Here are the 10 highest-paying jobs in Texas
Looking for a new career path with a higher annual income?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the top 10 highest-paying jobs in Texas are all in the medical field with annual salaries ranging from $274,000 to $361,000.
The latest data, from May 2021, was calculated from occupational employment and wage estimates from employers in all industry sectors in metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas in the state.
If you have a bachelor's degree under your belt already, you're at least halfway to getting a doctorate and becoming one of the physicians listed below.
Cardiologists
Texas' annual mean salary: $361,900
Cardiologists are medical doctors specializing in areas of the heart and work closely within the cardiovascular system. Some specialize in subsets of cardiology which include interventional cardiology, electrophysiology, nuclear cardiology and echocardiography.
General duties include diagnosing and treating heart attacks, irregular heartbeats, coronary heart disease or clogged arteries.
National annual mean salary: $353,910
Texas employment rate: 1,080
Entry-level education requirements: Medical doctor degree or doctor of osteopathy degree
State with highest employment rate: California
Ophthalmologists, except pediatric
Texas' annual mean salary: $337,120
Ophthalmologists perform similar functions as optometrists, but optometrists are not licensed to practice medicine and cannot perform surgical procedures. These physicians are qualified to perform corrective eye surgery, such as removing cataracts.
Subspecialties within this career field include treating corneal and external eye disease, ophthalmic plastic surgery and glaucoma.
National annual mean salary: $270,090
Texas employment rate: 1,250
Entry-level education requirements: Doctor of optometry degree
State with highest employment rate: Texas
Dermatologists
Texas' annual mean salary: $321,600
Dermatologists are doctors specializing in treating medical conditions related to skin, hair and nails. While some patients seek out these physicians to get help for aesthetic purposes, others get treated for health conditions including skin cancer.
National annual mean salary: $302,740
Texas employment rate: 760
Entry-level education requirements: Medical doctor degree
State with highest employment rate: Texas
Orthopedic surgeons, except pediatric
Texas' annual mean salary: $314,970
Orthopedic surgeons specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with disorders and injuries of the musculoskeletal system. They use rehabilitation, and other medical techniques, to help patients manage and recover from conditions.
Some disorders these physicians work on include bone fractures, ruptured disks, arthritis, osteoporosis, bone cancer, club foot and muscular dystrophy.
National annual mean salary: $306,220
Texas employment rate: 640
Entry-level education requirements: Medical doctor degree or doctor of osteopathy degree
State with highest employment rate: Pennsylvania
Obstetricians and gynecologists
Texas' annual mean salary: $292,560
Obstetricians and gynecologists, also known as an OB-GYNs, are medical professionals who specialize in pregnancy, childbirth and the female reproductive system. Physicians in this field work in clinics, hospitals and other medical facilities.
National annual mean salary: $296,210
Texas employment rate: 1,830
Entry-level education requirements: Medical doctor degree or doctor of osteopathy degree
State with highest employment rate: New York
Neurologists
Texas' annual mean salary: $291,730
Neurologists are doctors who are specialists in diagnosing, treating and managing disorders of the brain and nervous system. These physicians cover disorders including Alzheimer's disease, concussions, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease.
Neurologists are different from neurosurgeons as they do not perform brain or spinal cord surgery.
National annual mean salary: $267,660
Texas employment rate: 440
Entry-level education requirements: Medical doctor degree or doctor of osteopathy degree
State with highest employment rate: New York
General internal medicine physicians
Texas' annual mean salary: $286,890
Also known as internists, general internal medicine physicians diagnose and treat illnesses in adult patients, as opposed to family practitioners who see both adults and children. They provide nonsurgical treatment of diseases and injuries related to the internal organ systems in adults and address a wide range of issues.
Internists examine patients and advise them from simple health questions to more complex issues which may require the attention of specialists in other areas.
National annual mean salary: $242,190
Texas employment rate: 3,410
Entry-level education requirements: Medical doctor degree or doctor of osteopathy degree
State with highest employment rate: New York
Radiologists
Texas' annual mean salary: $284,870
Radiologists are physicians other doctors, such as surgeons, depend on to take pictures to get a better understanding of what is happening inside a patient's body. They use medical imaging technologies to aid in the assessment and treatment of various diseases and injuries.
Radiologists work in various settings including diagnostic imaging centers, radiation therapy treatment clinics, hospitals or private practices.
National annual mean salary: $301,720
Texas employment rate: 1,620
Entry-level education requirements: Medical doctor degree or doctor of osteopathy degree
State with highest employment rate: New York
Surgeons, except oral and maxillofacial
Texas' annual mean salary: $279,600
Surgeons treat injuries, diseases and deformities through operations using a variety of instruments. They can correct physical deformities, repair bone and tissues after injuries or perform preventive or elective surgeries on patients.
Like other physicians, surgeons examine patients, perform and interpret diagnostic tests and counsel patients on preventive health care.
National annual mean salary: $297,800
Texas employment rate: 2,150
Entry-level education requirements: Medical doctor degree
State with highest employment rate: New York
Physicians, pathologists
Texas' annual mean salary: $274,800
Pathologists are the doctors other physicians turn to and sometimes called "the doctor's doctor." They perform tests on fluid and tissue samples and use the results to identify diseases that may be affecting a person or group of people.
Research is a primary focus for pathologists, and their findings may be used to inform doctors of more effective treatment options or ways to diagnose illnesses.
National annual mean salary: $267,180
Texas employment rate: 480
Entry-level education requirements: Medical doctor degree
State with highest employment rate: California
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John Oliva covers entertainment and community news in South Texas. Contact him at john.oliva@caller.com or Twitter @johnpoliva.
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This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Here are the 10 highest-paying jobs in Texas
