20 of the Highest-Paying Jobs in the World That You Can Actually Do

In the United States, an anesthesiologist can make over $410,000 a year. In the United Kingdom an anesthesiologist’s pay can be as much as $275,000 while in Germany it can be up to around $300,000. The pay for an anesthesiologist in Canada can be over $300,000 a year.

A general surgeon can make up to around $396,000 a year in the United States, around $220,000 in the United Kingdom and around $248,000 in Germany. In Canada, a general surgeon can make around $310,000. Of course, in all these countries surgical specialists can earn even more and it’s one of the jobs that could make you a millionaire.

A physician in general practice can earn around $235,000 in the United States, $167,000 in the United Kingdom and $120,000 in Germany. In Canada, a general physician can make as much as $186,000. Physicians who specialize can make considerably more.

In the United States, an orthodontist can make as much as $295,000 a year, compared to around $327,000 in the United Kingdom and around $192,000 in Germany. In Canada, an orthodontist can take home as much as $157,000 a year and with savvy investments, they (and you) can also earn money while sleeping.

A dentist can make up to $225,000 in the United States, $135,000 in the United Kingdom and a little over $120,000 in Germany. In Canada, some dentists take home over $180,000 a year — and it's a job that will let you retire early.

CEO salaries can vary wildly, depending on the business, but generally are quite generous. In the United States, some CEOs take home more than $430,000 a year. In the United Kingdom, CEOs can earn as much as $295,000 and in Germany, around $390,000. Canadian CEOs can take home over $250,000 and while the glass ceiling is still very much in place, there are plenty of Canadian companies with female CEOs.

An engineering manager can make as much as around $156,000 in the United States, $136,000 in the United Kingdom and $173,000 in Germany. In Canada, some engineering managers take home more than $190,000. If STEM is your field, you might also like these careers for women in science and engineering.

An IT systems manager in the United States can make around $133,000, or around $78,000 in the United Kingdom and around $98,000 in Germany. In Canada, some IT systems managers earn around $94,000.

A good corporate lawyer can take home about $195,000 in the United States, nearly $160,000 in the United Kingdom and about $190,000 in Germany. Corporate lawyers at the top of their profession in Canada can earn around $130,000 but bear in mind that it’s also one of the most sleep-deprived jobs.

Some marketing managers in the United States take home around $102,000, while their counterparts in the United Kingdom may earn around $73,000 and in Germany, around $115,000. In Canada, some marketing managers take home nearly $70,000.

Air traffic controllers in the United States can make around $155,000, compared to around $153,000 in the United Kingdom. In Canada, they can take home around $135,000. Demand for air traffic controllers is falling, though, so it might be wiser to consider one of the careers that will be in demand after 2020.

Experienced airline captains can make as much as $452,000 in the United States or $238,000 in the United Kingdom, but salaries depend very much on the airlines. In Canada, some airline captains take home around $198,000.

A pharmacist can make around $136,000 in the United States, around $66,000 in the United Kingdom and around $90,000 in Germany. Canadian pharmacists take home around $89,000.

Some petroleum engineers in the United States take home around $196,000 a year, compared to around $120,000 for their British counterparts and around $115,000 for those in Germany. In Canada, some petroleum engineers earn around $150,000.

Senior data scientists can make around $184,000 a year in the United States, around $97,000 in the United Kingdom and around $145,000 in Germany. In Canada, they can take home around $128,000.

An aerospace engineer in the United States can take home around $133,000 a year, compared to around $76,000 in the United Kingdom and about $100,000 in Germany. In Canada, aerospace engineers earn around $81,000. They actually have one of the highest paying in-demand jobs in Canada.

In the United States, a computer hardware engineer can earn around $144,000. In the United Kingdom this figure drops to around $55,000 but in Germany, computer hardware engineers can make around $95,000. In Canada, computer hardware engineers can earn around $88,000.

A senior software engineer can earn around $157,000 in the United States, compared to around $100,000 in the United Kingdom and Germany. In Canada, there are senior software engineers who take home around $95,000.

It’s one of those high-paying jobs that doesn’t require STEM. A professor at post-secondary level can earn around $160,000 in the United States, around $125,000 in the United Kingdom and around $219,000 in Germany. In Canada, some college professors take home around $133,000.

In the United States, an investment banker can earn around $307,000, compared to around $243,000 in the United Kingdom. In Canada, some investment bankers make around $155,000. After seeing just how much higher salaries may be south of the border, does it make sense for you to retire there?