16 Jobs that Pay Over 200k a Year That’ll Surprise You

by Erin Schollaert

Updated

Everything in life seems to be getting more expensive, and with that, more people are getting desperate to make a living that will let them be comfortable.

Whether you’re trying to buy a house or you want to be able to purchase any new technology the moment it’s available; there are a lot of perks that come from jobs that pay over $200k a year.

16. IT Director

Average yearly salary: $204,931 (Salary.com)

IT directors are responsible for the execution, management, and strategy of IT infrastructure for the organization they work for.

In this role, they’ll oversee what technical projects are on the table and ensure that these projects go over successfully for what the company needs.

Through the effective delivery of development, networks, and disaster recovery systems, they’re responsible for keeping the company up and running.

Trend on the Rise

IT directors are expected to be needed at a growth of 11 percent over the next eight years. This is a quickly growing and evolving profession, and businesses need professionals who can keep up with it, making it one of the leading future proof jobs.

15. VP Director

high-rise-buildings

Average yearly salary: $206,385 (Zippia)

As the vice president director, you work to further the goals and missions of the director by creating and implementing new strategies and standards in the company.

Working to keep the company or organization growing within the guidelines the board creates, you’ll often deal with the public more often than any of your coworkers and try to create the best possible image for your company.

This can be similar to working in public relations and can quickly show you how to make 200k a year if you follow these tips to negotiate your salary.

14. Business Development Director

Average yearly salary: $217,775 (Salary.com)

Business development directors are a key part of growing any company’s business and increasing revenue.

In this role, you’ll need at least three to five years of experience and a bachelor’s degree in business.

This can cover a large range of media, from television to tech and digital media, with your main goal always to do what will make your company grow.

If you make the right connections, this could potentially lead to millionaire jobs.

13. Prosthodontist

i-need-dental-work-but-have-no-money

Average yearly salary: $220,840 (Vocational Training HQ)

Prosthodontists specialize in handling and treating facial and dental issues that may involve replacing or repairing dental implants, bridges, dentures, crowns, and even more.

In this role, you’ll specialize in repairing natural teeth and replacing any missing ones. You may also offer veneers, crowns, and bridges, but it depends on your practice and personal taste.

You’ll make more money in this role by starting your own practice and gaining a loyal patient base. If you set your schedule right, this can be a job that doesn’t work weekends.

Tactic for Success

Cosmetic dentistry is something that’s extremely personal to your patients. If you take the time to care for your patients and support them through every step, you’ll have a clearer view of their needs and deliver better results.

12. Chief Information Security Officers

Average yearly salary: $229,610 (Salary.com)

Chief information security officers take the lead on strategic, budgetary, and operational aspects of data management and protection.

Through close work with other executives, they ensure everything goes according to plan so the business can succeed.

Although it’s a senior position, you’ll still have to pass on some information to other employees and those on the same level as you, if not higher, to get approval occasionally.

11. Therapeutic Area Lead

Average yearly salary: $233,400 (Comparably)

BMD Therapeutic Area Leads take control and lead the team handling the disease area biomarker matrix to move projects into further stages.

This mainly focuses on medical and scientific research and is strongly based on facts and research that’s carried out as a team.

As they lead, they’re also managing employees, coaching them on how to do better, and making sure the needs of the company and patients are met.

10. Nuclear Engineer

Average yearly salary: $242,229 (Salary.com)

Nuclear energy is a hot topic, and an incredible industry to work in.

As a nuclear engineer, you’ll develop and research the processes, instruments, and then systems that will help us gain benefits from radiation and nuclear energy.

This line of work can help from the industrial to the medical industries and is a large help to society for the diagnosis and treatment of some diseases and ailments.

9. User Experience Designer

ux-design

Average yearly salary: $245,100 (Comparably)

If you’re able to handle a lot of information at once and have a keen eye for branding and marketing: this could be the job for you.

As a UX designer, you create and maintain the design, usability, function, and even branding and marketing of a product’s development in order to create the best experience possible for the future customer or user.

This can be for a large range of projects or products.

Who do UX designers oversee?

