Millionaires in their Industries

According to the National Stat and Metropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, survey, the mean annual pay for most jobs with required post-secondary education is $37, 440. However, what industries prevail above the typical, offering more money and more opportunity?

Surgeons continue to triumph at the No. 1 spot, earning over $181, 850 annually, the next seven spots are occupied by various sorts of specialists in the medical field. The only two occupations that do not involve medical practitioners are Chief executives at No. 9 and airline pilots at No. 13. Jobs in the leisure business such as restaurant and hotel employees remain at the opposite end of the scale with fast-food cooks, dishwashers and waiters.

Based on BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) projections, data and mathematical models, of the top ten occupations expected to post the strongest growth employment by 2012, eight are health care related. “Health care services will rise drastically,” according to Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan. The baby boom generation will start hitting retirement in 2008 and demand assistance to physical therapy and home aid. Below is a graph resulting from a survey conducted by the BLS, demonstrating the percentage increase in demand for certain occupations between 2002-2012.

Representing the No. 3 on the list, AAPA (The American Academy of Physician Assistants) will experience the largest amount of increase, growing 59% according to the survey. Their job is to fulfill clinical duties for health professionals, updating charts, drawing blood, taking blood pressure and answering phones. On average, considering the strains of a medical assistant, and being everything short of examining and diagnosing a patient, their annual salary is $24, 810.

In terms of job conception, second to people's health will be the nurturing of technology. One weapon in the armory of system analysis will be computer care in the form of a data specialist, who is able to design technology solutions for business assistance. From 2002-2012, the industry occupies No. 8 and No. 9, increasing in demand by 57% according to BLS reports. According to Information Technology Association of America spokesman Bob Cohen, the programmer's category is the largest in the IT field with 2.1 million.

Another survey conducted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics demonstrated the results of the best paying jobs. Contributing factors to the analysis are the required training and cost for each profession. According to the Medical Association, on average, after four years of medical school, students emerge with $110, 000 in loan dept.

Forbes Magazine included William Gates, whose source of money sprouted from Microsoft, as a man worth $46.6 million dollars. Paul Allen, who is also known for his work with Microsoft computer technology, is worth $21 million according to the survey. The collective net worth of the nation's wealthiest climbed to $1.25 trillion, as published in the Forbes 400 list, presenting information verifying that the medical field, health and social services in the humanitarian field and computer technology are predicted to be the industries that are paying the most now and will continue to produce millionaires.