What Are the Highest-Paying Jobs in the World?

Have you ever wondered which jobs pay the highest in the world? According to US News and World Report, for 2021, those working in healthcare continue to get the highest-paying jobs in the world. In addition, some IT and computer science-related jobs are starting to catch up to this list. This is unsurprising, especially since jobs in healthcare have always paid a lot even in the past years. The global IT industry, on the other hand, is fast-growing and is expected to see much more growth until 2023. 

If you are looking for a job that pays a lot, take a look below at the top 5 highest-paying jobs in the world, and the academic requirements to get them. 

Physician Assistant (PA)

Average salary: $112,260

Physician assistants are an integral part of health care teams in hospitals. In fact, they practice in every medical setting and specialty, such as assisting in surgeries, performing procedures, and guiding patients, putting them in a very versatile and collaborative post. In general, a PA practices medicine under the direct supervision of a licensed physician. 

To be a PA, you need a bachelor’s degree relevant to health science, nursing, or a degree in PA itself. You also need coursework in biochemistry, general biology, genetics, organic chemistry, social and behavioral sciences, and medical terminology. After that, students must take a master’s program, get experience in healthcare, and get a physician assistant license. 

Software Developer 

Average salary: $107,510

Software developers are the mastermind behind computer programs and mobile applications people use in their daily lives. Software developers may work on a specific app or program, or the systems used by other programs. 

To be a software developer, at the minimum, you need a bachelor’s degree or certification in software development or engineering, or computer science. Some coursework includes software development, algorithm design and analysis, data structure, software design, and programming. 

Nurse Practitioner (NP)

Average salary: $109,820

Nurse practitioners put a strong emphasis on the health and well-being of a person as a whole. Thus, they focus on health promotion, managing health conditions, disease prevention, health counseling, and education. In fact, aside from being healthcare providers, they are also researchers, administrators, and educators and have strong participation in health policy activities. 

To be an NP, one must be a registered nurse (RN), holder of a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, or a graduate degree relevant to NP and pass an NP board certification exam. Coursework may include core sciences and math, including anatomy, pharmacology, physiology, family care, health care management, and so on. 

Medical and Health Services Manager

Average salary: $100,980

Medical and health services managers are in charge of making sure everything in their hospitals, community health organizations, healthcare organizations, and clinics are running smoothly, to serve patients and other stakeholders properly. They use their medical and public health knowledge to work with other medical practitioners and oversee operations in their organizations. 

To be in this line of work, one needs a bachelor’s degree relevant to healthcare management, gain relevant experience in healthcare, and get a postgraduate degree in medical and health services management. Coursework may include healthcare research, analysis, data, financial management, ethics, policy, and legal issues in the health care industry.

Physician 

Average salary: $206,500

A physician is a general term for doctors after earning their medical degree. Generally, physicians diagnose and treat injuries and diseases. Aside from that, they also, examine patients, prescribe medications, give advice on preventative care, diet and hygiene, and interpret and give diagnostic tests. 

To be a physician, one needs a four-year pre-med bachelor’s degree, four years of medical school, three to five years of residency, and if they want, a one to three years of fellowship.

Although it is useful to know some of the highest-paying jobs in the world when choosing your course, it is also important that you are interested in and even passionate about the course you will be taking.

Want to earn a high salary after earning your degree? Check out MSM Unify’s list of courses in healthcare, IT, and computer science. If you are more interested in healthcare and how the current pandemic has affected medical education and admission, check out MSM Unify’s articles on this topic.