highest paying business jobs

The highest paying jobs in business can be very rewarding. Many of the highest paying jobs require years of education and on-the-job experience along with a track record of proven success in a chosen field or discipline.

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Many of the top jobs require an MBA or other advanced degree, although there are many examples of highly successful individuals who didn’t complete a formal education.

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Ranking the Highest Paying Jobs in Business

Based on the latest information available from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and other sources, we’ve compiled a list of the highest paying jobs in business.

1. Entrepreneur

Entrepreneurs are the managers of business enterprises who develop, launch, and assume complete responsibility for the outcome of an organization’s efforts. Entrepreneurs handle the financial, decision making, strategic planning, and managerial operations of today’s most dynamic organizations. Entrepreneurs generally must complete studies within a four year bachelor degree program (or higher) in a business based discipline to qualify for employment though some never earn a college degree. Entrepreneurs have salaries based largely upon the nature of their business and generally earn as little as $10,000 to more than $1 million annually.

2. Chief Executive Officer

Chief Executive Officers are the top executives within companies, corporations, organizations, and other agencies. CEOs often report to a board of directors and oversee the daily operations of an organization. CEOs handle the marketing, strategizing, and financing aspects of businesses as well as delegating responsibility, hiring and terminating staff, maintaining safety compliance, and managing public relations.

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Most CEOs possess a Master of Business Administration degree to gain the qualifications necessary to perform as leaders in the business industry. Earnings for CEOs range from $62,900 to $137,020 annually.

3. Marketing Managers

The Top 10 Highest Paying Jobs in Business

Marketing Managers are responsible for planning, estimating, organizing, and promoting businesses based upon customer, competitor, and company analysis. Marketing managers assess and determine the demand for an organization’s products and services and develop ways of increasing profits, investments, and shares.

Marketing managers utilize a number of advertising and public relations techniques to promote sales and maximize a businesses present and potential. Marketing managers primarily must have a minimum of a bachelor degree in marketing, public relations, or a related field to gain the specialized skills and knowledge necessary to establish careers. Marketing managers earn yearly salaries of $80,900 to $151,260.

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4. Personal Financial Advisors

Personal Financial Advisors offer short and long term means of managing monetary investments to clients. Personal financial advisors provide clients with means of maximizing their financial objectives in investments, pensions, retirement savings, and insurance coverages as well as means of minimizing and managing debt. Personal financial advisors also offer knowledge of State and Federal taxes to clients. Personal financial advisors complete a bachelor degree in economics, business, finance, accounting, mathematics, or law to secure the educational basis necessary for career success though many complete graduate degrees. Earnings for personal financial advisors generally earn $46,390 to $119,290 annually.

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5. Agents and Business Managers

Performers, artists, and athletes hire agents and business managers to represent them and market their abilities to potential employers. Agents and business managers manage contract negotiations, strategically plan career goals, research industrial trends, assist with financial planning and act as liaisons between clients and employers scheduling performances, events, auditions, travel, and interviews. Agents and business managers frequently complete studies within a bachelor or master degree program in business administration combined with a concentration in marketing to advance to their careers as professionals. Agents and business managers have annual earnings of $39,770 to $113,580.

6. Human Resources Managers

The Top 10 Highest Paying Jobs in Business

Human Resources Managers are responsible for cultivating, training, retaining, and compensating human talent. Human resources managers offer strategic planning to improve productivity and the overall efficiency of an organization. Human resources managers also attract, motivate, instruct and improve the morale of an organization’s most valuable resources: its employees.

Many human resources managers also specialize in handling employee benefit programs, incentive programs, and attendance issues. Human resource managers complete Masters of Business Administration in Human Resources to advance to positions with salaries of $73,480 to $126,050 yearly.

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7. Sales Managers

Sales Managers are professionals who oversee a staff of sales representatives, research sales statistics, devise means of cultivating sales potential, and develop means of improving means an organization’s sales. Sales managers work closely with dealers and distributors to monitor sales performance, gain insight into sales potential, and cultivate knowledge of customer preference to assure maximized profits and assist in the development of products. Sales managers generally obtain a minimum of an associate’s degree in business administration or marketing to gain the knowledge and skills required for employment though many employers prefer candidates with a bachelor’s or master’s degree. Earnings for sales managers range from $54,560 to $125,130 annually.

8. Actuary

Actuaries combine intensive research with extensive knowledge statistics, mathematics, economics, and other forecasting modeling systems to act as essentially the risk assessors of the insurance industry. As highly trained professionals with a minimum of a bachelor degree in mathematics, business administration, finance, or economics, actuaries determine the likelihood of disability, illness, property loss, death, and other events to forecast the potential losses and impact these events will have on companies. Earnings for actuaries range from $60,020 to $119,110 annually.

9. Financial Examiners

The Top 10 Highest Paying Jobs in Business

Financial examiners ensure that companies comply with financial, investment, and real estate laws and regulations in all business transactions. Financial examiners ensure authenticity and accuracy of records while maintaining the legalities involved in all business activities and operations. Financial examiners also assist and develop means of upholding new laws, proposals, policies and procedures.

Financial examiners perform internal and external audits ensure financial solvency, offer supervisory and managerial support, and review and train subordinates. A bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or business administration provides the educational foundation required to establish a career as a financial examiner. Financial examiners have earnings of $55,200 to $102,820 annually.

10. Management Analysts

Management Analysts assess and determine the best means of restructuring organizations to maximize efficiency, investments, and profits. Management analysts are considered the problem solvers of the business industry and devise ways to assist companies in remaining competitive. Management analysts also offer specialized guidance to decrease costs, increase operations, and develop marketing plans. A bachelor’s or master’s degree in business administration offers individuals the refined knowledge necessary to work as management analysts. Management analysts advance to employment earning salaries of $54,890 to $99,700 yearly.

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