Explore the top 5 highest paying careers and occupations. Includes hourly wage and annual salary figure as of 2021.
While viewing the data, you shouldn't judge a career's advantages only by the salary. There are other factors to take into account when investigating a career's compensation, including bonus pay, vacation time, health insurance benefits, pensions or retirement packages, and opportunities for advancement.
Equally important is not judging a career's disadvantages purely by the salary or whether or not the career is one of the 50 highest paying. Education cost, on-call responsibilities, competition for job openings, health risks, and job stress are a few potential downsides to dwell on.
1. Anesthesiologist
Anesthesiologists are Medical Doctors (MDs) that focus on the care of surgical patients and pain relief by administering anesthesia. As is the case with other doctors, anesthesiologists evaluate and treat patients and coordinate the efforts of their staff members. Some of the primary responsibilities of an anesthesiologist include meeting with patients to decide what type of anesthetic is required, communicating all pertinent treatment information to the appropriate medical practitioners as well as the patients at times, and administering intravenous, local, and/or spinal anesthetic to patients. Other job responsibilities of an anesthesiologist may include recording the amount and type of anesthesia being administered, maintaining the patient's vitals (i.e. blood pressure, heart rate, body temperature, and breathing) through ongoing assessment and monitoring and throughout a surgery, and conferring with other surgeons and physicians to determine the condition of a patient before, during, and after they've been sedated.
Students interested in this medical specialty have to be dedicated to a participating in continuing education throughout the duration of their career in order to stay current with the ever evolving nature of pain management and anesthesiology. To become a successful anesthesiologist, students must excel academically, be very detailed-oriented, calm in stressful situations, and caring in order to ease patient's anxiety - which is quite common when facing surgery and sedation.
Most anesthesiologists work in outpatient surgical centers and hospitals. Other job opportunities for anesthesiologists may be found in group and private and practices, academic medical centers, urgent care centers, and in the military. As with most other medical careers, anesthesiology work requires long and hectic hours. Most anesthesiologists work up to 60 hours a week or more.
Education and Training
Those interested in launching a career as an anesthesiologist are required to complete a premedical program (typically a bachelors degree program in one of the sciences) at an accredited college or university. These programs, as is the case with most bachelor degree programs, are four years in length and are very rigorous. Following completing of an undergraduate degree program, students must then pass the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) and apply to medical school. The application process may require a personal interview, additional applications, or further testing.
Upon graduation from medical school, an aspiring anesthesiologist then spends four more years in an anesthesiology residency program (there are approximately 160 anesthesiology medical residency programs based throughout the United States). Some residency programs require one more full year of study, called a fellowship, in a specific anesthesiology specialty such as pain medicine, critical care medicine, research or education. During residency training, anesthesiologists typically work toward earning a certification from the American Society of Anesthesiologists or the American Board of Anesthesiology.
2. Physician, Doctor and Surgeon
Physicians and surgeons diagnose and treat injuries and illnesses. Physicians examine patients, obtain medical histories, and perform and review diagnostic tests. They discuss diet, hygiene, and preventive health care with their patients.
Physicians are either classified as doctors of medicine (M.D.), also known as allopathic physicians, or doctors of osteopathic medicine (D.O.). While both M.D.s and D.O.s utilize similar treatment methods, including drugs and surgery, D.O.s emphasize preventive and holistic medicine, as well as treating the musculoskeletal system. D.O.s usually work as primary care specialists but there are other specialists. About 50 percent of D.O.s specialize in general or family medicine, general internal medicine, or general pediatrics.
Many physicians specialize in surgery, psychiatry, gynecology, obstetrics, general pediatrics, internal medicine, family medicine, and anesthesiology.
Anesthesiologists specialize in pain reduction and monitor patients under the influence of medication during surgery. Anesthesiologists continually monitor and assess a patient's vital life functions: heart rate, body temperature, blood pressure, and breathing during surgery.
Anesthesiologists administer pain relief medication in the intensive care unit, during labor and delivery, and patients suffering from chronic pain. Anesthesiologists collaborate with other physicians and surgeons about treatment options before, during, and after operations.
Family and general practitioners, also known as family doctors, perform general physician duties. They treat many conditions such as sinus and respiratory infections to fractured bones. Family and general practitioners usually have an established clientele. Family and general practitioners refer very sick patients to specialists.
General internists diagnose and provide nonsurgical treatment for problems affecting the internal organ systems. General internists usually work as primary care specialists. Other specialists often refer patients to general internists, and they refer patients to other specialists when specialized care is recommended.
