Highest Paying Jobs

High unemployment and scarcity of jobs has affected nearly every home across the United States. In order to prepare ourselves and our families for the future, you need to know what the highest paying jobs are. If according to The United States Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, “[j]ob openings results from the relationship between the population, labor force, and demand for goods and services,” what jobs are projected to be the highest paying in the near future?

The Projected Highest Paying Jobs in the United States by Wages

According to The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Employment Statistics and Division of Occupational Outlook, the fastest growth highest paying jobs are (May 2008 wages listed by highest wage):

$ 85,430 – Computer software engineers, applications

$ 82,840 – Biochemists and biophysicists

$ 81,230 – Physician assistants

$ 79,050 – Veterinarians

$ 77,400 – Biomedical engineers

$ 72,590 – Medical scientists, except epidemiologists

$ 71,100 – Network systems and data communications analysts

$ 70,930 – Financial examiners

$ 66,570 – Dental hygienists

$ 48,890 – Compliance officers, excluding agriculture, construction, health and safety, and

     transportation

$ 46,140 – Physical therapist assistants

$ 39,640 – Athletic trainers

$ 35,720 – Self-enrichment education teachers

$ 32,380 – Dental assistants

$ 28,900 – Veterinary technologists and technicians

$ 28,300 – Medical assistants

$ 28,730 – Skin care specialists

$ 23,760 – Physical therapists aides

$ 20,460 – Home health aides

$ 19,180 – Personal and home care aides

 

Educational Requirements for Highest Paying Jobs

In order to achieve the highest paying job for you, you must have the requisite background. The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Employment Statistics and Division of Occupational Outlook informs that the educational requirements for the highest paying jobs, alphabetically, are:

Athletic trainers – Bachelor’s degree

Biochemists and biophysicists – Doctoral degree

Biomedical engineers – Bachelor’s degree

Compliance officers, excluding agriculture, construction, health and safety, and Transportation – Long-

  term-on-the-job training

Computer software engineers, applications – Bachelor’s degree

Dental assistants – Moderate-term on-the-job training

Dental hygienists – Associate degree

Home health aides – Short-term on-the-job training

Financial examiners – Bachelor’s degree

Medical assistants – Moderate-term on-the-job training

Medical scientists, except epidemiologists – Doctoral degree

Network systems and data communications analysts – Bachelor’s degree

Personal and home care aides – Short-term on-the-job training

Physician assistants – Master’s degree

Physical therapist assistants – Associate degree

Physical therapists aides – Short-term on-the-job training

Self-enrichment education teachers – Work experience in a related occupation

Skin care specialists – Postsecondary vocational award

Veterinarians  – First professional degree

Veterinary technologists and technicians – Associate degree

 

Different Options to Achieve Highest Paying Jobs Classification

Education is a necessity for being able to reach the top wage categories for the fastest growing jobs in the United States. If you can’t afford to attend a university, try a community college first. Speak to a community college counselor and its financial aid officer to discover how they can help you attain your personal goals. In the event that you cannot afford college, consider introducing yourself to a local professional in your selected occupation. For many of the occupations requiring “on-the-job training,” you can suggest volunteering to learn the requisite skills necessary to fulfill your goals.