Top 10 Highest Paying Jobs in USA 2024
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Want to work in USA and wish to know the highest paying jobs in USA? Then here’s an article for you suggesting the highest paying jobs in USA which is considered as the most popular career destination. Check out the most coveted list of well paying jobs in USA for the year 2024 for international students in this article.
Want to study in USA and plan to get a post-study work visa in USA? You can consider studying based on choosing some of the highest paid jobs in USA. If you are pursuing a STEM education course in USA, you can go for STEM OPT extension also. Check out the article for more details on the best paying job roles in USA, their skill set and eligibility to work in the US.
Top 10 Highest Paying Jobs in USA 2024
Want to know which are the highest paying jobs in USA? Here’s a list of the 10 highest-paying jobs in USA for international students:
| Top 10 Highest Paying Jobs in USA 2024 |
|
|---|---|
| 1. Anesthesiologist: USD 239,200 |
2. Obstetrician & Gynecologist: USD 239,200 |
| 3. Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon: USD 239,200 |
4. Psychiatrist: USD 226,880 |
| 5. Nurse Anesthetist: USD 203,090 |
6. Paediatrician: USD 190,350 |
| 7. Orthodontist: USD 174,360 |
8. IT Manager: USD 164,070 |
| 9. Dentist: USD 155,040 |
10. Podiatrist: USD 148,720 |
(Source: US News - Best Paying Jobs)
Best Paying Jobs in USA
If you plan to study and work in USA, you should choose certain fields of study which are financially rewarding in the long run. At present, the following jobs are trending as the highest paying jobs in USA, check them out in the following section:
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1. Anesthesiologist
Specialised doctors who are trained to facilitate painless surgeries and procedures on patients. The Anesthetist have the know-how and when to use a drug called anaesthesia on patients based on their condition. Thus, an Anesthetist will assess the patient's condition first and then allow the procedures to progress. Plus, Anaesthesiologists are among the highest salary jobs in USA 2024. This is the reason why Anesthesiologists make it to the top 10 highest paying jobs in USA .
Median Salary Annual: USD 239,200
Skills Required: An Anesthetist should hold a Doctoral degree and possess certification for practice. Also, have the following skills as an Anaesthetist to practice in USA:
- Pain management
- Teamwork
- Risk management
- Decision making
- Emergency medicine
- Criticality of the patient
Famous Industries for Anesthesiologists in USA: Government & private healthcare institutions or hospitals
Projected Job Growth by 2032 in USA: 1,000+
Please note: A pre-med bachelor's degree is required, followed by four years of medical school, an anesthesiology residency, and a license to practice.
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2. Obstetrician & Gynecologist
Obstetricians & Gynecologists (OBGYN) are trained doctors in USA who can treat expecting mothers and their unborn babies. They are also responsible for taking care of a woman’s well-being. OBGNY are also trained to treat medically and surgically. Thus, to practice as an Obstetrician & Gynecologist will have to complete an MD degree from USA. This is why the second highest salary jobs in USA 2024 is OBGYN. Hence, Obstetricians & gynecologists also make it to the list of top 10 highest paying jobs in USA.
Median Salary Annual: USD 239,200
Skills Required: As an Obstetrician & Gynecologist, the following skills would be required to get a high paying job in USA:
- Child and mother care
- Manual dexterity
- Team management
- Treatment plans for pregnant women
- Diagnosis of the complications in pregnant women
Famous Industries for Obstetrician & Gynecologists in USA: Hospitals, private corporations or government institutions
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Projected Job Openings by 2032 in USA: 500+
Please note: To practice, a graduation from an approved medical school. Completion of an OBGYN residency program of four years, accredited by ACGME.
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3. Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon
Oral & Maxillofacial specialities are often seen as the connecting dots between medicine and dentistry. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons specialise in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases which usually affect the mouth, jaws, face and neck. Because of its speciality, the Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon job is also the highest paying job in USA. This speciality is also one of the highest salary jobs in USA 2024.
