These are America’s Top 15 Highest-Paying Jobs in 2012
- Posted on July 2, 2012 at 2:02pm by
Becket Adams
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That’s right, it’s time for another “top whatever” list (because we know you like these as much as we do).
Last time we looked at a “top whatever,” we brought you 10 ideas that ended up being worth over 100 million dollars. This time, however, we’re going to change it up slightly but keep it in the same vein.
So let’s take a look at 2012′s highest paying jobs in America.
By using recent Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data that breaks down average salaries geographically and by industry, writers at CNBC were able to rank the highest-paying jobs in the U.S.
Now, we’ve already discussed the pros and cons of going to college and the fact that there are plenty of good paying jobs that don’t require a college degree.
But did you know that with just a Bachelor’s degree and no advanced degree whatsoever there are some extremely lucrative jobs available? It’s true, and you’ll find some of them right here among “the Top 15 Highest Paying Jobs in America” [all photos via Associated Press, all block quotes via CNBC]:
15. Pharmacist
Average Salary: $112,160
Current Employment: 272,320
Pharmacists are not only responsible for dispensing prescription drugs, but they also provide patients with information like potential side effects and correct dosage amounts.
Pharmacists are required to have a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.), a 4-year professional degree. They also must be licensed, which requires passing two exams.
The highest paid pharmacists in the country are found in the sparsely populated states of Alaska ($125,330) and Maine ($125,310), according to the BLS. The third highest paying state, however, is California ($122,800) with 22,960 currently employed in the profession.
14. Air Traffic Controller
Average annual salary: $114,460
Current employment: 23,580
Air traffic controllers regulate air traffic, managing the movement of aircraft between various altitudes and areas while following strict safety regulations.
Qualifications to be an air traffic controller include completing an air traffic management degree from a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certified school, achieving a qualifying score on the FAA pre-employment test, and completing a training course at the FAA Academy, according to the BLS.
Those without previous air traffic control experience (military) must be younger than 31 to become an air traffic controller.
13. Sales Managers
Average annual salary: $116,860
Current employment: 328,230
Sales managers are responsible for planning, directing and coordinating the distribution of products and services to corporate clients or customers. The position also involves understanding the marketplace, analyzing sales statistics and monitoring customer preferences.
In order to become an entry level sales manager it highly beneficial to have a bachelor’s degree. However, it is not required by all firms.
California employs the most sales managers with 53,190 employees or 3.79 sales managers per 1000 jobs, while New York has the highest annual average wage at $169,710 for its 15,730 employees.
This number is greatly influenced by the New York Metropolitan area which has the highest annual average wage for cities at $179,210.
12. Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers
Average annual salary: $118,070
Current employment: 68,350
The BLS combines the cockpit crew — pilot, co-pilot, and flight engineer — into one category.
Tasked with transporting both passengers and cargo, these jobs, more often than not, take place 30,000 feet.
Although they are high paying jobs, they are also among the country’s most stressful – with long hours and the responsibility for the passengers’ safety.
11. Financial Manager
Average annual salary: $120,450
Current employment: 477,690
Financial managers can be involved in a range of activities, including planning directing or coordinating the accounting, investing, banking, insurance, securities and other financial concerns of a branch, office or department, according to the BLS.
Financial managers must usually have a bachelor’s degree and more than five years of experience in another business or financial occupation, such as loan officer, accountant, auditor, securities sales agent, or financial analyst.
10. Industrial-Organizational Psychologists
Average annual salary: $124,160
Current employment: 1,230
This job concentrates on applying principles of psychology to the workplace, for human resources, administration, management, sales and marketing.
This type of psychologist helps to shape policy, trains employees and undertakes organizational analysis, working with management to improve worker productivity.
This is an uncommon profession: the BLS only collects data on industrial-organizational psychologists in Minnesota, Texas, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Virginia, North Carolina, and the District of Columbia.
Industrial-organizational psychologists need a master’s, specialist, or doctoral degree in psychology. Practicing psychologists also need a license or certification.
9. Computer and Information Systems Managers
Average annual salary: $125,660
Current employment: 300,830
For computer and information systems managers, their primary job is to coordinate activities in data processing, information systems, systems analysis and computer programming.
Generally, this type of position requires a bachelor’s degree in computer science or a similar field. Then they need an additional five years of experience before rising to this position.
