America’s 25 Best-Paying Jobs

By Svetlana Chumertova

FINANCIAL MANAGERS

Financial Managers

Mean Annual Wage: $101,450One-Year Change: 5.0%

No. In Employment: 468,270Top-Paying Industry: Other Financial

Investment Activities ($139,390*)Top-Paying State: New York ($133,150*)

Top-Paying Metro: New York-White Plains-Wayne, NY-NJ ($142,570*)

Plan, direct and coordinate accounting, investing, banking, insurance, securities and other financial activities of a branch, office or

department of an establishment.

ANESTHESIOLOGISTS

Anesthesiologists Mean Annual Wage: $184,340

One-Year Change: 5.8%No. In Employment: 29,890

Top-Paying Industry: Other Ambulatory Health Care Services (>$145,600*) Top-Paying State: Washington (>$145,600*)Top-Paying Metro: Wilmington, DE-MD-NJ (>$145,600*)

Administer anesthetics during surgery or other medical procedures.

SURGEONS

Surgeons Mean Annual Wage: $184,150

One-Year Change: 3.6%No. In Employment: 51,900

Top-Paying Industry: Offices of Dentists (>$145,600*)Top-Paying State: Wyoming (>$145,600*)Top-Paying Metro: Springfield, MA-CT (>$145,600*)

Treat diseases, injuries and deformities by invasive methods, such as manual manipulation or by using instruments and appliances.

OBSTETRICIANS AND GYNECOLOGISTS

Obstetricians And Gynecologists Mean Annual Wage: $178,040

One-Year Change: 3.6%No. In Employment: 22,520

Top-Paying Industry: Offices of Physicians ($183,850*)Top-Paying State: New Hampshire (>$145,600*)Top-Paying Metro: York-Hanover, PA (>$145,600*)

Diagnose, treat and help prevent diseases of women, especially those affecting the reproductive system and the process of childbirth.

ORTHODONTISTS

Orthodontists Mean Annual Wage: $176,900

One-Year Change: 8.3%No. In Employment: 5,200

Top-Paying Industry: Offices of Dentists ($179,260*)Top-Paying State: Wisconsin (>$145,600*)Top-Paying Metro: West Palm Beach-Boca Raton-Boynton Beach, FL (>$145,600*)

Examine, diagnose and treat dental malocclusions and oral cavity anomalies. Design and fabricate appliances to realign teeth and jaws.

ORAL AND MAXILLOFACIAL SURGEONS

Oral And Maxillofacial Surgeons

Mean Annual Wage: $164,760 One-Year Change: 2.6%No. In Employment: 5,320

Top-Paying Industry: Offices of Physicians ($182,060*)Top-Paying State: Wisconsin (>$145,600*)Top-Paying Metro: Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC (>$145,600*)

Perform surgery on mouths and jaws.

INTERNISTS, GENERAL

Internists, General Mean Annual Wage: $160,860

One-Year Change: 2.8%No. In Employment: 48,700

Top-Paying Industry: Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories ($187,730*)Top-Paying State: Louisiana ($188,570*)Top-Paying Metro: Danbury, CT (>$145,600*)

Diagnose and provide nonsurgical treatment of diseases and injuries of internal organ systems.

PROSTHODONTISTS

Prosthodontists Mean Annual Wage: $158,940

One-Year Change: 8.8%No. In Employment: 480

Top-Paying Industry: Offices of Dentists ($185,960*)Top-Paying State: Virginia (>$145,600*)Top-Paying Metro: Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV (>$145,600*)

Construct oral prostheses to replace missing teeth and other oral structures.

PSYCHIATRISTS

Psychiatrists Mean Annual Wage: $149,990

One-Year Change: 2.6%No. In Employment: 24,730

Top-Paying Industry: Other Residential Care Facilities ($165,980*)Top-Paying State: Idaho ($185,420*)Top-Paying Metro: Springfield, MO (>$145,600*)

Diagnose, treat and help prevent disorders of the mind.

FAMILY AND GENERAL PRACTITIONERS

Family And General Practitioners Mean Annual Wage: $149,850

One-Year Change: 6.8%No. In Employment: 109,400

Top-Paying Industry: Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories ($190,100*)Top-Paying State: Kansas ($177,930*)Top-Paying Metro: Danbury, CT (>$145,600*)

Diagnose, treat and help prevent diseases and injuries that commonly occur in the general population.

CHIEF EXECUTIVES

Chief Executives Mean Annual Wage: $144,600

One-Year Change: 3.4%No. In Employment: 299,520

Top-Paying Industry: Agents and Managers for Artists, Athletes, Entertainers, and Other Public Figures ($186,490*)Top-Paying State: New Jersey ($177,210*)Top-Paying Metro: San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($187,940*)

Determine and formulate policies and provide the overall direction of companies or private and public sector organizations within the guidelines set up by a board of directors.

PHYSICIANS AND SURGEONS, ALL OTHER

Physicians And Surgeons, All Other

Mean Annual Wage: $142,220One-Year Change: 2.4%No. In Employment: 208,960

Top-Paying Industry: Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services ($198,560*)Top-Paying State: Utah ($186,500*)Top-Paying Metro: Lowell-Billerica-Chelmsford, MA-NH (>$145,600*)

All physicians and surgeons outside main specialties.

PEDIATRICIANS, GENERAL

Pediatricians, General Mean Annual Wage: $141,440

One-Year Change: 1.6%No. In Employment: 28,930

Top-Paying Industry: Offices of Other Health Practitioners ($177,190*)Top-Paying State: Louisiana ($177,110*)Top-Paying Metro: Monroe, LA (>$145,600*)

Diagnose, treat and help prevent children's diseases and injuries.

