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What are the best paying jobs in America and where are they paying the most?

Surgeons

Treat diseases, injuries and deformities by invasive methods, such as manual manipulation or by using instruments and appliances.

Mean Annual Salary: $181,850
Top Paying Industry: Medical and diagnostic laboratories (NA)
Top Paying State: Maine ($196,960)
Top Paying Metro: St. Cloud, Minn. (NA)

Anesthesiologists

Administer anesthetics during surgery or other medical procedures.

Mean Annual Salary: $174,610
Top Paying Industry: Offices of physicians ($182,360)
Top Paying State: New Jersey ($197,780)
Top Paying Metro: Savannah, Ga. (NA)

Obstetricians and Gynecologists

Diagnose, treat and help prevent diseases of women, especially those affecting the reproductive system and the process of childbirth.

Mean Annual Salary: $174,490
Top Paying Industry: Insurance carriers ($189,640)
Top Paying State: South Dakota ($197,090)
Top Paying Metro: Tallahassee, Fla. (NA)

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons

Perform surgery on mouths and jaws.

Mean Annual Salary: $169,600
Top Paying Industry: Offices of physicians ($184,760)
Top Paying State: North Carolina (NA)
Top Paying Metro: Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.-Wisconsin (NA)

Internists, General

Diagnose and provide nonsurgical treatment of diseases and injuries of internal organ systems.

Mean Annual Salary: $156,790
Top Paying Industry: Medical and diagnostic laboratories ($179,310)
Top Paying State: South Dakota ($186,000)
Top Paying Metro: Fort Pierce-Port St. Lucie, Fla. (NA)

Prosthodontists

Construct oral prostheses to replace missing teeth and other oral structures.

Mean Annual Salary: $156,710
Top Paying Industry: Offices of dentists ($182,640)
Top Paying State: Virginia (NA)
Top Paying Metro: Washington, D.C.-Maryland-Virginia-West Virginia ($191,090)

Orthodontists

Examine, diagnose and treat dental malocclusions and oral cavity anomalies. Design and fabricate appliances to realign teeth and jaws.

Mean Annual Salary: $153,240
Top Paying Industry: Offices of dentists ($156,050)
Top Paying State: Washington (NA)
Top Paying Metro: Los Angeles-Long Beach, Calif. ($188,610)

Psychiatrists

Diagnose, treat and help prevent disorders of the mind.

Mean Annual Salary: $151,380
Top Paying Industry: Social advocacy organizations ($192,910)
Top Paying State: Colorado ($190,180)
Top Paying Metro: Springfield, Mo. ($195,450)

Chief Executives

Determine and formulate policies and provide the overall direction of companies or private and public sector organizations within the guidelines set up by a board of directors.

Mean Annual Salary: $140,880
Top Paying Industry: Securities and commodity exchanges ($189,950)
Top Paying State: New Jersey ($172,960)
Top Paying Metro: Jersey City, N.J. ($188,070)

Pediatricians, General

Diagnose, treat and help prevent children’s diseases and injuries.

Mean Annual Salary: $140,000
Top Paying Industry: Elementary and secondary schools ($145,240)
Top Paying State: Louisiana ($176,810)
Top Paying Metro: Columbus, Ga.-Alabama ($193,640)

Family and General Practitioners

Diagnose, treat and help prevent diseases and injuries that commonly occur in the general population.

Mean Annual Salary: $137,980
Top Paying Industry: Medical and diagnostic laboratories ($170,500)
Top Paying State: Nevada ($173,660)
Top Paying Metro: Victoria, Texas (NA)

Physicians and Surgeons, All Other

All physicians and surgeons outside main specialties.

Mean Annual Salary: $137,100
Top Paying Industry: Medical and diagnostic laboratories ($177,500)
Top Paying State: Wisconsin ($174,370)
Top Paying Metro: Owensboro, Ky. (NA)

Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers

Pilot and navigate the flight of multi-engine aircraft in regularly scheduled service for the transport of passengers and cargo.

