The Burrow
May 10, 2021
There’s no denying that putting in the hard yards and completing a university degree can help you land your dream job. But does higher education align with wealth?
Do all the grueling tests, late-night study sessions, time-consuming assignments and lectures that come with higher education mean you’ll be wealthier than if you choose not to pursue a career that requires a qualification or degree? How much over the average income do high-paying occupations earn and is higher education required to pursue these careers?
To find out, we looked at the top five highest-paying jobs in five countries around the world. These countries include:
For each of these jobs, we set out to discover how much over the average annual salary across all jobs in each country they pay and whether the role requires a university degree or if it could be obtained through other qualifications. Where data is available, we also detail the course’s length and whether additional training is required.
Of course, medical specialities and legal professionals require a degree in order to practice in that field. They were highly paid in Australia and the UK and this is a trend that’s generally observed worldwide. Even though highly paid, we haven’t included these professions in each country analysis, as some countries collect and publish salary data on a broad aggregated basis rather than by individual roles.
According to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, the annual mean wage across all occupations in the United States is USD$53,490.1 So, how does this compare to the top five highest-paying jobs? Let’s find out.
Average annual wage for anesthesiologists in the US: USD$261,7301
Amount above average annual wage: USD$208,240
Is higher education compulsory? Yes. To become an anesthesiologist in the United States, there’s intensive training involved. This includes:
Average annual wage for surgeons in the US: USD$252,0401
Amount above average annual wage: USD$198,550
Is higher education compulsory? Yes. Surgeons are required to spend many years studying and training on the job. Requirements to become a surgeon include:
Average annual wage for oral and maxillofacial surgeons in the US: USD$237,5701
Amount above average annual wage: USD$184,080
Is higher education compulsory? Yes. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons require many years of higher education and training, including:
In the United States, obstetricians and gynaecologists are often grouped together and pay similar wages – even though they are different roles.
Average annual wage for obstetricians and gynaecologists in the US: USD$233,6101
Amount above average annual wage: USD$180,120
Is higher education compulsory? Yes. In the United States, all budding obstetricians and gynaecologists must:
Average annual wage for orthodontists: USD$230,8301
Amount above average annual wage: USD$177,340
Is higher education compulsory? Yes. Orthodontists are required to undergo many years of education and learning. This includes:
According to the latest personal income report from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the median employee income across Australia is AUD$49,083 (USD$35,227).18 Let’s see how some of the highest paying jobs compare and whether higher education is needed to fill these roles (professions that cover multiple occupations haven’t been included).*
*Please note: Internal medicine specialists, other medical practitioners and legal professionals are umbrella terms for professions that earn high amounts in Australia. However, they haven’t been included in our analysis because they don’t focus on a specific role.
Average wage for surgeons in Australia: AUD$402,582 (USD$288,933)21
Amount above the mean Australian employee income: AUD$353,499 (USD$253,706)
Is higher education compulsory? Yes. In Australia, you must be a qualified medical practitioner and undertake further training with the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons.19 To get there, you’ll require:
Average wage for anaesthetists in Australia: AUD$367,343 (USD$263,642)21
Amount above the mean Australian employee income: AUD$318,260 (USD$228,415)
Is higher education compulsory? Yes. You’ll need to train to become a qualified medical practitioner before you can even think about training to become an anaesthetist. This process includes:
Average wage for financial dealers in Australia: AUD$272,895 (USD$195,856)21
Amount above the mean Australian employee income: AUD$223,812 (USD$160,629)
Is higher education compulsory? Yes. Australians looking to become financial dealers will require a university degree (usually three years) in one of the following fields:
Average wage for psychiatrists in Australia: AUD$225,206 (USD$161,630)21
Amount above the median Australian employee income: AUD$176,123 (USD$126,403)
Is higher education compulsory? Yes. According to the Royal Australian & New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, there’s quite a lot of study and education involved. This includes:
Average wage for mining engineers in Australia: AUD$179,28821
Amount above the median Australian employee income: AUD$130,205
Is higher education compulsory? Yes. In Australia, mining engineers must obtain a bachelor’s degree in engineering as a minimum, majoring in either mining or geotechnical engineering.26 Depending on what you specialise in, it can take up to five years to complete this type of degree.
