Top 10 Highest Paying Jobs in the World 2025

While passion and purpose undeniably shape our career choices, salary also often plays a big role. A prior idea of the highest paying jobs in the world like in healthcare and technology fields can help you draw a career map for yourself if good income is a thing for you.

Are you also wondering - "Which job has the highest salary in the world?". With the ever-growing prices of consumer goods, lifestyle management, education and healthcare, students need to plan their career choices even before starting their higher education, which is why knowledge of the best-paid jobs in the world proves to be beneficial for them. Stats have it that with the ongoing global recession, students nowadays are interested in learning about the highest paying jobs in the world that also have a good scope for the future.

A recent study conducted in 2025 revealed that healthcare, advanced technology and leadership are consistently the highest paid careers in the world. The highest salaries paid to these fields are due to one or more of the following reasons:

• the education/course comprises an extensive curriculum,
• There is a disparity between the high demand and the limited availability of qualified professionals in these specialised fields, and
• the success of an organisation, the life of people and the technological betterment of the society depend on these roles.

Also, read:

Top 10 Highest Paying Jobs in Australia 2025	Top High Salary Jobs in Denmark for Indian Students
Highest Paying Jobs in Canada in 2025	Average Salary in Switzerland For Indian Students

List of Top 20 Highest Paying Jobs in the World 2025

Some roles and jobs remain highly paid irrespective of factors like company's size, location and the level of contribution of the role.

This year we have researched and created list of 20 highest paid jobs in the world by collecting information from available internet data. Check out the updated list of the top 20 best paying jobs in the world in 2025 below- 

1. Chief Executive Officer
2. Anesthesiologist
3. General Surgeons, Orthopaedic Surgeons, Neurosurgeons
4. Specialised Physician, Cardiologists, Radiologists, and Oncologists
5. Orthodontist
6. Psychiatrist
7. AI/Machine Learning Engineer
8. Investment Banker
9. Data Scientist
10. Pilot (Airline)
11. Blockchain Developer
12. Petroleum Engineer
13. Chief Information Officer (CIO) / IT Director
14. Corporate Lawyer
15. Management Consultant
16. Product Manager
17. Software Engineer/Architect
18. Information Security Analyst / Cybersecurity Expert
19. Marketing Manager
20. Financial Manager 

Note- Rankings of these high paid jobs are derived from average annual salary data gathered from trusted online sources. Actual salaries may vary on basis of factors like experience, location and organisations.

Details on the Top 10 Highest Paying Jobs in the World

Read below for the required experience, the top employers of the listed highest paying jobs in the world, followed by the section containing the average salaries of these jobs across different nations. 

1. Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Topping the list, a CEO is typically the highest paying job in the world, no matter where you work. It is the highest-ranked position in any organisation’s structure, and irrespective of the company’s size, a CEO remains the best paid employee as he/she handles all the day-to-day corporate affairs of the company, manages its resources and handles all managerial processes. A CEO is also responsible for motivating their team of managers and employees to boost their performance without overburdening them. Check the top universities that have produced most of the CEOs in the world.

• What does a CEO do:
  • Encompasses the oversight of daily operations,
  • Judiciously manages resources and formulates pivotal business decisions
  • Defines overarching product vision,
  • crafts strategic roadmaps and sets long-term organisational goals
  • Makes important decisions on new initiatives or mergers. 
  • Lastly, a CEO represents the whole company and communicates its vision to employees and the community. 
• How to become a CEO: Becoming a CEO requires starting a solid educational background in business or a related field, typically including a bachelor's degree and possibly an MBA from a top business school. Substantial experience is essential in becoming a CEO. However, many CEOs advance through various departments to develop their leadership and decision-making abilities.
• Experience Required: Minimum 5 years of managerial experience and above.
• Skills Required: Excellent Team Leadership and Interpersonal Skills, Strategic Planning, Acute Financial Acumen, Adept Risk Management, Decision-making Skills with Good Attention-to-Detail, Negotiation Abilities, Time Management and Organisation Skills.
• Top Companies: Amazon, Apple, Wipro, Samsung, IBM, Aditya Birla Group, etc.
• Reason for High Pay: CEOs bear the ultimate responsibility for a company's success or failure. The decisions of a CEO impact the whole organisation's success and determines its direction, profitability, and sustainability. 

*In all, the average salary for CEOs around the world may range from  $627,767 to $1,069,643 annually.

