Money isn’t the only motive behind choosing a career, as there are a lot of other factors that need to be considered when deciding what path we would like to follow; however I don’t think anyone would deny that financial security is certainly high up on most people’s agendas.
The average American worker earns a median annual wage of $34,750, though in some of the highest earning professions you can expect to earn up to five times that!
I’ve compiled a list of the top 10 paying jobs of 2015 in the US and the average salaries you can expect for each occupation; based on findings in the News & World Report, released at the beginning of this year.
Thinking of a career change? Maybe one of these will take your fancy!
10) Art Director: $96,000
If you’re a creative type, a role as an Art Director may be up your street. Art Directors are responsible for the visual style and images in magazines, newspapers, product packaging, and movie and television productions. A lot of jobs of this kind can be found in advertising and public relations firms, as well as newspaper and magazine publishers, design companies and TV & film. A degree in an area such as graphic design or advertising is usually required for this position.
Oh and did I mention you can expect an average salary of $96,000?
9) Business Operations Manager: $116,000
Business operations managers plan and organize the activities of businesses, government agencies, and non-profit organizations. Some of their key responsibilities are hiring new staff, negotiating contracts, and addressing budget matters. To enter this field you will need a Bachelor’s degree in business-related field and strong management skills. An average salary for this kind of role is $116,000.
8) Pharmacist: $116,000
You may think that pharmacists just spend their day putting pills in pots, but there’s a lot more to the job than that. Training to become a pharmacist takes 5 years, including a Masters degree in Pharmacy, as it is important that they have a thorough knowledge of the drugs being dispensed and best way to treat common ailments. Some of their responsibilities include offering advice and information about medication side effects, disease prevention, nutrition, assistance quitting smoking and more.
Pharmacists can earn an average salary of $116,000. Enough to tempt you?
7) Sales Manager: $123,000
A Sales Manager is responsible for leading and guiding a team of sales people in an organization. Their responsibilities often involve setting sales goals, creating a sales plan, mentoring the members of their sales team, training staff and hiring new sales employees. Although a degree is not required for a career in sales, excellent communication skills are essential to succeed. You can expect to earn an average of $123,000 a year as Sales Manager.
6) Finance Manager: $126,000
Financial Managers are responsible for the financial health of an organization, providing financial advice and support to clients and colleagues, so that they are able to make educated business decisions. Key responsibilities include providing and assessing financial information; monitoring cash flows and predicting future trends. A degree in any area can get you a job in this role, however one in a realm such as business management or economics is beneficial. You can expect to earn around $126,000 in this kind of position.
5) Lawyer: $131,000
Lawyers often specialise in different areas (criminal, corporate, environment, etc.), as well as in different settings (private practice, in-house, Government) so it’s hard to generalise what they do. However, their key role is to represent one of the parties in criminal and civil trials by presenting evidence and arguing in court to support their client.
You will require an Undergraduate and Postgraduate degree in Law to get into this field, however if successful you can earn an average of $131,000!
4) IT Manager: $132,000
An IT Manager oversees information technology and computer-related activities for an organization and are responsible for the overall performance of the electronic networks that allow a business to function. Key responsibilities are to formulate a security strategy, upgrade existing software or hardware and coordinate workflow.
You’ll generally need a degree and several years’ relevant experience to get started in IT management, but can expect to earn an average salary of $132,000 if you break into the field.
3) Marketing Manager: $133,000
A marketing manager is someone who manages the marketing of a business or product. They work with other marketing team members to create effective and creative advertising campaigns for their product, brand, service, etc. You will need to have good leadership and management skills for this role, in order to lead and motivate a team.
The average salary for a role as Marketing Manager is $133,000.
2) Dentist: $164,000
You’re probably all pretty familiar with dentists and they’re probably not exactly your favourite people to visit! However, a career in dentistry could see your earning a whopping $164,000 a year!
Dentists are healthcare professionals who specialise in oral health and hygiene. Their key responsibilities are educating patients on oral healthcare, examining teeth and diagnosing patients’ dental conditions and carrying out agreed treatment. It’s essential to have an approved degree in dentistry (BDS or BChD) to practise as a dentist.
1) Physician: $188,000
Physicians are medical specialists and often choose to specialise in a particular area of medicine (cardiology, oncology, etc.). They are responsible for diagnosing and managing complex medical problems, by examining patients, taking medical histories, prescribing medications and performing diagnostic tests.
Training to become a physician involves undergraduate education, medical school and graduate medical education, however it’s worth it as they can expect to earn a salary of $188,000 in the job. You never know when your health, or even life may be in the hands of a doctor, so I think they deserve it!
