The 28 highest-paying jobs for workaholics

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The 28 highest-paying jobs for workaholics

Working late

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Some jobs with long hours pay more than others.

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  • While the average employed American adult works a little over 39 hours a week, people in some professions tend to work more hours in a week.
  • Some of these jobs pay more than others.
  • Using US Census data, Business Insider found the highest-paying jobs for people who report typically working more than 45 hours a week.

If you work far more than the next guy and get more excited about your job than about family or any other activity, you may be a workaholic.

If this sounds like you, it might be worth your precious few moments of personal time to find a job that will make up for all those extra hours you put in.

To find jobs with the biggest payoff for workaholics, we analyzed US Census data for about 478 occupations from the Minnesota Population Center's 2016 American Community Survey Integrated Public Use Microdata Series.

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Based on that survey data, the average employed American adult works a little over 39 hours a week and has a total earned income - a combination of salary, business, and any other form of money earned in a year - of about $50,589.

While some may work more or less than the average depending on their employer or where they are in their career, people with the following professions report typically working an average of at least 45 hours a week and earning at least $60,000 a year, on average. We've also included brief descriptions of the careers based on the Department of Labor's O*NET job database:

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28. Crane and tower operators

28. Crane and tower operators

Crane and tower operators run equipment to move materials, machines, and products.

Average hours typically worked a week: 46.5

Average earned income: $60,108

27. First-line enlisted military supervisors

27. First-line enlisted military supervisors

They are enlisted servicemembers in a supervisory role.

Average hours typically worked a week: 53.9

Average earned income: $62,109

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26. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers

26. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers

They supervise and coordinate the activities of mechanics, installers, and repairers.

Average hours typically worked a week: 45.3

Average earned income: $63,472

25. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers

25. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers

They directly supervise and coordinate the activities of construction and extraction workers.

Average hours typically worked a week: 45.3

Average earned income: $64,695

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24. Mining machine operators

24. Mining machine operators

Mining machine operators run equipment for mining coal and other minerals.

Average hours typically worked a week: 49.8

Average earned income: $65,495

23. Millwrights

23. Millwrights

Millwrights install, dismantle, or move machinery and heavy equipment.

Average hours typically worked a week: 47.6

Average earned income: $66,217

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22. Derrick, rotary drill, and service unit operators, and roustabouts, oil, gas, and mining

22. Derrick, rotary drill, and service unit operators, and roustabouts, oil, gas, and mining

They operate and maintain equipment for mining and oil and gas extraction.

Average hours typically worked a week: 58.1

Average earned income: $66,955

21. Military officer special and tactical operations leaders

21. Military officer special and tactical operations leaders

They plan and coordinate military operations.

Average hours typically worked a week: 52.7

Average earned income: $68,571

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20. Firefighters

20. Firefighters

Firefighters control and extinguish fires, and respond to emergency situations.

Average hours typically worked a week: 53.8

Average earned income: $69,172

19. Railroad conductors and yardmasters

19. Railroad conductors and yardmasters

Railroad conductors and yardmasters coordinate the activity of train crews and workers at railroad yards.

Average hours typically worked a week: 46.7

Average earned income: $69,602

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18. Geological and petroleum technicians

18. Geological and petroleum technicians

They assist engineers and scientists in using equipment to locate mineral or petroleum reserves.

Average hours typically worked a week: 47.7

Average earned income: $78,882

17. Construction managers

17. Construction managers

Construction managers plan, direct, and coordinate activities around building construction and maintenance.

Average hours typically worked a week: 45.8

Average earned income: $78,886

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16. Locomotive engineers and operators

16. Locomotive engineers and operators

Locomotive engineers and operators drive locomotives that power trains carrying people or goods.

Average hours typically worked a week: 49.6

Average earned income: $78,937

15. Ship and boat captains and operators

15. Ship and boat captains and operators

Ship and boat captains and operators command and operate aquatic vessels.

Average hours typically worked a week: 55.7

Average earned income: $80,257

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14. Power plant operators, distributors, and dispatchers

14. Power plant operators, distributors, and dispatchers

They operate power plants and coordinate the distribution of electricity.

Average hours typically worked a week: 45.5

Average earned income: $84,827

13. Industrial production managers

13. Industrial production managers

Industrial production managers plan and direct the work activities and resources for manufacturing products.

Average hours typically worked a week: 47.0

Average earned income: $84,880

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12. General and operations managers

12. General and operations managers

They plan, direct, and coordinate the operations of organizations.

Average hours typically worked a week: 47.4

Average earned income: $88,388

11. Marine engineers and naval architects

11. Marine engineers and naval architects

Ship engineers and naval architects design and develop marine vessels and related systems.

Average hours typically worked a week: 45.3

Average earned income: $89,961

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10. First-line supervisors of fire fighting and prevention workers

10. First-line supervisors of fire fighting and prevention workers

They directly supervise and coordinate workers engaged in fire fighting or fire prevention.

Average hours typically worked a week: 52.6

Average earned income: $95,624

9. Marketing and sales managers

9. Marketing and sales managers

They plan, direct, and coordinate marketing and sales policies and programs.

Average hours typically worked a week: 45.1

Average earned income: $100,299

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8. Veterinarians

8. Veterinarians

Veterinarians diagnose, treat, or research diseases or injuries of animals.

Average hours typically worked a week: 45.0

Average earned income: $105,840

7. Sales engineers

7. Sales engineers

They sell complex scientific and technological products or services to businesses.

Average hours typically worked a week: 46.2

Average earned income: $127,086

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6. Securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents

6. Securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents

They sell securities to individuals, advise companies in search of investors, and conduct trades.

Average hours typically worked a week: 45.3

Average earned income: $139,281

5. Architectural and engineering managers

5. Architectural and engineering managers

They plan, direct, and coordinate activities in architectural and engineering companies.

Average hours typically worked a week: 47.0

Average earned income: $147,001

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4. Petroleum, mining and geological engineers, including mining safety engineers

4. Petroleum, mining and geological engineers, including mining safety engineers

They conduct sub-surface surveys to identify the characteristics of potential land, oil or gas extraction sites, or mining development sites.

Average hours typically worked a week: 47.9

Average earned income: $152,058

3. Lawyers, and judges, magistrates, and other judicial workers

3. Lawyers, and judges, magistrates, and other judicial workers

They apply the law to legal proceedings.

Average hours typically worked a week: 45.2

Average earned income: $155,158

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2. Chief executives and legislators

2. Chief executives and legislators

CEOs 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.

Average hours typically worked a week: 47.3

Average earned income: $169,750

Note: The US Census Bureau aggregated the data for both chief executives and legislators.

1. Physicians and surgeons

1. Physicians and surgeons

Physicians and surgeons diagnose and treat injuries or illnesses.

Average hours typically worked a week: 51.1

Average earned income: $230,508

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