These Are The Most High-Paying Jobs In Every State

If your parents are suddenly pushing you to take "just a few pre-med courses, just in case" we may now know why — the U.S. News & World Report has released their rankings on the best paying jobs in every state for 2016, and they are all in the medical field. Using data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 100 jobs with best projected hiring demand were identified (sadly, none of them in the arts). These jobs were then given an overall ranking based on seven components important to all job-seekers considering a change of profession. The criteria included median salary, projected job prospects over the next 10 years, stress level, and that elusive thing called "work-life balance." Out of the 100 jobs analyzed, the two that topped the list for overall best occupation were dentist and orthodontist (so if you want the most money and the chillest life — you better like teeth).

Business Insider has broken down these findings even further into a helpful infographic, isolating the "best high-paying job in every state." The average annual salaries for these 10 lucrative positions range anywhere from $166,000 and $246,000 (*drool*). If you are studying to be an anesthesiologist in New York or an orthodontist in Texas then you made a well-calculated career move — and it's going to pay off big time!

Check out the map bellow, because why settle for the best job, when you can have the best job with the highest salary? Choose wisely, and you will be relaxing on your own personal yacht, piña colada in one hand, stroking your bengal tiger named "Percy" with the other, by the age of 50.

What makes being an Orthodontist so great? (Besides the magic power to align your teeth perfectly?) According to U.S. News & World Report, the career earned first place not only by having a baller salary and great job market, but below average stress and above average flexibility. While dentists had a considerably lower salary, the position also had high job satisfaction and above average flexibility. Computer systems analyst came in at number three, carrying a lower average salary, but similar benefits (though it doesn't make the top ten list for "best pay").

For the most part, jobs with a hefty salary, usually come with significantly more stress. Anesthesiologists have an average salary of $246,320 and plenty of room for career advancement, but there is very little flexibility and a significant amount of stress. This was the same case for healthcare professionals such as OB-GYNs and surgeons. However, according to Business Insider the medical field is where you want to be. "The healthcare sector is expected to grow rapidly over the next decade. As highly skilled doctors meet increased demands from an aging community of Baby Boomers, jobs for healthcare support workers will increase too."

Hmmmm, maybe taking those pre-med courses might not be such a bad idea after all.

Images: pixabay, Dylan Roach/Business Insider