What is the highest-paying job? Spoiler: It's in medicine.

Jacob Livesay, USA TODAY

Updated Thu, May 25, 2023, 8:04 AM 2 min read

They say money doesn't buy happiness, but in the workplace it just might. CNBC reported in 2019 that pay is the most critical factor in workplace satisfaction, with 68% of workers making over $150,000 a year reporting they were “very satisfied” with their job, while only 40% of workers making below $50,000 said the same.

So which profession makes the most money? Doctors.

What is the highest-paying job?

The jobs with the highest average pay in the United States are all in medicine. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the jobs that receive wages equal to or greater than $208,000 per year on average in alphabetical order.

Anesthesiologists
Cardiologists
Dermatologists
Emergency medicine physicians
Family medicine physicians
General internal medicine physicians
Neurologists
Obstetricians and gynecologists
Ophthalmologists, except pediatric
Orthodontists
Pathologists
Psychiatrists
Radiologists
Surgeons
Other physicians

It's important to note that these are average wages. Skilled workers in other industries can still make more than $208,000 if they are paid above average in their field.

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According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the jobs with the highest average wages are all in medicine.

What are the highest-paying jobs outside of medicine?

If taking hours and hours of pre-med credits in college isn’t for you, that doesn't mean you can't earn a big paycheck. Here are the highest-paying jobs outside of medicine and their salaries, according to Business Insider: