To be successful in life, one must have the right career that matches their interests and skills. Choosing the right job is an important decision and will directly affect your future financial status as well as your happiness and satisfaction.

For the most part, the highest-paying jobs in the world require higher education and many years of work. However, there are some exceptions.

1. Chief Information Security Officer

A Chief Information Security Officer, or CISO, is one of the hottest jobs in IT and C-level management. In a world where rampant cyber crime is costing companies millions of dollars, CISOs are essential guardians of digital assets and data systems.

CISOs are responsible for protecting all aspects of their company’s assets, including physical and virtual infrastructure, network access, employee and vendor information, and more. Their responsibilities also include conducting research and collaboration with state and federal law enforcement officials to share information about known threats, and report security breaches as necessary.

Based on recent job postings on ZipRecruiter, the average annual salary for a Chief Information Security Officer is $166,434 in Chicago, IL and the surrounding area. This is 38% more than the national average.

2. Chief Technology Officer

A Chief Technology Officer oversees all of a company’s technological infrastructure. They are responsible for ensuring that systems like ERP, CRM and other business IT systems support a company’s long-term goals.

They also ensure that the company stays on top of technology trends and developments in their industry. This enables them to keep the company’s current software and hardware up to date and ready for future growth.

CTOs typically report to the CEO of a company and select software and technologies that support their organization’s long-term goals. This involves reviewing new technologies and determining whether they can support the company’s business needs.

3. Chief Financial Officer

The chief financial officer has the highest salary of all the top executive positions. This is due to the level of responsibility involved, and the role typically plays a critical part in the overall company strategy.

CFOs oversee all accounting and finance functions, including budgeting, treasury, credit, tax and insurance. They ensure that these operations support the business goals and are in line with legal and regulatory requirements.

This position requires a strong understanding of the industry, as well as experience in financial management. They also need leadership, analytical and communication skills.

4. Chief Executive Officer

The CEO is the highest paid position in most companies, and for good reason. They are responsible for setting the company’s vision and creating a strategy to achieve it.

CEOs can also make decisions regarding recruitment and human resources. This involves creating a hiring and firing policy, identifying and evaluating candidates for various positions, and developing training and education programs.

They also develop and implement business strategies to increase profitability, improve share prices, and expand the company. This is a highly demanding job that requires excellent leadership, decision-making, and managerial skills.

5. Chief Medical Officer

The Chief Medical Officer is one of the highest-paid positions in the health industry. They have the responsibility to oversee the effective management of a medical center and ensure that patients receive the best possible treatment.

They also act as liaisons between administration and physicians, communicating policy directives and sharing their clinical perspectives with the administration.

CMOs can earn a high salary of over half a million dollars a year, depending on their experience. In addition, they have excellent benefits and performance bonuses.

Although only healthcare organizations and pharmaceutical companies hired CMOs until recently, businesses across various industries like tech companies, consumer-facing companies, food-production, and hospitality have started hiring them as in-house experts. This is mainly due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has challenged business leaders to sift through mountains of data and health regulations.