Popular Careers Ranked By Annual Salary

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Careers That May Require an Associate's Degree or Above

		Total Employed	Annual Salary
1.	Surgeons	36,910	$197,304
2.	Obstetricians and Gynecologists	11,030	$189,907
3.	Anesthesiologists	15,410	$183,621
4.	Internists	34,060	$181,540
5.	Medical Doctors	80,590	$163,164
6.	Psychiatrists	14,910	$161,634
7.	Dentists	71,210	$161,228
8.	Pediatricians	18,200	$156,329
9.	Chief Executives	250,270	$150,299
10.	Podiatrists	5,820	$127,031
11.	Natural Sciences Managers	35,980	$110,651
12.	Airline Pilots and Flight Engineers	49,830	$110,047
13.	Engineering Managers	163,780	$109,984
14.	Petroleum Engineers	14,130	$108,814
15.	Air Traffic Controllers	9,910	$105,390
16.	Optometrists	15,980	$104,750
17.	Pharmacists	224,070	$104,197
18.	Lawyers	526,620	$101,995
19.	Marketing Managers	155,720	$101,711
20.	Physicists	9,470	$101,641
21.	Computer and Information Systems Managers	260,990	$101,040
22.	Computer Scientists	19,650	$98,151
23.	Sales Managers	309,480	$97,869
24.	General and Operations Managers	1,434,580	$96,207
25.	Judges and Magistrates	10,410	$95,855
26.	Actuaries	13,250	$94,102
27.	Treasurers and Controllers	457,860	$92,244
28.	Aerospace Engineers	42,870	$91,867
29.	Compensation and Benefits Managers	32,190	$89,744
30.	Postsecondary Engineering Teachers	10,910	$89,313
31.	Purchasing Managers	57,600	$89,142
32.	Computer Hardware Engineers	51,440	$88,587
33.	Training and Development Managers	24,460	$88,482
34.	Industrial Production Managers	127,780	$88,435
35.	Postsecondary Education Adminisrator	70,440	$88,215
36.	Postsecondary Economics Teachers	6,440	$87,797
37.	Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists	12,510	$87,708
38.	Veterinarians	40,600	$86,723
39.	Public Relations Managers	45,750	$86,571
40.	Chemical Engineers	22,480	$85,549
41.	Economists	9,720	$84,661
42.	Medical and Health Services Managers	223,250	$84,463
43.	Construction Managers	196,550	$84,125
44.	Advertising Managers	30,540	$83,654
45.	Biochemists and Biophysicists	17,080	$82,913
46.	Materials Scientists	5,080	$82,708
47.	Computer Systems Engineer	355,990	$82,659
48.	Sales Engineers	66,440	$82,381
49.	Postsecondary Physics Teachers	5,540	$81,916
50.	Regulatory Affairs Managers	338,310	$81,880
51.	Electronics Engineers	122,140	$81,830
52.	Education Administrators	172,110	$81,622
53.	Physician Assistants	58,000	$81,474
54.	Materials Engineers	15,570	$80,769
55.	Storage and Distribution Managers	81,440	$80,349
56.	Personal Financial Advisors	135,970	$79,736
57.	Electrical Engineers	134,540	$79,660
58.	Validation Engineers	146,130	$79,023
59.	Chiropractors	17,520	$78,457
60.	Biomedical Engineers	8,350	$78,385
61.	Sales Agents, Securities and Commodities	252,930	$78,234
62.	Medical Scientists	72,450	$77,796
63.	Postsecondary Health Specialties Teachers	60,560	$77,442
64.	Computer Applications Engineer	472,120	$76,895
65.	Financial Examiners	20,850	$76,209
66.	Postsecondary Political Science Teachers	7,640	$75,161
67.	Postsecondary Biology Science Teachers	28,940	$74,411
68.	Environmental Engineers	42,540	$74,282
69.	Radiation Therapists	8,320	$74,061
70.	Mechanical Engineers	191,360	$73,699
71.	Management Analysts	507,690	$73,296
