When most young people think of their dream jobs, they always consider factors like work-life- balance, sense of purpose and type of work that they actually enjoy doing, while not giving much emphasis on salary. However, the case isn’t the same when these young people grow up, as they realize that work-life-balance and sense of purpose isn’t going to pay bills and help them afford luxuries! According to a report, 7 out of 10 people give salary-package the highest priority while selecting a career. Many high school students opt for college majors that are going to pay-off in the future, when they enter the practical world.
This is the reason why the medical and IT industry have so many professionals, since the salary-package of every related-career is a huge motivating factor. Although, economic conditions and other demands come into play when comparing the salaries of different careers, in most countries including USA, the following are the 5 highest paying professions according to Forbes, and to everyone’s surprise (or not,) all are medical fields:
Currently the highest-earning professionals with an annual mean wage of $235,070 (US),
Anesthesiologists are professionals belonging to the healthcare industry, who specialize in developing
anesthetic plans and the administration of anesthesia prior to surgical procedures. At first, one might
think that the job doesn’t require much and more or less, only revolves around numbing patients before surgeries. This thought is somewhat true, however, people tend to miss out on the fact that
anesthesiologists have to attend medical schools (after attending college) like most of the other
professionals in the healthcare industry, and then do a three years residency in anesthesia. The demand of anesthesiologists may never diminish, as determining how much anesthesia a patient needs and properly administrating it is a highly crucial part of surgical procedures, and a simple miscalculation may prove to be fatal.
2. Surgeons
The professionals with the second highest mean wage of $233,150 (US), Surgeons are medical
professionals who specialize in surgical procedures. In order to become a surgeon, one needs to get a
bachelor’s degree, attend medical school and choose a specialization for residency programs, which may last from 5-7 years. A very rigorous and demanding profession, there are many options to choose from while selecting a specialization, for example, urology, neurosurgery, etc. The extensive education and training pays off, as surgeons are considered individuals with the noblest job in the medical field, besides being the second highest-earning professionals.
3. Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons
Oral & Maxillofacial surgeons are medical professionals who specialize in the treatment of diseases, defects and injuries in the neck, face, jaw and mouth (maxillofacial) regions. In many countries, including the US, it is a field of dentistry and is a globally recognized surgical specialty. To define it simply, it is a combination of dentistry and surgical medicine, and in some countries like the UK, a dual-degree in both dentistry and medicine is a must. The residencies last from 4 to 6 years and a written or oral exam is required to obtain certification, but the hard work pays off, as oral and maxillofacial surgeons earn a mean wage of $218,960 (US), making them the third highest-paid professionals.
4. Obstetricians and Gynecologists
Having a mean wage of $212,570 (US), Obstetricians and Gynecologists are medical professionals
dealing in pregnancy, child-birth and healthcare of the reproductive system. Being one of the most
demanding and challenging careers, Obstetricians/Gynecologists are required to finish medical school, followed by a residency in obstetrics/gynecology and then obtain certification/license. Apart from the handsome salary-packages, gynecologists are considered to be one of the noblest professions in medical industry.
5. Orthodontists
Orthodontics is a specialization within the broader field of dentistry, and unlike dentists who deal with the overall healthcare of teeth, gums and nerves, orthodontists deal with correcting abnormal biting habits and straightening of teeth, improving their appearance and functions, using braces for this purpose. The criteria for becoming an orthodontist is different in every country, but in the US, a DDS or equivalent is required, followed by entrance into an orthodontics program, which lasts from 2-3 years. In order to become a certified orthodontist, an individual needs to treat at least 6 cases and present them to the ABO examiners. The orthodontist has to defend their decisions in front of the board. All of this hard work is worth it, as orthodontists enjoy a mean wage of $196,270 (US.) Although, medical professionals dominate the list of highest-paying careers, jobs related to IT,
engineering and business also pay a great deal of money. Choosing a career solely on the basis of how much it pays may potentially ruin your life completely. So, the best approach is to keep all the factors in mind, while also giving importance to how much it pays.
