Highest Paying Jobs and Fastest Growing Jobs - College Education

In 2010 the median pay for the top 20 highest paying jobs in the United States was $103,910 per year (or, $49.98 per hour) and higher. Of those jobs, one required an associate’s degree, seven required a bachelor’s degree, and 11 required doctorate or professional degrees for entry-level positions.

The top 30 fastest growing jobs in 2010 had median annual incomes ranging from $19,640 (personal care aides) to $82,040 (veterinarians). Of those jobs, five required less than a high school degree, nine required a high school degree (or the equivalent), four required an associate’s degree, six required a bachelor’s degree, two required a master’s degree, and four required a doctorate or professional degree.

I. Top 20 Highest Paying Jobs

	Job	2010 Median Pay per year	2010 Median Pay per hour	Number of Jobs in 2010	Expected Growth by 2020 (14% is average)	Entry-Level Degree Required
1.	Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons¹	> 166,399	> $80.00	155,700	2%	doctoral or professional
2.	Physicians and Surgeons	> 166,400	> $80.00	691,000	24%	doctoral or professional
3.	Orthodontists	> 166,400	> $80.00	155,700	2%	doctoral or professional
4.	Chief Executives	$165,080	$79.24	2,136,900	5%	bachelor’s or Master’s
5.	Dentists, All Other Specialists	$161,020	$77.29	155,700	2%	doctoral or professional
6.	Dentists, General	$141,040	$67.70	155,700	2%	doctoral or professional
7.	Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates	$119,270	$57.25	62,700	7%	doctoral or professional
8.	Architectural and Engineering Managers	$119,260	$57.24	176,800	9%	bachelor’s
9.	Prosthodontists²	$118,400	$56.83	155,700	2%	doctoral or professional
10.	Podiatrists	$118,030	$56.65	12,900	20%	doctoral or professional
11.	Natural Sciences Managers	$116,020	$55.69	49,300	8%	bachelor’s
12.	Computer and Information Systems Managers	$115,780	$55.57	307,900	18%	bachelor’s
13.	Petroleum Engineers	$114,080	$54.76	30,200	2%	bachelor’s
14.	Marketing Managers	$112,800	$54.14	216,800	14%	bachelor’s
15.	Lawyers	$112,760	$54.12	728,200	10%	doctoral or professional
16.	Pharmacists	$111,570	$53.55	274,900	25%	doctoral or professional
17.	Air Traffic Controllers	$108,040	$51.86	27,000	-3%	associate's
18.	Political Scientists	$107,420	$51.56	5,600	8%	master's
19.	Physicists	$106,370	$51.06	20,600	14%	doctoral or professional
20.	Financial Managers	$103,910	$49.88	527,100	9%	bachelor's

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Occupational and Employment Statistics,” www.bls.gov, Mar. 29, 2013

II. Top 30 Fastest Growing Jobs

	Job	2010 Median Pay per year	2010 Median Pay per hour	Number of Jobs in 2010	Expected Growth by 2020 (14% is average)	Entry-Level Degree Required
1.	Personal Care Aides	$19,640	$9.43	1,878,700	71%	less than high school
2.	Home Health Aides	$20,560	$9.87	1,878,700	69%	less than high school
3.	Biomedical Engineers	$81,540	$39.14	15,700	62%	bachelor’s
4.	Helpers--Brickmasons, Blockmasons Stonemasons, and Tile and Marble Setters	$27,780	$13.33	1,250,200	60%	less than high school
5.	Helpers--Carpenters	$25,760	$12.36	1,250,200	56%	less than high school
6.	Veterinary Technologists and Technicians	$29,710	$14.26	80,200	52%	associate’s
7.	Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers	$38,430	$18.45	19,100	49%	high school diploma or equivalent
8.	Physical Therapist Assistants	$49,690	$23.83	114,400	46%	high school diploma
9.	Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers Pipefitters, and Steamfitters	$26,740	$12.84	1,250,200	45%	less than high school
10.	Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners	$45,260	$21.72	71,600	44%	bachelor’s
11.	Diagnostic Medical Sonographers³	$64,380	$30.90	53,700	44%	associate’s
12.	Occupational Therapy Assistants	$51,010	$24.48	36,000	43%	high school diploma or equivalent
13.	Physical Therapist Aides	$23,680	$11.37	114,400	43%	high school diploma
14.	Glaziers⁴	$36,640	$17.59	41,900	42%	high school diploma or equivalent
15.	Interpreters and Translators	$43,300	$20.78	58,400	42%	bachelor’s
16.	Medical Secretaries	$30,530	$14.65	4,010,200	41%	high school diploma or equivalent
17.	Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists	$60,570	$29.07	282,700	41%	bachelor’s
18.	Marriage and Family Therapists	$45,720	$21.95	156,300	41%	master's
19.	Brickmasons and Blockmasons	$46,930	$22.53	104,800	41%	high school diploma or equivalent
20.	Physical Therapists	$76,310	$36.63	198,600	39%	doctoral or professional
21.	Dental Hygienists	$68,250	$32.76	181,800	38%	associate’s
22.	Bicycle Repairers	$23,660	$11.36	10,490	38%	high school diploma or equivalent
23.	Audiologists⁵	$66,660	$32.00	13,000	37%	doctoral or professional
24.	Health Educators	$45,830	$22.00	63,400	37%	bachelor’s
25.	Stonemasons	$37,180	$17.85	104,800	37%	high school diploma or equivalent
26.	Cost Estimators⁶	$57,860	$27.77	185,400	36%	bachelor’s
27.	Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists	$76,700	$36.82	100,000	36%	doctoral or professional
28.	Mental Health Counselors	$38,150	$18.31	156,300	36%	master's
29.	Pile-Driver Operators⁷	$47,860	$22.97	404,900	36%	high school diploma or equivalent
30.	Veterinarians	$82,040	$39.38	61,400	36%	doctoral or professional

III. Descriptions of Select Occupations

III. Descriptions of Select Occupations
1. Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons: "Perform surgery and related procedures on the hard and soft tissues of the oral and maxillofacial [the roof of the mouth that forms the upper jaw] regions to treat diseases, injuries, or defects ...[and] to improve function or appearance."
2. Prosthodontists: "Construct oral prostheses to replace missing teeth [like dentures] and other oral structures to correct natural and acquired deformation of the mouth and jaws, to restore and maintain oral function, such as chewing and speaking, and to improve appearance."
3. Diagnostic Medical Sonographers: "[U]se special imaging equipment that directs sound waves into a patient's body (in a procedure commonly known as an ultrasound, sonogram, or echocardiogram) to assess and diagnose various medical conditions."
4. Glaziers: "[I]nstall glass in windows, skylights, storefronts, and display cases to create distinctive designs or reduce the need for artificial lighting."
5. Audiologists: "[D]iagnose and treat a patient's hearing and balance problems using advanced technology and procedures."
6. Cost Estimators: "[C]ollect and analyze data to estimate the time, money, resources, and labor required for product manufacturing, construction projects, or services. Some specialize in a particular industry or product type."
7. Pile-Driver Operators: "Operate pile drivers mounted on skids, barges, crawler treads, or locomotive trains to drive pilings for retaining walls, bulkheads, and foundations of structures, such as buildings, bridges, and piers."

Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Occupational and Employment Statistics,” www.bls.gov, Mar. 29, 2013

Photo Source: Department of Regulatory Agencies, Division of Professions and Occupations, “Satellite [Image],” www.cdn.colorado.gov (accessed Oct. 25, 2013)

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