The 25 highest-paying jobs in America

Mean annual pay: $135,090 Number of people who hold this job in the US: 365,230 Projected growth (2014 - 2024): 5.1% Education requirements: Bachelor's degree Sales managers plan, direct, or coordinate the actual distribution or movement of a product or service to the customer.Mean annual pay: $136,150 Number of people who hold this job in the US: 54,780 Projected growth (2014 - 2024): 3.3% Education requirements: Bachelor's degree Natural sciences managers plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as life sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, statistics, and research and development in these fields. Mean annual pay: $139,720 Number of people who hold this job in the US: 543,300 Projected growth (2014 - 2024): 6.8% Education requirements: Bachelor's degree Financial managers plan, direct, or coordinate accounting, investing, banking, insurance, securities, and other financial activities of a branch, office, or department of an establishment.Mean annual pay: $139,880 Number of people who hold this job in the US: 619,530 Projected growth (2014 - 2024): 5.6% Education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree Lawyers represent clients in criminal and civil litigation and other legal proceedings, draw up legal documents, or manage or advise clients on legal transactions.Mean annual pay: $143,870 Number of people who hold this job in the US: 178,390 Projected growth (2014 - 2024): 2% Education requirements: Bachelor's degree Architectural and engineering managers plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as architecture and engineering or research and development in these fields. Mean annual pay: $144,110 Number of people who hold this job in the US: 9,800 Projected growth (2014 - 2024): 14.1% Education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree Podiatrists diagnose and treat diseases and deformities of the human foot. Mean annual pay: $144,140 Number of people who hold this job in the US: 205,900 Projected growth (2014 - 2024): 9.4% Education requirements: Bachelor's degree Marketing managers plan, direct, or coordinate marketing policies and programs, like determining the demand for products and services offered by a firm and its competitors, and identify potential customers.Mean annual pay: $145,740 Number of people who hold this job in the US: 352,510 Projected growth (2014 - 2024): 15.4% Education requirements: Bachelor's degree Computer and information systems managers plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as electronic data processing, information systems, systems analysis, and computer programming.Mean annual pay: $147,030 Number of people who hold this job in the US: 32,780 Projected growth (2014 - 2024): 9.8% Education requirements: Bachelor's degree Petroleum engineers devise methods to improve oil and gas extraction and production and determine the need for new or modified tool designs.Mean annual pay: $152,770 Number of people who hold this job in the US: 81,520 Projected growth (2014 - 2024): 1.1% Education requirements: Bachelor's degree Airline pilots, pilots, and flight engineers pilot and navigate the flight of fixed-wing, multi-engine aircraft, usually on scheduled air carrier routes, for the transport of passengers and cargo. Mean annual pay: $164,030 Number of people who hold this job in the US: 39,860 Projected growth (2014 - 2024): 19.3% Education requirements: Master's degree Nurse anesthetists administer anesthesia, monitor patient's vital signs, and oversee patient recovery from anesthesia.Mean annual pay: $168,140 Number of people who hold this job in the US: 750 Projected growth (2014 - 2024): 17.8% Education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree Prosthodontists construct oral prostheses to replace missing teeth to correct natural and acquired deformation of the mouth and jaws; to restore and maintain oral function, such as chewing and speaking; and to improve appearance.Mean annual pay: $171,900 Number of people who hold this job in the US: 5,380 Projected growth (2014 - 2024): 8.5% Education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree These specialist dentists not listed separately can include pediatric dentists, periodontists, and endodontists.Mean annual pay: $173,860 Number of people who hold this job in the US: 105,620 Projected growth (2014 - 2024): 18% Education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree General dentists examine, diagnose, and treat diseases, injuries, and malformations of teeth and gums. Mean annual pay: $184,240 Number of people who hold this job in the US: 26,960 Projected growth (2014 - 2024): 