If you’re going to college, you might wonder what career you should choose where you’ll earn a lot of money. Many high-paying jobs require a bachelor's degree in fields such as criminal justice, physics, mathematics, statistics, art-related fields, chemical engineering, and environmental sciences. There are some good ones out there that you should consider. To help you make up your mind, we’ve compiled 15 jobs that pay insane salaries. The data on median annual salaries for these jobs is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Median Annual Wage: $243,759
A cardiologist is a specialized group of doctors who focus on the heart and blood vessels. They can treat and prevent various cardiovascular issues. After completing four years of medical school, cardiologists spend time as residents and also go through specialized training. All of the required education for these jobs takes an average of ten to twelve years. Also, cardiologists must continue their education and learnings throughout their occupation and as they practice.
Median Annual Wage: $370,454
An anesthesiologist is a medical doctor who specializes in administering anesthesia. Anesthesia lets you sleep pain-free during surgery. The type of company or hospital where an anesthesiologist works, such as a large organization, nonprofit, or university setting, can significantly impact their stress levels and work environment. They also take care of you before, during and after surgery. Anesthesiologists have 12 to 14 years of training.
Median Annual Wage: $294,259
An orthodontist is a dentist who diagnoses, prevents, and treats teeth and jaw irregularities. The tasks of an orthodontist include diagnosing, preventing, and treating teeth and jaw irregularities. Orthodontists work with people of all ages. They attend college, dental school, and orthodontic school and have a two- to three-year residency.
Median Annual Wage: $255,958
A psychiatrist is an expert in psychiatry, the branch of medicine that diagnoses, treats, and prevents mental disorders. Psychiatrists also work with emotional and behavioral disorders. The required education generally takes 12 years. Job growth in the field of psychiatry can be expected to increase significantly over the next decade.
Median Annual Wage: $199,423
A nurse anesthetist is a regular nurse with advanced training in anesthesia. They work with surgeons and anesthesiologists to provide care to patients in surgery. Becoming a nurse anesthetist typically requires six to eight years of education.
Median Annual Wage: $120,679
A veterinarian is a doctor for animals. Before being accepted to veterinary school is difficult. Once graduated from college, the student must have acquired 100 hours of experience working or volunteering in a veterinary clinic. It then takes an additional three years before taking a licensing exam.
Veterinarians may also find employment opportunities and jobs in government agencies, working on public health and animal welfare initiatives.
Median Annual Wage: $111,940
An aeronautical engineer works in the aerospace industry, designing, developing, testing, and producing aircraft and spacecraft. They work with all related systems. In many cases, an aeronautical engineer must have a Bachelor of Science in aeronautical engineering. They may also need security clearance depending on where they work.
Median Annual Wage: $91,636
Also known as an information technology manager, an IT manager is responsible for managing an organization’s computers, information systems, and technology infrastructure. An IT manager is required to have a bachelor’s degree in computer science, information technology or a related field.
Median Annual Wage: $109,251
A financial reporting manager is responsible for managing a company’s financial reporting process. This includes producing financial reports and records, such as balance sheets, income statements, quarterly reports, statistics data, and earnings reports. They need a bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance, as well as experience and strong analytical skills.
Median Annual Wage: $103,761
These officers formulate recommendations to preserve and enhance health and environmental conditions. Environmental health and safety officers may apply principles of chemical engineering to solve production-related problems and ensure compliance with environmental regulations. These conditions include air, water, noise, liquid and solid waste disposal. They also lead hazardous material control and public contingency response initiatives. A bachelor’s degree is required.
Median Annual Wage: $133,808
A podiatrist diagnoses diseases and treats issues affecting the feet, ankles and lower legs. They can also perform surgery. To become a podiatrist doctor, one must complete eight years of education and three years of training in a residency program.
Median Annual Wage: $125,300
A corporate controller is a company’s top accounting officer. They typically are responsible for managing all financial activities of companies, including communicating projected growth and company vulnerabilities. Depending on the person’s career path, it can take seven to 20 years to have a corporate controller occupation. They usually have a BS and MBA.
Median Annual Wage: $128,091
A pharmacy manager oversees all aspects of the pharmacy’s operations. This includes ensuring medication is dispensed correctly, monitoring inventory levels and maintaining compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. They also monitor staff. Once you complete a bachelor's degree in pharmacology, you must become licensed in the state where you wish to work. Many states and programs also require a phd for pharmacy manager jobs.
Median Annual Wage: $140,954
An enterprise architect will generally specialize in managing an organization’s IT infrastructure and services at a high level. These jobs include maintenance, upkeep, policies implementation and improvement. They balance business acumen with software engineering practices. Enterprise Architects refactor thinking and balance concerns for companies. They have an undergraduate degree in computer science or related field and five to ten years of experience.
Median Annual Wage: $95,565
Research scientist jobs work in many scientific fields. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary for research scientists was $95,310 in 2021. These jobs can also fall in the political science or government sectors. They plan and conduct experiments. Then, they collect and analyze the data. A research scientist has a BS degree in a relevant field. Many companies want a master’s degree or doctorate.
These jobs take time and education. Some of them take years to achieve - they simply won't happen in a day. But they are all doable. With hard work and a plan, you can hold any of these positions and be paid insanely well.