DENTISTS, GENERAL

Dentists, General Mean Annual Wage: $140,950

One-Year Change: 5.4%No. In Employment: 86,110

Top-Paying Industry: Other Ambulatory Health Care Services ($179,540*)Top-Paying State: Maine ($171,440*)Top-Paying Metro: Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL (>$145,600*)

Diagnose and treat diseases, injuries and malformations of teeth and gums and related oral structures.

AIRLINE PILOTS, COPILOTS AND FLIGHT ENGINEERS

Airline Pilots, Copilots And Flight Engineers

Mean Annual Wage: $140,380 One-Year Change: 4.0%No. In Employment: 75,810

Top-Paying Industry: Scheduled Air Transportation ($149,710*)Top-Paying State: Illinois ($162,160*)Top-Paying Metro: New York-White Plains-Wayne, NY-NJ ($170,220*)

Pilot and navigate the flight of multi-engine aircraft in regularly scheduled service for the transport of passengers and cargo.

PODIATRISTS

Podiatrists Mean Annual Wage: $118,500

One-Year Change: 6.5%No. In Employment: 9,020

Top-Paying Industry: Outpatient Care Centers ($129,310*)Top-Paying State: Oregon ($176,740*)Top-Paying Metro: Orlando-Kissimmee, FL ($184,780*)

Diagnose and treat diseases and deformities of the human foot.

LAWYERS

Lawyers Mean Annual Wage: $113,660

One-Year Change: 2.8%No. In Employment: 547,710

Top-Paying Industry: Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment ($164,520*)Top-Paying State: District of Columbia ($138,850*)Top-Paying Metro: San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($162,880*)

Represent clients in criminal and civil litigation and other legal proceedings, draw up legal documents, and manage or advise clients on legal transactions.

AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS

Air Traffic Controllers Mean Annual Wage: $110,270

One-Year Change: 4.2%No. In Employment: 23,240

Top-Paying Industry: Federal Executive Branch ($116,320*)Top-Paying State: New Hampshire ($129,220*)Top-Paying Metro: Chicago-Naperville-Joliet, IL ($131,450*)

Control air traffic on and within vicinity of airport and movement of air traffic between altitude sectors and control centers according to established procedures and policies.

ENGINEERING MANAGERS

Engineering Managers Mean Annual Wage: $110,030

One-Year Change: 4.3%No. In Employment: 183,960

Top-Paying Industry: Lessors of Nonfinancial Intangible Assets (except Copyrighted Works) ($139,640*)Top-Paying State: Vermont ($126,440*)Top-Paying Metro: San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($150,720*)

Plan, direct or coordinate activities in such fields as architecture and engineering or research and development in these fields.

DENTISTS, ALL OTHER SPECIALISTS

Dentists, All Other Specialists

Mean Annual Wage: $108,340 One-Year Change: -6.3%No. In Employment: 4,560

Top-Paying Industry: Offices of Dentists ($161,940*)Top-Paying State: Oregon ($172,620*)Top-Paying Metro: Philadelphia, PA ($165,720*)

Specialist dentists excluding Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, Orthodontists and Prosthodontists.

NATURAL SCIENCES MANAGERS

Natural Sciences Managers Mean Annual Wage: $107,970

One-Year Change: 8.9%No. In Employment: 38,660

Top-Paying Industry: Drugs and Druggists' Sundries Merchant Wholesalers ($140,410*)Top-Paying State: Massachusetts ($136,070*)Top-Paying Metro: San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($155,200*)

Direct or coordinate activities in such fields as life sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, statistics and research and development in these fields.

MARKETING MANAGERS

Marketing Managers Mean Annual Wage: $107,610

One-Year Change: 5.5%No. In Employment: 159,950

Top-Paying Industry: Internet Service Providers and Web Search Portals ($145,420*)Top-Paying State: New York ($137,040*)Top-Paying Metro: San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($147,880*)

Determine the demand for products and services, identify potential customers, develop pricing strategies and oversee product development needs

COMPUTER AND INFORMATION SYSTEMS MANAGERS

Computer And Information Systems Managers

Mean Annual Wage: $107,250 One-Year Change: 4.8%No. In Employment: 251,210

Top-Paying Industry: Securities and Commodity Contracts Intermediation ($129,740*)Top-Paying State: New Jersey ($125,460*)Top-Paying Metro: San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($139,460*)

Plan, direct or coordinate activities in such fields as electronic data processing, information systems, systems analysis and computer programming.

SALES MANAGERS

Sales Managers Mean Annual Wage: $102,730

One-Year Change: 4.3%No. In Employment: 307,960

Top-Paying Industry: Securities and Commodity Contracts Intermediation ($139,940*)Top-Paying State: New York ($139,580*)Top-Paying Metro: New York-White Plains-Wayne, NY-NJ ($143,180*)

Direct the distribution of a product or service to customers, establish training programs for sales representatives and analyze sales statistics to determine sales potential and inventory requirements.

PETROLEUM ENGINEERS

Petroleum Engineers Mean Annual Wage: $101,620

One-Year Change: 4.4%No. In Employment: 15,060

Top-Paying Industry: Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services ($112,310*)Top-Paying State: Texas ($111,910*)Top-Paying Metro: Casper, WY ($119,570*)

Devise methods to improve oil and gas well production. Oversee drilling and offer technical advice.