Last Updated on August 5, 2021
Highest Paying Job Opportunities in the U.S.: The major factor in choosing a career is whether it will fetch you a high-paying job. This becomes more important if you are thinking of moving to another country like the U.S. on a job.
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Highest Paying Job Opportunities in the U.S. 2021
A good salary is one of the factors people consider the most before taking a job, because in addition to having a job where they are comfortable, job seekers and employees alike, want a job that pays them more than enough money to be able to take care of their financial demands.
Are you curious to know the highest paying jobs in the U.S. 2021?
Healthcare jobs topped the list of the highest-paying occupations, and the sector’s future is very bright. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment of healthcare occupations is projected to grow 15% from 2019 to 2029—adding about 2.4 million new jobs. This growth “is mainly due to an aging population, leading to greater demand for healthcare services,” according to the agency.
1. Anesthesiologists: $261,730
The BLS defines anesthesiologists as physicians who “administer anesthetics and analgesics for pain management prior to, during, or after surgery.” This is the third straight year that this highly specialized career has topped the list of highest-earning professions.
Work hours for an anesthesiologist follow the schedule of the operating room, which can be long and unpredictable. That’s because anesthesiologists need to be there for both scheduled surgeries and emergency procedures, such as trauma events and childbirth.
Becoming a Surgeon in the U.S. requires completion of four years of medical school; aspiring anesthesiologists in the U.S. typically complete a four-year residency in anesthesiology and possibly even more, depending on the subspecialty.
2. Surgeons: $252,040
Although becoming a surgeon requires several years of specialized training, these physicians are rewarded with one of the highest-paying careers. Surgeons may find themselves working long, irregular hours, depending on their specialty. While those focusing on preventative and elective surgeries may have a more predictable schedule, surgeons working in fields such as trauma or neurosurgery often work extended, even overnight, shifts.
Surgeons perform operations to treat broken bones and diseases, such as cancer. Surgeons help manage the patient’s care before and after surgery. Even when they’re not scheduled for work, a surgeon may need to address patient concerns over the phone, and on-call surgeons sometimes make emergency trips to a hospital.
Becoming a surgeon requires the successful completion of medical school, a multi-year residency program, and sometimes a specialized fellowship.
3. Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons: $237,570
Oral and maxillofacial surgeons treat a wide range of diseases, injuries, and defects in and around the mouth and jaw. Among the more common problems they’re likely to manage are problematic wisdom teeth, misaligned jaws, tumors, and cysts of the jaw and mouth. They may also perform dental implant surgery.
Typically, oral and maxillofacial surgeons require an undergraduate degree, a four-year dental degree, and at least four years of residency. After their training, surgeons often take a two-part exam to become certified in the United States by the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.
4. Obstetricians-Gynecologists: $233,610
Doctors specializing in vaginal, ovarian, uterine, and cervical reproductive health and childbirth, known as obstetricians-gynecologists, or OB-GYNs, make slightly below the annual wages listed for oral and maxillofacial surgeons.
Successful OB-GYNs are good at communicating information to patients that improve their health and that of their babies. They also excel at handling high-stress situations—most notably childbirths—that can occur at odd hours of the day.
Becoming an OB-GYN requires graduation from medical school as well as the completion of an obstetrics program and a gynecology residency program, which typically last four years. Afterward, these physicians have to pass a licensure exam before they begin to practice.
5. Orthodontists: $230,830
Orthodontists specialize in corrective measures for the teeth and are often referred out by the patients’ dentists. These doctors frequently take X-rays, apply braces, create mouth guards, and perform other procedures as needed.
High-achieving orthodontists require good communication skills, as they work with patients directly, plus strong analytical and problem-solving abilities. While some work for large orthodontic offices, others own their own practice, which requires strong management skills.
After earning a college degree, future orthodontists need to complete a dental school program that involves classroom and clinical experience. These newly minted doctors must then complete a specialized residency program and sit for a licensing exam.
6. Prosthodontists: $220,840
Prosthodontists fix damaged teeth or missing teeth with artificial devices such as dental implants, dentures, bridges, crowns, and veneers. It’s a pretty exclusive club—there are only about 600 prosthodontists in the U.S., according to the BLS.
Physicians who thrive in this specialty have a strong inclination toward science, are able to diagnose complex dental problems, and possess the mechanical acumen to properly address ailments. Many of them work with cancer patients, making it important to understand the needs of surgical patients and treat individuals going through radiation or chemotherapy.
A career in prosthodontics requires a college degree, followed by completion of a dental school program, where they become either a doctor of dental surgery (DDS) or a doctor of dental medicine (DDM). Candidates follow that up with a residency program and ultimately apply for certification from the American Board of Prosthodontics.
7. Psychiatrists: $220,430
While all psychiatrists help treat mental health issues, it’s a field with a vast range of specialties. Some work on child and adolescent psychiatry, for example, while other specialize in forensic (legal) psychiatry, addiction psychiatry, or consultation psychiatry, which occurs in a medical setting. Others specialize in psychoanalysis, where the psychiatrist helps the patient remember and examine past events and emotions to better understand their current feelings.
Psychiatrists can be found in any number of work environments: private practice, hospitals, community agencies, schools, rehabilitation programs, and even prisons.
Unlike psychologists, who also treat mental health issues, psychiatrists are medical doctors. After receiving an undergraduate degree, they have to complete medical school, followed by a residency program. According to the American Psychiatric Association, the first year of residency typically involves working in a hospital setting and managing a variety of medical conditions, followed by three or more years focused on mental health. Thereafter, graduates often apply for certification from the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.
8. Family Medicine Physicians (Formerly Family and General Practitioners): $213,270*
The BLS defines this category as “physicians who diagnose, treat, and help prevent diseases and injuries that commonly occur in the general population.” These medical doctors often refer patients to specialists for advanced treatments.
General practice physicians, also known as primary care physicians, are typically where patients go for periodic exams and the treatment of common health ailments, such as sinus and respiratory infections, as well as chronic illnesses, such as diabetes, asthma, and heart disease.
Some primary care doctors specifically work with adults (internists) or children (pediatricians). Those who treat patients of all ages, from childhood to advanced age, are known as family physicians. Because of their varied patient population, family practice doctors generally manage a wider range of medical conditions.
After graduation from medical school, general practice physicians complete a residency program. Doctors are required to complete a certain number of months in each training area before applying for board certification.
9. Physicians (Other): $206,500
If you take the median salary of all physicians working in all other specialties, they would come in ninth place. This “other” grouping includes jobs as varied as allergists, cardiologists, dermatologists, oncologists (who treat cancer), gastroenterologists (digestive system specialists), and ophthalmologists (eye specialists). It also covers pathologists, who study body tissue for possible abnormalities, and radiologists, who analyze medical images and administer radiation treatment to cancer patients.
Any medical doctor (M.D.) or doctor of osteopathic medicine (D.O.) is going to require medical school after attaining a bachelor’s degree. Most clinical professions also require the completion of a residency program, although some may go on and receive fellowship training after that.
10. Internal Medicine Physicians: $201,440
Internists, who often serve as primary care doctors or hospitalists, specialize in the care of adult patients. In 2019, their already strong salary went up by almost $5,000.2930
As with other general practice physicians, internists who work in a primary care capacity see a lot of patients and need to treat a range of ailments, from asthma and diabetes to high cholesterol and hypertension. With visits often lasting 15 or 30 minutes, quick decision-making skills are a must.
After receiving a college degree and successfully completing medical school, internists typically complete a residency program where they rotate through multiple healthcare specialties. Some pursue more specialized training in areas such as cardiology, pulmonology, and oncology. Internists who are board-certified have a major edge in the job market.
These are the top 10 highest paying job opportunities in U.S. United States 2021. Despite the ongoing radical changes, there would still be certain occupations or career paths that would still be in demand.