According to Statistics Canada, the average wage across all occupations in Canada is CAD$49,805 (USD$37,469) per year.35 Let’s see how some of the higher-paying jobs compare and what kind of education or qualifications are required.
Average wage for legislators in Canada: CAD$175,546 (USD$132,066)35
Amount above average Canadian wage: CAD$125,741 (USD$94,597)
Is higher education compulsory? Yes. In Canada, legislators gain employment by being elected to a legislative body or appointed to roles such as a governor-general or senator.36 However, because this role is categorised as a Skill Level A occupation by the Government of Canada, it usually requires a university degree of some sort.47 This could be a bachelor’s degree, doctorate or master’s qualification.48
Average wage for judges in Canada: CAD$123,067 (USD$92,585)35
Amount above average Canadian wage: CAD$73,262 (USD$55,116)
Is higher education compulsory? Yes. There’s extensive learning and training involved in becoming a judge in Canada. You must:
Average wage for lawyers in Canada: CAD$123,067 (USD$92,585)35
Amount above average Canadian wage: CAD$73,262 (USD$55,116)
Is higher education compulsory? Yes. Almost all law professionals in Canada start as lawyers, meaning the initial training is the same for most legal professionals. You’ll need to:
Average wage for mining supervisors in Canada: CAD$125,634 (USD$94,517)35
Amount above average Canadian wage: CAD$75,829 (USD$57,047)
Is higher education compulsory? Technically, no. While most mining supervisor roles in Canada require secondary school completion at a minimum, higher education isn’t always compulsory. However, some roles may require you to obtain a college or university degree in engineering or mining technology. You’ll generally need to gain several years of experience in the field before you can become a mining supervisor.40
Average wage for engineering managers in Canada: CAD$115,808 (USD$87,124)35
Amount above average Canadian wage: CAD$66,003 (USD$49,655)
Is higher education compulsory? Yes. To become an engineering manager in Canada, you must:
The median weekly earnings for Brits in 2019 was £585 (USD$756), equal to an average of £30,420 (USD$39,363) a year.11 However, some occupations pay much more than the average wage in the UK and higher education isn’t compulsory for them all.*
*Please note: Medical practitioners, finance managers, and legal professionals are among the UK’s top paid industry professions. Because our data is looking at specific roles, we’ve excluded umbrella terms from our analysis.
Average annual wage for chief executives in the UK: £97,083 (USD$125,625)12
Amount above average UK wage: £66,663 (USD$86,261)
Is higher education compulsory? No. While a qualification or degree related to the field you’re working in (such as law or finance) may help, it’s not always compulsory. In fact, CEOs can:
Average annual wage for marketing directors in the UK: £75,126 (USD$97,213)12
Amount above average UK wage: £44,706 (USD$57,849)
Is higher education compulsory? Technically, no. While a degree isn’t compulsory to become a marketing director in the UK, degrees in marketing, business, management communications and advertising can help.14 You may also be able to:
Average annual wage for IT directors in the UK: £72,109 (USD$93,309)12
Amount above average UK wage: £41,689 (USD$53,945)
Is higher education compulsory? No. Having a university degree in computing, project management or business management could help; however, it’s also possible to secure this job through apprenticeships or by gaining experience on the job.15
Average annual wage for public relations directors in the UK: £65,074 (USD$84,205)12
Amount above average UK wage: £34,654 (USD$44,842)
Is higher education compulsory? Technically, no. However, while it’s possible to gain this job in the UK through experience or by working your way up through a business, you’ll usually require a university degree in either:
Average annual wage for senior police officers in the UK: £59,634 (USD$77,166)12
Amount above average UK wage: £29,214 (USD$37,802)
Is higher education compulsory? No. In the UK, you can apply to become a police officer directly, but there are other ways to assist with the process.17 These include:
In New Zealand, the median weekly earnings from wages and salaries is NZD$1,016 (USD$674),27 which is around NZD$52,832 (USD$35,031) a year. But how do some of the top-paying jobs compare and what skills are needed for these roles?
