1. SURGEON
Highest salary: $181,850Training time: 10 to 15 years
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While many medical professions are high on the pay scale, those who perform surgery are the highest paid -- specifically, surgeons who specialize in the treatment of illness or injury. As such, most surgeons opt to specialize in a specific area, like the heart or the brain.
Even for general surgeons, the very granular knowledge required to effectively perform an operation can only be obtained through additional formal training and many years of hands-on experience. Of course, a four-year degree is required to go down this path, and biology or other sciences are preferred because these provide access to basic knowledge that will be applied in medical school. After college, plan for four years of medical school -- 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.
