When choosing a career, it's important to seek out jobs that are meaningful and challenging — but a high salary doesn't hurt, either.
U.S. News & World Report recently released its 2016 Best Jobs rankings, which determines the best occupations in the country based on median salary, employment rate, growth, job prospects, stress level, and work-life balance. (You can read more about the methodology here.)
U.S. News then ranked these coveted positions by pay, finding that, unsurprisingly, many of America's top jobs come with six-figure salaries. Positions in the healthcare sector dominated the list, with anesthesiologists claiming the top spot, followed by surgeons and oral and maxillofacial surgeons.
Read on to see the 20 best high-paying jobs in the US, with salary data included from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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20. Optometrist
Mean annual salary: $113,010
Projected growth (2014 - 2024): 27%
Optometrists diagnosing and treat visual issues and eye conditions, such as glaucoma, as well as prescribing corrective lenses. To become an optometrist, individuals must complete both a bachelor's degree and a four-year doctor of optometry program.
19. Business operations manager
Mean annual salary: $117,200
Projected growth (2014 - 2024): N/A
Business operations managers take care of the details that are vital to keeping a business running, including hiring new talent, negotiating contracts, making strategy decisions, and building and leading effective teams. The highest-paying cities for this job are Bridgeport, Connecticut; New York City; and Trenton, New Jersey.
18. Pharmacist
Mean annual salary: $118,470
Projected growth (2014 - 2024): 3%
Imperative to the healthcare industry, pharmacists not only fill prescriptions, but also educate patients on the potential side effects of their medications, teach them how to handle side effects, and monitor which prescriptions each patient is taking to prevent mixing incompatible drugs.
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