Are you looking for a job field that will boost your salary this year? Here are the 25 highest-paying jobs you can hold in 2021. (Hint: If you have a mind for science and can handle the sight of blood, you’re golden.)
1. Anesthesiologist
Average Annual Salary: $208,000
Topping the list with an average annual salary of $208,000, anesthesiologists spend their time at work making sure patients are safe and stable before, during, and after surgery or other procedures. It takes almost 15 years to get to this job: Anesthesiologists need a bachelor’s degree, a medical degree, a four-year residency, and additional fellowship programs and certifications.
1. Anesthesiologist
Average Annual Salary: $208,000
Topping the list with an average annual salary of $208,000, anesthesiologists spend their time at work making sure patients are safe and stable before, during, and after surgery or other procedures. It takes almost 15 years to get to this job: Anesthesiologists need a bachelor’s degree, a medical degree, a four-year residency, and additional fellowship programs and certifications.
2. Oral Surgeon
Average Annual Salary: $208,000
Oral surgeons perform any procedures that have to do with your mouth or your teeth. Their job could range from a simple wisdom tooth extraction to more complex surgeries like tumor removals. These surgeons need 12-14 years of education and practice before they’re certified to start practicing.
3. Obstetrician and Gynecologist
Average Annual Salary: $208,000
OB/GYNs are capable of providing two services. Gynecologists take care of women’s health issues, and obstetricians help women through pregnancy and childbirth. These doctors will also complete 10-15 years of education and residency — but the salary and the reward of helping new mothers is worth it.
4. Orthodontist
Average Annual Salary: $208,000
If you’ve ever had a kid who needed braces, it should come as no surprise that orthodontists make a lot of cash. This specialized type of dentist works with patients of all ages to help with the alignment of their teeth.
5. Psychiatrist
Average Annual Salary: $208,000
Psychiatrists are different from psychologists. While psychologists focus on behavioral intervention, psychiatrists are medical doctors, which means they can prescribe patients medication. It also means they need more schooling — typically 12 years of it.
6. Physician
Average Annual Salary: $206,500
The term “physician” refers to any doctor who has gotten a medical degree. Physicians help patients stay healthy by diagnosing, treating, and managing any injuries or diseases. They also focus on preventative healthcare through tactics like counseling diet and exercise changes.
7. CEO’s
Average Annual Salary: $184,460
CEO’s, or chief executive officers, are completely in charge of their company. They make business decisions and run the company. The path to becoming a CEO isn’t the same for every person. You might start your own business or step into somebody else’s. However, an MBA (Master of Business Administration degree) will help.
8. Pediatrician
Average Annual Salary: $175,310
Science-minded people who are good with kids might make excellent pediatricians. Pediatricians work with patients from babies to age 18. It takes approximately 15 years to complete the schooling required for this career.
9. Nurse Anesthetist
Average Annual Salary: $174,790
Similar to an anesthesiologist, a nurse anesthetist provides anesthesia or medications and keeps track of a patient’s vital signs and biological functions during a procedure. Instead of being medical doctors, however, nurse anesthetists are RN’s (registered nurses).
10. Dentist
Average Annual Salary: $155,600
Dentists are adept at filling cavities, teaching patients how to perform at-home oral hygiene, and doing just about anything else that pertains to the teeth and gums. It takes eight years to complete the bachelor’s degree and the DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery degree) required for this career.
11. IT Manager
Average Annual Salary: $146,360
IT managers handle everything that has to do with computers for the company they work for. These people typically have at least a bachelor’s degree in computer science and information technology. This qualifies them to operate network systems and work with other employees who have IT-related questions.
12. Architectural and Engineering Managers
Average Annual Salary: $144,830
Architectural and engineering managers need a bachelor’s degree in architecture or engineering. Many have master’s degrees, too. These managers plan and carry out projects for architectural and engineering companies.
13. Petroleum Engineer
Average Annual Salary: $137,720
Petroleum engineers have a unique job that includes finding reservoirs of gas and oil under the earth and then extracting the gas or oil from those deposits. To work this job, which averages a cool $137,720 salary per year, you’ll need a four-year degree in petroleum engineering (or engineering in general).
14. Marketing Manager
Average Annual Salary: $136,850
Marketing managers are responsible for promoting their company to its target audience through various marketing methods, like social media, paid advertising, and email marketing. A bachelor’s degree in marketing will set you up for success in this career field.
15. Financial Manager
Average Annual Salary: $129,890
Financial managers need a degree in business, finance, economics, or something similar. This degree will be used to help companies manage their finances by carrying out duties like data analysis and making financial decisions.
16. Pharmacist
Average Annual Salary: $128,090
Pharmacology is a lucrative field with many available jobs. Pharmacists prepare medications for patients and instruct them on how to safely take each med. Every pharmacist needs a four-year degree and a doctoral degree.
17. Sales Manager
Average Annual Salary: $126,640
Most companies have a sales manager, who’s in charge of everything pertaining to sales. This job fits people who are outgoing and ready to travel and meet new people — sales managers spend much of their time interacting with customers, dealers, distributors, and other managers.
18. Podiatrist
Average Annual Salary: $126,240
A podiatrist is a type of doctor who treats any issues involving a patient’s foot or ankle (from an ingrown toenail to a broken bone). These doctors have a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (D.P.M.).
19. Lawyer
Average Annual Salary: $122,960
With dozens of different types of law out there, no two lawyer jobs are exactly alike. One lawyer might take on legal issues that have to do with immigration, while another may work on healthcare-related cases or in animal law. Whatever the case, all lawyers must complete seven total years of school before taking the bar exam.
20. Political Scientist
Average Annual Salary: $122,220
Political scientists study the field of politics, studying history and staying on top of current affairs to predict upcoming trends. This job has four subfields: comparative politics, international relations, political economy, and political philosophy. Political scientists need a master’s degree or Ph.D. in political science.
21. Pilot
Average Annual Salary: $121,430
This job is every kid’s dream — and the field is a lot more diverse than you might think. Not every pilot flies for an airline like Delta. There are also jobs available on cargo carriers, government planes, air ambulances, fire fighting planes, crop dusters, and more.
22. Optometrist
Average Annual Salary: $115,250
An optometrist (which is a separate job from an ophthalmologist) conducts regular eye exams and prescribes glasses or contact lenses for patients. This person needs a four-year Doctor of Optometry (O.D.) degree and must take the National Board of Examiners in Optometry exam.
23. Actuary
Average Annual Salary: $108,350
An actuary helps clients crunch the numbers to evaluate risk and opportunity. This complex job pays well and requires an undergrad degree as well as additional exams. While a degree in actuarial science will be helpful, a business or statistics degree will work, too.
24. Business Operations Manager
Average Annual Salary: $100,780
A business operations manager plans a company’s operations and then makes them happen. This C-level executive needs a bachelor’s degree in business administration and will work with all of a company’s departments to make sure everyone is on the same page.
25. Financial Advisor
Average Annual Salary: $87,850
Earning an average of $87,850 per year, financial advisors help clients with different aspects of their finances — such as budgets, stocks, taxes, and more. Financial advisors need to be comfortable working with numbers and communicating with people.
By Hailey Hudson
