A salary exceeding $200,000 is a hallmark of success and financial stability. In today’s competitive job market, landing a position that offers lucrative compensation requires skills, experience, and often specialized expertise.
Surgeons
Average Pay Scale: $343,990 per year
Surgeons diagnose and treat conditions that may require surgery. To become a surgeon, you need a bachelor’s degree and complete four years of medical school. Depending on your specialty, you may need to participate in internships and residency programs. Specializations also include additional training in a fellowship.
Pediatricians
Average Pay Scale: $205,860 per year
Pediatricians are doctors who focus on the health of infants, children, adolescents, and young adults. They detect, prevent, and manage physical, behavioral, and developmental issues in children. Becoming one requires extensive education, including a four-year undergraduate degree with pre-medical courses. Then, you need to complete a three-year pediatric residency program. You can also pursue additional fellowship programs or specializations.
Family Practitioners
Average Pay Scale: $240,790 per year
Family practitioners are also known as general practitioners or family doctors. They diagnose and treat medical conditions and provide preventive care to patients of all ages. You need at least three years of undergraduate college and four years of medical school, along with a minimum of three years of family medicine residency experience.
Emergency Medicine Physicians
Average Pay Scale: $306,640 per year
Emergency medicine physicians provide urgent care. They stabilize and treat patients experiencing acute health problems or traumatic injuries. To become an emergency medicine doctor, you need to have four years of undergraduate studies and four years of medical school. After this, you need to complete three to five years of residency.
Orthodontists
Average Pay Scale: $243,620 per year
An orthodontist is a dental specialist who prevents, diagnoses and treats teeth and jaw irregularities. If you need braces, for example, this is the doctor who does the procedure. To become an orthodontist, you need four years at an accredited undergraduate school. After that, you’ll need four years at dental school. Follow this by two to three years in an accredited orthodontics residency program.
Ophthalmologists
Average Pay Scale: $312,120 per year
An ophthalmologist identifies and treats all eye diseases. They also conduct surgical procedures related to eye health. They prescribe corrective eyewear like glasses and contact lenses to address vision impairments. You need to complete your medical degree and do a four-year postgraduate specialty training. Then complete a three-year residency in ophthalmology in an approved surgical residency program. You have to do a minimum of one year internship after this.
Radiologists
Average Pay Scale: $353,960 per year
Radiologists specialize in diagnosing injuries and diseases. They use medical imaging procedures such as X-rays, CT scans, MRI scans, nuclear medicine, PET scans, and ultrasound. To become a radiologist, you need to complete a four-year undergraduate degree. Followed this by four years of medical school and a one-year internship. Next, you must complete four years of residency training in Diagnostic Radiology.
Obstetricians and Gynecologists
Average Pay Scale: $278,660 per year
An obstetrician delivers babies and provides pregnancy care, while a gynecologist specializes in the female reproductive system. These two areas are often combined into one field known as obstetrics and gynecology, or OB/GYN. To become an OB/GYN, you need four years of undergraduate education, four years of medical school, and four years of residency. You will also require a specialty board certification.
Neurologists
Average Pay Scale: $271,470 per year
Neurologists identify and treat diseases of the brain, spinal cord, and nerves. To become a neurologist, you need to do a four-year undergraduate bachelor’s degree. Then, you need to do four years in medical school followed by a one-year internship or a transitional year. Complete a three-year Neurology Residency program followed by an optional fellowship in a subspecialty.
Cardiologists
Average Pay Scale: $423,250 per year
A cardiologist is responsible for treating chest pain, high blood pressure, and heart failure. They also take care of problems with your heart valves, blood vessels, and other heart and vascular problems. To become a cardiologist, you need to have four years of college or university degree. Next, you need four years in medical school, and three years of residency in either medicine or pediatrics. Then, you should take up a cardiology fellowship program.
Dermatologists
Average Pay Scale: $342,260 per year
A dermatologist specializes in conditions that affect the skin, hair, and nails. To become a dermatologist, you need to have an undergraduate pre-medical degree and get general medical training. After completing your residency, you need to pass the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE). Next, you can get a board certification, although it isn’t technically required.
Anesthesiologists
Average Pay Scale: $339, 470 per year
Anesthesiologists oversee patient care throughout surgical procedures, administering anesthesia and ensuring patient safety. They specialize in anesthesia care, pain management, and critical care medicine. You require a pre-med bachelor’s degree and four years of medical school. Then, you should do an anesthesiology residency, and gain the necessary licenses.
Psychiatrists
Average Pay Scale: $256,930 per year
A psychiatrist diagnoses, treats, and prevents mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders. They evaluate both the psychological and physical aspects of these conditions. To become a psychiatrist, you require a bachelor’s degree, four years of medical school, and a four-year residency program. Next, you can complete fellowship programs for additional training.
Athletes and Sports Competitors
Average Pay Scale: $328,830 per year
Athletes and sports competitors implement game strategies within the rules of their sports. They engage in team sports like football and basketball, and individual sports such as tennis and running. While a high school diploma or equivalent suffices, further formal education isn’t necessary. However, a comprehensive understanding of the sport’s rules, regulations, and strategies is essential.
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers
Average Pay Scale: $250,050 per year
Airline pilots and copilots carry passengers, mail, or cargo. They follow flight plans and rules and work with a team during takeoffs and landings. Flight engineers inspect systems pre-flight, assist in planning flights, and conduct checks during flights. You need a bachelor’s degree and the Airline Transport Pilot certificate to become a pilot. You should have a flight engineer (FE) license from the Federal Aviation Administration. Plus, you require a commercial pilot’s license to become a flight engineer. Additionally, you need thousands of flight experience as a commercial or military pilot.
