12 Jobs That Pay Insanely Well
Nearly everyone dreams of having enough money — and then some — to live comfortably. But some jobs pay much more than others.
If you’re looking for a career that will set you up and allow you to make decent money, you don’t have to look far. There are thousands of positions in various sectors where you can earn more than the national average salary of $59,428.
We’ve searched through several career and job boards to find 12 jobs that pay insanely well.
1. Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
As the head of a company, it’s natural that the CEO would be well paid, but did you know many CEOs make millions a year? The highest-paid chief executive in 2023 was TPG’s John Winkelried, whose compensation package totaled $198.7 million. That’s one year’s income.
Working your way up to CEO takes a lot of work and solid education, so it’s no wonder that they are highly compensated.
2. Surgeon
Not just anyone can walk into an operating room and start performing surgery, so it makes sense these doctors are well-paid. The more intricate the specialty — think cardiology and neurology — the higher the salary.
Becoming a surgeon takes at least 12 years. Not only do they go to school for four years, then medical school for another four years, but they complete a five-year residency on top of that. The highest paid in the field is a neurosurgeon, with an average salary of $763,908.
3. Software Engineer
A software engineer creates all of the programs you use on your computer, phone, or tablet. They take their language coding knowledge and apply it to create efficient applications that help the end user.
While the average salary of a software engineer hovers around $100,000 per year, many go on to work for lucrative companies and make significantly more.
4. Pro Athlete
Not everyone can become a pro athlete, but those who do make it to the elite level tend to be well compensated. While entry-level contracts for some sports, like hockey, may ring in under a million, most make millions per year.
Baseball, basketball, and soccer players tend to be the highest-paid in the sports world, making hundreds of millions annually.
5. Lawyer
There are many different types of lawyers, but most are well-paid for their efforts. The lowest paid tend to be public defenders. Some even take on pro bono cases for which they’re not paid.
Corporate lawyers and patent lawyers are among those with the highest salaries. They can make as much as or more than $200,000 per year.
6. Financial Manager
Someone trusted with others’ money should be well-compensated for their job. Financial managers are responsible for the financial health of a company or individual. They make sound decisions on how to cut costs and maximize profits.
The average national salary for a financial manager hovers just under $140,000 per year.
7. Dentist
Dentists fall into the category of qualified medical professionals trained to help individuals maintain their oral health. They identify problematic areas and advise patients on how to address them before they become serious issues.
The national average salary for a dentist is $155,000 but some may make more or less depending on where they work and if it’s a solo practice versus a partnership with two or more.
8. Anesthesiologist
An anesthesiologist is responsible for ensuring patients don’t feel pain during surgery. They are with the patients before, during, and after their procedures. They are well compensated for this.
The average national salary for an anesthesiologist is just about $240,000 per year. As doctors, they go to school for at least eight years and then complete a four-year residency.
9. Voice Actor
Voice actors are everywhere. You hear them in animated movies, commercials, and even audiobooks. They put a lot of work into their craft by training and doing exercises to keep their voice in top condition.
Voice actors get paid by the project, usually making around $50 per hour. However, they can make more if they are in high demand or if they have a unique intonation to their voices.
10. Actor
Not every actor gets the big bucks, but many make a very decent living, especially if they land consistent projects like series work. Some of the actors on television sitcoms, for example, rival the salaries of A-list actors who appear in blockbuster films.
Even lower-list actors who stay busy can make a few hundred thousand a year. Those who land the bigger Hollywood films can make millions.
11. Data Scientist
Data scientists are skilled at taking the information presented to them and creating insights that help propel the decision-making process. They are in demand in multiple fields, including sports, retail, healthcare, and the financial sector.
Data scientists are paid well for their analytical skills. They make an average of more than $100,000 per year.
12. Pilot
When you step foot on a plane, you’re putting your trust in the pilot to get you to your destination safely. They undergo intricate training to not only learn how to operate aircraft but also how to troubleshoot and make emergency landings, if necessary.
Pilots make more than $130,000 per year on average. They go through years of training before they can fly commercial airliners.
