This story is available exclusively to Business Insider
subscribers. Become an Insider
and start reading now.Have an account? .
We tend to assume everyone sporting a lab coat and stethoscope is bringing home the big bucks — and that's certainly more true for doctors in some medical specialties than it is for doctors in others.
For instance, the average optometrist makes $115,750 a year, while the average surgeon earns more than double that.
Here are the top 15 highest-paying jobs for medical doctors, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics:
What they do:Optometrists examine the eyes and other parts of the visual system; diagnose and treat visual problems and manage diseases, injuries, and other disorders of the eyes; and prescribe eyeglasses or contact lenses to patients.
What they do: Podiatrists provide medical care for people with foot, ankle, and lower-leg problems; they diagnose illnesses; treat injuries; and perform surgery involving the lower extremities.
What they do: Prosthodontists construct oral prostheses to replace missing teeth and other oral structures to correct deformations of the mouth and jaws.
What they do: "All other specialists" are dentists who are not listed separately.
11. General dentists
Scott Olson/Getty
Average annual income: $172,350
Growth outlook (2014-2024): +18%
What they do: Dentists diagnose and treat problems with patients' teeth, gums, and related parts of the mouth. They also provide advice for taking care of the teeth and gums.
What they do: General internists diagnose and provide nonsurgical treatment of diseases and injuries of internal organ systems.
6. Physicians or surgeons (all other)
Surgeons perform a total knee arthroplasty operation in an operating room at the Ambroise Pare hospital in Marseille
Thomson Reuters
Average annual income: $197,700
Growth outlook (2014-2024):+14%
What they do: "All other" physicians and surgeons are those not listed separately. They typically provide medical care and/or perform surgical procedures on patients.
What they do: Orthodontists examine, diagnose, and treat dental misalignments and oral-cavity anomalies; and design and fabricate appliances to realign teeth and jaws.
What they do: Obstetricians and gynecologists provide medical care related to pregnancy or childbirth, and diagnose, treat, and help prevent diseases that affect women, particularly those affecting the reproductive system.
What they do: Oral and maxillofacial surgeons perform surgery and related procedures on the hard and soft tissues of the oral and maxillofacial regions to treat diseases, injuries, or defects.
What they do: Surgeons treat diseases, injuries, and deformities by invasive, minimally invasive, or noninvasive surgical methods, such as using instruments, appliances, or by manual manipulation.
