical Directors/Managers | $53,860 | 16.6% | 11,000 | 154. Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes | $53,800 | 11.8% | 2,000 | 155. Orthotists and Prosthetists | $53,760 | 18.0% | fewer than 500 | 156. Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $53,710 | 12.4% | 3,000 | 157. Audiologists | $53,490 | 9.1% | fewer than 500 | 158. Park Naturalists | $53,350 | 6.3% | 2,000 | 159. Range Managers | $53,350 | 6.3% | 2,000 | 160. Soil Conservationists | $53,350 | 6.3% | 2,000 | 161. Auxiliary Equipment Operators, Power | $53,170 | -0.4% | 5,000 | 162. Power Generating Plant Operators, Except Auxiliary Equipment Operators | $53,170 | -0.4% | 5,000 | 163. Ship Engineers | $52,780 | 12.7% | 1,000 | 164. Sociologists | $52,760 | 4.7% | fewer than 500 | 165. Postmasters and Mail Superintendents | $52,710 | 0.0% | 2,000 | 166. Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $52,630 | 17.1% | 8,000 | 167. Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technicians | $52,450 | 8.5% | 1,000 | 168. Accountants | $52,210 | 22.4% | 157,000 | 169. Auditors | $52,210 | 22.4% | 157,000 | 170. Commercial and Industrial Designers | $52,200 | 10.8% | 7,000 | 171. Epidemiologists | $52,170 | 26.2% | 1,000 | 172. Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists | $52,050 | 13.0% | 1,000 | 173. Cost Estimators | $52,020 | 18.2% | 15,000 | 174. First-Line Supervisors/Managers of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers | $51,980 | 12.4% | 33,000 | 175. First-Line Supervisors and Manager/Supervisors- Construction Trades Workers | $51,970 | 10.9% | 57,000 | 176. First-Line Supervisors and Manager/Supervisors-Extractive Workers | $51,970 | 10.9% | 57,000 | 177. Gas Distribution Plant Operators | $51,920 | 7.7% | 2,000 | 178. Gas Processing Plant Operators | $51,920 | 7.7% | 2,000 | 179. Food Scientists and Technologists | $51,440 | 10.9% | 1,000 | 180. Insurance Underwriters | $51,270 | 8.0% | 13,000 | 181. Agricultural Crop Farm Managers | $51,160 | 4.0% | 20,000 | 182. Fish Hatchery Managers | $51,160 | 4.0% | 20,000 | 183. Nursery and Greenhouse Managers | $51,160 | 4.0% | 20,000 | 184. Gaugers | $51,060 | -8.6% | 6,000 | 185. Petroleum Pump System Operators | $51,060 | -8.6% | 6,000 | 186. Petroleum Refinery and Control Panel Operators | $51,060 | -8.6% | 6,000 | 187. Mates-Ship, Boat, and Barge | $50,940 | 4.8% | 2,000 | 188. Pilots, Ship | $50,940 | 4.8% | 2,000 | 189. Ship and Boat Captains | $50,940 | 4.8% | 2,000 | 190. Central Office and PBX Installers and Repairers | $50,620 | -4.9% | 21,000 | 191. Communication Equipment Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers | $50,620 | -4.9% | 21,000 | 192. Frame Wirers, Central Office | $50,620 | -4.9% | 21,000 | 193. Station Installers and Repairers, Telephone | $50,620 | -4.9% | 21,000 | 194. Telecommunications Facility Examiners | $50,620 | -4.9% | 21,000 | 195. Instructional Coordinators | $50,430 | 27.5% | 15,000 | 196. Credit Analysts | $50,370 | 3.6% | 3,000 | 197. Multi-Media Artists and Animators | $50,290 | 14.1% | 14,000 | 198. Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers | $50,150 | 2.5% | 11,000 | 199. Railroad Yard Workers | $49,700 | -38.5% | 1,000 | 200. Train Crew Members | $49,700 | -38.5% | 1,000 | 201. Social and Community Service Managers | $49,500 | 25.5% | 17,000 | 202. Aviation Inspectors | $49,490 | 11.4% | 2,000 | 203. Freight Inspectors | $49,490 | 11.4% | 2,000 | 204. Marine Cargo Inspectors | $49,490 | 11.4% | 2,000 | 205. Motor Vehicle Inspectors | $49,490 | 11.4% | 2,000 | 206. Public Transportation Inspectors | $49,490 | 11.4% | 2,000 | 207. Railroad Inspectors | $49,490 | 11.4% | 2,000 | 208. Loan Officers | $49,440 | 8.3% | 38,000 | 209. Coroners | $49,360 | 11.6% | 17,000 | 210. Environmental Compliance Inspectors | $49,360 | 11.6%. | 17,000 | 211. Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers | $49,360 | 11.6% | 17,000 | 212. Government Property Inspectors and Investigators | $49,360 | 11.6% | 17,000 | 213. Licensing Examiners and Inspectors | $49,360 | 11.6% | 17,000 | 214. Pressure Vessel Inspectors | $49,360 | 11.6% | 17,000 | 215. Signal and Track Switch Repairers | $49,200 | 2.3% | 1,000 | 216. Purchasing Agents, Except Wholesale, Retail, and Farm Products | $49,030 | 8.1% | 19,000 | 217. Pile-Driver Operators | $48,900 | 11.9% | fewer than 500 | 218. Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists | $48,870 | 20.4% | 15,000 | 219. Transit and Railroad Police | $48,850 | 9.2% | fewer than 500 | 220. Foresters | $48,670 | 6.7% | 1,000 | 221. First-Line Supervisors/Managers of Correctional Officers | $48,570 | 9.4% | 2,000 | 222. Postal Service Clerks | $48,310 | 0.0% | 4,000 | 223. Cartographers and Photogrammetrists | $48,250 | 15.3% | 1,000 | 224. Insurance Appraisers, Auto Damage | $48,090 | 16.6% | 2,000 | 225. Boilermakers | $48,050 | 8.7% | 2,000 | 226. Calibration and Instrumentation Technicians | $48,040 | 9.8% | 18,000 | 227. Electrical Engineering Technicians | $48,040 | 9.8% | 18,000 | 228. Electronics Engineering Technicians | $48,040 | 9.8% | 18,000 | 229. Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists | $47,710 | 20.5% | 14,000 | 230. Funeral Directors | $47,630 | 6.7% | 3,000 | 231. First-Line Supervisors/Managers of Transportation and Material-Moving Machine and Vehicle Operators | $47,530 | 15.3% | 22,000 | 232. Subway and Streetcar Operators | $47,500 | 13.7% | 1,000 | 233. Librarians | $47,400 | 4.9% | 8,000 | 234. Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products | $47,380 | 12.9% | 169,000 | 235. Aircraft Body and Bonded Structure Repairers | $47,310 | 13.4% | 11,000 | 236. Aircraft Engine Specialists | $47,310 | 13.4% | 11,000 | 237. Airframe-and-Power-Plant Mechanics | $47,310 | 13.4% | 11,000 | 238. Vocational Education Teachers, Secondary School | $47,090 | 9.1% | 10,000 | 239. Film and Video Editors | $46,930 | 18.6% | 3,000 | 240. Special Education Teachers, Secondary School | $46,820 | 17.9% | 11,000 | 241. Chemical Plant and System Operators | $46,710 | -17.7% | 8,000 | 242. Purchasing Agents and Buyers, Farm Products | $46,680 | 7.0% | 2,000 | 243. Flight Attendants | $46,680 | 16.3% | 7,000 | 244. Avionics Technicians | $46,630 | 9.1% | 2,000 | 245. Educational, Vocational, and School Counselors | $46,440 | 14.8% | 32,000 | 246. Caption Writers | $46,420 | 17.7% | 14,000 | 247. Copy Writers | $46,420 | 17.7% | 14,000 | 248. Creative Writers | $46,420 | 17.7% | 14,000 | 249. Poets and Lyricists | $46,420 | 17.7% | 14,000 | 250. Postal Service Mail Carriers | $46,330 | 0.0% | 19,000 |
Jobs 1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 12, and 14 share 41,000 job openings. Jobs 9, 10, and 11 share 38,000 job openings. Jobs 52 and 53 share fewer than 500 job openings. Jobs 59 and 60 share 1,000 job openings. Jobs 66 and 67 share 15,000 job openings. Jobs 74 and 75 share 37,000 job openings. Jobs 81, 82, and 83 share 2,000 job openings. Jobs 102 and 103 share 1,000 job openings. Jobs 106 and 107 share 4,000 job openings. Jobs 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, and 113 share 47,000 job openings. Jobs 116 and 117 share 34,000 job openings. Jobs 125, 126, and 127 share 10,000 job openings. Jobs 131, 132, 133, 134, and 135 share 9,000 job openings. Job 136 shares 2,000 job openings with two other jobs not included in this list. Jobs 143 and 144 share 1,000 job openings. Jobs 149, 150, 151, 152, and 153 share 11,000 job openings. Jobs 158, 159, and 160 share 2,000 job openings. Jobs 161 and 162 share 5,000 job openings. Jobs 168 and 169 share 157,000 job openings. Jobs 175 and 176 share 57,000 job openings. Jobs 177 and 178 share 2,000 job openings. Jobs 181, 182, and 183 share 20,000 job openings. Jobs 184, 185, and 186 share 6,000 job openings. Jobs 187, 188, and 189 share 2,000 job openings. Jobs 190, 191, 192, 193, and 194 share 21,000 job openings. Jobs 199 and 200 share 1,000 job openings. Jobs 202, 203, 204, 205, 206, and 207 share 2,000 job openings. Jobs 209, 210, 211, 212, 213, and 214 share 17,000 job openings. Jobs 226, 227, and 228 share 18,000 job openings. Jobs 235, 236, and 237 share 11,000 job openings. Jobs 246, 247, 248, and 249 share 14,000 job openings.