2010’s Best 200 Jobs by Career Cast

Rank 

Job 

Starting salary 

Midlevel salary 

Top level salary 

 
1 ACTUARY $49,000 $85,000 $161,000
2 SOFTWARE ENGINEER $54,000 $85,000 $129,000
3 COMPUTER SYSTEMS ANALYST $45,000 $76,000 $118,000
4 BIOLOGIST $39,000 $71,000 $148,000
5 HISTORIAN $34,000 $62,000 $111,000
6 MATHEMATICIAN $54,000 $95,000 $141,000
7 PARALEGAL ASSISTANT $29,000 $46,000 $73,000
8 STATISTICIAN $40,000 $73,000 $117,000
9 ACCOUNTANT $37,000 $59,000 $102,000
10 DENTAL HYGIENIST $44,000 $67,000 $91,000
11 PHILOSOPHER $33,000 $60,000 $105,000
12 METEOROLOGIST $39,000 $81,000 $127,000
13 TECHNICAL WRITER $37,000 $62,000 $97,000
14 BANK OFFICER $54,000 $88,000 $171,000
15 WEB DEVELOPER $48,000 $60,000 $91,000
16 INDUSTRIAL ENGINEER $48,000 $74,000 $107,000
17 FINANCIAL PLANNER $32,000 $59,000 $145,000
18 AEROSPACE ENGINEER $58,000 $93,000 $135,000
19 PHARMACIST $77,000 $106,000 $131,000
20 MEDICAL RECORDS TECHNICIAN $20,000 $31,000 $50,000
21 SOCIOLOGIST $41,000 $69,000 $122,000
22 STENOGRAPHER/COURT REPORTER $25,000 $50,000 $84,000
23 MEDICAL SECRETARY $21,000 $30,000 $43,000
24 BOOKKEEPER $21,000 $33,000 $49,000
25 ASTRONOMER $45,000 $101,000 $157,000
26 ECONOMIST $44,000 $84,000 $149,000
27 PHYSICIST $57,000 $103,000 $159,000
28 DIETICIAN $31,000 $51,000 $73,000
29 PAROLE OFFICER $29,000 $46,000 $78,000
30 MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIST $36,000 $54,000 $75,000
31 MOTION PICTURE EDITOR $25,000 $51,000 $112,000
32 GEOLOGIST $42,000 $79,000 $155,000
33 CIVIL ENGINEER $48,000 $75,000 $116,000
34 COMPUTER PROGRAMMER $40,000 $70,000 $111,000
35 INDUSTRIAL DESIGNER $31,000 $57,000 $98,000
36 PETROLEUM ENGINEER $58,000 $108,000 $146,000
37 MEDICAL LABORATORY TECHNICIAN $23,000 $35,000 $54,000
38 OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST $43,000 $67,000 $98,000
39 INSURANCE UNDERWRITER $35,000 $57,000 $100,000
40 PURCHASING AGENT $34,000 $54,000 $89,000
41 PHYSIOLOGIST $36,000 $65,000 $101,000
42 NUCLEAR ENGINEER $68,000 $97,000 $137,000
43 AUDIOLOGIST $40,000 $62,000 $99,000
44 BROADCAST TECHNICIAN $18,000 $33,000 $67,000
45 MARKET RESEARCH ANALYST $34,000 $61,000 $112,000
46 LIBRARIAN $33,000 $53,000 $81,000
47 ANTHROPOLOGIST $32,000 $54,000 $89,000
48 ARCHITECTURAL DRAFTER $28,000 $45,000 $67,000
49 VOCATIONAL COUNSELOR $29,000 $51,000 $82,000
50 ARCHEOLOGIST $32,000 $54,000 $89,000
 
