Many people make career decisions based on how much they can earn. If you faint at the sight of blood, it's probably not a great idea to become a doctor because it pays well. But if you're equally enamored with being a physician and being a social worker, you might lean toward the better-paying job. That makes Glassdoor's annual look at America's highest-paying jobs a useful tool for anyone entering school or contemplating a change in careers. Many of these jobs require advanced training or degrees in law or medicine. But if you're willing (and capable) of putting the work in, opportunities exist. "When it comes to capturing a job seeker's attention, we know that salary is one of the top factors a job seeker considers when deciding whether to apply for a particular job," said Glassdoor senior economic research analyst Amanda Stansell in a press release. "Today, in a very tight job market, job seekers around the U.S. sit in the driver's seat for finding their next dream job and earning the salary they think they deserve. So, with a recession potentially looming in the U.S., we identified those jobs and companies that are heating up the competition and paying the highest salaries in 2019." Being a doctor ranks at the top of the salary scale. Image source: Getty Images. What are the highest paying jobs? Jobs in healthcare and technology dominate the list. That makes sense because these positions require a lot of schooling and/or an immense amount of skill. Not everyone can become a doctor or learn how to do higher-end tech jobs even if they are willing to put in the work. 25 Highest Paying Jobs in the U.S. for 2019 Rank Job Title Median Base Salary 1 Physician $193,415 2 Pharmacy manager $144,768 3 Dentist $142,478 4 Pharmacist $126,438 5 Enterprise architect $122,585 6 Corporate counsel $117,588 7 Software engineering manager $114,163 8 Physician assistant $113,855 9 Corporate controller $113,368 10 Software development manager $109,809 11 Nurse practitioner $109,481 12 Applications development manager $107,735 13 Solutions architect $106,436 14 Data architect $104,840 15 Plant manager $104,817 16 IT program manager $104,454 17 Systems architect $103,813 18 User-experience manager $102,489 19 Site reliability engineer $100,855 20 Cloud engineer $98,626 21 Attorney $97,711 22 Data scientist $97,027 23 Information security engineer $95,786 24 Analytics manager $95,238 25 Financial planning and analysis manager $94,874 Data source: Glassdoor. What can you do? If you're entering college (or going back to it), look at this list to see if you're capable of learning how to do one of these jobs. Before you commit, however, do some homework. Talk to some people in the field and ask if they are happy. You might find that the hours and sacrifices required for some of these positions aren't worth the money. It's also possible you will find widespread happiness or discontent in some of these fields -- you have to ask before you put the work in. It's also important to talk to people in the field you choose about whether they see demand staying high. Some professions -- lawyer being a good example -- have become crowded, making it harder to earn a lucrative salary. Don't pursue work solely because it pays well. Use lists like this and your own research to best match what you pursue with opportunities that will pay well. The $16,728 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook If you're like most Americans, you're a few years (or more) behind on your retirement savings. But a handful of little-known "Social Security secrets" could help ensure a boost in your retirement income. For example: one easy trick could pay you as much as $16,728 more... each year! Once you learn how to maximize your Social Security benefits, we think you could retire confidently with the peace of mind we're all after. Simply click here to discover how to learn more about these strategies.The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.Source