Median Salary Annual: USD 239,200
Skills Required: For this kind of specialised surgeon, the following skills are expected:
- Diagnosis and treatment
- Surgical prowess
- Implant and placement knowledge
- Patient care
Famous Industries for Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons: Government and private health institutions and hospitals
Projected Job Openings by 2032 in USA: 200+
Please note: To practice, applicants must have 2-4 years of undergraduate study (BS, BA, or equivalent degrees). Followed by 4 years of dental study (DMD, BDent, DDS or BDS). plus complete 4-6 years of residency training.
Check: Top Universities for MBBS in USA
4. Psychiatrist
The next highest paying job in USA is of Psychiatrists. Psychiatrists in the USA are esteemed doctors trained in medicine and mental health. These doctors closely work with patients to understand their mental health problems and can treat them with medicine or through specially designed therapy sessions. To qualify as psychiatrists, the applicants need to complete their medical program and residency to treat patients in the USA. thus, psychiatrists also make it to the top 10 highest paying jobs in USA and highest salary jobs in USA in 2024.
Median Salary Annual: USD 226,880
Skills Required: As a psychiatrist in USA, the following skill set would be required by those who want to practice Psychiatry in USA:
- Medicine
- Communication
- Mental illness detection with apt tools and tests
- Logical reasoning
- Good communication skills
Famous Industries for Psychiatrists in USA: Organisations - both public and private and hospitals
Projected Job Openings by 2032 in USA: 1,900+
Please note: To become a Psychiatrist, an applicant will have to earn a bachelor's degree, which is four years long. Followed by 4 years of medical school and then another four years to complete the residency program.
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5. Nurse Anesthetist
Another highest paying job in USA is a nurse anesthetist. A nurse anaesthetist is a nurse who can still administer anaesthesia to patients based on their condition. The nurse anaesthetist is responsible for maintaining anaesthesia during an operation. Also, they help patients to recover from anaesthesia. Nursing in USA is a popular course of study, secondly, it is one of the highest salary jobs in USA 2024 and lastly, it makes it to the list of top 10 highest paying jobs in USA.
Median Salary Annual: USD 203,090
Skills Required: Since Nurse Anesthetist is a doctoral level degree, the following skills are expected:
- Anesthesia administration
- Pre and post-anaesthesia patient care
- Critical and logical thinking
- Good communication skills
- Pain management
Famous Industries: Hospitals, ambulatory surgery centres, private practice offices and others,
Projected Job Openings by 2032 in USA: 4,500+
Please note: To work as a Nurse Anesthetist, applicants will have to have a registered nurse (RN) license along with a doctoral degree from an accredited CRNA program in the USA.
6. Pediatrician
In the field of childcare, being a Pediatrician is one of the highest paying jobs in USA. The Pediatrician is a specialised doctor who basically deals with children-related ailments and gives medicine accordingly. They are skilled at diagnosing, preventing and offering the best possible medication for children suffering from various types of ailments. Because it makes it to the list of one of the highest salary jobs in USA 2024, growth of these specialisations are set to increase manyfold. Check out everything about this specialisation which is the top 10 highest paying job in USA:
Median Salary Annual: USD 190,350
Skills Required: Since this is a specialised medicine branch, a Paediatrician must possess the following skills:
- Good communication skills
- Diagnosing and prescribing the right medication
- Chronic disease management
- Child care
- Compassion and empathy
Famous Industries for Nurse Anesthetists in USA: Hospitals, private consultation
Projected Job Openings by 2032 in USA: 300+
Please note: To become a Pediatrician in USA can take 11 years. There is a four-year bachelor’s program followed by four years of medical school and three years of residency program.
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7. Orthodontist
An orthodontist is also one of the highest paying jobs in USA. An Orthodontist is someone who corrects crooked or overlapped teeth and fixes jaws. Orthodontists have to complete three years to specialise in this field additionally apart from the actual two-year degree program. Thus, these specialised doctors make it to the list of the top 10 highest paid jobs in USA and also highest salary jobs in USA 2024.
