If there’s one thing all young people should think about when considering going to college for a bachelor’s degree or master’s degree and eyeing a career path for the future, it’s looking for jobs that will make you rich!
There are many career paths to take. Some just happen to pay a lot better than others. If your goal is to bring in a hefty annual income, you need to make sure you enter a field known for high salaries.
Top High-Paying Jobs that Will Make You Rich
Ready to make money? Here are some of the highest-paying jobs on the market today:
- Entrepreneur
- Investment Banker
- Physician
- Graphic Designer
- Lawyer
- Veterinarian
- Software Engineer
- Real Estate Investor
- Chief Executive Officer
- Sales
- R&D Manager
- Strategy Manager
- IT Administrator
- Psychiatrist
Note: Many of the dollar figures listed below are based on average salaries in the U.S.
1. Entrepreneur
Make no mistake about it: If you want to get rich quick, being an entrepreneur is the way to do it. Just look at Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos as examples.
Granted, not everyone has what it takes to reach the billionaire status of Musk or Bezos. But as an entrepreneur, you don’t have to listen to anyone except your customers. And you can make a ton of money just by owning a small business.
What you earn depends on the quality of your products and your desire. Being an entrepreneur can make you rich in other ways, too. You won’t have to listen to a boss. You can work when you want to (within reason). And you’ll never have to ask permission to do things.
In short, you’ll be the boss and potentially escape the nine-to-five. No matter how many years of experience you have, there’s no greater reward than freedom.
2. Investment Banker
Investment banking is hard work. It requires long days and even longer nights researching and making snap decisions that are accurate and impactful. The job is super stressful, but it also comes with a very high annual salary.
The nice thing about becoming an investment banker is that it has a relatively low barrier to entry. Success depends on your ability to work hard and make successful decisions.
They say money talks, and this is a field where the best rise to the top based on performance.
3. Physician
There’s a reason people spend years and years in medical school and accumulate hundreds of thousands of dollars in student loan debt to become medical professionals: It pays.
How much you make largely depends on where you’re working and the type of practice you’re involved in. For example, a doctor can make anywhere from $100,000 to $200,000 per year, while a surgeon could easily make twice or three times that much.
You can also earn a solid living by working as an orthodontist, anesthesiologist, or by getting a Doctor of Pharmacy and working as a pharmacist.
4. Graphic Designer
Ignore what you see on sites like Glassdoor about graphic designers making under $100,000 annually. Talented graphic designers who can branch out and freelance have truly remarkable earning potential.
Right now, there is a massive demand for content in outlets as diverse as websites, emails, magazines, marketing collateral, and books. Almost all of this content requires graphic design in some form or another.
Some graphic designers go to school to learn their trade, while others are self-taught. If you’re naturally talented, you may even be able to make a ton of money while you’re in high school!
5. Lawyer
When you think of a lawyer, you probably think of powerful attorneys arguing in court. However, there are many types of lawyers. There are personal accident lawyers, corporate lawyers, and estate attorneys, to name just a few examples.
One of the nice things about lawyers is that they are almost always in demand—and you can earn a nice salary, especially once you accumulate decades of experience.
If this sounds up your alley, maybe you should plan on getting a law degree.
6. Veterinarian
People are willing to pay out big bucks to keep their pets healthy—and this bodes well for veterinarians, especially those who decide to open their own practices.
Being a veterinarian offers a unique chance to work with animals and people. It’s also a rewarding career with plenty of job security. And while it definitely requires a college degree, the annual salary will more than justify the investment in education.
7. Software Engineer
The world is becoming increasingly digitized, with more and more apps and software services coming to market. As such, there is rising demand for software engineers who understand computer systems and can build these services.
Software engineers can easily earn a six-figure annual salary, especially top earners who go on to work for the best companies and freelance on the side.
8. Real Estate Investor
When you think of a real estate investor, residential real estate probably comes to mind first. Yet most successful real estate professionals go far beyond residential opportunities.