51 MUSEUM CURATOR $27,000 $47,000 $83,000
52 SOCIAL WORKER $27,000 $46,000 $74,000
53 SPEECH PATHOLOGIST $41,000 $63,000 $99,000
54 CHEMIST $38,000 $66,000 $113,000
55 PERSONNEL RECRUITER $28,000 $46,000 $86,000
56 CHIROPRACTOR $32,000 $67,000 $160,000
57 SCHOOL PRINCIPAL $56,000 $84,000 $124,000
58 RECEPTIONIST $17,000 $25,000 $36,000
59 OPTOMETRIST $47,000 $96,000 $126,000
60 TYPIST/WORD PROCESSOR $22,000 $31,000 $46,000
61 JEWELER $19,000 $33,000 $55,000
62 MUSICAL INSTRUMENT REPAIRER $19,000 $33,000 $57,000
63 JUDGE (FEDERAL) $140,000 $152,000 $178,000
64 ELECTRICAL ENGINEER $53,000 $82,000 $126,000
65 PUBLICATION EDITOR $28,000 $50,000 $95,000
66 ELECTRICAL TECHNICIAN $31,000 $52,000 $76,000
67 FORKLIFT OPERATOR $20,000 $29,000 $45,000
68 BANK TELLER $18,000 $24,000 $32,000
69 PSYCHOLOGIST $39,000 $86,000 $146,000
70 PHYSICAL THERAPIST $50,000 $73,000 $104,000
71 MECHANICAL ENGINEER $48,000 $75,000 $115,000
72 DENTAL LABORATORY TECHNICIAN $21,000 $34,000 $58,000
73 SET DESIGNER $25,000 $45,000 $79,000
74 AUTHOR (BOOKS) $28,000 $53,000 $107,000
75 HOTEL MANAGER $28,000 $46,000 $84,000
76 ZOOLOGIST $34,000 $55,000 $91,000
77 STOCKBROKER $31,000 $69,000 $171,000
78 COSMETOLOGIST $16,000 $23,000 $42,000
79 PUBLIC RELATIONS EXECUTIVE $47,000 $89,000 $125,000
80 ATTORNEY $54,000 $111,000 $171,000
81 TEACHER’S AIDE $15,000 $22,000 $34,000
82 TAX EXAMINER/COLLECTOR $28,000 $48,000 $89,000
83 JANITOR $15,000 $22,000 $36,000
84 RESPIRATORY THERAPIST $38,000 $52,000 $70,000
85 PODIATRIST $48,000 $114,000 $171,000
86 ARCHITECT $41,000 $70,000 $119,000
87 INDUSTRIAL MACHINE REPAIRER $28,000 $44,000 $65,000
88 OPTICIAN $21,000 $33,000 $51,000
89 PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT $51,000 $81,000 $110,000
90 VETERINARIAN $47,000 $79,000 $144,000
91 BOOKBINDER $17,000 $31,000 $58,000
92 ENGINEERING TECHNICIAN $30,000 $57,000 $83,000
93 PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESS WORKER $17,000 $26,000 $49,000
94 ORTHODONTIST $79,000 $121,000 $168,000
95 NEWSCASTER $23,000 $51,000 $156,000
96 PROTESTANT MINISTER $21,000 $42,000 $74,000
97 DENTIST $72,000 $143,000 $171,000
98 PSYCHIATRIST $60,000 $154,000 $226,000
99 CONSERVATIONIST $35,000 $54,000 $78,000
100 NURSE (REGISTERED) $43,000 $63,000 $92,000
 
101 COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT MECHANIC $31,000 $56,000 $69,000
102 TELEPHONE INSTALLER/REPAIRER $31,000 $56,000 $69,000
103 INSURANCE AGENT $26,000 $45,000 $114,000
104 ARTIST (FINE ART) $21,000 $43,000 $83,000
105 ADVERTISING ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE $42,000 $62,000 $86,000
106 OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY/HEALTH INSPECTOR $36,000 $62,000 $94,000
107 COMPUTER SERVICE TECHNICIAN $23,000 $38,000 $59,000
108 GUARD $17,000 $24,000 $39,000
109 PIANO TUNER $18,000 $32,000 $54,000
110 CONSTRUCTION FOREMAN $47,000 $80,000 $146,000
111 AGRICULTURAL SCIENTIST $22,000 $34,000 $54,000
112 CASHIER $14,000 $18,000 $25,000
113 BARBER $16,000 $24,000 $41,000
114 APPLIANCE REPAIRER $21,000 $34,000 $54,000
115 OFFICE MACHINE REPAIRER $23,000 $38,000 $59,000
116 TEACHER $33,000 $49,000 $78,000
117 SEWAGE PLANT OPERATOR $24,000 $38,000 $60,000
118 NURSE’S AIDE $17,000 $24,000 $33,000
119 HEATING/REFRIGERATION MECHANIC $25,000 $40,000 $64,000
120 SURVEYOR $30,000 $53,000 $86,000
121 ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT REPAIRER $27,000 $44,000 $63,000
122 VENDING MACHINE REPAIRER $18,000 $30,000 $46,000
123 RAILROAD CONDUCTOR $33,000 $53,000 $80,000
124 SHIPPING/RECEIVING CLERK $18,000 $28,000 $43,000
125 WAITER/WAITRESS $14,000 $17,000 $30,000
126 PHOTOGRAPHER $17,000 $29,000 $62,000
127 ADVERTISING SALESPERSON $23,000 $44,000 $94,000
128 PHYSICIAN (GENERAL PRACTICE) $122,000 $162,000 $209,000
129 AIRPLANE PILOT $85,000 $115,000 $144,000
130 AUTOMOBILE BODY REPAIRER $22,000 $37,000 $63,000
131 MAID $15,000 $19,000 $29,000
132 TELEPHONE OPERATOR $18,000 $32,000 $51,000
133 CORPORATE EXECUTIVE (SENIOR) $69,000 $159,000 $171,000
134 UNDERTAKER $30,000 $52,000 $93,000
135 FLIGHT ATTENDANT $20,000 $36,000 $65,000
136 SURGEON $196,000 $300,000 $428,000
137 BUS DRIVER $20,000 $34,000 $56,000
138 BARTENDER $15,000 $18,000 $31,000
139 FASHION DESIGNER $32,000 $61,000 $125,000
140 FURNITURE UPHOLSTERER $19,000 $29,000 $46,000
141 GLAZIER $22,000 $36,000 $63,000
142 SALESPERSON (RETAIL) $15,000 $21,000 $40,000
143 CHILD CARE WORKER $15,000 $19,000 $29,000
144 RECREATION WORKER $16,000 $22,000 $38,000
145 REAL ESTATE AGENT $21,000 $40,000 $102,000
146 COMPOSITOR/TYPESETTER $19,000 $32,000 $52,000
148 AIRCRAFT MECHANIC $33,000 $51,000 $69,000
149 SALES REPRESENTATIVE (WHOLESALE) $27,000 $51,000 $106,000
150 PLUMBER $28,000 $46,000 $49,000
151 NURSE (LICENSED PRACTICAL) $28,000 $39,000 $54,000
 
