Earlier this year CNBC published an article about the highest paid jobs in America in 2019, with that in mind, I thought I’d take a moment to break down 12 of the highest paying jobs in America based on the quality of their work-life balance.
If you’re at the stage of your life where you’re deciding what you want to be when you’re older, thinking of a career change or are simply interested in seeing who gets paid what, this is the article for you!
Highest Paying Jobs in America: Low Work-Life Balance
Grabbing a highly paid job is on a lot of people’s ‘to do’ list, but some of the highest paid jobs have a low work-life balance. In fact, the majority of the jobs on CNBC’s list sat in this category of high pay with low work-life balance.
One thing to note about the highest paying jobs with a low work-life balance is that they also tend to have an above average or high-stress level.
Orthodontist
Orthodonist is the highest paid job in American in 2019, coming in with an annual salary at $229,380. An orthodontist is a specialized dentist that focuses on irregularities in their teeth, many patients see an orthodontist to correct their teeth or jaw alignment with tools like braces.
Prosthodontist
Prosthodontist is another one of the highest paying jobs in America, and much like an orthodontist, they are also in the dental field. Prosthodontists are a specialized dentist that creates dental prostheses. They come in with an average salary of $196,960.
Nurse Anesthetist
A nurse anesthetist is a specialized nurse that assists during surgery and other medical procedures by administering anesthesia. They have a listed salary at $169,450.
Petroleum Engineer
Petroleum engineers make a yearly salary of $154,780, and they work in the oil and gas industry. They focus on engineering in the area of crude oil or natural gas as it relates to producing hydrocarbons.
IT Manager
IT Managers manage an organization’s information technology practices and functions. IT Managers are one of the highest paying jobs in America at $149,730.
Highest Paying Jobs in America: Average Work-Life Balance
Not everyone is itching to work a high-stakes, high-stress job, high-time. Some of us are looking for a high salary but want more of a work-life balance. Not everyone wants to work a 60-hour work week. That said, having more of a work-life balance doesn’t necessarily a stress-free work environment.
Psychiatrist
Psychiatrists are specialized medical doctors that deal with the health of the mind. They operate in a number of ways, but most familiar to the public would be those that work in a similar manner to a psychologist but has more medical-based training and can prescribe medication. They are one of the high paying jobs in America, make a yearly salary of $216,090.
Physician
A physician or medical doctor is a generalist doctor that practices medicine related to our general health. They are listed as having an average yearly salary of $198,370.
Pediatrician
Pediatricians have an average yearly salary of $187,540. They are physicians that deal specifically with the health of adolescent or pediatric patients. Typically this means those under 21.
Financial Manager
Financial managers work in a variety of industries and are concerned with the financial health of a company. They do everything from financial reporting to setting long-term financial goals. They make an annual salary of $143,530.
Financial Advisor
Financial advisors, much like managers, work with finances only they advise on behalf of clients. They are estimated to make approximately $124,140 annually.
Highest Paying Jobs in America: Above Average Work-Life Balance
The following two jobs of the list are both highly paid and have an above average work-life balance. Meaning you’re more likely to spend more time than the rest of the high pay group doing the things you love instead of working. The jobs on this list are said to have a high or average stress level.
Dentist
Dentist, those who practice oral medicine, are one of the highest paying jobs in America. And luckily for those who are interested in practicing dentistry they have an above average work-life balance. They have an average salary of $174,110.
Optometrist
Optometrist essentially practices medicine that pertains to the health of the eye. They are the general practitioner of optometry. They are listed as having an average salary of $119,100.
Tae started out as a journalist before following the money into the corporate world. But it turns out that the grass isn’t always greener and now you can find her spending most of her time writing about all the things she loves. Namely, money, travel and business with a hefty dose of self-deprecating humor. She is a podcast fanatic, blogging aficionado and loves to find new ways to turn passions into cold hard cash!