25 Most paying occupations in USA 2019

25 most paying occupations in USA

Do you know about highest paying occupations in USA?

Healthcare jobs topped the list of the highest-paying occupations, and the sector's future is very bright. According to the BLS, employment of healthcare occupations is projected to grow 18% from 2016 to 2026—adding about 2.4 million new jobs. This growth is mainly due to an aging population, leading to greater demand for healthcare services, according to the agency.

The Methodology We Used

Rankings are based on salary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Additional information comes from the Occupational Information Network (O*NET), which was developed under the sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Labor/Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA).

For clarity and convenience, some overlapping job categories were omitted. The figures and statistics are based on data collected through May 2018. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) published its most recent list of National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates at the end of March 2019.

Here are the highest-paying professions, based on the BLS data. For each, we list the 2019 report's mean annual wage, with the 2018 report's mean annual wage in parenthesis after it so you can compare how the compensation has changed.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Healthcare jobs headed the list of the highest-paying occupations: The top 10 jobs all belonged to this sector. Altogether, 14 out of the top 25 jobs were in this field.

Corporate chief executives are in the highest-paid profession outside of the healthcare fields.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) published its most recent list of National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates at the end of March 2019.

1. Anesthesiologists

$267,020 ($265,990)

The BLS defines anesthesiologists as, "Physicians who administer anesthetics prior to, during, or after surgery, or other medical procedures." Anesthesiologists were ranked first the previous year as well. There are approximately 31,000 anesthesiologists in the U.S., per the most recent data.

Following four years of medical school, aspiring anesthesiologists in the U.S. typically complete a four-year residency in that specialization, and possibly even more, depending on the sub-specialty.

2. Surgeons 

$267,020 ($265,990)

The BLS defines this category as "Physicians who treat diseases, injuries, and deformities by invasive, minimally-invasive, or non-invasive surgical methods, such as using instruments, appliances, or by manual manipulation." There are approximately 34,390 surgeons in the U.S., according to the most recent BLS data.

3. Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons

$242,370 ($242,740)

Somewhat more specialized than dentists, oral surgeons perform complex procedures such as wisdom tooth extraction; maxillofacial surgeons perform procedures relating to the jaw and the face around the jaw. According to O*NET, these dental surgeons' duties include:

Administer general and local anesthetics.

Collaborate with other professionals, such as restorative dentists and orthodontists, to plan treatment.

Evaluate the position of the wisdom teeth to determine whether problems exist currently or might occur in the future.

Perform surgery to prepare the mouth for dental implants, and to aid in the regeneration of deficient bone and gum tissues.

Remove tumors and other abnormal growths of the oral and facial regions, using surgical instruments.

Treat infections of the oral cavity, salivary glands, jaws, and neck.

Remove impacted, damaged, and non-restorable teeth.

Provide emergency treatment of facial injuries including lacerations and fractured facial bones.

Treat problems affecting the oral mucosa, such as mouth ulcers and infections.

Restore form and function by moving skin, bone, nerves, and other tissues from other parts of the body to reconstruct the jaws and face.

Perform surgery on the mouth and jaws to treat conditions, such as cleft lip and palate and jaw growth problems.

4. Obstetricians-Gynecologists

$238,320 ($235,240)

Doctors specializing in female reproductive health and childbirth, known as obstetrician-gynecologist (OB/GYN), make slightly below the annual wages listed for oral and maxillofacial surgeons. According to the BLS, there are about 18,590 physicians in this field in the U.S.

5. Orthodontists

$225,760 ($229,380)

Orthodontists specialize in braces and other corrective measures for the teeth. There are about 5,380 orthodontists in the U.S., according to the BLS.

6. Psychiatrists

$220,380 ($216,090)

Psychiatrists are a sub-specialty of the medical profession (as opposed to psychologists, who are not M.D.s). They received a significant salary bump—up over 33, while inflation rose 6.6% between the years from which the data is taken.