72.	Postsecondary Business Teachers	47,780	$73,152
73.	Physical Therapists	143,900	$73,037
74.	Architects	100,670	$72,984
75.	Civil Engineers	237,200	$72,917
76.	Postsecondary Chemistry Teachers	11,240	$72,847
77.	Supervisors - Police & Detectives	66,040	$72,842
78.	Administrator Services Manager	221,090	$72,653
79.	Industrial Engineers	173,490	$72,567
80.	Sales Representatives, Technical & Scientific	374,290	$72,516
81.	Geoscientists	24,090	$72,509
82.	Art Directors	28,750	$72,287
83.	Postsecondary Computer Science Teachers	20,480	$72,055
84.	Industrial Safety and Health Engineers	18,750	$71,811
85.	Orthoptists	21,570	$71,489
86.	Operations Research Analysts	54,410	$71,305
87.	Real Estate Brokers	36,940	$70,758
88.	Financial Analysts	225,910	$70,661
89.	Supervisors - Non-Retail Sales Workers	250,930	$69,739
90.	Commercial Pilots	15,310	$69,624
91.	Statisticians	17,010	$69,424
92.	Computer Systems Analysts	465,010	$68,645
93.	Postsecondary Psychology Teachers	20,330	$67,953
94.	Elevator Installers & Repairers	15,060	$67,727
95.	Postsecondary Sociology Teachers	8,780	$67,577
96.	Occupational Therapists	78,900	$67,281
97.	Nuclear Medicine Technologists	15,400	$67,093
98.	Counseling Psychologists	82,600	$66,742
99.	Geospatial Information Scientists and Technologists	173,950	$66,429
100.	Postsecondary History Teachers	11,720	$66,278
101.	Postsecondary Mathematical Science Teachers	28,250	$65,990
102.	Database Administrators	104,570	$65,913
103.	Municipal Fire Fighting and Prevention Supervisors	37,270	$65,843
104.	Microbiologists	10,760	$65,508
105.	Chemists	72,510	$65,323
106.	Postmasters & Mail Superintendents	7,790	$64,814
107.	Talent Agents	8,810	$64,711
108.	Logisticians	87,590	$64,608
109.	Network Systems and Data Communications Analysts	212,120	$64,430
110.	Speech Pathologists	89,740	$64,416
111.	Ship Engineers	6,200	$64,333
112.	Postsecondary Philosophy and Religion Teachers	11,720	$64,310
113.	Audiologists	5,220	$64,239
114.	Computer Programmers	370,100	$64,063
115.	Budget Analysts	54,150	$63,615
116.	Dental Hygienists	148,860	$63,591
117.	Landscape Architects	13,590	$63,525
118.	Fashion Designers	12,510	$63,116
119.	Postsecondary Nursing Instructors and Teachers	27,150	$62,675
120.	Soil and Water Conservationists	5,040	$62,416
121.	Diagnostic Medical Sonographers	39,120	$62,247
122.	Aviation Inspectors	11,900	$62,086
123.	Postsecomdary Communications Teachers	13,700	$62,010
124.	Computer Security Specialists	301,050	$61,385
125.	Occupational Health and Safety Specialists	41,370	$61,223
126.	Postsecondary English Teachers	41,300	$61,012
127.	Environmental Scientists	66,310	$61,005
128.	Registered Nurses	2,221,110	$60,899
129.	Postsecondary Foreign Language Teachers	16,580	$60,760
130.	Police Detectives	69,540	$60,476
131.	Urban and Regional Planners	28,680	$60,390
132.	Ship and Boat Captains	20,800	$60,107
133.	Postsecondary Performing Arts Teachers	52,810	$59,727
134.	Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists	7,380	$59,630
135.	Electrical & Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation & Relay	10,330	$59,456
136.	Postsecondary Education Teachers	33,790	$59,444
137.	Credit Analysts	62,280	$59,264
138.	Accountants	1,048,690	$59,205
139.	Postsecondary Recreation Studies Teachers	8,240	$59,083