What it boils down to is that there are many types of commercial real estate investments to explore through real estate investment trusts (REITs) and direct properties.
If you invest while you’re young and put your money into the right growth areas, it’s possible to make a small fortune in real estate. Check out our guide on how much real estate investors make.
9. Chief Executive Officer
How much you can make as a CEO depends on a variety of factors, such as the size of the company, how much the company makes, and the industry in which you operate.
It goes without saying that if you start a company and name yourself CEO, you’re going to have a very different experience than being named CEO of a well-established company.
Both jobs offer strong earning potential and different types of pressure. And the truth is that both examples can be equally rewarding.
The thing to remember is that, as a CEO, you’ll typically have fewer decisions to make on a daily basis. But the decisions you make will have bigger consequences.
As such, you should be compensated well to make those bigger decisions for the organization. That’s why CEOs make so much money.
10. Sales
Working in sales today is very different than it used to be.
The stigma of being in sales and working long hours for little pay is no longer the case, at least in certain industries like technology or healthcare. The truth is you can make a lot of money with a job in sales.
The people who make it in sales have bulletproof strategies, thick skin, and the expectation that they will succeed and do well. If you can master the mental side of sales—and link up with companies that have stellar products—it’s possible to do very well in sales.
Keep in mind that the best sales associates are very discerning about who they work for. Reputation matters in sales, and it’s important to work for a company that offers the best solutions.
11. R&D Manager
Companies live and die by the products and services they offer, putting a lot of pressure on research and development teams to produce offerings that align with their customer base.
Working as an R&D manager requires being able to work with data along with stellar communication skills.
However, it’s often a fun and rewarding position and one that can bring in a lot of money—especially when working with well-funded companies in emerging fields like artificial intelligence.
12. Strategy Manager
In a corporate setting, achieving goals takes a lot of planning and maintenance.
Strategy managers use data and insights to help companies achieve their overall objectives and maintain an advantage. Again, your annual income will depend largely on the company and the field.
13. IT Administrator
IT administrators are playing a massive role in business today, especially in the new era of remote work.
With rising cyber threats, along with increased digitization and strong demand for networking services, IT administrators are in high demand.
14. Psychiatrist
Declining stigmas around mental health put psychiatrists in strong demand—especially following the outbreak of COVID-19.
Psychiatrists play a vital role in society, and they also charge a lot of money for their services. As a psychiatrist, you can easily earn a six-figure salary. The hardest part may be keeping up with demand.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I consider in my job search?
Job seekers have many things to consider in a job search, like location, rules and regulations, work-from-home job opportunities, and the size and reputation of a company. However, leave your ego at the door: the most important thing you should consider if you’re looking for a high-paying job is money.
All too often, people settle for jobs that don’t pay as much as they should. Don’t let that happen to you. Stop settling and start earning a higher salary. That should be your biggest priority.
My entry-level job doesn’t pay well. What should I do?
If your entry-level job has a lower starting salary than you want, you have a few options. If you like the company, you can consider doing what you need to do to advance, whether that’s asking for a raise, going back to school, or upskilling to create more value.
If you don’t like the company or even the field, it’s time to get out and advance yourself. Look elsewhere for greener pastures. You can also start a side hustle at night to bring in some extra cash and, ultimately, build a full-time business for yourself.
The Bottom Line
The above list contains just a few examples of high-paying jobs. In many cases, the more specific you get, the more you can earn.
For example, the job of a petroleum engineer, computer science worker, air traffic controller, actuary, aerospace engineer, and financial manager can also earn big. The list goes on and on.
The truth is that if you want to make a million dollars, this requires looking beyond your full-time job. You need to think like an entrepreneur and start looking for limitless earning opportunities to get to millionaire status.
It’s also important to remember that it’s not about how much you make but rather how much you enjoy your work that’s important.
By figuring out what you’re interested in and finding the highest-paying job you love, you’ll be well on your way to a rewarding career that leads to long-term financial independence.
Only one question remains: What’s your best wealth-building path?
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