by Thu Nguyen

Created on: August 21, 2010   Last Updated: August 22, 2010

Looking at the highest paying jobs for 2010 will be an eye-opener for those who are seeking for careers that pays well. What is interesting is they are mostly from the medical field as well as management positions in computers, marketing, science and engineering. So if you're wondering what's worth the investment in education today, according to CNBC, American's Highest-Paying Jobs are:

1 - Surgeons $219,770
2 - Anesthesiologists $210,710
3 - Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons $210,710
4 - Orthodontists $206,190
5 - Obstetricians & Gynecologists $204,470
6 - Internists (General) $183,990
7 - Physicians & Surgeons $172,860
8 - Family/General Practitioners $168,550
9 - Chief Executive Officer $167,280
10 - Psychiatrists $163,660
11 - Pediatricians (General) $161,410
12 and 13 - Dentist (Specialist and General) $153,570
14 - Podiatrist $131,730
15 - Lawyers $129,020
16 - Natural Science Managers $127,000
17 - Prosthodentists $125,400
18 - Engineering Managers $122,810
19 - Computer and Information Systems Manager $120,640
20 - Marketing Managers $120,070

~ Down Side For Medical Students ~

This list may be changing with the need for specialists. As with the new health care reform bill which was signed into law this year, the decrease in pay cut might ensue.

“The bill shifts the money from specialty to primary care,” says Paul Keckley, executive director of the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions. This may cause medical students to major more in primary care than specialized fields.

~ Below the $120K Top Earning Careers ~

What is missing from this list and it goes under the $120k earning point are:

- petroleum engineers $119,960
- airline pilots $117,060
- air traffic controllers $106,990
- astronomers $102,740

~ Women on the Rise ~

Women are also top earners in many of these categories as they make up half the workforce or even more which might make them the primary care giver or breadwinner in the family in the years to come. Most are residing in the engineering or science field - i.e. lawyers, engineers, doctors, with the most coming in from chief executive officer positions. As young women are now pursuing business young more than ever and this rise may close the gap which years before have made men the top earners.

"Chief executives will remain well-paid in years to come, and it's a position you can work your way into. Becoming a CEO might be easier than becoming a doctor. You can be a CEO at age 35, when a doctor is just getting done with training," says Al Lee, director of quantitative analysis for PayScale.

However, as much opportunities there may lie with business, careers in the medical field will continue to be top earners. Hands down they they have gained the majority of the bracket for the top earning careers of 2010.

Resources:

American's Highest-Paying Jobs
Medical Professionals Still Among Highest Paid in America
ABC News Best-Paying Jobs For Women
CNN 25 best-paying jobs for women

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