Though having a job that pays well is at the top of many people’s lists when looking for a new position or profession, it is not a priority for all job searchers.
If a high wage is crucial to you, have a look at our list of the highest-paying occupations in the United States in 2023.
How Can I Get a High-Paying Job in the USA?
The majority of high-paying jobs need higher degrees, such as a Ph.D. or a medical degree.
Although several of the occupations on this list just require an undergraduate degree, the fact is that competing against job hopefuls with higher-level degrees makes it more difficult to get sought employment.
Which jobs pay the most?
Healthcare occupations lead the list of highest-paying jobs around, with a 13% increase expected by 2031.
Healthcare vocations account for 22 of the top 25 highest-paying jobs in the United States.
Corporate CEOs are the highest-paid professionals outside of the healthcare industry.
Between 2021 and 2031, the average anticipated growth rate for all employment is 5.3%.
15 Highest Paying Jobs in the USA in 2023
The rankings are based on Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) wage statistics.
In the yearly publication, National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, the BLS utilizes mean, or average, wages rather than median incomes for each occupation, which represent the annual wage of a typical person in that function.
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Cardiologist: $353,970 annually
This is the highest-paying job in the United States right now.
Cardiologists are surgeons who diagnose, treat, manage and prevent cardiovascular illnesses and disorders.
Some specialize in treatments to treat cardiac problems, such as balloon angioplasty and stent implantation.
Others focus on echocardiography, which uses electrodes to check and treat the chambers of the heart, or electrophysiology, which deals with the heart’s electrical circuitry.
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Anesthesiologist: $331,190 per year
Anesthesiologists are physicians who “administer anesthetics and analgesics for pain management before, during, or after surgery,” according to the BLS.
Anesthesiologists use medications to manage many sorts of pain, from surgery to chronic sickness, and they even monitor patients’ vital signs.
This highly specialized occupation ranks second on the list of the highest-paying jobs.
An anesthesiologist’s work hours might be long and unpredictable since they follow the operating room schedule.
Anesthesiologists must be available for both scheduled operations and emergency treatments, which adds to the unpredictability of the workday.
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Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon: $311,460 per year
Oral and maxillofacial surgeons diagnose and treat illnesses and injuries in the mouth and jaw.
Wisdom teeth, misaligned jaws, and tumors and cysts of the jaw and mouth are among the most prevalent issues they’re likely to treat.
Hospitals, big medical institutions, and dentistry clinics employ oral and maxillofacial surgeons.
They might be lecturers at dentistry schools or residents-in-training supervisors. Many oral and maxillofacial surgeons start their businesses.
They put in long hours to undertake delicate and complex operations.
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Emergency Medicine Physician: $310,640 per year
As the name indicates, emergency medicine professionals must make medical choices on the spot to prevent death or catastrophic damage.
They must respond quickly to assess, stabilize, and care for patients who have frequently experienced trauma.
They may be in charge of emergency medical personnel in an emergency room.
In an emergency, ER physicians are frequently called to work irregular or extended hours to care for patients.
They may be required to work overnight or on weekends to care for a continuously changing patient load.
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Orthopedic Surgeon, Except Pediatric: $306,220
Orthopedic surgeons “diagnose and conduct surgery to cure and prevent rheumatic and other illnesses of the musculoskeletal system,” according to the BLS.
The majority of orthopedic surgeons work in hospitals or private clinics. This can include both scheduled and emergency surgery, which might result in a demanding schedule and lengthy hours.
Back or neck procedures, for example, might sometimes last a full day without pauses.
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Dermatologist: $302,740
Dermatologists diagnose and treat skin, hair, and nail disorders.
They are capable of doing both medical and dermatological surgery.
Dermatologists might work in private practice or at clinics affiliated with large teaching hospitals and universities.
Dermatologists seldom work irregular or unexpected hours. The majority follow a defined schedule and work between 30 and 40 hours each week.
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Radiologist: $301,720
A radiologist is a physician who uses medical imaging methods such as x-rays, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), nuclear medicine, and ultrasound to diagnose and treat illnesses and injuries.
They may be called upon to undertake minimally invasive medical operations and testing.
The majority of radiologists’ job is done in an office environment, where they evaluate pictures, read reports, and discuss the results and diagnosis with other physicians.
The majority of communication occurs through a patient’s physician, who is in charge of implementing the results and making treatment decisions.
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Surgeon, Other: $297,800
A surgeon is in charge of operating on patients who have been injured or unwell.
Duties include analyzing x-rays of patients and conversing with them about the treatment, preparing for surgery, and conducting procedures with the help of other surgeons, nurses, and surgical technicians.
A general surgeon often works 50-60 hours a week (not including time available for on-call duty).
Surgeons may be on call nearly 24 hours a day, seven days a week, depending on their profession.
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Obstetrician-Gynecologist: $296,210
Obstetricians-gynecologists, or OB-GYNs, are doctors who specialize in vaginal, ovarian, uterine, and cervical reproductive health and delivery.
This is a medical specialty that focuses on delivering prenatal and postnatal care. OB-GYNs also diagnose, treat, and assist prevent disorders affecting women’s reproductive systems, particularly those that impact the uterus.
While the job schedule normally entails visiting patients regularly, attending to a patient giving birth to a child might happen at any time of day or night, necessitating being on call for these occasions throughout a career.
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Pediatric Surgeon: $290,310
Pediatric surgeons treat prenatal anomalies and birth defects, illnesses, and traumas in fetuses, preterm and newborn infants, toddlers, and adolescents.
Many pediatric surgical specializations and subspecialties may be included.
Pediatric surgeons are often employed at children’s hospitals, community hospitals, or university medical facilities.
They collaborate with a professional team that comprises pediatricians, nurses, and surgical technicians.
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Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric: $270,090
Ophthalmologists diagnose and treat eye illnesses and diseases, as well as assist prevent them.
They may also give treatment with visual services like glasses and contacts.
Ophthalmologists often operate in private practice, seeing patients and doing surgery in their clinics. Typically, this entails working normal hours with little crises.
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Neurologist: $267,660
Neurologists diagnose and treat brain and nervous system ailments such as Alzheimer’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and epilepsy.
Neurologists, like other surgeons, may be required to stand for extended amounts of time during the day. Other working conditions may differ depending on specialty.
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Orthodontist: $267,280
Orthodontists specialize in tooth correction and are frequently referred by patients’ regular dentists.
They do braces, X-rays, mouth guards, and other treatments.
Some orthodontists work for major orthodontic practices, while others run their businesses, which necessitates good management abilities.
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Physician, Pathologist: $267,180
Pathologists are doctors who diagnose illnesses and perform lab tests on organs, tissues, and fluids.
Pathology encompasses the job of medical examiners.
The majority of clinical pathologists work in normal hospital and clinic clinical laboratories, however some work in university research clinics.
Pathologists frequently work full-time. Facilities that conduct 24-hour laboratories will have pathologists on staff overnight and weekends due to the nature of their company.
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Psychiatrist: $249,760
Psychiatrists treat mental health issues. Some work on child and adolescent psychiatry, while others specialize in forensic 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 understand their current feelings better.
Conclusion
A healthcare career is hard to top when it comes to high-paying jobs in the United States.
Specialists often receive the highest compensation, although general practitioners and even nonphysician professions, such as nurse anesthetists, can also earn good money.
The vast majority of the world’s richest people are entrepreneurs or the successors of entrepreneurs.
Healthcare is not the sole option. If you’re not comfortable with occupations that involve blood, there are alternative options.
