OT: Highest Paying Jobs in the US

[A K]

Sure, they make $125,000 a year, but how many billable hours are there in that year, billed out at what average rate?

Depends on the firm. Anywhere from 1800 to 2300. The rates I am not sure of, but it'd be foolish to think associates make what they are billed for. I'd bet the billing is twice their salary. But, it's a right of passage. Make equity partner, and those billables really mean something.



You need more acreage, though, Tom. Come up to the Northeast or Northern Central, and pick up 20 or 30 acres. Just kidding, of course, but that is one of the nice things about PA. It's a property-rights state with a lot of property still reasonably priced and available. A half million, while a lot, buys you a house and/or property that would be a million and a half in those crazy west coast cities... or the Mainline.

 

[Thomas Rogers]

Yeah, Adam, when I retire it will be on at least 20 acres, most wooded.

 

[WXMotorSports DecalsPartsAccs]

TJR...I hear ya. I want to sell our house in two years and move to Phoenix. I can buy a smaller and less expensive house there and pay for it in cash with the equity and value increase in our current home. No, mortage payment and no car payments.

 

[Tom Schindler]

Q,



Glad to see you stop to help everyone out.



Have a nice day buddy!!!





Tom

 

[Greg Bosin]

The list doesn't mention professional athletes, rap artists, pop music flavor of the month, Victoria's Secret models and actors. Non of which require a High School diploma.

 

[Kevin Palmer]

I think the list is pretty accurate as it does reflect all involved to create the average. If one worker is making 1 mill and another is making 500,000 then the average is 750,000. Thus is reflects a number lower for half of the work force and higher for the other half.



It is interesting to see the comparison though, (regardless of the money).

 

[Richard Kolb]

I find it interesting that they list computer software engineers as not needing a college degree. No way on earth I'd hire someone out of high school to do what I do. Maybe 20 years ago, but not today. That list needs updating.

 

[Ryan Schaecher]

- Electrical and electronic engineers — $112,000

Uh, where? I am an Electrical Engineer with 5+ years experience and I'm just shy of $50k.... I'd sure like to double my salary...

 

[Thomas Rogers]

R1ch9, yes, I too think that to be labeled a "Computer Software Engineer" one should have a degree, but for a survey like this, I suspect they are lumping a lot of computer engineering types for many, many different companies into that mix. Some companies will hire without a degree. My brother is a great example...one of the best engineers you will ever find, works for Autodesk on their cad system, and has no formal degree.



He went to college for one year, and upon his first internship NEVER went back...and has been gainfully employed since. He was 19 and companies threw 60K starting salaries at him (this was almost 14 years ago), and he figured why fight it....

 

[WXMotorSports DecalsPartsAccs]

Electrical Engineer-Boeing 85-100K

 

[Thomas Rogers]

Business week has a nice story and slide-show about "Best, Most Affordable Suburbs"....many of which I suspect people here will find outrageously high in cost of living:

 

[Paul Maurer 2]

I'm number one! I must disagree with the CEO figure- they must be counting the guy who owns a Korean grocery or hot dog stand as a CEO! I don't know of any CEO who makes less than $200K, even our local bank, utility and school board chairpersons make $200 plus....

 

[Richard Kolb]

I bet an EE here with 5+ years would make close to 100k. It's all about location. But what is better, making 100k and paying 600k for a house or making 50k and paying 100k for a house? What do houses cost near you? I think they need to adjust those salaries for cost of living in the area.

 

[Dale Carlson]

Averages look about right for the Southeast - maybe even a little for around here. Cost of living is much lower than the Northeast or West Coast.



I know that a lot of people in my field (IT), who kind of fell into it accidentally, loved the job, and never looked back. And without the college degrees or certifications. That's changing though. Employers are starting to want the higher education AND the experience. I think it's getting tougher for the entry-level IT folks to find that first job. That's too bad.

 

[Richard L]

Those surveys are worthless unless they are broken down by the different regions in the USA and in some cases, the town the job is in makes a big difference in pay.



Those places that have higher salaries also have much higher living cost, and commuting costs. How much time do you spend behind the wheel driving too and from work or riding on a bus or subway?? That may not effect your salary, but can greatly effect how you feel about your job and the daily grind in general.



Here in the Waco, TX area, there are very few IT jobs available and many do not pay very well. Our local paper will go for months without a single want-ad for an IT job. The few that do appear want experience with a lot of different specialty software and they don't seem to care about a lot of experience in other apps.



If you go to Monster.com or some of the other online IT job sites you will find 500 to 1000 IT jobs available in Dallas, Austin, Houston, etc but only one or two if any jobs in the Waco, Temple TX areas.



...Rich

 

[Ryan Schaecher]

What do houses cost near you?

I bought a brand-new 1320 sq ft house with 2-car garage on just under 1/4 acre four years ago for $83K. That's actually above average for the town I live in, but the average is rising... I could sell it today for at least $93K. That is on a total of $49k salary (my wife is a degreed-engineer who stays at home with our daughter).

 

[R 3]

Lawyers and judges — $99,800

WOW - I thought this would be twice that, for private firms at least. My sis is an atty w/ the feds, and she makes $140K w/ the SEC. And thanks to Bill Clinton, they all got a $10K-$15K pay hike before he left office (during the Martha/Enron debacles) to "invigorate" recruiting and increase hiring at the SEC...no promotion, just a payscale shift! jeez



She goes to work at 8:30, home by 6:30...what a cush gov't job...which she wanted b/c in anticipation of raising a family.

 

[WXMotorSports DecalsPartsAccs]

R-it's a national avg. Podunk USA population 50 with 1 lawyer 500 miles away from a metro area won't be billing 100K a year let alone making it.

 

[R 3]

Then they should move to DC.

 

[Ryan Schaecher]

My brother will be a DC lawyer this summer....





$2600 A WEEK!!! for a summer internship.... daaaaaamn!