General pediatricians treat infants, children, adolescents, and young adults. They specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of numerous health problems specific to younger people. Most pediatricians treat day-to-day illnesses such as minor injuries, infectious diseases, as well as perform immunizations. Pediatric surgeons and other specialists treat major pediatric health problems such as autoimmune disorders or serious chronic ailments.
Obstetricians and gynecologists (OB/GYNs) specialize in women's general and reproductive health. OB/GYNs diagnose and treat health problems specific to the female anatomy, such as breast and ovarian cancer or urinary tract, pelvic, and hormonal disorders. OB/GYNs also assist women throughout pregnancy, deliver babies, and provide postpartum care.
Psychiatrists provide mental health services. They use a combination of psychotherapy, psychoanalysis, hospitalization, and medication to diagnose and treat mental health ailments. During psychotherapy, patients discuss their problems with their psychiatrists who help them find solutions. Psychiatrists use psychoanalysis for long-term psychotherapy and counseling. Psychiatrists often prescribe medications to correct chemical imbalances leading to emotional problems. Psychiatrists can use electroconvulsive therapy to treat patients who cannot take medication.
3.Dentist
Dentists diagnose and treat teeth and gum problems. They instruct patients about brushing, flossing, using fluoride, and diet to prevent dental problems. Dentists remove decay, fill cavities, examine x-rays, straighten teeth, place protective plastic sealants on teeth, and repair fractured teeth. Dentists treat gum disease by performing surgery. They also administer anesthetics and write prescriptions. Dentists also sometimes design dentures.
Dentists use scalpels, brushes, forceps, probes, mouth mirrors, and x-ray machines while at the same time protecting patients from infections.
Dentists running their own business are also responsible for office administrative duties. They also supervise their staff from dental hygienists, assistants, laboratory technicians, and receptionists.
There are nine dental specialists. Orthodontists straighten teeth by using braces or retainers. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons perform mouth and jaw surgery. Pediatric dentists specialize in treating children. Periodontists specialize in the gums and bones around the teeth. Prosthodontists use crowns, bridges, and dentures to replace missing teeth. Endodontists specialize in root canals. Public health dentists specialize in treating and preventing community health problems. Oral pathologists conduct research on oral diseases, and oral and maxillofacial radiologists use imaging technologies to diagnose head and neck problems.
4. Obstetrician and Gynecologist
Obstetrics and gynecology are frequently practiced together as professions since they are so closely related. Obstetrics is the medical treatment of women throughout pregnancy, often referred to as pre-natal care. Gynecology is the medical specialty which addresses the health and well-being of the female reproductive organs both before, during, and after pregnancy.
A medical doctor who practices obstetrics and gynecology is usually referred to as an ob/gyn, or they may be simply called an "O.B." or a gynecologist, even if their practice incorporates both of these medical specialties.
Obstetrician gynecologists divide their time between hospital work and office visits. Office visits typically include pre-natal checks, pap smears, sonograms and annual checkup exams. In addition, the obstetrician gynecologist may also perform a number of outpatient surgeries in their office.
While ob/gyns practice in their office they also dedicate a fair amount of their time to delivering babies in the hospitals, some of which may require Cesarean sections. Most ob/gyns deliver 12-15 babies per month on average, but this can vary quite a bit. Ob/gyns may also perform other gynecological surgeries in the hospital as well.
The schedule for ob/gyns is typically quite busy, especially since they're on call for deliveries which can occur at any time of the day or night, or weekends. Therefore, physicians in Ob/Gyn typically can expect to work a 50-60 hour workweek, if not more. Like many other physicians, obstetrician gynecologists may run their own practice, be partner in a group practice, or be employed by clinics, hospitals, government organizations or academic institutions.
The median income for an Ob/Gyn physician is about $280,000 a year, and the average overall income is about a little over $302,000, according to the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA).
5. Psychiatrist
Psychiatrists are medical doctors licensed to diagnose and treat mental health disorders. They utilize various medicinal, psychosocial, and psychotherapeutic therapies to treat patients. Since psychiatrists are licensed to prescribe medication, they often work with patients struggling with serious disorders, including bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, post traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD), etc.
The origins of psychiatry dates back more than 150 years when the the American Psychiatric Association (APA) was organized. Current psychiatric researchers are constantly learning new things about human brain chemistry, cognition, and mental health. In fact, new knowledge about neuroscience has enabled scientists to develop technology to better diagnose and treat various mental health disorders. Many people with mental illness are able to live happy and functional lives because of the advances in psychiatric medicine and technology.
Demand for psychiatrists is projected to be excellent through the near future. Those specializing in geriatric, child, and other psychiatric subspecialists will be in higher demand than generalists.
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