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Top 14 High Paying Careers For Women

Top 14 High Paying Careers For Women

There has been steady improvement in the professional arena for women since they joined the workforce decades ago. Of course, there are still challenges and plenty of room for improvement, but there are many professions where women can achieve a high level of success. We’ve listed some of the highest paying jobs for women below. If you’d like 


1. Surgeon/Dentist/Physician

Technically, these are different jobs but we’ve rolled them into one here to avoid overcrowding this article with the obvious fact: science stream jobs pay a lot more than others. Women pursuing careers in the medical field are some of the highest earning candidates on this list with their average salaries being around US$250,000 annually. These jobs are also considered some of the most rewarding with high job satisfaction levels.


2. Nurse Practitioner 

This isn’t simply a high-paying job for women, it’s also one of the fastest-growing ones. The projected growth for this profession is 31 percent till 2026. CRNAs (Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists), CNMs (Certified Nurse Midwives) and APRNs (Advanced Practice Registered Nurses) are critical jobs in patient care and can help women earn high figure salaries, around US$150,000 each year. These fields are also dominated by women. 


3. Pharmacist

Pharmacists do a lot more than fill prescription medication, they also administer annual flu shots, check BP, conduct health screenings, and even teach patients how to use medical equipment. They also keep up with FDA regulations and breakthrough medicines in clinical trials. You’ll need a Doctor of Pharmacy degree and license to get one of these high-salaried jobs, which can pay you around US$117,000 per year. 


4. Top Executive 

Another professional area that can be very financially rewarding for women is any top executive role, such as CEO, COO, CFO, President, Director, GM, etc. Usually, the top executives not only provide a company’s mission statement, they also dictate its core values and style of operation. These are roles that involve various types of responsibilities, so the pay is usually made to match, usually being around US$113,000 annually. 


5. Software Engineer

With information technology taking over nearly all aspects of our lives, jobs like Software Engineer are not only high-earning roles for women, they’re also projected to see a lot of demand in the near and distant future. A Software Engineer builds software for businesses, analyzes needs and finds solutions to meet the requirements of the company and its employees. These jobs pay around US$107,000 each year. 


6. Human Resources Director

As companies strive to adhere to various rules and regulations, they need Human Resources professionals to help them manage the day-to-day functioning of teams and offices. Directors of Human Resources oversee the entire HR department, supervising their staff, creating helpful manuals, evaluating options, etc. They’re a big part of a company’s culture and are compensated with salaries that average around US$99,000 per year. 


7. Lawyer

As a lawyer, you can work with individual clients, companies, hospitals, religious organizations, institutes and even government agencies, so the work and pay scope is vast. This, however, is a pretty demanding job and most lawyers report putting in more than 40 hours per week into their jobs. Since every place has laws to follow, you can end up needing a lawyer anywhere you go. Their median pay stands at around US$99,000 each year. 


8. Information Systems Manager

This is another tech role that can provide high salaries to women. As an information systems manager, you’re responsible for managing an organization’s computer systems. You are in charge of the software, hardware, applications and all equipment (like desktop monitors, keyboards, printers, etc.). Since this role is critical for running a company effectively, it’s a well-paid position that can get you US$89,000 annually. 


9. Civil Engineer

This is a field for highly-motivated and creative women who like leaving the world a better place than they found it. Civil Engineers oversee infrastructure projects like bridges, roads, water supply systems, tunnels, etc. They can be employed both in the public and private sectors. You need to have an eye for details as well as the big picture to get this job done. The average pay for this role is around US$88,000 each year. 


10. Project Manager

Many workplaces organize their work around projects that have to be completed in a certain manner by a set date.  This is a role that many women hold and it also pays them a higher salary than other options. A Project Manager keeps to the budget and deadlines while making sure everyone is doing their part to complete the given task. They also communicate with stakeholders about status updates. They’re paid around US$85,000 per year. 


11. Business Operations Manager

This is a role that many women have taken on. It’s one that involves quite a bit of multi-tasking but that’s something many women have under their belt. A Business Operations Manager forms and executes strategies and initiatives for a company. They work with all departments, negotiate contracts, work on the budget, form special teams when required and hire senior employees. The median pay for this role is around US$79,000 annually. 


12. Purchasing Manager

Another high paying job that women excel at is Purchasing Manager. This role involves supervising buyers who buy the company’s products/services, evaluating quality, choosing suppliers, and negotiating contracts. This isn’t a desk job as it involves touring plants, attending convention/trade shows, meeting vendors, etc. If you like Math and being on your feet, this might be the job for you. A Purchasing Manager can earn around US$73,000 per year.


13. Director of Education

Teaching is a field that hires more women than men though the salaries aren’t usually the best. To get a higher salary in this field, you need to be higher up the ranks, like being the Director of Education. This involves establishing the curriculum for either one or several schools, determining the teaching processes, and filling other administrative requirements. At US$72,000 per year, this is one of the highest paying educational roles. 


14. Financial Analyst

Another option for those who like Math, a Financial Analyst is responsible for helping companies and individuals make the best financial investments and decisions. You have to be knowledgeable about stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and other financial options so you can give your clients the best advice. You can find employment in insurance companies, banks, organizations and even individuals, and earn around US$71,000 annually. 


These are a few of the roles that offer high salaries to women professionals so far, though we hope to see an increase in the number soon. If you’re searching for a job but are confused about your options or need help connecting with recruiters, get in touch with us at HiCounselor to find out how we can help boost your career!