The top paying industry for computer and information systems managers is motion pictures and video. Individuals in those areas receive an annual mean wage of $162,520 according to the BLS.
The city with the highest concentration of this job is Washington, D.C where 5.73 out of every 1000 jobs are computer and information systems managers.
8. Marketing Managers
Average annual salary: $126,190
Current employment: 168,410
Tasked with organizing marketing policies and programs, marketing managers determine demand for products and services offered by their firm.
They also identify new customers, develop pricing strategies and strive to maximize company profits and market share. This position does not require a degree, but a bachelor’s degree is highly recommended.
The top paying metropolitan area for marketing managers is Framingham, Massachusetts with an average annual salary of $170,610. However, New York ($163,480) and New Jersey ($146,970) are the highest paying states for marketing managers’ services.
7. Natural Science Managers
Average annual salary: $128,230
Current employment: 47,510
Natural Sciences managers plan, direct or coordinate activities in life sciences, physical sciences, math and other science-related fields, according to the BLS.
A relatively broad career path, natural science managers work in various areas of the economy, including research and development, pharmaceuticals, agricultural engineering and even government.
Natural sciences managers need at least a bachelor’s degree in a natural science or a related field. Most natural sciences managers work as scientists before becoming managers.
Durham-Chapel Hill, North Carolina has the highest concentration of jobs in a metropolitan area with 5.13 natural science managers per thousand jobs. Olympia, Washington comes in second with 3.03 per thousand.
6. Architectural and Engineering Managers
Average annual salary: $129,350
Current employment: 184,530
Architectural and engineering managers plan, coordinate, and direct activities in architecture and engineering, including research and development in these fields. Most of their work is done in an office.
Before becoming an architectural and engineering manager, one must complete a bachelor’s degree and have at least five years of related experience in their field.
Employment of architectural and engineering managers is expected to grow by nine percent in the decade from 2010 to 2020 — slower than the average for all occupations, according to the BLS.
In 2011, Alaska was the highest paying state for this occupation with an average mean wage of $160,640.
The industries that pay the most for this occupation are pipeline transportation of crude oil ($186,800) and oil and gas extraction ($167,060).
Click here to see America’s top 5 highest paying job in 2012
Front page photo source: shutterstock.
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Comments (83)
mrmarkjohnson
Posted on July 2, 2012 at 7:29pmThe Blaze is linking to NBC?
Report Post »lani59
Posted on July 3, 2012 at 8:18amFunny that no oilfield drilling positions were included. Postions like a rig Compnay Rep, Oil Company Rep can easily make $100k-$200k without any education as rig time experience is much more valuable than a degree?
Report Post »Rick16803
Posted on July 2, 2012 at 7:18pmCongressRat Shila jackson Lee doesnt have 2 brain cells to rub together to start a fire if her life depended on it, and she makes $ 170,000.00 a year plus benefits from us taxpayers stupid enough to allowe her into office.
Report Post »txredkat
Posted on July 3, 2012 at 9:15amYou got that right – the Congresswommmmman is dumber than a box of rocks and an insult to the people of Hou – but laughing all the way to the bank.
Report Post »fidel1234
Posted on July 3, 2012 at 11:20amDon’t blame her,blame the useful idiots that keep putting her into office.
Report Post »NoSocialistRetards
Posted on July 3, 2012 at 1:19pmStop the vote buying- oops I’m sorry- benefits going to these people voting for people like Rep. Sheila Jackson and the rest of the anti-americans into public service. To start we need to organize nationally for a push for spending reform and immediately a full blown audit of all current government programs of funding. They have been telling us there is no oversight and yes we believe them, now what? Our greatest sucess in fixing this country and our lives will be in cutting off their funds. Amnesty has been done twice and its only getting more expensive to the common taxpayer, the illegals get bolder every year in their demands, cut the money they will go home. Trillions are at stake, this will reduce the amount they need to take from us and put more money back in our pockets to spend and invest. That is Americas greatest wealth. We need to fix that orwellion pit of political corruption to fix our system. Fix America First.
Report Post »Dallasmarine
Posted on July 2, 2012 at 7:01pmI heard community organizers are doing pretty well now a days and you don’t even have to show your qualifications.
Report Post »oldeagle101
Posted on July 2, 2012 at 7:37pmOr your birth certificate and if anyone asks for it they’re racists..
Report Post »BlessedGirls2
Posted on July 3, 2012 at 2:18pmStop being ignorant..you know very well that President Obama is more than his first job..so stop trying to make yourself feel better…what was your first job out of college? college?