  • Product Designerscreate the physical product, from fashion to tools
  • Web Designers – create the website and how customers interact with it
  • Graphic and Type Designers – create the visual concepts customers interact with
  • UI Designers – user interface designers design how a website or video game user will move through it, including making movement possible

8. Ethics and Compliance Officer

Average yearly salary: $263,012 (Salary.com)

If you have a strong moral code, and an open mind, being an ethics and compliance officer could be a great role for you.

In this position, you’ll maintain ethical and compliance standards that ensure your company won’t end up in hot water when thy expand operations, acquire new assets, or recruit employees and contractors.

By ensuring a company is free of allegations and complaints, you help save it from possible lawsuits, which is a lot to take on.

7. OB/GYN

Average yearly salary: $298,301 (Salary.com)

Specializing in women’s health, OB/GYNs are doctors that are trained in both obstetrics and gynecology.

This covers care for everything from STDs to childbirth, pregnancy, and postpartum care.

Trend on the Rise

Although this is a role that’s not growing as quickly as others: it does offer a huge advantage for women who don’t want to have to deal with male-dominated spaces. If you’re passionate about health and want to work in a women-led field, this is a great job to take.

6. Emergency Room Physician

Average yearly salary: $300,000 (Salary.com)

Emergency medicine doctors are some of the most important medical professionals out there.

emergency-room-physician-pros-and-cons

Trained specifically to deal with physical trauma wounds, sudden health problems, or other issues, they’re able to balance between figuring out what’s wrong and treating it as quickly as possible.

5. Orthodontist

Average yearly salary: $301,544 (Indeed)

Orthodontists are dentists that are trained to diagnose, prevent and treat any jaw or tooth irregularities their patients suffer from.

By correcting current conditions and preventing future ones from forming, they can take away pain and discomfort while also aiding in the appearance of their patient’s smiles.

4. Hedge Fund Portfolio Manager

Average yearly salary: $346,164 (Institutional Investor)

As a hedge fund portfolio manager, you’ll be responsible for creating and managing investments for your private clients.

Although some work one-on-one with individuals or families, others focus on primarily institutional and corporate investors.

This job requires handling a lot of money and responsibility.

Tactic for Success

To succeed as a hedge fund portfolio manager, you need to have an extremely competitive nature, and to be convincing of it. It’s vital for your safety, and that of your clients, that you also have extremely good self-control and have access to a good lawyer.

3. Dermatologist

Average yearly salary: $360,800 (Salary.com)

Our skin is the largest organ in our body, and a dermatologist’s role is to specialize in the care and treatment of our skin, hair, and nails.

Able to identify and treat over three-thousand conditions and diseases, they have a keen eye for details and can tell the difference between some similar conditions.

These are important professionals through every step of life since they can aid in anything from acne to eczema.

2. Anesthesiologist

Average yearly salary: $405,000 (Salary.com)

Anesthesiologists are doctors that help patients manage pain by administering anesthesia.

This can range from localized anesthesia, that only numbs a small portion of skin or tissue, or general anesthesia, which makes you fully unconscious during any surgical procedures.

Anesthesiologists also have to supervise patient care before, during, and after the operation.

Where anesthesiologists work:

  • Hospitalsthis role is usually full-time with set hours
  • Private Physician Offices – this role’s hours vary
  • Clinics – working in a clinic may make you chronically on-call
  • Surgical Centers – this is an hourly job
  • Academic or Medial Institutions – working for medical or academic institutions can give you set hours and yearly schedules

1. CFO

Average yearly salary: $412,529 (Salary.com)

Although many may have assumed the top role would be a medical position: working as a chief financial officer brings in far more money.

Chief financial offers are the senior avengers responsible for taking care of the financial activities of the company or organization they work for.

CFOs need an in-depth understanding of the company’s past and present financial situation.

Wrapping Up

If you can combine a topic you’re passionate about with a degree that’s guaranteed to turn out a high-paying job, consider going for it!

You can only set yourself up for success in this way.

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Erin is a business teacher and mother of three. When she’s not in the classroom or fulfilling her obligations as an A+ hockey and lacrosse mom, she’s working on her latest article.

About the Author

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Erin is a business teacher and mother of three. When she’s not in the classroom or fulfilling her obligations as an A+ hockey and lacrosse mom, she’s working on her latest article.