High-Paying Jobs in the U.S. (question about medical insurance)

http://msn.careerbuilder.com/Custom/MSN/CareerAdvice/472.htm?siteid=cbmsnhp4457&sc_extcmp=JS_js7_feb05_home1&GT1=6158&cbRecursionCnt=1&cbsid=f7118566004d4a96b404889edf9fe170-161182149-rq-1 ^

[SaltyJoe]

My question for anyone who has the information: how much does a surgeon take home after paying for their education, paying for insurance, and paying taxes? The tax part is easiest to figure out. But I get a sneaky suspicion that the work is more than what the paycheck's worth. That's why I like how conservatives want to protect the industry from frivolous law suits.

So, after insurance and education expense, would the airline pilots make more money? Get more vacation? Rest easier at night know that there aren't ambulance chasing lawyers hunting them down?

[dfwgator]

A Women's Zip Jacket only makes $26.82 a year?

[cosine]

All you need to know is that applications to med school are lower than they have been in years and that many physicians are advising their kids to do something else.

Oh, and training slots in various specialties are funded by government. The planners there, like planners everywhere, often guess wrong about future demand.

[taxcontrol]

The problem I have with this article is the OVER emphasis on college degrees. I'm of the opinion and living proof that hustle and the willingness to acquire actual usable skills (vs knowledge) will take you farther than a piece of paper.

Unfortunately that concept seems to be absent in most "guidance counselor" and career advice forums.

[TJC]

"Top Paying Jobs for a Two-Year College Degree The following jobs tend to be technical in nature, emphasizing skills developed on the job as well as job-specific training and certifications:

Healthcare practitioners $66,000 Business analysts $58,000 Electrical and electronic engineers $57,000 Mechanical engineers $56,800 General and operations managers $54,000 Computer and information systems managers $50,400"

Electrical and electronic engineers $57,000 Mechanical engineers $56,800
These are not two year degrees. Something is wring with this study.

[ex-Texan]

I have a close friend in Californicated. He had a great education at several major college including U.S.C. He has both a J.D. and an M.B.A. Even with all that education he was terribly unhappy working as a lawyer. ('Nuff said about lawyers)

So working part time on his own in his spare time he taught himself computer programming C+, C++, Perl, Java and other stuff. Then he designed a program to easily perform Workers' Compensation disability ratings automatically. (A major nightmare, believe me). He was selling his system part time and made a sale pitch to a company. They hired him on the spot as a computer programmer. At the time they hired him, they did not even know he was a lawyer with a M.B.A.

Last I heard, he was happy as a lark. Nice work environment. He doesn't even have to put on a suit and tie. Made many new friends. He is making good money in his new profession and his income eventually became GREAT money.

You are correct. People who want to become doctors or lawyers probably have been hoodwinked. Only a few survive the system that they created themselves.

[frogjerk]

Though many of these occupations require an advanced degree

The more you invest in your education the better off you are generally speaking, that is. Because we all know career students that do nothing with their lives but get a deferment from paying back student loans by taking yet another semester of classes.

I'm of the opinion and living proof that hustle and the willingness to acquire actual usable skills (vs knowledge) will take you farther than a piece of paper.

I agree, if you don't have the hustle, the piece of sheepskin is worthless. Also, a big part of the equation of getting paid more is knowing how to work smarter, ask for raise and get it, and know when you job is a dead-ender and move on.

[ItsForTheChildren]

A Women's Zip Jacket only makes $26.82 a year?

Well, that's pretty close to zip.

[Johnny Crab]

People who want to become doctors or lawyers probably have been hoodwinked.

I'd also add to that "or have incorrectly assumed that money would bring happiness".

The keys are finding things you like to do, getting good at them(and maybe getting sheepskins from college), and doing one of them you enjoy for pay that supports your standard of living.

[shezza]

What surprises me is Mickey & Friends. You'd think that working at the Happiest Place on Earth with its multitude of tourists coming precisely to see them would be worth a little more than a measley $16.00.

[KC_Conspirator]

Education administrators $80,000

The biggest shyster-ripoff job in this article.

[angkor]

a big part of the equation of getting paid more is knowing how to work smarter, ask for raise and get it, and know when you job is a dead-ender and move on.

No matter what your degree or profession, you're worth precisely what you negotiate, not one penny less or one penny more. Always go for more than what you think you "deserve."

[KC_Conspirator]

My question for anyone who has the information: how much does a surgeon take home after John Edwards and his minions steal his or her livelyhood paying for their education, paying for insurance, and paying taxes?

This is my question.

[Smokin' Joe]

No matter what your degree or profession, you're worth precisely what you negotiate, not one penny less or one penny more. Always go for more than what you think you "deserve."

And then prove you are worth every penny.

[goodnesswins]

"No matter what your degree or profession, you're worth precisely what you negotiate, not one penny less or one penny more. Always go for more than what you think you "deserve.""

SOOOOOOO true....as a former HR pro in High Tech and other industries, who negotiated with candidates, I can tell you that NEGOTIATION for wages is important in ANY job.

[angkor]

And then prove you are worth every penny.

That's a strange thing to say.

We bring skills and experience to the table, we negotiate compensation and expectations, then we do the job.

There's no "proving" anything to anyone, at least in the world where I operate. You don't like the result for any reason whatsoever, you don't pay. Period.

That's been my business rule for 12 years. I've never "proved" anything nor have I ever been stiffed.

"Worth every penny" is still a function of what you negotiate, no more and no less. "Worth" alone is a subjective term that can easily go outside scope. And I don't think I'd take a client who expected me to "prove" anything. It implies distrust.

[Orange1998]

I hear it all the time that Physicians and surgeons make around 150K a year. I always thought it was a "white lie" since I know of many physicians and surgeons living in Million dollar homes. There may be some doctors who make 150k a year by choice but the majority make 6 to 8 times that amount.

My point is I don't see ANY Bailiffs, correctional offices and jailers who make 150K (two jobs or successful part time business) a year living in million dollars homes.

I don't have a problem with doctors making what the market bears but for the article to say 150K is just misleading.

I am sure I will get some flames from doctors for the comments. If they flame it won't be because they make 150K a year it would be because they "earned" the million dollar homes.

[13foxtrot]

All you need to know is that applications to med school are lower than they have been in years and that many physicians are advising their kids to do something else.

The same goes for the tech field. Even the top Computer programs are seeing a massive fall off in applications and enrollment.

[thulldud]

Unfortunately that concept seems to be absent in most "guidance counselor" and career advice forums.

I'm still wondering why anyone would take career advice from a guy who takes a job as a "guidance counselor." My advice would be to look elsewhere.

[taxcontrol]

You know, I always wondered about that.

I'm often engaging my mouth before my brain - much to my regret. One incident I was looking to go back to college to finish my degree program. While talking with the new enrollment aide (fellow student) the Dean of Computer Sciences happened by and the aide asked the Dean for a moment to describe opportunities in the field.

During the course of the Dean's comments, he mentioned a starting salary figure. I was stunned, I said "wow" with a slight hint of disappointment in my voice. The Dean apparently caught on to this and quickly said that with experience I could make something like his salary and quoted another figure.

[mouth engaging before brain]

"I cant afford that much of a pay cut", I blurted out.

The Dean quickly left.