What is the highest-paying job? Spoiler: It's in medicine.

Jacob Livesay, USA TODAY
Updated 2 min read
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They say money doesn't buy happiness, but in the workplace it just might. CNBC reported in 2019 that pay is the most critical factor in workplace satisfaction, with 68% of workers making over $150,000 a year reporting they were “very satisfied” with their job, while only 40% of workers making below $50,000 said the same.

So which profession makes the most money? Doctors.

What is the highest-paying job?

The jobs with the highest average pay in the United States are all in medicine. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the jobs that receive wages equal to or greater than $208,000 per year on average in alphabetical order.

  • Anesthesiologists

  • Cardiologists

  • Dermatologists

  • Emergency medicine physicians

  • Family medicine physicians

  • General internal medicine physicians

  • Neurologists

  • Obstetricians and gynecologists

  • Ophthalmologists, except pediatric

  • Orthodontists

  • Pathologists

  • Psychiatrists

  • Radiologists

  • Surgeons

  • Other physicians

It's important to note that these are average wages. Skilled workers in other industries can still make more than $208,000 if they are paid above average in their field.

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According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the jobs with the highest average wages are all in medicine.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the jobs with the highest average wages are all in medicine.

What are the highest-paying jobs outside of medicine?

If taking hours and hours of pre-med credits in college isn’t for you, that doesn't mean you can't earn a big paycheck. Here are the highest-paying jobs outside of medicine and their salaries, according to Business Insider:

  • Chief executives - $148,400 per year

  • Airline pilots, copilots and flight engineers - $195,580 per year

  • Computer and information systems managers - $157,290 per year

  • Architectural and engineering managers - $177,220 per year

  • Biological science teachers (postsecondary) - $159,310

  • Health specialty teachers (postsecondary) - $163,160

  • Health services managers - $130,930 per year

  • Financial managers - $162,270 per year

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What is the highest-paying job? It averages over $208,000 a year.

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