5 High Paying Medical Jobs

Advanced Practice Nurses

Not all nursing careers are lucrative, but the more advanced nursing roles which require a minimum of a master's degree can pay extremely well. Advanced practice nurses include nurse practitioners, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists, and clinical nurse specialists, among others. Not only are these nursing careers very well-paying, they also offer a rewarding level of clinical authority which enables the advanced practice nurse to have a significant impact on patients directly and take on more of a leadership role within the health treatment team.​

Advanced practice nurses can earn over $150,000 annually, depending on the type of nursing role and level of experience.

Physicians and Surgeons

Physicians and surgeons are also high earners in the healthcare field. The precise salary level depends on the type of physician or surgeon. Surgeons earn more than physicians typically, with neurosurgeons topping the list, as some earn over a million dollars annually. Orthopedic surgeons and plastic surgeons are also high earners. Even the "lowest" earning physicians earn six figures.

Although the pay is high, the required investment of time, school, and money needed to become a doctor is also large. After college, prospective doctors must complete a four-year medical school program, and then 3-7 years of residency training, depending on the medical specialty they wish to practice. Some specialists must also complete additional years of training after residency, called fellowships. Therefore, many doctors begin their careers hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt. However, if you can handle the investment, the career can be extremely rewarding, both financially and intrinsically.​

Physician Assistant

Physician assistants (PAs) are another high-paying healthcare career. Physician assistants work in medical offices or hospitals and treat patients. Depending on the state in which the physician assistant works, they may be able to prescribe some medications and work independently. However, most states require supervising physicians to sign off on prescriptions and other aspects of the PA's work. However, physician assistants are able to treat most patients independently without any direct involvement from a physician.

Physician assistants must have a bachelor's degree plus a master's degree from a physician assisting program. The average salary for full-time physician assistants is about $100,000, but salaries greatly depend on where you reside in the United States.

Pharmacist

A pharmacist is yet another healthcare profession that enjoys a hefty paycheck, with a median income of about $128,000, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Pharmacists must obtain a specific doctoral level degree, a PharmD, in order to work as a pharmacist in the United States. Pharmacists work in a variety of settings including hospitals, retail drug stores, and medical clinics.

Optometrist

An optometrist is a medical professional with a doctorate degree from an accredited optometry program. Optometry is the medical science of assessing patients' eyesight, diagnosing deficiencies or abnormalities, and fitting the patient with the appropriate prescription of eyeglasses or contact lenses for vision correction.