Report Post »JackE
Posted on July 3, 2012 at 3:29pmTo Blessedgirl. HUH??? Where did you go to school, Chicago?
Report Post »Dismayed Veteran
Posted on July 3, 2012 at 4:08pmBlessed
Army officer. What was your first job?
Report Post »frank_reuben_floyd
Posted on July 2, 2012 at 7:00pmYour forgot real estate appraiser. The new government regulations ran most of them out of business by limiting their compensation. Now there are very few left to complete the assignments resulting from the market forces generating more business. Then……the very few appraisers left can command MUCH higher fees because there’s no one left to complete them. When refinancing or buying, remember to ask “how much do you pay your appraisers?” because some of them have been intentionally cutting values to spite the (government created) appraisal management companies cutting their fees. Some people have to learn about supply & demand the hard way, like Mao, Castro & Kruschev.
Report Post »NealPatrick
Posted on July 2, 2012 at 6:47pmI have never understood why it requires a degree to count pills from a big bottle into a little bottle and put a label on it. In some states, like Texas, pharmacists are pushing hard to write prescriptions…. I guess they are wondering why they need a 4 year degree as well.
Report Post »THXll38
Posted on July 2, 2012 at 9:58pmBecause a pharmacist does more than just count pills. They are responsible for answering questions, they need to understand the chemistry, the affects of the pills, understand dose, be able to talk to doctors and question them, and most important be able to read the doctors handwriting. Most pharmacist have undergrads in a science field such as chemistry, chemical engineering, biology etc.
Report Post »ragtpz
Posted on July 2, 2012 at 10:46pmIt is actually very simple…we keep doctors and nurses from killing you.
Report Post »NealPatrick
Posted on July 3, 2012 at 7:12amSorry, not buying it
Report Post »conservativejon
Posted on July 3, 2012 at 7:30amdo research before posting moroniccomments. Pharms go to medical school. They have to know what every medicine does and how they react to each other. most MDs have no idea what happens when 2 diffrent meds interact and what side affects can happen. when an MD prescribs 2 meds that will kill you when if they are taken together, the Pharm is the one that catches it. in most cases the Pharm can diagnose you better than a MD can.
by the was the people that make the meds at pharmaceutical companies are pharmacists.
so dont trash what you dont understand
Report Post »atechgeek
Posted on July 3, 2012 at 8:44am@nealpatrick :
Report Post »I’m with you .. Pharmacists, or at least the ones I went to school with and in fact .. I married one ..,they are not Doctors in any way shape or form. They do a little more than an undergrad, more specialized classes though. The term Pharm D … adding the Doctor at the end is a HUGE stretch in my opinion.
They help doctors make better choices by keeping up to date with the latest drugs but what they do, anyone who reads a few books could do the same job.
fedup ohio
Posted on July 3, 2012 at 9:08amI have yet to see ANY pharmacist ask any questions about medicines a person is taking. And with today’s technology, you can put as many drugs in to a software program and it will tell you if they are compatible. Most EMT’s can tell you about what drugs do what, and can tell you what illness you have by looking at your meds.
Report Post »fidel1234
Posted on July 3, 2012 at 11:22amYour right how hard is it to google side effects on the computer.
Report Post »confederacyofdunces
Posted on July 3, 2012 at 12:10pmMy pharmacist compounds drugs for me. He can custom mix drugs as my MD prescribes and its a lot less money than the advertized big name drug. Insurance wont cover it but still I would rather pay $40 for a compounded drug that $100+ for the name brand.
Report Post »BlessedGirls2
Posted on July 3, 2012 at 2:22pmOMG! stop writing this insane stuff…you must know the responsibilities of a pharmacy and the pharmacist…I can’t believe an adult would make such an insane statement about a medical professional. Do you think that nurses only “wipe the foreheads of the doctors?” please, get real!
Report Post »jelptex
Posted on July 3, 2012 at 5:45pmF & F.
Report Post »The “horror” of working fixed hours in air-conditioned comfort…weekends/holidays off…little/no direct patient contact. Add to that the “misery” of legality: “I didn’t prescribe it…I didn’t administer it…It was ‘off-label’ use…The customer didn’t follow instructions…My computer software said it was OK…”
(Well, you get my drift..)
