20 of the Highest Paying Jobs in the World
Salaries vary greatly from one country to another, and even within the same country, but some jobs pay more all over the world. Want a job that will bring in the big bucks no matter where you live? Here are 20 high-paying job ideas for you.
To compile our list, we compared average salaries in the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and Canada, using statistics from PayScale.com. All salaries in US dollars.
20. Investment banker
In the United States, an investment banker can earn around $307,000, compared to around $243,000 in the United Kingdom. In Canada, some investment bankers make around $155,000.
19. College or university professor
It’s one of those high-paying jobs that doesn’t require STEM. A professor at post-secondary level can earn around $160,000 in the United States, around $125,000 in the United Kingdom and around $219,000 in Germany. In Canada, some college professors take home around $133,000.
18. Senior software engineer
A senior software engineer can earn around $157,000 in the United States, compared to around $100,000 in the United Kingdom and Germany. In Canada, there are senior software engineers who take home around $95,000.
17. Computer hardware engineer
In the United States, a computer hardware engineer can earn around $144,000. In the United Kingdom this figure drops to around $55,000 but in Germany, computer hardware engineers can make around $95,000. In Canada, computer hardware engineers can earn around $88,000.
16. Aerospace engineer
An aerospace engineer in the United States can take home around $133,000 a year, compared to around $76,000 in the United Kingdom and about $100,000 in Germany. In Canada, aerospace engineers earn around $81,000.
15. Senior data scientist
Senior data scientists can make around $184,000 a year in the United States, around $97,000 in the United Kingdom and around $145,000 in Germany. In Canada, they can take home around $128,000.
14. Petroleum engineer
Some petroleum engineers in the United States take home around $196,000 a year, compared to around $120,000 for their British counterparts and around $115,000 for those in Germany. In Canada, some petroleum engineers earn around $150,000.
13. Pharmacist
A pharmacist can make around $136,000 in the United States, around $66,000 in the United Kingdom and around $90,000 in Germany. Canadian pharmacists take home around $89,000.
12. Airline captain
Experienced airline captains can make as much as $452,000 in the United States or $238,000 in the United Kingdom, but salaries depend very much on the airlines. In Canada, some airline captains take home around $198,000.
11. Air traffic controller
Air traffic controllers in the United States can make around $155,000, compared to around $153,000 in the United Kingdom. In Canada, they can take home around $135,000.
10. Marketing manager
Some marketing managers in the United States take home around $102,000, while their counterparts in the United Kingdom may earn around $73,000 and in Germany, around $115,000. In Canada, some marketing managers take home nearly $70,000.
9. Corporate lawyer
A good corporate lawyer can take home about $195,000 in the United States, nearly $160,000 in the United Kingdom and about $190,000 in Germany. Corporate lawyers at the top of their profession in Canada can earn around $130,000 but bear in mind that it’s also one of the most sleep-deprived jobs.
8. IT systems manager
An IT systems manager in the United States can make around $133,000, or around $78,000 in the United Kingdom and around $98,000 in Germany. In Canada, some IT systems managers earn around $94,000.
7. Engineering manager
An engineering manager can make as much as around $156,000 in the United States, $136,000 in the United Kingdom and $173,000 in Germany. In Canada, some engineering managers take home more than $190,000.
6. CEO
CEO salaries can vary wildly, depending on the business, but generally are quite generous. In the United States, some CEOs take home more than $430,000 a year. In the United Kingdom, CEOs can earn as much as $295,000 and in Germany, around $390,000. Canadian CEOs can take home over $250,000.
5. Dentist
A dentist can make up to $225,000 in the United States, $135,000 in the United Kingdom and a little over $120,000 in Germany. In Canada, some dentists take home over $180,000 a year.
4. Orthodontist
In the United States, an orthodontist can make as much as $295,000 a year, compared to around $327,000 in the United Kingdom and around $192,000 in Germany. In Canada, an orthodontist can take home as much as $157,000 a year.
3. Physician
A physician in general practice can earn around $235,000 in the United States, $167,000 in the United Kingdom and $120,000 in Germany. In Canada, a general physician can make as much as $186,000. Physicians who specialize can make considerably more.
2. Surgeon
A general surgeon can make up to around $396,000 a year in the United States, around $220,000 in the United Kingdom and around $248,000 in Germany. In Canada, a general surgeon can make around $310,000.
1. Anesthesiologist
In the United States, an anesthesiologist can make over $410,000 a year. In the United Kingdom an anesthesiologist’s pay can be as much as $275,000 while in Germany it can be up to around $300,000. The pay for an anesthesiologist in Canada can be over $300,000 a year.