Average wage for chief executives in New Zealand: NZD$410,000 (USD$271,862)29
Amount above the median annual earnings in New Zealand: NZD$357,168 (USD$236,830)
Is higher education compulsory? No. In many cases, you’ll need experience in a senior position within an organisation. However, qualifications in specialty areas such as law, business administration and commerce may be favoured.29
Average wage for IT managers in New Zealand: NZD$128,500 (USD$85,205)34
Amount above the median annual earnings in New Zealand: NZD$75,668 (USD$50,173)
Is higher education compulsory? No. While no formal qualifications are required, degrees in project management or information technology may help gain employment as an IT manager.34
Average wage for dentists in New Zealand: NZD$125,500 (USD$83,216)30
Amount above median annual earnings in New Zealand: NZD$72,668 (USD$48,184)
Is higher education compulsory? Yes. According to the New Zealand Government, completing a degree at the University of Otago is the only way to obtain the relevant qualification in the country.30 You’ll be required to:
Average wage for data scientists in New Zealand: NZD$119,000 (USD$78,906)31
Amount above median annual earnings in New Zealand: NZD$66,168 (USD$43,874)
Is higher education compulsory? Technically, no. It’s possible to gain employment as a data scientist without a qualification. However, degrees or diplomas in the following areas can be favoured:
Average wage for finance managers in New Zealand: NZD$90,000 (USD$59,677)32
Amount above median annual earnings in New Zealand: NZD$37,168 (USD$24,645)
Is higher education compulsory? Yes. In New Zealand, finance managers must have one of the following qualifications as a minimum:32
After analysing the top-paying jobs across the five countries we analysed, we determined that higher education was required for 68.2% of them. These occupations include:
Roles can vary between nations and the training and experience can also differ, so make sure you know the requirements within your country.
From our analysis, higher education wasn’t required for 31.8% of occupations. Here’s a list of jobs that might not require a university degree:
Always read the specific requirements for the role you’re applying for in your country as they can vary between nations.
Only four occupations appeared in more than one country’s highest-paid jobs list across the countries we analysed. These include:
From our analysis, it really depends on the country you reside in and your role. In the United States and Australia, for example, the top paid jobs all require higher education. However, we also observed that in some countries, such as the United Kingdom, a degree isn’t compulsory for any of the top-paying positions. Countries like New Zealand and Canada saw some high paying roles that require higher education and some that don’t.
Our data shows that higher education can play a role in obtaining jobs that pay well above the average wage on a country level. In fact, looking at 25 jobs across five countries shows that a degree is necessary for 15 of them. However, our data also indicates many jobs, such as chief executives, data scientists and mining supervisors pay well and don’t require a degree.
Higher education may not be the most important factor when it comes to financial consciousness. Our 2018 Financial Consciousness Index report found that while Australians who have completed higher education have a higher FCI score (a ranking of the ability to change or influence financial incomes) compared to those with a lower education, it doesn’t always mean they reach their peak of financial consciousness. In many cases, it’s other factors, such as whether a person has a mortgage, that increases this score.
Similarly, the report also found that people on lower incomes tend to be good at budgeting and sticking to their budget – suggesting that higher education alone doesn’t always influence the money decisions we make.42
Meanwhile, a link between higher education and money has been found in other studies. A 2018 study conducted by Cornell University found that people with an education behind them might improve economic decision-making quality or economic rationality.44 This research is backed up by a 2009 study conducted by the University of Minnesota, which found those with higher IQs tend to make wiser financial decisions.45
While a university degree can help you earn more money, it may not always help you make the best decisions. How so?
Research published in the Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications Journal in 2020 found that having prior knowledge of a topic may lead people to make worse decisions if they’re presented with new facts.43
Researchers also argued that extra knowledge might cause people to focus on factors not relevant to the problem at hand, which could make them less confident in the decisions they make.