Mean Annual Salary: $134,090
Top Paying Industry: Scheduled air transportation ($144,140)
Top Paying State: New York ($159,010)
Top Paying Metro: New York City ($175,130)

Dentists, General

Diagnose and treat diseases, injuries and malformations of teeth and gums and related oral structures.

Mean Annual Salary: $132,660
Top Paying Industry: Offices of dentists ($135,560)
Top Paying State: Alaska ($184,460)
Top Paying Metro: Colorado Springs, Colo. ($198,650)

Podiatrists

Diagnose and treat diseases and deformities of the human foot.

Mean Annual Salary: $111,130
Top Paying Industry: Offices of other health practitioners ($116,820)
Top Paying State: Kentucky ($170,740)
Top Paying Metro: Birmingham, Ala. ($185,230)

Lawyers

Represent clients in criminal and civil litigation and other legal proceedings, draw up legal documents, and manage or advise clients on legal transactions.

Mean Annual Salary: $110,590
Top Paying Industry: Facilities support services ($162,070)
Top Paying State: District of Columbia ($131,570)
Top Paying Metro: San Jose, Calif. ($151,070)

Engineering Managers

Plan, direct or coordinate activities in such fields as architecture and engineering or research and development in these fields.

Mean Annual Salary: $104,210
Top Paying Industry: Computer and peripheral equipment mfg. ($129,450)
Top Paying State: Vermont ($127,120)
Top Paying Metro: San Jose, Calif. ($147,220)

Air Traffic Controllers

Control air traffic on and within vicinity of airport and movement of air traffic between altitude sectors and control centers according to established procedures and policies.

Mean Annual Salary: $100,430
Top Paying Industry: Federal government ($104,100)
Top Paying State: New Hampshire ($118,360)
Top Paying Metro: Nassau-Suffolk, N.Y. ($127,120)

Computer and Information Systems Managers

Plan, direct or coordinate activities in such fields as electronic data processing, information systems, systems analysis and computer programming.

Mean Annual Salary: $100,110
Top Paying Industry: Securities and commodity exchanges ($131,260)
Top Paying State: New Jersey ($121,670)
Top Paying Metro: San Jose, Calif. ($136,240)

Marketing Managers

Determine the demand for products and services, identify potential customers, develop pricing strategies and oversee product development needs.

Mean Annual Salary: $100,020
Top Paying Industry: Securities and commodity exchanges ($128,760)
Top Paying State: New York ($127,180)
Top Paying Metro: New York City ($136,280)

Natural Sciences Managers

Direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as life sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, statistics, and research and development in these fields.

Mean Annual Salary: $97,560
Top Paying Industry: Electronic markets and agents and brokers ($159,150)
Top Paying State: Pennsylvania ($128,590)
Top Paying Metro: Monmouth-Ocean, N.J. ($146,950)

Sales Managers

Direct the distribution of a product or service to customers, establish training programs for sales representatives and analyze sales statistics to determine sales potential and inventory requirements.

Mean Annual Salary: $96,950
Top Paying Industry: Computer and peripheral equipment mfg. ($132,000)
Top Paying State: New York ($133,450)
Top Paying Metro: Atlanta, Ga. ($102,620)

Astronomers

Observe, research and interpret celestial and astronomical phenomena.

Mean Annual Salary: $96,780
Top Paying Industry: Federal government ($111,040)
Top Paying State: Massachusetts ($116,230)
Top Paying Metro: Boston, Mass.-New Hampshire ($119,660)

Optometrists

Diagnose, manage and treat conditions and diseases of the human eye and visual system.

Mean Annual Salary: $96,290
Top Paying Industry: Offices of physicians ($120,930)
Top Paying State: New Hampshire ($147,740)
Top Paying Metro: Portsmouth, N.H.-Rochester, Me. ($178,650)

 

Law Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in law. Include both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of both teaching and research.

Mean Annual Salary: $95,570
Top Paying Industry: Colleges and universities ($98,510)
Top Paying State: Tennessee ($150,680)
Top Paying Metro: Nashville, Tenn. ($174,380)