10.3% Education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree Pediatricians are physicians who diagnose, treat, and help prevent children's diseases and injuries.Mean annual pay*: $194,350 Number of people who hold this job in the US: 223,260 Projected decline (2014 - 2024): 1.2% Education requirements: Bachelor's degree Chief executives determine and formulate policies and provide overall direction of companies or private and public sector organizations within guidelines set up by a board of directors or similar governing body. * While the average chief executive earns almost 200,000 a year, the top-earning CEOs in the US earn tens of millions of dollars. In 2015, for instance, Dara Khosrowshahi, the highest-paid CEO according to Equilar and The New York Times and CEO of Expedia, raked in $94.6 million. Mean annual pay: $200,220 Number of people who hold this job in the US: 24,820 Projected growth (2014 - 2024): 14.9% Education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree Psychiatrists are physicians who diagnose, treat, and help prevent disorders of the mind.Mean annual pay: $200,810 Number of people who hold this job in the US: 122,970 Projected growth (2014 - 2024): 10.2% Education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree Family and general practitioners are physicians who diagnose, treat, and help prevent diseases and injuries that commonly occur in the general population.Mean annual pay: $201,840 Number of people who hold this job in the US: 45,290 Projected growth (2014 - 2024): 9.4% Education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree General internists are physicians who diagnose and provide non-surgical treatment of diseases and injuries of internal organ systems. They provide care mainly for adults who have a wide range of problems associated with the internal organs.Mean annual pay: $205,560 Number of people who hold this job in the US: 338,620 Projected growth (2014 - 2024): 14.9% Education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree These specialist physicians and surgeons not listed separately can include allergists and immunologists, dermatologists, neurologists,ophthalmologists, pathologists, radiologists,sports medicine physicians, and urologists. Mean annual pay: $228,780 Number of people who hold this job in the US: 5,200 Projected growth (2014 - 2024): 18.3% Education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree Orthodontists examine, diagnose, and treat dental malocclusions and oral cavity anomalies.Mean annual pay: $232,870 Number of people who hold this job in the US: 5,380 Projected growth (2014 - 2024): 17.9% Education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree Oral and maxillofacial surgeons perform surgery and related procedures on the hard and soft tissues of the oral and maxillofacial regions to treat diseases, injuries, or defects.Mean annual pay: $234,310 Number of people who hold this job in the US: 19,800 Projected growth (2014 - 2024): 17.6% Education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree Obstetricians and gynecologists are physicians who provide medical care related to pregnancy or childbirth and those who diagnose, treat, and help prevent diseases of women, particularly those affecting the reproductive system. Mean annual pay: $252,910 Number of people who hold this job in the US: 41,190 Projected growth (2014 - 2024): 19.8% Education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree Surgeons are physicians who treat diseases, injuries, and deformities by invasive, minimally-invasive, or non-invasive surgical methods, such as using instruments, appliances, or by manual manipulation. Mean annual pay: $269,600 Number of people who hold this job in the US: 30,190 Projected growth (2014 - 2024): 21% Education requirements:Doctoral or professional degree Anesthesiologists are physicians who administer anesthetics prior to, during, or after surgery, or other medical procedures. Jacquelyn Smith contributed to an earlier version of this article.

The 25 highest-paying jobs in America

25. Sales manager

24. Natural sciences manager

23. Financial manager

22. Lawyer

21. Architectural or engineering manager

20. Podiatrist

19. Marketing manager

18. Computer and information systems manager

17. Petroleum engineer

16. Airline pilot, copilot, or flight engineer

15. Nurse anesthetist

14. Prosthodontist

13. Dentist (all other specialties)

12. Dentist (general)

11. Pediatrician (general)

10. Chief executive

9. Psychiatrist

8. Family and general practitioner

7. General internist

6. Physician or surgeon (all other)

5. Orthodontist

4. Oral and maxillofacial surgeon

3. Obstetrician and gynecologist

2. Surgeon

1. Anesthesiologist