It turns out men are more likely to pursue higher-paying jobs than women. Research published in the Sociology of Education Journal in 2019 found that, even when males and females in college select majors that result in higher-paying jobs, women are still more likely to pick fields that will result in less money.46 The study found women usually choose majors they believe are realistic to them, which often come with a lower salary.
Now that we know what these occupations pay, let’s look at what’s involved in the roles. We’ve listed these roles in alphabetical order. Please note: Job descriptions may vary between companies and countries and this is a general guide only.
The role of anesthesiologists (or anaesthetists) is to administer anaesthetics to patients who undergo surgery or other medical procedures. They can also help manage pain before, during or after an operation.3
Chief executives, also known as CEOs or managing directors, are the top dogs of businesses. They create policies, lead companies, set plans and essentially direct how an organisation operates.13
A data scientist (also known as a data analyst) unpacks data through various methods to help an organisation. For example, data scientists may conduct surveys, establish trends or review other information to help a business or organisation achieve its goals.31
If you’ve ever had a toothache, filling or dental check-up, you’ll know that a dentist is someone who improves and treats oral and dental health. They can treat injuries, illnesses and diseases of the gums, mouth, jaw and teeth and provide education about overall dental health.30
Engineering managers have the task of controlling what happens within an engineering service, firm or department. Typical duties include planning, organising, directing and controlling engineering activities and creating policies and procedures within a company or business.41
Finance managers have the all-important task of managing the finances within an organisation or business. Tasks can range from managing a business’ cash flow to monitoring financial trends and planning budgets.32
As a financial dealer in Australia or New Zealand, your job focuses on selling and purchasing financial products within the market. Of course, there’s a lot more to the job, ranging from analysing data to researching and monitoring market conditions.23
Gynaecologists are medical professionals that can diagnose, prevent and treat diseases and illnesses impacting the female reproductive system.8
With the world becoming more digital than ever before, IT directors are responsible for developing and managing IT systems for businesses and clients. There could be a focus on using digital technology to store data or to simply help a company manage its day-to-day tasks.15
As a judge, your job is to hear criminal and civil matters in courts of law make decisions to uphold the law. You can specialise in specific areas such as civil, family or criminal law.38
Lawyers have the task of advising clients of their legal rights and information relating to the law. They can represent clients in courts of law, write wills and legal contracts or even act as trustees or executors.39
In Canada (which is the only country we analysed that saw this profession as one of the highest paying jobs), a legislator is a member of a legislative body (be it local, federal, provincial or territorial government) who focuses on:
It’s important to note that the term ‘legislator’ can differ between countries, so a legislator’s role in Canada may be different from one in Australia or The United States, as an example.
A marketing director’s job is to figure out ways for a company, brand or agency to promote products or the company itself. Of course, there’s a lot more that goes into the role, such as management, leadership and customer service skills.14
As a mining engineer, your job is to manage the engineering aspects of sourcing, locating and extracting gas, minerals and petroleum from the earth.26 Tasks can range from conducting surveys to managing finances and planning future projects.
As a mining supervisor, your job focuses on managing teams and production around mining operations focusing on extracting metal, coal and other materials from the ground. Tasks can range from supervising workers and preparing reports and maintaining safety procedures on site.40
The role of obstetricians is to provide care and expertise to women before, during and after they give birth. 8
Oral and maxillofacial surgeons are surgeons that focus specifically on the tissues of the mouth, face and jaw. Their job is to conduct operations and procedures to treat illness, injury or enhance appearance or function.7
Orthodontists are dental practitioners that focus specifically on dental and jaw misalignment and oral abnormalities. They can create and fit dental appliances that correct issues, restore function and visually enhance the oral area.10
A police officer’s job is to enforce the law, investigate crime and impose measures to keep the public safe. They may use skills around safety, communication and security to assist with the role.17
Psychiatrists are health professionals who focus on the mental health and wellbeing of patients.25 You may choose to specialise in a unique field of study, such as adolescence forensic or medical psychiatry.
Public relations directors are generally in charge of advertising, public relations, sales or marketing within a company or organisation.16
Surgeons are medical professionals who treat patients by performing surgery, operations and other medical procedures on patients with diseases, injuries or other illnesses.5
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