Useful Links:

• MBA in Abroad for Indian Students
• 10 Top MBA Colleges Abroad 2024

2. Anesthesiologist

Being the highest paying job in the USA, an Anesthesiologist is among the best-paid jobs in the world. Anesthesiologists work closely with surgeons, and the success of almost all operations begins with the success of the anaesthetic operations. Anesthesiologists also help with pain management and function like other primary care physicians and surgeons. 

• What do Anesthesiologists do? Anesthesiologists ensure the patients' safety during surgeries by providing them with enough anaesthesia - not excess not less; while also keeping a close watch on pain levels both during and after the surgical procedure.
• How to become an Anesthesiologist: Getting one of the highest paying jobs is not easy, as it comes with years of education and practice. This is also the case with becoming an Anesthesiologist, as it takes several years of study and practice. Here is the roadmap to becoming an Anesthesiologist:
  
  • Attaining a bachelor's degree in fields like biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics, followed by passing the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) to prove your readiness for medical school., and then completing the medical school to earn either a Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree.
  • Securing a spot in an accredited anesthesiology residency program involving four years of intensive supervised training in administering anaesthesia to patients. 
  • Obtaining a medical license and board certification by passing certain licensing examinations to be able to start practising anesthesiology as a professional. One can also pursue a 1 to 2 years of specialisation program in fields like pain medicine.
• Experience:- 12 to 15 years
• Skills required:- Accuracy in administering the right amount of anaesthesia to patients
• Top Companies: Hospitals and health consultancies like - Henry Ford Healthcare Systems, Trinity Health, etc.
• Reason for High Pay: Anesthesiologists earn high salaries due to the requirement of extensive training that goes into being one. The study program and the road to becoming an Anesthesiologist is a long one and there are very less candidates that pursue this stream in medicine.

Check out the average salaries of Anesthesiologists in different countries below. 

In Dubai, medical professionals enjoy high salaries, but they must first pass the DHA Exam to qualify for practice.

Useful Links:

• MBBS in Abroad for Indian Students
• Study MBBS Abroad: Eligibility, Colleges, Fees, Exams and Jobs

3. Neurosurgeons, General Surgeons and Orthopaedic Surgeons

Surgeons generally get high salaries because of their high success rate in conducting operations and for the years of experience they have. Among surgeons, the neurosurgeons, general surgeons and orthopaedic surgeons are the highest paid ones.  

• What do these surgeons generally do: The neurosurgeons surgically treat the diseases of the nervous system, brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves. The general surgeons conduct operations to treat the health issues of the human body, such as the digestive system, hernias and more. While, the orthopaedic surgeons deal with injuries and diseases of the bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, and muscles and conduct operations to treat or correct them. 
• How to become a Neurosurgeon, General Surgeon or Orthopaedic Surgeon: To be any of these surgeons, one needs to first get a bachelor's degree in medicine, which is MBBS. After completing this degree, they need to take standardised exams like NEET-PG or INI-CET (for India), and MCAT (for abroad) to determine the specialisation for their postgraduation. After this, theyr need to opt a specialised integrated or master's program in their desired fields. 
• Experience Required: 10 to 13 years
• Skills Required: Core knowledge of various medical conditions, practice of using all the surgical tools, excellent eye-to-hand coordination, and patience.
• Top Companies: Hospitals and healthcare institutions
• Reason for High Pay: Generally surgeons receive high salaries due to the extensive costly education and training involved in their making. The complexity and critical nature of their work, and the long, demanding hours they often endure is the reason why very less people out there opt to be surgeons.

Useful Links:

• 10 Best Medical Colleges in the World 2025
• Best Country to Study MBBS Abroad 2025

4. Specialised Physicians

Specialised physicians are medical doctors who, following their general medical training, pursue extra years of residency and/or fellowship training in a specific area of medicine to address particular types of diseases or organ systems.

• What do specialised physicians do:
  • Diagnose, treat, and oversee particular illnesses or areas of the patient's body.
  • Unlike the general practitioners, specialised physicians utilise cutting-edge technology, examinations, or methods to deal with patients.
• How to be a specialised physician: This involves getting an MBBS, MD, or equivalent (4–6 years) degree, followed by doing an internship or foundation training, a focused training (residency program) in your chosen field and work hospitals, clinics, or academic settings. 
• Skills Required: Deep understanding of anatomy, physiology, pathology, cardiology, radiology, taking patient histories, performing several physical exams, and interpreting lab tests, scans, and other diagnostics.
• Top Companies: Hospitals and health systems.
• Reason for High Pay: The whole of the education takes around 10-15 years of completion, and includes residency and practical training.  