140.	Loan Officers	281,030	$59,075
141.	Technical Writers	40,670	$58,932
142.	Funeral Directors	13,510	$58,866
143.	Market Research Analysts	212,620	$58,561
144.	Energy Auditors	952,260	$58,257
145.	Power Plant Operators	14,040	$58,215
146.	Insurance Underwriters	84,780	$58,040
147.	Fire Investigators	7,630	$57,983
148.	Emergency Management Specialists	6,170	$57,780
149.	Supervisors - Construction Trades & Extraction Workers	493,120	$57,611
150.	Instructional Coordinators	104,650	$57,608
151.	Commercial and Industrial Designers	25,400	$57,523
152.	Social and Community Service Managers	98,570	$57,035
153.	Supervisors - Mechanics, Installers & Repairers	371,450	$56,693
154.	Technical Directors, Managers	67,110	$56,652
155.	Supervisors - Correctional Officers	13,820	$56,392
156.	Sales Representatives	1,340,540	$56,259
157.	Cost Estimators	196,450	$55,979
158.	Insurance Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators	249,610	$55,920
159.	Insurance Sales Agents	285,410	$55,588
160.	Purchasing Agents & Buyers, Farm Products	5,990	$55,299
161.	Tax Examiners Collectors and Revenue Agents	45,360	$55,223
162.	Electrical Power-Line Installers & Repairers	64,480	$54,599
163.	Surveyors	43,510	$54,588
164.	Cartographers and Photogrammetrists	6,800	$54,226
165.	Copy Writers	37,310	$53,919
166.	Real Estate Association Managers	143,950	$53,758
167.	Manufacturing Engineering Technologists	52,910	$53,662
168.	Multi-Media Artists and Animators	26,180	$53,080
169.	Purchasing Agents	256,900	$52,787
170.	Insurance Appraisers, Auto Damage	5,900	$52,744
171.	Secondary School Vocational Education Teachers	57,150	$52,724
172.	Forensic Science Technicians	6,080	$52,656
173.	Supervisors - Production Workers	528,680	$52,634
174.	Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists	140,140	$52,617
175.	Boilermakers	8,500	$52,569
176.	Librarians	126,100	$52,501
177.	Job Analysis Specialists	105,080	$52,330
178.	Middle School Vocational Education Teachers	6,640	$52,264
179.	Lodging Managers	21,710	$52,095
180.	Electrical Drafters	26,410	$52,063
181.	Rotary Drill Operators, Oil & Gas	10,900	$51,981
182.	Supervisors - Trans. & Material-Moving Machine, Vehicle Oprs	183,390	$51,827
183.	Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators & Gaugers	25,610	$51,804
184.	Electronics Engineering Technicians	143,530	$51,801
185.	Secondary School Special Education Teachers	110,330	$51,615
186.	Music Composers and Arrangers	5,890	$51,599
187.	Curators	5,950	$51,585
188.	School Counselors	202,830	$51,563
189.	Respiratory Therapists	83,800	$51,478
190.	Dietitians and Nutritionists	42,360	$51,240
191.	Secondary School Teachers	823,600	$51,141
192.	Special Education Teachers Middle School	75,990	$51,135
193.	Assessors	48,650	$51,060
194.	Radiologic Technicians	174,880	$50,965
195.	Telecommunications Equipment Installers & Repairers	163,480	$50,926
196.	Wholesale and Retail Buyers	118,950	$50,737
197.	Chemical Plant & System Operators	24,350	$50,456
198.	Training and Development Specialists	181,680	$50,421
199.	Public Relations Specialists	221,060	$50,337
200.	Regulatory Affairs Specialists	219,460	$50,254

Source: IPEDS Survey 2008-2009, BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook 2008

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