Some Americans make far more than the $54,132 average yearly wage.
The top 25 occupations all made an average of six figures a year, or over $120,000, and many of the highest-paying employment are in the healthcare industry.
According to information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics that was collated by U.S. News, anesthesiologists, orthodontists, and doctors are among the best-paid professionals in the U.S. and all earn a median salary of $208,000.
The Covid-19 pandemic has exacerbated levels of burnout and attrition, which have led to a staffing deficit that affects the whole healthcare sector. Employers in the private health sector have raised compensation to retain current employees and draw in new ones as a result of higher-than-normal turnover.
14 out of the top 25 positions require a Ph.D. or are in the medical industry, accounting for more than half of all positions.
Jobs in IT, sales and marketing, and business are among other well-paying professions that often only call for a four-year degree.
The ten highest-paying positions for 2024 are listed below, according to U.S. News & World Report (and see the full report here).
1- doctors of anesthesia
$208,000 is the median annual pay.
Sector: Healthcare
education required: doctorate
2- Surgeons of the mouth and face
$208,000 is the median annual pay.
Sector: Healthcare
education required: doctorate
3- Gynecologists and obstetricians
The median yearly wage is $208,000.
Sector: Healthcare
education required: doctorate
4- Surgeon
The median yearly wage is $208,000.
Sector: Healthcare
education required: doctorate
5- Orthodontist
The median yearly wage is $208,000.
Sector: Healthcare
education required: doctorate
6- Physician
The median yearly wage is $208,000.
Sector: Healthcare
education required: doctorate
7- Doctor of Psychology
The median yearly wage is $208,000.
Sector: Healthcare
education required: doctorate
8- Anesthetist nurse
$195,610 is the median annual pay.
Sector: Healthcare-required education is a master’s degree.
For admittance into nurse anesthesia practice, all U.S. nurse anesthesia programs must confer a Ph.D. degree as of January 1, 2025, according to the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs.
9- Doctor of pediatrics
$170,480 is the median annual pay.
Sector: Healthcare
education required: doctorate
10- Pilot
$134,630 is the median annual pay.
the social services sector
Required education is a bachelor’s degree.
Long hours, difficult working conditions, and delivering necessary services are some of the causes that continue to drive wages higher in the healthcare industry.
While specialists often earn the highest salary, general practitioners and even non-physician positions, such nurse anesthetists, also earn competitive income.
According to a September 2022 Aon analysis, which gathered information from more than 2.6 million health system employees across the U.S., employers in the healthcare industry placed “competitive benefits to attract and retain people” as their top priority, with “burnout” coming in at a close second.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that over the next 10 years, the health care industry will add two million new employment, the most of any industry.
Janica Ingram, careers editor at U.S. News, tells CNBC Make It, “We’re still seeing the affects of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, baby boomers are aging, so we have a larger aging population, and preventative care is becoming more and more crucial.” “Healthcare will remain a solid business with a large number of in-demand jobs for a very long time.”
If the medical area is not for you, Ingram continues, other fields like engineering and management can also result in profitable employment.
More employees should anticipate receiving significant pay increases this year across the board: According to data from The Conference Board, businesses plan to spend 4.3% of their total payroll on raises in 2023, which is the largest percentage since 2001.