Median Salary Annual: USD 174,360
Skills Required: A specialised MD course which requires the following skills to become a successful Orthodontist which is:
- Clinical expertise
- Adept at applying appliances
- Tooth care pre and post-applying appliances
- Medication for pain relief and post-operative care
Famous Industries for Orthodontists in USA: Hospitals and healthcare institutions
Projected Job Openings by 2032 in USA: 300+
Please note: To work as an Orthodontist in USA, applicants will have to complete a four-year bachelor’s followed by a dental school degree which is again four years. Then an additional three to four years for completing the residency program.
Read more about: Working in USA as International Students
8. IT Manager
With a majority of IT firms in USA, the need for IT Managers grows significantly over time. An IT Manager is basically the head of the IT Department and someone who takes care of the overall functioning of the hardware and software of a company. Plus ensuring the computer systems work properly based on company guidelines. This type of job role of IT Managers makes them some of the highest paying jobs in USA and highest salary jobs in USA in 2024.
Median Salary Annual: USD 164,070
Skills Required: IT Manager is a specialised job role and requires a certain degree of understanding and the following skills:
- Recruit appropriate team to ensure systematic functioning of computer systems.
- Be able to evaluate IT operations and smooth functioning.
- Identify bugs and security breaches and be able to tackle them promptly.
- Be proactive in solving issues
- Design frameworks to keep the company’s and employee’s data safe.
Famous Industries for IT Managers in USA: MNCs, government (ministries, institutions) and private entities
Projected Job Openings by 2032 in USA: 86,000+
Please note: To become an IT Manager, applicants will have to complete a bachelor’s degree followed by a master’s in computer science in USA.
Check: Top 20 Universities for MS in Computer Science in USA
9. Dentist
Another medical speciality which tops the highest paying jobs in USA’s list is Dentistry. A Dentist tends to take care of teeth and gum problems. They also prescribe medication for various types of ailments. Becoming a dentist in USA This is why it makes it to the list of the top 10 highest paying jobs in the USA. Ranking second-last on the list but it still be the highest salary job in USA 2024.
Median Salary Annual: USD 155,040
Skills Required: To practice dentistry in USA, one must hold a master’s degree in dentistry and should possess the following skills:
- Dexterity
- Identifying mouth, teeth and gum-related problems
- Sound technical skills
- Prowess for minor and difficult procedures
- Good communication skills
Famous Industries: Hospitals and healthcare institutions
Projected Job Openings by 2032 in USA: 6,000+
Please note: To become a dentist in USA, applicants will have to complete a bachelor’s followed by post-graduation along with the residency program.
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10. Podiatrist
A podiatrist is a doctor who treats foot and ankle-related problems. They can treat fractures and sprains in the foot or ankle, nail disorders, arthritis, heel pains, Morton’s neurons and other related problems. To become a Podiatrist in USA, applicants will have first to get a bachelor's degree and then apply to an accredited podiatric medical college. The last on the list of top 10 highest paying job is this specialisation. Applicants can consider this specialisation because it is one of the highest salary jobs in USA 2024.
Median Salary Annual: USD 148,720
Skills Required: To practice Podiatry in USA, applicants should hold a license and have the following skill set:
- Knowledge of foot and ankle medically
- Diagnose rightly
- Surgical skills
- Sports medicine
- Systemic diseases treatment
Famous Industries for Podiatrists in USA: Hospitals and private consultations
Projected Job Openings by 2032 in USA: 100+
Please note: To become a Podiatrist in the USA, applicants will have to take up DPM (Doctor or Podiatry Medicine).
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Based on the above list of highest paying jobs in USA, it can be noted that majority of the job roles are medicine-related. All jobs mentioned above are high paying jobs in USA and are also above USD 100,000 annually. Thus, these jobs are in demand because there is a positive growth over years. So if you want to plan to take up jobs in USA, you can go for degree programs accordingly.
Since this data is based on US News, here is how they calculate the best paying jobs in USA based on various parameters:
- Future prospects: 30%
- Wage potential: 25%
- Employment: 20%
- Job safety and stability: 15%
- Work/life balance: 10%
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