Rightofwayne
Posted on July 8, 2012 at 11:10pmHey Neal, today’s pharmacist has a PhD in Pharmacology. They call them PharmDocs in college. You are thinking of the pharmacy technicians, and they make about $12/Hr starting pay.
Report Post »flatbroke
Posted on July 2, 2012 at 6:30pmDang! i want a one of these jobs! i wanna make 120 Gs per year, and my holidays and weekends off. my job sucks!
Report Post »drattastic
Posted on July 3, 2012 at 11:11amDon’t be a doctor then.
Report Post »Mr.Fitnah
Posted on July 2, 2012 at 6:00pmTalking head on radio and TV
Report Post »TheCoffinMaker
Posted on July 2, 2012 at 5:14pmHeck, and I thought it would be an illegal Mexican alien job placement coordinator.
Report Post »NeoFan
Posted on July 2, 2012 at 4:57pmWhere is politician? They make millions for destroying our country.
Report Post »Brittany-Imbriaarts
Posted on July 2, 2012 at 5:12pmI don’t know but they make the most off of the backs of everyone else that is for sure
Report Post »Meyvn
Posted on July 3, 2012 at 7:22amThey conveniently leave politicians out. Or perhaps they classify them with career criminals. I think the latter is more accurate.
Report Post »antisocialist
Posted on July 2, 2012 at 4:50pmHey Blaze. If you’re going to give me a Top 10, give me all 10 without making me click to another sight that doesn’t load correctly.
Report Post »SBR308
Posted on July 3, 2012 at 4:42amSame here. Most pages take forever to load.
Report Post »drattastic
Posted on July 3, 2012 at 11:13amMy thoughts exactly
Report Post »honor007
Posted on July 2, 2012 at 4:37pmwonder why actor/actress/activist aren’t on the list. Last time I checked, most entertainers make quite more than the highest paid job and there is absolutely no brain activity required?
Report Post »psadie
Posted on July 2, 2012 at 4:37pmUnions members are not on the list. You don’t need any degree whatsoever. Just muscle and a desire to carry a club for intimidation. Just saying.
Report Post »Conservative Warrior Princess
Posted on July 2, 2012 at 3:38pmHaha. This confirms I’m definitely not doing my majors in college for money. :)
Report Post »4truth2all
Posted on July 2, 2012 at 3:56pmHa, Ha, this comfirms I’m not on the list.
Report Post »TheLeftMadeMeRight
Posted on July 2, 2012 at 5:52pmBut when you grad-u-ate from college you gets a piece of paper that tells you and everybody you is smart! How can you go thu ur life not no-ing if you is smart or knot… Gets yourself educated fool!
Report Post »Searchingforthelight
Posted on July 2, 2012 at 3:31pmThey left out President of the United States and Congressman or Congresswoman.
Report Post »TheBurningTruth
Posted on July 2, 2012 at 4:23pmThat‘s because they couldn’t tell if the graft and corruption was actually part of the job or just a benefit. There also had trouble putting a dollar amount to it.
Report Post »MCDAVE
Posted on July 3, 2012 at 11:39amBecause these are no longer honest professions .They are career criminals.
Report Post »DesdemonasCrew
Posted on July 2, 2012 at 3:15pmDrug Dealer tops them all.
Report Post »hauschild
Posted on July 2, 2012 at 3:10pmSad how these surveys never include total compensation. If they had, I’m quite certain a fair number of these top 15 would be government sector jobs.
Within 10 years, this list will be chock-full of government sector jobs.
Report Post »AmericanFightingMan1
Posted on July 2, 2012 at 2:58pmCongress: add up their salaries, perks, health, pension benefits and they top out. Strange that elderly people barely making it must feed the endless appetites of the hedonistic animals of Congress.
Shame.
Report Post »IMCHRISTIAN
Posted on July 2, 2012 at 2:44pmNever in my whole life have I ever envied anyone that got ahead in this life. I had my chances and I had the freedom to do as I wanted as long as legal. God Bless America and God bless our freedom and I pray that no one can ever take that away from us.
Report Post »fcbs46
Posted on July 2, 2012 at 9:27pmAmen I to have had the freedom to make my decisions but I am completely in doubt about others to have that freedom in the future. Soon the government will tell us what job and where to live unless we are a member of the elite insider group. You will have to belong or you will have food stamps to feed your children if you are allowed to have any.