5. Orthodontists

Orthodontists are dental specialists who diagnose, treat and prevent several irregularities in teeth and jaw alignment, along with that, they correct the bite patterns of the affected individuals. 

There is a slight difference between dentists and orthodontists which is why it is called that all orthodontists are dentists but not all dentists are orthodontists. This is because, to become an orthodontist, one has to go beyond the usual educational level that is required to become a dentist, i.e. one has to complete an additional 2-3 years of specialised orthodontic residency program. 

• What do Orthodontists do- Their roles include - doing procedures to induce the proper dental alignment and hence guide a righteous facial development. The primary goal is to improve both the aesthetic appearance of a person's smile and their oral function, such as chewing and speaking.
• How to become an Orthodontist- To be an orthodontists, one has to complete 4-5 years of graduation in medicine, followed by a 4-year dental school program and a 2-3 years of specialised orthodontic residency.
• Experience required- Getting a license involves 10-11 years of studies after post-secondary education
• Skills required- Diagnosis and treatment planning, appliance management, communication and interpersonal skills,
• Top hiring employers- Dental Service Organisations (DSOs), private hospitals and academic institutions
• Reason for high salaries- They remain in high demand and a specialised orthodontist takes a normal person to go for about 10-11 years of continuous education. Their fees are high along with the procedures they do to improve the oral alignment of an individual. 

6. Psychiatrists

Often the most paid profession in various countries, a Psychiatrist helps in dealing with mental health. Psychiatrists charge fees per session of consultation, and depending on the mental condition of the patient, they may prescribe some medicine or work on bringing out the desired result solely by consultation and lifestyle changes. Due to the growing awareness of the impact of mental health disturbance and its consequences, more and more people prefer to take a Psychiatrist’s help to deal with their emotional imbalance. With this, it becomes one of the highest paying jobs in India and the USA.

• What does a Psychiatrist do: The daily tasks of a psychiatrist include evaluating, diagnosing, and treating mental, emotional, and behavioural disorders. Psychiatrists study patterns and examinations from their patients to deal with their mental conditions. They create treatment plans which might include therapy and/or medication.
• How to become a Psychiatrist: Becoming a psychiatrist requires getting a bachelor's degree in a science-related field, followed by four years of medical school, or directly getting into a medical degree. After that, you will be required to complete a four-year residency program in psychiatry. Obtaining a state license is also necessary. 
• Experience Required: 10-12 years.
• Skills Required: Strong listening skills, good attention to detail, good communication skills, strong knowledge of core therapeutic practices and treatments and a commitment to maintaining patient records in a confidential manner.
• Leading Organisations: Kaiser Permanente, US Department of Veterans Affairs, General medical and surgical hospitals, Outpatient care centres, Psychiatric and addiction hospitals, among others
• Reason for High Pay: Psychiatrists address vital mental health challenges, resulting in a strong demand and considerable earning opportunities due to their extensive training.

Useful Links:

• MSc by Research in Psychiatry at Oxford University
• Philosophy of Medicine & Psychiatry MA at King's College London
• MPhil in Psychiatry at University of Manchester

7. AI/ML Engineers

AI/ML engineers design and implement algorithms that allow systems to learn and improve autonomously from data. AI/ML engineers work to build sophisticated systems that simulate human intelligence - leading to creation of intelligent chatbots, self-driving vehicles and various optimised automations.

• What do AI/ML engineers do: Designing machine learning models, analysing data to identify opportunities for automation and optimisation, training and continuously enhancing model performance, implementing machine learning frameworks in collaboration with software engineers and monitoring and maintaining these systems in production environments.
• How to become an AI/ML engineer: One can become an AI/ML engineer by getting a bachelor's or master's degree in computer science, artificial intelligence or a closely related field. While formal degrees are always valued, specialised certifications in AI tools and Machine Learning can be beneficial for this role.
• Experience required: 0-2 years for entry level positions and 5+ years for senior positions
• Skills required: Knowledge of Machine Learning (ML) & Deep Learning (DL) concepts, data handling & database skills, Mathematics and Statistics, knowlwdge of the principles of software engineering, communication skills, problem solving and more.
• Top hiring employers: FAANG companies like Google, Meta, Amazon, Microsoft and Apple.
• Reason for high salaries: Due to their extreme demand in businesses and a limited number of qualified professionals in the field. 

