Best-Paying Jobs Based on Your Area of Interest

Selena Dehne, JIST Publishing

It's no secret that some of the highest-paying, most rewarding careers are in health care. But what if you have little to no interest in that type of work? What if your interests pertain to other things, like government, food, architecture or information technology? Can you achieve high pay working in such fields?

Absolutely, says Laurence Shatkin. In his book "250 Best-Paying Jobs," Shatkin connects high-paying occupations to 16 career clusters, helping individuals identify which occupations are most likely to pay well in the fields and industries that interest them.

"The 16 career clusters I reference in my book were developed by the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Vocational and Adult Education around 1999. Many states rely on these career clusters to organize their career-oriented programs and career information," Shatkin says.

In his book, Shatkin provides lists of the best-paying jobs within each of these 16 career clusters. Below are a few of the top occupations featured on those lists.

Best-paying jobs for people interested in agriculture, food and natural resources

Economists
Average annual earnings: $83,590

Biochemists and biophysicists
Average annual earnings: $82,840

Veterinarians
Average annual earnings: $79,050

Best-paying jobs for people interested in architecture and construction

Engineering managers
Average annual earnings: $115,270

Engineering teachers, post-secondary
Average annual earnings: $82,810

Construction managers
Average annual earnings: $79,860

Best-paying jobs for people interested in arts, audio/video technology and communications

Art directors
Average annual earnings: $76,980

Producers and directors
Average annual earnings: $64,430

Agents and business managers of artists, performers and athletes
Average annual earnings: $62,940

Best-paying jobs for people interested in business, management and administration

Chief executives
Average annual earnings: $158,560

Natural sciences managers
Average annual earnings: $112,800

Computer and information systems managers
Average annual earnings: $112,210

Best-paying jobs for people interested in education and training

Health specialties teachers, post-secondary
Average annual earnings: $84,390

Education administrators, elementary and secondary school
Average annual earnings: $83,880

Engineering teachers, post-secondary
Average annual earnings: $82,810

Best-paying jobs for people interested in finance

Financial managers
Average annual earnings: $99,330

Actuaries
Average annual earnings: $84,810

Financial analysts
Average annual earnings: $73,150

Best-paying jobs for people interested in government and public administration

Chief executives
Average annual earnings: $158,560

Political scientists
Average annual earnings: $104,130

General and operations managers
Average annual earnings: $91,570

Best-paying jobs for people interested in health science

Oral and maxillofacial surgeons
Average annual earnings: $166,400+

Orthodontists
Average annual earnings: $166,400+

Prosthodontists
Average annual earnings: $166,400+

Best-paying jobs for people interested in hospitality and tourism

Gaming managers
Average annual earnings: $68,570

Best-paying jobs for people interested in human service

Sociologists
Average annual earnings: $68,570

Home economics teachers, post-secondary
Average annual earnings: $64,210

Clinical, counseling and school psychologists
Average annual earnings: $64,140

Best-paying jobs for people interested in information technology

Engineering managers
Average annual earnings: $115,270

Computer and information systems managers
Average annual earnings: $112,210

Computer and information scientists, research
Average annual earnings: $97,970

Best-paying jobs for people interested in law, public safety, corrections and security

Lawyers
Average annual earnings: $110,590

Judges, magistrate judges and magistrates
Average annual earnings: $110,220

Law teachers, post-secondary
Average annual earnings: $93,210

Best-paying jobs for people interested in manufacturing

Nuclear power reactor operators
Average annual earnings: $73,320

Elevator installers and repairers
Average annual earnings: $69,380

Nuclear technicians
Average annual earnings: $67,890

Best-paying jobs for people interested in marketing, sales and service

Marketing managers
Average annual earnings: $108,580

Sales managers
Average annual earnings: $97,260

Sales engineers
Average annual earnings: $83,100

Best-paying jobs for people interested in science, technology, engineering and mathematics

Engineering managers
Average annual earnings: $115,270

Natural sciences managers
Average annual earnings: $112,800

Petroleum engineers
Average annual earnings: $108,020

Best-paying jobs for people interested in transportation, distribution and logistics

Air traffic controllers
Average annual earnings: $111,870

Airline pilots, co-pilots and flight engineers
Average annual earnings: $111,680

Transportation, storage and distribution managers
Average annual earnings: $79,000

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