NO 1 MOST PAID PEOPLE IN USA

No.1 Medical professional
Median salary: $166,400+
Training time: 10 to 15 years

While many medical professionals rank high on the pay scale, those who work in the OR are the highest-paid -- specifically, surgeons who specialize in the treatment of illness or injury, and anesthesiologists, who administer anesthetics during operations. As such, most surgeons opt to specialize in a specific area, like the heart or the brain.



Even for general practitioners, pediatricians and podiatrists, who tend to earn the less than other physicians, the very specific knowledge they require in order to effectively perform their jobs can only be obtained through additional formal training and many years of hands-on experience. Of course, a four-year degree is required to even begin this path, preferably in biology or other sciences because these fields provide basic knowledge that will be applied in medical school. After college, med school will demand another four years -- the first two years will be in classrooms, and the last two will involve working with patients under the direction of physician educators. A residency is the next step, and this can last from three to seven years, depending on the candidate’s desire to specialize. A candidate must also pass a licensing examination.

While the profession can be lucrative, it is certainly not easy or cheap: More than 80% of medical school graduates carry a debt.