Career Advice

It's no secret that some of the highest-paying, most rewarding careers are in health care. But what if you have little to no interest in that type of work? What if your interests pertain to other things, like government, food, architecture or information technology? Can you achieve high pay working in such fields?

Absolutely, says Laurence Shatkin. In his book "250 Best-Paying Jobs," Shatkin connects high-paying occupations to 16 career clusters, helping individuals identify which occupations are most likely to pay well in the fields and industries that interest them. 

"The 16 career clusters I reference in my book were developed by the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Vocational and Adult Education around 1999. Many states rely on these career clusters to organize their career-oriented programs and career information," Shatkin says.

In his book, Shatkin provides lists of the best-paying jobs within each of these 16 career clusters. Below are a few of the top occupations featured on those lists.

Best-paying jobs for people interested in agriculture, food and natural resources

Economists
Average annual earnings: $83,590

Biochemists and biophysicists
Average annual earnings: $82,840

Veterinarians
Average annual earnings: $79,050

Best-paying jobs for people interested in architecture and construction

            Engineering managers
            Average annual earnings: $115,270

            Engineering teachers,  post-secondary
            Average annual earnings: $82,810

            Construction managers
            Average annual earnings: $79,860

Best-paying jobs for people interested in arts, audio/video technology and communications

            Art directors
            Average annual earnings: $76,980

            Producers and directors
            Average annual earnings: $64,430

            Agents and business managers of artists, performers and athletes
            Average annual earnings: $62,940

Best-paying jobs for people interested in business, management and administration

            Chief executives
            Average annual earnings: $158,560

Natural sciences managers
            Average annual earnings: $112,800

            Computer and information systems managers
            Average annual earnings: $112,210

Best-paying jobs for people interested in education and training

            Health specialties teachers, post-secondary
            Average annual earnings: $84,390

            Education administrators, elementary and secondary school
            Average annual earnings: $83,880

            Engineering teachers, post-secondary
            Average annual earnings: $82,810

Best-paying jobs for people interested in finance

            Financial managers
            Average annual earnings: $99,330

            Actuaries
            Average annual earnings: $84,810

            Financial analysts
            Average annual earnings: $73,150

Best-paying jobs for people interested in government and public administration

            Chief executives
            Average annual earnings: $158,560

            Political scientists
            Average annual earnings: $104,130

            General and operations managers
            Average annual earnings: $91,570

Best-paying jobs for people interested in health science

            Oral and maxillofacial surgeons
            Average annual earnings: $166,400+

             Orthodontists
            Average annual earnings: $166,400+

            Prosthodontists
            Average annual earnings: $166,400+

Best-paying jobs for people interested in hospitality and tourism

            Gaming managers
            Average annual earnings: $68,570

Best-paying jobs for people interested in human service

            Sociologists
            Average annual earnings: $68,570

            Home economics teachers,  post-secondary
            Average annual earnings: $64,210

            Clinical, counseling and school psychologists
            Average annual earnings: $64,140

Best-paying jobs for people interested in information technology

            Engineering managers
            Average annual earnings: $115,270

            Computer and information systems managers
            Average annual earnings: $112,210

            Computer and information scientists, research
            Average annual earnings: $97,970

Best-paying jobs for people interested in law, public safety, corrections and security

            Lawyers
            Average annual earnings: $110,590

            Judges, magistrate judges and magistrates
            Average annual earnings: $110,220

            Law teachers,  post-secondary
            Average annual earnings: $93,210

Best-paying jobs for people interested in manufacturing

            Nuclear power reactor operators
            Average annual earnings: $73,320

            Elevator installers and repairers
            Average annual earnings: $69,380

            Nuclear technicians
            Average annual earnings: $67,890

Best-paying jobs for people interested in marketing, sales and service

            Marketing managers
            Average annual earnings: $108,580

            Sales managers
            Average annual earnings: $97,260

            Sales engineers
            Average annual earnings: $83,100

Best-paying jobs for people interested in science, technology, engineering and mathematics

            Engineering managers
            Average annual earnings: $115,270

            Natural sciences managers
            Average annual earnings: $112,800

            Petroleum engineers
            Average annual earnings: $108,020

Best-paying jobs for people interested in transportation, distribution and logistics

            Air traffic controllers
            Average annual earnings: $111,870

            Airline pilots, co-pilots and flight engineers
            Average annual earnings: $111,680

            Transportation, storage and distribution managers
            Average annual earnings: $79,000

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Selena Dehne is a career writer for JIST Publishing who shares the latest occupational, career and job search information available with job seekers and career changers. She is also the author of JIST's Job Search and Career Blog (http://jistjobsearchandcareer.blogspot.com/). Follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/SelenaDehne.