STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — If your goal is to become a top earner in New York state, you might want to enroll in medical school first. According to a new report from bestcolleges.com — which identified the 10 highest paying jobs in the region — surgeons, cardiologists and physicians are among the highest paid professionals in the state.
“It may or may not surprise you that it pays to earn a degree,” the report noted. “In fact, all of the jobs on the list require some sort of higher education — most even a doctorate.”
Using stats from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the website broke down which occupations had the top salaries and identified the industries with the largest percentage of job growth.
Here’s a look at the top 10 highest-paying jobs in New York state, as reported by bestcolleges.com:
10. Surgeons
Mean Annual Salary: $249,450
U.S. Job Outlook (2021-2031): 2%
Surgeons have longer residency requirements than other medical doctors. After completing medical school, surgeons must complete a five-year residency and a one- to three-year fellowship. Specialties for surgeons include general surgery, orthopedic surgery, or plastic surgery, among other areas. Surgeons make a national median annual salary of $229,300, which is less than what they get paid in New York.
9. Obstetricians and Gynecologists
Mean Annual Salary: $266,360
U.S. Job Outlook (2021-2031): 2%
Obstetricians and gynecologists provide gynecological care and medical care to women during pregnancy and childbirth; some also perform surgery during childbirth. To become an obstetrician and gynecologist requires specializing in women’s health and reproductive health care during medical school. The national median wage for obstetricians and gynecologists is $239,200 annually, slightly less than what they make in New York.
8. Ophthalmologists
Mean Annual Salary: $276,580
U.S. Job Outlook (2021-2031): 4%
Ophthalmologists are licensed medical or osteopathic doctors with expertise in eye care. It takes up to 14 years to complete the necessary training and education, including medical school, for this career. Their job includes performing eye surgery or providing eye-care services like contact lenses and eyeglasses.
7. Physicians
Mean Annual Salary: $307,420
U.S. Job Outlook (2021-2031): 3%
Becoming a physician requires a medical degree, up to nine years of internships, and a residency. In New York, these medical doctors get paid more than the median average of $229,300. The majority of physicians work in internal medicine, but also family medicine or pediatrics, which involves tasks like prescribing medication, examining patients, making referrals and executing treatment plans.
6. Radiologists
Mean Annual Salary: $308,970
U.S. Job Outlook (2021-2031): 4%
These licensed doctors read medical imaging exams to diagnose and treat patients. Depending on the position, individuals may need skills in neuro and musculoskeletal MRI, CT scans, ultrasounds, fluoroscopy and/or radiography.
Radiologists work in hospitals, but also in specialty areas such as emergency departments or women’s health.
5. Anesthesiologists
Mean Annual Salary: $309,350
U.S. Job Outlook (2021-2031): 3%
Anesthesiologists administer anesthesia and other pain medications during surgery, monitoring a patient’s lungs and heart functions. They also help patients manage pain before and after surgery. Anesthesiologists have as many as 14 years of education and up to 16,000 hours of clinical experience. Salaries in New York for anesthesiologists slightly overtake the national mean wage of $302,970 for anesthesiologists, according to the BLS.
4. Chief executives
Mean Annual Salary: $324,370
U.S. Job Outlook (2021-2031): -8%
These top executives typically have a degree in a work-related subject, such as public administration or business management. Presidents and chief executive officers (CEOs) often pursue a master’s degree in business administration (MBA). It also takes years of work experience in a specific industry to enter these careers in New York. Presidents and CEOs may advance within their organizations, moving up from management or supervisory roles.
3. Cardiologists
Mean Annual Salary: $348,860
U.S. Job Outlook (2021-2031): 3%
The medical subspecialty area of cardiology deals with heart and vascular system disorders. Cardiologists order echocardiograms and use the results to look for abnormalities in the heart. Cardiologists often have an undergraduate degree in a science-related subject, such as biology. In New York, these medical doctors also must pass the U.S. Medical Licensing Exams, work in residency, obtain board certification in cardiology, and complete a fellowship in cardiology.
2. Dermatologists
Mean Annual Salary: $356,080
U.S. Job Outlook (2021-2031): 3%
Dermatologists specialize in treating approximately 3,000 skin, hair and nail diseases and conditions. On the job, they diagnose and treat everything from eczema to melanoma.
Board-certified dermatologists complete years of schooling, including earning a bachelor’s degree and going on to medical school. Hands-on training comes from a one-year internship and three years in residency.
1. Pediatric surgeons
Mean Annual Salary: $415,810
U.S. Job Outlook (2021-2031): 1%
Pediatric surgeons operate on babies and children, including fetuses and adolescents. Prior to surgery, they examine and order tests to determine the best treatment plan for their patients. Under a pediatric surgeon’s oversight, nurses and other medical staff help run the operating room. In addition to four years of medical school, pediatric surgeons in New York need five years of general surgery training and another two years in pediatrics training.