Many financially rewarding careers are available to women.
Women who want to make the most money out of their careers have a variety of options to select; all require additional schooling and training that often takes many more years than the standard bachelor's degree. High-powered careers often come with large responsibilities such as planning for a company's financial future, helping patients manage or overcome debilitating diseases or navigating the confusing legal system. Women who train and study for these careers may receive higher annual salaries compared to the average income of other professions.
Lawyer
According to the United States Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics, an average salary of a lawyer is approximately $110,590 per year. Attorneys may specialize in a variety of fields, including labor, children, family, elder care, bankruptcy and environmental law. Women who wish to achieve a position in a legal field must commit to four years of undergraduate study, three years at a law school, and then pass the bar exam. The most financially successful lawyers become partners in their firms (meaning they own part of it) or go into business for themselves.
The American Bar Marketing Association calculates that in the year 2009, women made up 31 percent of people in the legal profession (only 15 percent of Fortune 500 companies' counsel were women). The organization's survey results showed that women averaged about 81 percent of the salaries of men on a similar job path.
Surgeon
In 2008, the United States Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics cited that the average salary for a surgeon fell between $186,044 (primary care) and $339,738 (specialties). Surgeons spend one of the longest careers in education of all the professions in the working world--four years of undergraduate study, four years of medical school and between three to eight years as a resident on staff at a hospital or surgery practice. Surgeons may specialize (though it is not necessary) in areas such as the musculoskeletal system, otolaryngology, plastic surgery, and neurological surgery.
The Association of Women Surgeons currently claims 1,700 woman surgeon members, including representation on the American College of Surgeons and American Journal of Surgery.
Investment Personnel
The United States Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the average hourly rate of an investment manager as $73, which averages to $2,920 per week (without factoring in overtime, bonuses or commissions) and $151,840 per year. Investment personnel deal with a range of financial areas, including securities, bonds, stocks, commodities and investments. Individuals work at brokerage, investment advisory, portfolio management and exchange firms and put in long, non-traditional hours. Firms may require the person to be licensed by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority and to have attained, at a minimum, a bachelor's degree in business, finance or accounting.
According to the Mergis Group, 20 percent of financial advisers and investment personnel at Fortune 500 companies are female. Thirty-five percent of Fortune 500 chief financial officers are women.
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