America's Best-Paying Jobs

No. 1 Surgeons

Average Annual Pay: $206,770

One-Year Change: +8.0%

Employees in Field: 47,070

Best-Paying State: Wisconsin

The Job: Treat diseases, injuries and deformities by invasive methods, such as manual manipulation or by using instruments and appliances.

No. 2 Anesthesiologists

Average Annual Pay: $197,570

One-Year Change: +2.5%

Employees in Field: 34,230

Best-Paying State: Kentucky

The Job: Administer anesthetics during surgery or other medical procedures.

No. 3 Orthodontists

Average Annual Pay: $194,930

One-Year Change: +5.2%

Employees in Field: 5,500

Best-Paying State: New Hampshire

The Job: Examine, diagnose and treat dental malocclusions and oral cavity anomalies. Design and fabricate appliances to realign teeth and jaws.

No. 4 Obstetrician and Gynecologists

Average Annual Pay: $192,780

One-Year Change: +5.0%

Employees in Field: 19,750

Best-Paying State: Wisconsin

The Job: Diagnose, treat and help prevent diseases of women, especially those affecting the reproductive system and the process of childbirth.

No. 5 Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons

Average Annual Pay: $190,420

One-Year Change: +6.7%

Employees in Field: 4,760

Best-Paying State: Michigan

The Job: Perform surgery on mouths and jaws.

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No. 6 Internists, General

Average Annual Pay: $176,740

One-Year Change: +5.7%

Employees in Field: 46,980

Best-Paying State: Wisconsin

The Job: Diagnose and provide nonsurgical treatment of diseases and injuries of internal organ systems.

No. 7 Prosthodontists

Average Annual Pay: $169,810

One-Year Change: +0.3

Employees in Field: 370

Best-Paying State: New Jersey

The Job: Construct oral prostheses to replace missing teeth and other oral structures.

No. 8 Physicians and Surgeons, All Other

Average Annual Pay: $165,000

One-Year Change: +6.3%

Employees in Field: 26,850

Best-Paying State: Minnesota

The Job: All physicians and surgeons outside of the main specialties.

No. 9 Family and General Practitioners

Average Annual Pay: $161,490

One-Year Change: +5.1%

Employees in Field: 106,210

Best-Paying State: Wisconsin

The Job: Diagnose, treat and help prevent diseases and injuries that commonly occur in the general population.

No. 10 Chief Executives

Average Annual Pay: $160,440

One-Year Change: +6.0%

Employees in Field: 301,930

Best-Paying State: New Jersey

The Job: 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.

No. 11 Dentists, General

Average Annual Pay: $154,270

One-Year Change: +4.9%

Employees in Field: 85,910

Best-Paying State: Alaska

The Job: Diagnose and treat diseases, injuries and malformations of teeth and gums and related oral structures.

No. 12 Psychiatrists

Average Annual Pay: $154,050

One-Year Change: +4.4%

Employees in Field: 22,140

Best-Paying State: Nevada

The Job: Diagnose, treat and help prevent disorders of the mind.

No. 13 Pediatricians, General

Average Annual Pay: $153,370

One-Year Change: +5.6%

Employees in Field: 29,170

Best-Paying State: Kentucky

The Job: Diagnose, treat and help prevent children's diseases and injuries.

No. 14 Dentists, All Other Specialists

Average Annual Pay: $142,070

One-Year Change: +18.0%

Employees in Field: 4,770

Best-Paying State: Oregon

The Job: Specialist dentists excluding oral and maxillofacial surgeons, orthodontists and prosthodontists.

No. 15 Podiatrists

Average Annual Pay: $125,760

One-Year Change: +5.0%

Employees in Field: 9,670

Best-Paying State: Idaho

The Job: Diagnose and treat diseases and deformities of the human foot.

No. 16 Lawyers

Average Annual Pay: $124,750

One-Year Change: +5.5%

Employees in Field: 553,690

Best-Paying State: District of Columbia

The Job: Represent clients in criminal and civil litigation and other legal proceedings, draw up legal documents, and manage or advise clients on legal transactions.

No. 17 Natural Sciences Managers

Average Annual Pay: $123,140

One-Year Change: +8.9%

Employees in Field: 43,060

Best-Paying State: New Jersey

The Job: Direct or coordinate activities in such fields as life sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, statistics and research and development in these fields.

No. 18 Engineering Managers

Average Annual Pay: $120,580

One-Year Change: +4.3%

Employees in Field: 182,300

Best-Paying State: California

The Job: Plan, direct or coordinate activities in such fields as architecture and engineering, or research and development in these fields.

No. 19 Airline Pilots, Copilots and Flight Engineers

Average Annual Pay: $119,750

One-Year Change: +5.1%

Employees in Field: 77,090

Best-Paying State: Texas

The Job: Pilot and navigate the flight of multi-engine aircraft in regularly scheduled service for the transport of passengers and cargo.

No. 20 Petroleum Engineers

Average Annual Pay: $119,140

One-Year Change: +4.6%

Employees in Field: 20,880

Best-Paying State: Arkansas

The Job: Devise ways to improve oil and gas well production and determine the need for new or modified tool designs. Oversee drilling and offer technical advice.

No. 21 Computer and Information Systems Managers

Average Annual Pay: $118,710

One-Year Change: +4.2%

Employees in Field: 276,820

Best-Paying State: New York

The Job: Plan, direct or coordinate activities and specialists in such fields as electronic data processing, information systems, systems analysis and computer programming.

No. 22 Marketing Managers

Average Annual Pay: $118,160

One-Year Change: +4.2%

Employees in Field: 166,790

Best-Paying State: New York

The Job: Determine the demand for products and services, identify potential customers, develop pricing strategies and oversee product development needs.

No. 23 Financial Managers

Average Annual Pay: $110,640

One-Year Change: +4.2%

Employees in Field: 500,590

Best-Paying State: New York

The Job: Plan, direct and coordinate accounting, investing, banking, insurance, securities and other financial activities of a branch, office or department of an establishment.

No. 24 Sales Managers

Average Annual Pay: $110,390

One-Year Change: +3.4%

Employees in Field: 333,910

Best-Paying State: New York

The Job: Direct the distribution of a product or service to customers, establish training programs for sales representatives and analyze sales statistics to determine sales potential and inventory requirements.

No. 25 Air traffic Controllers

Average Annual Pay: $108,090

One-Year Change: +0.3%

Employees in Field: 24,260

Best-Paying State: Illinois

The Job: Control air traffic on and within the vicinity of an airport and the movement of air traffic between altitude sectors and control centers, according to established procedures and policies.

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