Report Post »S S
Posted on July 2, 2012 at 2:39pmTo earn more than 100 thou??? Merely mediocrity, not top! So Much Nonsense! IE…Most physicians do not earn the same salary as a surgeon. This is put out by LibNews for the backup of Obamatax and their idiotic talking point maneuvers. There are many working situations physicians are offered. Most of them do not start them at $100,000 as in some private practice associates or large corporations. They work their way up, if possible. A private business physician starts out with nothing but loans on his back and to earn less than 20 years ago, since the butchering of the private physician/business venture. These are LIES when you say these are top jobs. Congress , book writers of politicians, politicians, SPORTS (stupid)HEROS, Chicago thugs… are you kidding me??? They make da $!!!
Report Post »sta
Posted on July 2, 2012 at 3:45pmExactly. I managed an office with Psychs and Mental Health Therapists. For one of the years, my boss’s wife paid my salary out of her pay as a nurse. After all the expenses, the Head of this group made less than everyone else.
Report Post »rich43068
Posted on July 2, 2012 at 2:37pmActually, if you did this by the hour and included benefits, teachers would be at the top.
Report Post »Ari Ben TZion
Posted on July 2, 2012 at 2:43pm9. Computer and Information Systems Managers? Wrong.
I use to work for a software company where 75% of its employees where in the US on H1 work visas. This company had a steady supply of slave labor coming in from either Russia or Romania.
The Russian and Romanian programmers were making at least 30k dollars LESS per year, than what I was making doing exactly the same type of work.
Unless the morons in Washington abolish all work visas – DO NOT get in the I.T., field.
Report Post »JRook
Posted on July 2, 2012 at 3:46pmPlease provide your source for the statement. While the top teachers make good money, it is not in the realm of the professions listed in the report. And by the way those professions receive rather good benefits also. And let’s not forget that teachers are required to obtain a Masters Degree within 5 years. The key is getting rid of the bad teachers and those who really don’t want to teach. As for good teachers, their class size should be increased, they should be provided with one or more teaching assistants and their salary should be increased.
Report Post »fcbs46
Posted on July 2, 2012 at 5:17pmExcuse me I know there are places that this is true but my wife (a teacher ) puts in ten to twelve hour days and she teaches kindergarten. She has many years in teaching and if she had it put into hourly wage she would be in the fifteen to seventeen range. The custodian makes more then this and yes that includes the vacation hours in the summer. So what do you make with twenty years and a masters and tons of other hours in eduction? Perhaps you would like to reply?
Report Post »fcbs46
Posted on July 2, 2012 at 2:35pmIn Nevada the best jobs are Miners and they earn 100 to 150 k a year ( yes they work hard and put in a lot of over time) most have just a High school and OTJ experience.and they are constantly looking for people. Some of our biggest (400 ton that’s right ton) mining trucks are driven by women. You have to look hard for a Pressie car here most drive Pick ups and have fifth wheelers for the long week ends. Many work twelve hours a day and work two of three weeks on with a week or more off. The only place in the US that has house’s being built. Only liberal Las Vegas is crap the rest is working.
Report Post »Hrothgar
Posted on July 3, 2012 at 1:23amIt really depends on what you do at the mines. Labtechs, make like 57k a year on a super 7 with the mandatory OT. Environmental coordinator makes about 63k and they are usually 4 10′s salary exempt. Of course the underground guys make the cabbage. Even working in a warehouse at Barrick or Newmont you would rake in well over 40k+ of course there are many jobs on these sites as well as through contractors.
Report Post »MiCurmudgeon
Posted on July 2, 2012 at 2:31pmI believe you left out “ Playing President” which pays $400,000 with major freebie benefits like all the golf you want, free transportation and pension for life after only four years of failure.
Report Post »sWampy
Posted on July 2, 2012 at 2:20pmHey, at least I made the top 8. They didn’t list politicians, I’d bet they top all those, the crooks. You better bet Obamacare will make the top 2 fall, while number 5 skyrockets.
Report Post »MittensKittens
Posted on July 2, 2012 at 2:15pmYou forgot one…**** off in chief…he makes more and does less than any of these other jobs put together.
Report Post »Detroit paperboy
Posted on July 2, 2012 at 2:10pmNatural science manager ? Really……
Report Post »anomnomnommm
Posted on July 2, 2012 at 2:47pmYou’re ignorance is showing. Not everything with the world “environmental” in it is ********, and apparently people are willing to pay for these services. They’re important.
Report Post »