Skills Direction

To work as our top-paying job (and our No. 4 job overall), you must complete at least four years of an undergraduate program, four years of medical school and up to eight years of an internship and residency. But the long training period literally pays off for many doctors. In 2013, a general internist made a median salary of $186,850 and an average salary of $188,440.

The biggest myth of visiting the dentist’s office is that you’re going to see the dentist every time. It’s usually for non-routine issues – like tooth decay or gingivitis – that the dentist steps in to diagnose and recommend proper procedures and treatment. Dentists are well-compensated for their specialized skills: In 2013, dentists earned a median salary of $146,340. That same year, the average salary for dentists was $164,570.

Marketing managers watch consumer trends to devise a plan for promoting products or services to certain people in certain places, and for their efforts they usually earn six-figure salaries. In 2013, those who work this job had a median salary of $123,220 and an average salary of $133,700.

The person who oversees information technology and computer-related activities for an organization has a tall task. He or she is concerned with coordinating workflows, devising a security strategy, making recommendations, budgeting new software and hardware, and hiring and directing information technology and computer support personnel. In 2013, IT managers earned a median salary of $123,950 and an average salary of $132,570.

The job that launched a thousand bad “What do you call a lawyer who” jokes, attorneys’ pay can vary depending on experience, location, specialty and even the size of firm they work for (assuming they work for a firm at all). Still, lawyers earned a median salary of $114,300 and an average salary of $131,990 in 2013.

Financial managers oversee all financial matters for an organization, set goals and devise strategies for maximizing profits. The job can be stressful at times and requires pulling long hours. Thus, these number crunchers are usually well compensated. The Labor Department reports financial managers earned a median salary of $112,700 and an average salary of $126,600 in 2013.

While those on the cold calls or the display room floors actually sell the products, the managers analyze trends, set goals and implement strategies for executing those goals. In 2013, sales managers earned a median salary of $108,540 and an average salary of $123,150.

Pharmacists should be well-compensated, because doing their job well plays a material part in how we handle our medical conditions, recuperating process and overall health and wellness. In 2013, pharmacists earned a median salary of $119,280 and an average salary of $116,500.

You can’t just become a business operations manager. Ascending to this position happens after years of hard work and experience managing tasks and people. The best of the bunch don’t just have the chops to exceed expectations, they also have the emotional intelligence to motivate their staff. The work is hard, but it’s accompanied by good pay: In 2013, those in this profession earned a median salary of $96,430 and an average salary above six figures – $116,090.

The skills of an art director aren’t strictly tied to aesthetics and creativity. Those in this field must also juggle marketing, public relations, business and operations duties as well. Fortunately, this multitasking profession also comes with a good salary. In 2013, art directors earned a median salary of $83,000 and an average salary of $96,650.