Can you name some of the 20 highest-paid jobs in America?
It's easier than you think: Most of them are some kind of doctor.
Of the 20 U.S. occupations with the highest average pay, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 19 fall within the broader categories of doctor or dentist.
Pediatric surgeons earn $450,810 a year, on average, as of 2024, according to federal data. Cardiologists make $432,490. Orthopedic surgeons get $365,060.
Of the 20 highest-paid professions, only one is not a doctor (or dentist), and it's last on the list. The 20th best-paid occupation in America is airline pilot. Pilots, copilots and flight engineers earn a median pay of $226,600.