The Highest Paying Jobs of 2021

Whether you’re planning your future or changing careers, annual salary is an essential consideration.  

Managers who have the skills to complete projects successfully will always garner higher salaries. Healthcare professionals and managers who lead information technology or information security departments can also demand higher salaries as they gain experience and expertise.

These career sectors are vitally important and in more demand, and even starting salaries can be higher than those in other career fields. 

The trends of working from home, virtual meetings and classes on Zoom, not to mention shopping and banking online, have underscored the need for computer specialists, so they also figure into our list of high-paying jobs.  

Highest-Paying Jobs

We created this list of the top best paying jobs with reference to the salary statistics from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.  

While some of these positions require extensive education up to the doctoral degree level, most of them require an undergraduate degree and years of experience. Education can be expensive, but these high-paying jobs bring an excellent return on investment along the career path. 

Here’s the My Job Search list of the best paying jobs in order of annual salary, which can help you as you choose your career path. 

Chief Executives 

Chief executives bring home salaries that are among the highest in average salary. Their responsibilities include leading companies and determining their strategy for the future. 

Median salary: $768,300 

Typical educational requirements: four-year degrees or master’s-level degrees can be required, depending on the company 

Anesthesiologists 

Among the top earners in the medical field, anesthesiologists administer local, intravenous, or spinal anesthetic and determine the condition of patients before, during, and after sedation.  

Median salary: $394,500 

Typical educational requirements: Medical school degree, residency in anesthesiology, and license to practice 

Gynecologists 

These medical specialists care for women’s reproductive systems and diagnose and treat conditions relating to female reproductive organs.

Median salary: $290,500 

Typical educational requirements: Medical degree plus a residency in gynecology  

Obstetricians 

Physicians specializing in obstetrics care for women before, during and after childbirth. 

Median salary: $290,490 

Typical educational requirements: Degree in medicine from an accredited school and license to practice 

Podiatrists

Podiatrists diagnose and treat disorders, diseases, deformities or injuries of the foot. 

Median salary: $208,860 

Typical educational requirements: Medical degree plus additional training in podiatry  

Prosthodontists 

Prosthodontists care for patients’ oral function and comfort, appearance, and health in relation to missing or deficient teeth.  

Median salary: $208,000 

Typical educational requirements: A dental degree and at least three additional years of advanced training and education in a prosthodontic graduate program.  

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons 

Oral and Maxillofacial surgeons treat a wide spectrum of conditions in the face, head, neck, and jaws through surgery. 

Median salary: $208,000 

Typical educational requirements: A dental degree and advanced training and education in an oral and maxillofacial surgery graduate program  

Pediatricians 

Physicians who specialize in pediatrics diagnose and treat illnesses and injuries in babies and children.  

Median salary: $205,195 

Typical educational requirements: Degree in medicine from an accredited school and license to practice, plus a residency in pediatrics 

Nurse Anesthetists 

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists give anesthesia and other medications to patients in surgical care. These registered nurses have special licensing for advanced care.

Median salary: $181,040, according to the BLS 

Typical educational requirements: Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree, nursing experience in an intensive care setting, training in an accredited nurse anesthesia program and licensing as a registered nurse and CRNA  

Information Systems Managers 

Systems administrators and IT managers develop, install and maintain computer systems for businesses and organizations.

In addition to keeping these systems running well, systems administrators are constantly working to keep systems secure. With increasing use of virtual work, meetings and classes, systems administrators are in demand.  

Median salary: $146,360 

Typical educational requirements: Bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related field 

Engineering Managers 

These engineering professionals manage all engineering activities, including design, development, production and testing, within a business, department or organization. 

Median salary: $134,110 

Typical educational requirements: Bachelor’s degree plus experience in engineering  

Financial Managers 

Financial managers help new and established businesses reach their financial goals or guide a population interested in making the most of their money now and in retirement. A rising stock market has increased interest in this lucrative career. 

Median salary: $129,890 

Typical educational requirements: Bachelor’s degree  

Orthodontists 

These specialists correct malformations of teeth in youths and adults. Orthodontists’ expertise can be used to help in the function of teeth as well as appearance.  

Median salary: $127,885 

Typical educational requirements: A dental degree (DDS or DMD) plus a residency in orthodontics 

Optometrists 

Optometrists care for the eye’s primary health, performing eye exams and vision tests, prescribing and fitting patients with glasses or contact lenses and monitoring and treating eye conditions. Patients requiring surgery will be referred to ophthalmologists. 

Median salary: $127,598 

Typical educational requirements: A Doctor of Optometry degree, as well as approval by a board of licensure to practice 

Sales Managers 

Sales managers direct a sales force to achieve sales and profit goals for a business. Their work drives business growth and profits. 

Median salary: $118,196 

Typical educational requirements: Bachelor’s degree  

Nurse Practitioners 

Nurse practitioners blend clinical care with disease prevention, counseling, and health management. This combination is resulting in fewer emergency room visits, shorter hospital stays, and lower medication costs for patients who get their healthcare from NPs. 

Median salary: $109,820 

Typical educational requirements: Master’s degree and appropriate licensing 

Actuaries 

Actuaries use mathematics, statistics, and financial theory to measure, manage and mitigate financial risk and uncertainty in insurance and other business sectors. 

Median salary: $108,350 

Typical educational requirements: Bachelor’s degree plus training in actuary science and passing a series of actuarial exams  

Software Developers  

Development of new software applications and helping businesses by maintaining software will see significant growth in job numbers and salary.  

Median salary: $107,510 

Typical educational requirements: Bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related field 

Petroleum Engineers 

Petroleum engineers design and oversee the production and methods for retrieving oil and natural gas from various depths beneath the earth’s surface. Entry level engineers may earn less than the median salary. 

Median salary: $101,302 

Typical educational requirements: Bachelor’s or master’s degree in petroleum engineering 

Medical Managers 

Medical managers plan and direct the business side of healthcare. Their responsibilities can range from a single medical practice to a hospital.

With an aging population and increased demands for health care, we see this position growing in salary and the number of job openings.  

Median annual earnings: $100,980 

Typical educational requirements: Bachelor’s degree 

Marketing Managers 

Marketing is a fast-paced, creative and competitive career. From large corporations to state agencies and start-ups, effective marketing skills are in demand and involve social media as well as traditional marketing methods such as print and broadcast advertising and billboards.  

Median salary: $63,790 

Typical educational requirements: Bachelor’s degree 

Your Career Path 

Choosing one of these best-paying jobs will ensure that your skills will be in demand and that you will be among the highest earners throughout your career. Choosing a higher paying profession will result in a higher return on the investment of education and a more secure future for you.

Consider your skills and interests as well as the annual salary and training needed when choosing your future career path, and you will find a high-paying job that is also fulfilling professionally as well as personally.