The US government employs millions of people, ranging from secretaries to lawyers to doctors to engineers. But how do salaries in the civil service compare? Is it worth it to take one of the highest-paying government jobs?
Here are the top 10 highest-paying government jobs in the
United States, along with some info on what each job entails and where to look
for openings online.
CEO
It is not as easy to earn a six-figure salary with a
government job, but it is possible. To make the list of the ten highest-paying
government jobs, an individual must have a high level of responsibility and
years of experience within that position. The salary ranges from $136,000 to
$213,000 annually.
Topping our list at number one are U.S. Army Generals and Lieutenant Generals, who earn up to $213,200 per year. A General or Lieutenant General will also be paid more depending on their location.
For example, someone working for the Pentagon would earn more than someone stationed in Hawaii or Alaska. Next on our list are Astronauts and Pilots at NASA, who can earn $140,800 per year (starting salaries).
Other high-paying positions include
CEOs of government agencies like the Department of Homeland Security or the
Bureau of Land Management (between $137,400 and $213,100) and Legislators
($130,072). Here are all 10 highest-paying government jobs
General Dentist
It's not surprising that a dental hygienist has to look down most of the time. Sure, they'll need to tilt their head back from time to time to view a patient's teeth from above, but mostly they'll be looking at things from an angle.
Many dentists also make it a point to have two sinks in
their treatment rooms: one for each individual's work area, so that they never
need to worry about cross-contamination. If you're concerned about workplace
ergonomics, some dentists will also put a built-in step stool in the room for
their hygienist to stand on when leaning over patients' mouths.
Orthodontist
One of the best high-paying government jobs is being an orthodontist. This type of dentist specializes in installing dental braces, designing teeth alignments, performing surgery, and diagnosing orthodontic problems.
Orthodontists can make up to $170,000 a year! If you are interested in this high-paying government job then you should get a DDS or DMD degree at an accredited institution and complete a four-year residency program.
You will also need to take the National Board Examination in order to become licensed as an orthodontist.
Lawyer
Starting out as a government lawyer can give you a chance to find your niche while earning $63,000-$68,000 per year. This job involves researching laws and prosecuting violators of those laws.
Lawyers must have excellent communication skills and good public speaking skills for successful prosecution. A large part of a lawyer's work is to serve as an expert witness when there is litigation.
Training may include taking required exams or
pursuing postgraduate degrees in criminal law or law school. They might be
employed by federal agencies such as the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) or the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
A psychologist has a starting salary between $38,000 and $43,000 dollars per year with top salaries reaching about $95,000. Psychologists perform diagnostic evaluations and develop treatment plans for patients who suffer from mental disorders such as depression or anxiety disorder.
They may also teach courses at colleges and universities related to psychology, psychiatry, social work, and psychotherapy, etc., conduct research on new treatments methods, etc.,
coordinate care within hospitals or healthcare
facilities, etc., consult with clients on ethical issues related to insurance
coverage, etc., provide community outreach services, etc., advise businesses on
human resources management strategies, etc.
Architect
Top-earning architect with an annual salary of $107,750. Architects create and modify blueprints for large construction projects, typically managing small teams of engineers and other staff.
Some architects work directly with clients to design homes or businesses, while others help evaluate competing designs by different architectural firms. To become an architect, individuals usually need a bachelor's degree in architecture from a program accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB).
Depending on your experience level and specialty area within architecture, you
can expect to earn between $46,000 and $90,000 as an entry-level architect. An
experienced professional with a master's degree can expect a higher salary of closer to $100,000.
Like most careers, dentists and anesthesiologists have different salaries based on where they work, how many years of experience they have, and what kind of school they attended. The average annual salary for a dentist is $158,480 and for an anesthesiologist, it's $232,660.
However, these
numbers can change drastically depending on where you live or work and how much
money you're worth to your employer. For example, according to the Wall Street
Journal, Dentists who graduated from non-US schools typically make about one-third less than those who graduated from US schools.
Obstetrician Gynecologist
In the U.S., ob/ gyms specialize in obstetrics and gynecology, two very different disciplines that often overlap. Many people are drawn to this job because of how challenging it is: women (and their babies) will sometimes come into the office extremely sick or feeling extreme pain, and a doctor must treat them both.
Other reasons for becoming an ob. the gym includes wanting to help people and changing social behaviors; it's a good choice for those who want to work with others instead of being alone all day, as well as those who enjoy working under pressure.
Obstetrician gynecologists typically complete
four years of undergraduate school, four years of medical school, then three
years of residency before they can start practicing on their own. The typical
salary for these specialists ranges from $180,000 to $200,000 per year.
In terms of the highest-paying government jobs, it depends on your specialty. Here are the ten highest-paying jobs that you can get working for a government organization. First up is psychiatrist: these professionals earn about $183,000 annually, with average job benefits.
Next up are child and
adolescent psychiatrists: these specialists earn about $161,000 annually and
have average benefits.
Assistant Attorney General
A little bit of everything goes into being an Assistant Attorney General, or AAG. The first and most important thing is graduating from law school.
After that, you need to do well on the bar exam, get licensed as a lawyer, and work for a private firm for about three years before applying for jobs at DOJ.
Once hired by DOJ, AAGs have to start as Assistant Special
Counsels before moving up to higher positions within the department.
Astronomer
They study celestial and astronomical phenomena that originate outside of Earth's atmosphere. Astronomers use sophisticated instruments, including space telescopes, radar equipment, and spectroscopes.
Some might focus on fields such as astrophysics or cosmology. Their jobs also
include observing and gathering data about earthquakes and other geologic
events. In addition to conducting research, astronomers may teach at
universities or write for scholarly journals.
More than 575 of these professionals worked for colleges or universities, with a median salary of $99,050 annually (in 2012). About 20 percent of astronomers held those jobs.
Colleges have relatively low budgets for these positions; therefore the median salary is substantially less than the top earners in this field: federal government officials who earn up to $118,690 per year.
0 Comments