What is the highest paying job in America?

1 of 8
Career MoneyWe've compiled this must read list of the top 7 most lucrative professions in the United States. Find out which job is paying the most money by viewing our slideshow. The jobs on the list may surprise you.
Slideshow Data Sources:
Bureau of Labor Statistics and Forbes.com

7. Petroleum Engineers

2 of 8
Petroleum EngineersMedian Salary: $130,280
Employees in Occupation: 36,410

Oil is a very lucrative industry, and the engineers who help find where it's located are paid very well as a result. Petroleum engineers also help determine the oil deposit amounts and the most efficient extraction method. There are a few types of petroleum engineers within the profession- each with a different specialty. Regardless of the specialty though, the salary is very good.

6. Chief Executives

3 of 8
CEOMedian Salary: $168,140
Employees in Occupation: 255,940

A CEO is one of the few jobs on the list that isn't in the medical field. Chief executive officers are at the top of the food chain in the business world, but it certainly takes a lot of hard work and intelligence to get there. It's also one the bigger occupation pools with over 255,000 CEOs in the United States.

5. Prosthodontists

4 of 8
Prothodontist (dentist)Median Salary: $169,130
Employees in Occupation: 310

Prosthodontists are highly trained dental surgeons who specialize in various oral conditions such as missing teeth and maxillofacial tissues. These doctors earn an impressive salary, but they are in a very selective field with just over 300 in the United States. It requires a combination of both medical and dental school. Their salary is good enough to earn them the number five spot on our highest paying jobs rankings.

4. Psychiatrists

5 of 8
PsychiatristsMedian Salary: $173,330
Employees in Occupation: 24,210

Psychiatrists just beat out prosthodontists with a median salary of $173,330. Psychiatrists are doctors who help treat mental disorders and conditions. Psychiatrists are the first occupation to dip below the $200,000 threshold on our list, but these doctors still bring in an impressive amount of money.

3. Obstetricians and Gynecologists

6 of 8
Obstetricians and GynecologistsMedian Salary: $216,760
Employees in Occupation: 20,880

Obstetricians and gynecologists are doctors who specialize in the female reproductive system. These highly trained health experts earn excellent compensation for their skill set. The medical field as a whole did very well on our top paying jobs list, but obstetrician/gynecologist rank as the third best paying job in the United States.

2. Surgeons

7 of 8
SurgeonsMedian Salary: $230,540
Employees in Occupation: 42,410

No surprises here. As you may have guessed, surgeons do pretty well for themselves, but their lofty $200,000 plus median salary still falls short of the highest paying job in the country. It's been a pretty impressive list of jobs so far, but now is the moment we've all been waiting for. What is the highest paying job in the United States? Drum roll please.

1. Anesthesiologists

8 of 8
AnesthesiologistsMedian Salary: $232,830
Employees in Occupation: 29,930

And the winner is....anesthesiologists! It's the doctors responsible for keeping you comfortably numb while on the operating table that bring in the most money. Anesthesiologists earn the top spot on our list of highest paying jobs in the United States. These doctors are the true bread winners in America and are paid a pretty penny to devise the appropriate anesthesia doses for patients while in surgery. However, the other jobs on this list are not too far behind.