When mapping out a future career path people generally seek to enter a profession that will provide a good salary. Many would also like to be of service to society, having the chance to help others.
In 2023, a good number of the top paying jobs combine both the opportunity to earn well above the country’s median pay and to be of service, although you need advanced education to practice these professions.
What are the highest paying jobs in the US in 2023?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average American earns $54,132, while those who have the top ten highest-earning jobs take home more than $120,000 a year or at least $10,000 a month. A number of those in the top tier are in the field of health care. Investing in the right education counts, as eight out of the top ten require a doctorate degree.
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Personnel shortage in the health care sector
The health care sector is experiencing a personnel shortage, believed to have been precipitated by burnout due to the pandemic. To have better chances of drawing in new people and avoid losing existing staff, private health care organizations have crafted attractive salary packages.
Here are the ten best-paying jobs for the year, according to data compiled and analyzed by US News and World Report.
| POSITION | AVE. SALARY | PROJECTED JOBS | DEGREE NEEDED |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anesthesiologist | $208,000 | 400 | Doctorate |
| Oral and maxillofacial surgeons | $208,000 | 300 | Doctorate |
| Obstetrician and gynecologist | $208,000 | 400 | Doctorate |
| Surgeon | $208,000 | 2,000 | Doctorate |
| Orthodontist | $208,000 | 300 | Doctorate |
| Physician | $208,000 | 19,400 | Doctorate |
| Psychiatrist | $208,000 | 2,400 | Doctorate |
| Nurse anesthetist | $195,610 | 5.300 | Master’s |
| Pediatrician | $170,480 | 400 | Doctorate |
| Pilot | $134,630 | 7,700 | Bachelor’s |
High salaries in health care
The health care field has long needed to offer competitive wages, driven up because of the high cost of education, the great need for essential services, and a stressful working environment. This last factor was aggravated by the covid-19 pandemic which put extraordinary demands on health workers. Burnout and a growing need for more personnel as the country continues to cope with the pandemic’s effects and care for an aging population have driven up salaries for these critical positions.
Out of the ten highest-paying jobs, nine are in the field of health care, with pilots being the only exception. Eight need a doctorate degree, and the post of nurse anesthetist needs a master’s degree. However, even nurse anesthetists will need to have a doctorate beginning 1 January 2025, as indicated by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs.
Pilots have the lowest educational requirement on the list, needing only to have a bachelor’s degree. They do need to undergo additional flight and aviation training.