152 DRESSMAKER $15,000 $19,000 $30,000
153 ELECTRICIAN $28,000 $46,000 $79,000
154 TRUCK DRIVER $24,000 $37,000 $56,000
155 PRECISION ASSEMBLER $18,000 $29,000 $48,000
156 DISHWASHER $14,000 $17,000 $22,000
157 CORRECTION OFFICER $25,000 $38,000 $64,000
158 BUYER $29,000 $49,000 $90,000
159 PAINTER $22,000 $33,000 $56,000
160 CHAUFFEUR $16,000 $22,000 $34,000
161 FARMER $31,000 $56,000 $104,000
162 AUTOMOBILE ASSEMBLER $17,000 $28,000 $60,000
163 ACTOR $32,000 $49,000 $69,000
164 DRYWALL APPLICATOR/FINISHER $21,000 $35,000 $58,000
165 NUCLEAR PLANT DECONTAMINATION TECHNICIAN $24,000 $37,000 $63,000
166 TOOL-AND-DIE MAKER $31,000 $46,000 $72,000
167 CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY OPERATOR $26,000 $39,000 $69,000
168 AUTOMOBILE MECHANIC $20,000 $35,000 $60,000
169 CARPET INSTALLER $21,000 $37,000 $71,000
170 PLASTERER $25,000 $38,000 $62,000
171 CARPENTER $24,000 $39,000 $69,000
172 TRAVEL AGENT $19,000 $31,000 $48,000
173 BRICKLAYER $28,000 $46,000 $74,000
174 DISK JOCKEY $16,000 $27,000 $76,000
174 SHOE MAKER/REPAIRER $17,000 $23,000 $34,000
175 HIGHWAY PATROL OFFICER $30,000 $51,000 $80,000
176 STATIONARY ENGINEER $31,000 $50,000 $75,000
177 MACHINE TOOL OPERATOR $22,000 $33,000 $50,000
178 DRILL-PRESS OPERATOR $21,000 $31,000 $48,000
179 ROOFER $22,000 $34,000 $59,000
180 POLICE OFFICER $30,000 $51,000 $80,000
181 CHOREOGRAPHER $18,000 $39,000 $67,000
182 MACHINIST $22,000 $36,000 $55,000
183 SEAMAN $21,000 $34,000 $52,000
184 REPORTER (NEWSPAPER) $20,000 $35,000 $77,000
185 STEVEDORE $22,000 $38,000 $62,000
186 EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN $19,000 $29,000 $49,000
187 SHEET METAL WORKER $24,000 $40,000 $74,000
188 FIREFIGHTER $22,000 $44,000 $72,000
189 PHOTOJOURNALIST $16,000 $28,000 $60,000
190 BUTCHER $18,000 $28,000 $45,000
191 MAIL CARRIER $37,000 $50,000 $52,000
192 METER READER $20,000 $33,000 $54,000
193 CONSTRUCTION WORKER (LABORER) $18,000 $29,000 $54,000
194 TAXI DRIVER $16,000 $22,000 $34,000
195 GARBAGE COLLECTOR $18,000 $31,000 $51,000
196 WELDER $23,000 $34,000 $51,000
197 DAIRY FARMER $21,000 $32,000 $45,000
198 IRONWORKER $22,000 $32,000 $49,000
199 LUMBERJACK $22,000 $32,000 $47,000
200 ROUSTABOUT $21,000 $31,000 $49,000