America's Best-Paying Jobs

1. Surgeons : Treat diseases, injuries and deformities by invasive methods, such as manual manipulation or by using instruments and appliances.
Mean Annual Salary: $181,850
Top Paying Industry: Medical and diagnostic laboratories (NA)
Top Paying State: Maine ($196,960)
Top Paying Metro: St. Cloud, Minn. (NA)

2. Anesthesiologists : Administer anesthetics during surgery or other medical procedures.
Mean Annual Salary: $174,610
Top Paying Industry: Offices of physicians ($182,360)
Top Paying State: New Jersey ($197,780)
Top Paying Metro: Savannah, Ga. (NA)

3. Obstetricians and Gynecologists : Diagnose, treat and help prevent diseases of women, especially those affecting the reproductive system and the process of childbirth.
Mean Annual Salary: $174,490
Top Paying Industry: Insurance carriers ($189,640)
Top Paying State: South Dakota ($197,090)
Top Paying Metro: Tallahassee, Fla. (NA)

4. Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons : Perform surgery on mouths and jaws.
Mean Annual Salary: $169,600
Top Paying Industry: Offices of physicians ($184,760)
Top Paying State: North Carolina (NA)
Top Paying Metro: Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.-Wisconsin (NA)

5. Internists, General : Diagnose and provide nonsurgical treatment of diseases and injuries of internal organ systems.
Mean Annual Salary: $156,790
Top Paying Industry: Medical and diagnostic laboratories ($179,310)
Top Paying State: South Dakota ($186,000)
Top Paying Metro: Fort Pierce-Port St. Lucie, Fla. (NA)

6. Prosthodontists : Construct oral prostheses to replace missing teeth and other oral structures.
Mean Annual Salary: $156,710
Top Paying Industry: Offices of dentists ($182,640)
Top Paying State: Virginia (NA)
Top Paying Metro: Washington, D.C.-Maryland-Virginia-West Virginia ($191,090)

7. Orthodontists : Examine, diagnose and treat dental malocclusions and oral cavity anomalies. Design and fabricate appliances to realign teeth and jaws.
Mean Annual Salary: $153,240
Top Paying Industry: Offices of dentists ($156,050)
Top Paying State: Washington (NA)
Top Paying Metro: Los Angeles-Long Beach, Calif. ($188,610)

8. Psychiatrists : Diagnose, treat and help prevent disorders of the mind.
Mean Annual Salary: $151,380
Top Paying Industry: Social advocacy organizations ($192,910)
Top Paying State: Colorado ($190,180)
Top Paying Metro: Springfield, Mo. ($195,450)

9. Chief Executives : Determine and formulate policies and provide the overall direction of companies or private and public sector organizations within the guidelines set up by a board of directors.
Mean Annual Salary: $140,880
Top Paying Industry: Securities and commodity exchanges ($189,950)
Top Paying State: New Jersey ($172,960)
Top Paying Metro: Jersey City, N.J. ($188,070)

10. Pediatricians, General : Diagnose, treat and help prevent children's diseases and injuries.
Mean Annual Salary: $140,000
Top Paying Industry: Elementary and secondary schools ($145,240)
Top Paying State: Louisiana ($176,810)
Top Paying Metro: Columbus, Ga.-Alabama ($193,640)

11. Family and General Practitioners : Diagnose, treat and help prevent diseases and injuries that commonly occur in the general population.
Mean Annual Salary: $137,980
Top Paying Industry: Medical and diagnostic laboratories ($170,500)
Top Paying State: Nevada ($173,660)
Top Paying Metro: Victoria, Texas (NA)

12. Physicians and Surgeons, All Other : All physicians and surgeons outside main specialties.
Mean Annual Salary: $137,100
Top Paying Industry: Medical and diagnostic laboratories ($177,500)
Top Paying State: Wisconsin ($174,370)
Top Paying Metro: Owensboro, Ky. (NA)

13. Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers : Pilot and navigate the flight of multi-engine aircraft in regularly scheduled service for the transport of passengers and cargo.
Mean Annual Salary: $134,090
Top Paying Industry: Scheduled air transportation ($144,140)
Top Paying State: New York ($159,010)
Top Paying Metro: New York City ($175,130)

14. Dentists, General : Diagnose and treat diseases, injuries and malformations of teeth and gums and related oral structures.
Mean Annual Salary: $132,660
Top Paying Industry: Offices of dentists ($135,560)
Top Paying State: Alaska ($184,460)
Top Paying Metro: Colorado Springs, Colo. ($198,650)

15. Podiatrists : Diagnose and treat diseases and deformities of the human foot.
Mean Annual Salary: $111,130
Top Paying Industry: Offices of other health practitioners ($116,820)
Top Paying State: Kentucky ($170,740)
Top Paying Metro: Birmingham, Ala. ($185,230)

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