What do you want to do when you grow up? I wish someone would have told me what career path to take, but I had to figure it out on my own. Being a recruiter has been the best profession for me, but what is the right profession for you? While salary shouldn’t be your only concern, the amount that you earn will have a major impact on your final decision.
Before you start sending out resumes, take a look at the top 5 best and top 5 worst paying jobs in America to see what you’re up against. Maybe you should rethink your career path or career change.
Top 5 Highest Paying Jobs
1. Anesthesiologists
Average Salary: $235,070; 30,200 employees in the field (BLS).
Anesthesiologists are medical doctors who provide care to patients before, during and after a surgical procedure. Their primary responsibilities are to administer the appropriate amount of anesthesia and monitor the patient for complications and reactions during the procedure.
Anesthesiology is a demanding and complex career, which is why professionals in this field earn such a high salary. Patients, quite literally, put their lives in the hands of their anesthesiologist.
2. Surgeons
Average Salary: $233,150; 41,030 employees in the field (BLS).
It should come as no surprise that surgeons rank number two on the list of best paying jobs. Much like anesthesiologists, surgeons have a complex and demanding career. They perform surgical procedures to treat injuries, diseases and deformities. Surgeons work very closely with anesthesiologists to ensure that a procedure is successfully performed.
3. Obstetricians and Gynecologists
Average Salary: $212,570; 21,730 employees in the field (BLS).
Obstetricians and gynecologists are medical professionals who specialize in care relating to childbirth and pregnancy. Gynecologists also provide general reproductive medical care to women.
The highest paid medical professionals in this field work in physician offices and outpatient care centers. With only 21,730 employees working in this field, you won’t find too many job openings for this position. However, it is one of the highest paying careers in America today.
4. Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
Average Salary: $218,960; 5,280 employees in the field (BLS).