Top Well-Paid Career Options to Make a Lot of Money

Even though we are used to saying that money won’t buy happiness, it would be cool if we could earn a bit more. It’s a natural desire of almost every human: The prices are constantly rising and debts should be paid, so people need money. Besides, it’s good to have some money saved in case of an emergency. The most common way to make some money is, of course, going to a job.

Technically, you can earn just enough money on every job, but some of them will make it happen faster. Working as a waiter or waitress is not the same as working as a broker on Wall Street. That is why we have gathered the most well-paid jobs in the US. We will not talk about being a celebrity like an actor or singer, but the paycheck will still be big.

Option #1: Surgeon

You are probably not surprised by the first entry on this list. Doctors, in general, are usually paid quite well, but surgeons definitely occupy one of the highest positions here. Since working directly with human bodies requires a set of excellent skills, the salary of surgeons should cover them.

Besides, this job has plenty of stress and risks and involves many life-or-death situations which also contributes to how much surgeons are paid.

Average annual salary: $299,353

Educational requirements: Bachelor’s degree, Medical degree (Doctor of Medicine), Residency.

Option #2: Lawyer

A lawyer is quite a broad term that includes many types of activities. You can work as a criminal lawyer, corporate lawyer, immigration lawyer, tax lawyer, and many more. Your main job will be representing your clients in court. Also, you will need to complete the legal paperwork and provide consultations. You can work with private agencies or work in the public sector as a public defender or district attorney.

In general, lawyers have quite big paychecks not only in the USA but around the world too. For example, the best criminal lawyers in Dubai can earn from $261,000 to $400,000 a year (if we convert Emirati Dirham to US dollars).

Average annual salary: $126,930

Educational requirements: Bachelor’s degree, Law school, Internship, Bar Exam.

Option #3: Anesthesiologist

These specialists work with surgeons and their responsibility is to give anesthetics and painkillers to a patient to keep them unconscious during invasive procedures. It’s an extremely important and risky job. You will need to calculate exactly how much medication a person needs and constantly check the vitals while surgeons operate. These conditions influence the final salary.

Average annual salary: $309,517

Educational requirements: Bachelor’s degree, Medical degree, Residency.

Option #4: Software developer

It’s the 21st century, so no wonder people who are connected to the digital world earn a lot. One of the most popular jobs in the digital sector is a software developer. The number of opportunities here is immense. Frontend, backend, mobile, web, desktop, gaming, data science, artificial intelligence, machine learning, architecture—you can embark on whatever you want to create new digital products for users. This job is definitely not going anywhere from the market, so you can try your chances here.

However, don’t forget about the competition. There are plenty of talented and experienced developers who already offer their skills to employers [and businesses looking to hire PHP developers].

Average annual salary: $127,448

Educational requirements: Bachelor’s degree (Computer Science/Software Engineering).

Option #5: Airline pilot

If you love heights, adrenalin, and a lot of buttons, this job is for you. Besides the obvious activity—flying—pilots also check the plain’s state and weather conditions. You can make regional, national, or international flights and carry passengers or cargo. Or you can fly helicopters. Or become a flight instructor. The opportunities here are endless, so consider this opportunity if you want to follow your passion.

Average annual salary: $186,870

Educational requirements: Bachelor’s degree, Flight training, Federal Aviation Administration requirements.

Summing it up

We already said in the beginning that you could make money with whatever career you want. And that’s true. The above-mentioned options are not the only jobs with high annual salaries that exist out there. If none of these options appeal to you, you can always find something more suitable. As Confucius once said, “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.”