Everyone has aspirations of taking limos and private jets to exotic locations, but few actually have the financial capabilities to do so. However, there are those elite few that make salaries large enough to enjoy life’s finer things. For those looking to find a job that will pay them a salary large enough to do the same, the following information will provide a starting point in their quest for riches.

Top Ten United States Salaries

The top ten Unites States salaries seem to favor the medical field, with eight of the top ten largest salaries belonging to individuals involved with healthcare. According to the 2003 data from the Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics, the top salary was earned by surgeons who made an average of $190,000 annually. The second highest salary was earned by anesthesiologists who made $184,800 annually. The top five were rounded out by obstetricians and gynecologists, internists, and pediatricians. Their salaries ranged from $143,300 to $180,600. Chief executives were the sixth highest paid professionals, earning an average of $140,500 annually. Family and general practitioners came in seventh, earning $139,600 per year, while the eighth slot was occupied by psychiatrists who made an average of $139,300 annually. Dentists and airline pilots were numbers nine and ten, respectively. Dentists made an average of $131,000 per year, while airline pilots made $129,800.

Other Top Salaries

It seems clear that an individual must either be a top executive, learn to fly, or go to medical school if they have dreams of striking it rich. But what about people who are scared of heights or do not have aspirations of being the next Doogie Houser, M.D.? There is still hope as the next ten highest paying salaries in the United States offer greater diversity and boast salaries of over $90,000 per year. The average lawyer or podiatrist’s salary is over $100,000 dollars. Engineering managers, computer and information systems managers, and optometrists all earned over $95,000 in 2003. Natural science managers, air traffic controllers, marketing managers, sales managers, and law teachers rounded out the top twenty salaries in the United States with annual salaries ranging from $91,400 to $94,000.

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