8. Investment Banker

Investment banking is one of the highest paid jobs in the world in 2025, for the high amount of accountability and critical thinking that comes with it, as the companies depend largely on their investment bankers to do the job associated with money. Investment bankers act as financial advisors to both - companies and investors. They help companies raise capital and give advice on mergers, acquisitions, and other financial transactions. 

• What do Investment Bankers do:
  • They act as financial advisors to the big firms and governments and help them raise money by issuing new stock (equity) in a process called an Initial Public Offering (IPO) or selling bonds (debt) to investors.
  • They are responsible for valuing the company and marketing their securities to potential buyers.
• How to become an Investment Banker: To be the highest earning investment banker, you must start by getting a bachelor's degree in finance, economics, business or a similar field. Thereafter, you can start working in fresher roles like a business analyst and move your way up to investment banking, or you can go for an MBA, which can directly get you to the higher roles in your field.
• Experience Required: 0-3 years
• Skills Required: Financial Modelling, Financial Analysis, Accounting Principles, Negotiation, Interpersonal Skills and a deep understanding of financial statements, valuation techniques, and economic trends.
• Top hiring employers:- Citigroup, Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, Bank of America, etc.
• Reason for high salaries:- Investment bankers facilitate the complex financial transactions between organisations, which makes their knowledge extremely valuable for larger firms.  

9. Data Scientists

Data scientists are responsible for collecting, cleaning and processing vast datasets from various sources. Their main function is to extract empirical insights from data which can be useful for businesses for making informed decisions.

• What do Data Scientists do: Data scientists develop sophisticated predictive models using machine learning algorithms, identify and interpret business trends & patterns and translate complex findings into easily digestible data visualisations for non-technical stakeholders.
• How to be a data scientist: To become a data scientist, one must start by getting a bachelor's degree followed by a master's degree in Data Science, Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, Engineering or related fields. Aspiring individuals can also gain practical expertise by intensive online courses, boot camps or self-directed learning. Other measures that may help you land a high paying data scientist job include - maintaining good score on kegel.com, maintaining a github repository which will work as your portfolios and working on more and more projects available online which will show to the recruiters that you have not just the theoretical knowledge of the subject but also the practical training as well. 
• Experience required- 0-2 years for entry level positions and 5+ years for senior positions
• Skills required- Programming, Statistics & Mathematics,  Data Manipulation & Analysis, ML, Big Data technology and more. 
• Top companies- Google (Alphabet), Amazon, Meta (Facebook), Apple, Microsoft, and Netflix are massive employers of data scientists, using data for product recommendations, search algorithms, and operational efficiency
• Reason for high salaries- There is very high and growing demand for data scientists, however a very few chunk of highly qualified professionals are available.   

10. Commercial Airline Pilots

Commercial airline pilots rank among the highest paying jobs in the world. Experienced pilots can make 6 to 7 figured salaries. 

• What do the Commercial Airline Pilots do:- Airline pilots are responsible for the safe movement of both passengers and cargo. Their responsibilities include:
  
  • Performing pre-flight checks,
  • submitting flight plans,
  • Staying in touch with air traffic control (ATC),
  • Flying the aircraft with a focus on the passengers' safety, and
  • Preparing post-flight documentation.
• How to be a Commercial Airline Pilot- To be a commercial airline pilot, join a flight training school and obtain a Private Pilot License (PPL) upon training completion. Complete the required amount of flight hours during or after the training time in order to be able to get a Commercial Pilot License (CPL). 
• Experience- 1500+ flight hours
• Skills Required- Flight planning, navigation, and clear communication.
• Top Companies- American Airlines, Air India, Indigo, and more.
• Reason for high pay: A lot of rigorous training and responsibility go into making a commercial airline pilot. They are responsible for the vessel's and passengers' safety.

Useful Links:

• Difference Between Data Science and Data Analytics
• Top Universities for Data Science & Business Analytics in the World
• BSc in Data Science

*Note:- The above-average salaries for each profession have been sourced from trustworthy international job sites such as Payscale, Glassdoor, Indeed, Salary.com, Seek, NHS, Medscape, Reed, Adzuna, Robert Half, Michael Page, The Finance Bar, Law Society, Forbes and Sporting News.