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Incredible salaries you can aim for: The highest paying jobs in the finance and sales industries

Incredible salaries you can aim for: The highest paying jobs in the finance and sales industries

If you're looking for a job with compelling purpose, great satisfaction, and exceptional rewards—if you want the story of your career to be one of the all-time great success stories—then you're ready to set your sights on the biggest and best industries with the biggest and best jobs. Two of the highest-paying industries today are the finance and sales industries. If you want to aim for the best in life, the highest-paying finance jobs and the highest-paying sales jobs are going to allow you to do much more than simply make a comfortable living. Setting your sights on the most valued jobs in these industries will be highly rewarding. And in the finance and sales industries, there's a good chance you'll be able to get to the desirable jobs faster than the highest-paying jobs in other industries.

“If you want to aim for the best in life, the highest paying finance jobs and the highest paying sales jobs are going to allow you to do much more than simply make a comfortable living. Setting your sights on the most valued jobs in these industries is going to be extremely rewarding.”

Let's take a look at the highest-paying jobs in the finance and sales industries and the salary ranges and basic responsibilities these jobs involve. The following salary data is based on the median U.S. salary ranges suggested by Salary.com, but you should remember that as good as they already look, the right combination of degrees, certifications, experience, and location can allow you to greatly exceed these ranges.

Highest-paying jobs in the finance industry

When you have a knack for understanding how money works, you have a talent that many other people lack, even though money is an important part of everyone's life. And because money is part of everyone's life, there's a great need for people who are talented in finance. In the finance industry, you can turn your talent into a profitable career helping others make the most of their money while making the most of your own. Here are some of the highest-paying finance jobs you can pursue:

Tax director

If it's even remotely true that the only sure things in life are death and taxes, then the specialized expertise of tax directors is one of the most needed jobs in finance. As a tax director, you'll plan and oversee an organization's strategic tax policies and objectives, as well as ensure annual tax accuracy and compliance. It's a big responsibility that comes with a big salary.

  • Requirements: Tax directors need at least a bachelor's degree in accounting and often begin as certified public accountants.
  • Median salary range: $167,000 to $213,000

Hedge fund manager

Hedge funds are collections of money that come from multiple investors who expect big returns on their investments. When you become a hedge fund manager, you'll be trusted with making all the right moves with the fund, which involves developing investment strategies, raising capital, creating marketing plans, and assessing and minimizing risk.

  • Requirements: Most hedge fund managers earn a graduate degree in finance, business, or statistics, and some have a chartered financial analyst (CFA) certification.
  • Median salary range: $118,000 to $159,000

Private equity associate

A private equity associate looks for financial opportunities with struggling private companies. As a private equity associate, you'll evaluate private companies, determine which to acquire, improve their business models and management, and then sell them for a substantial profit.

  • Requirements: Private equity associates have a finance-related bachelor's degree, fundraising skills, and often have experience as an investment banking analyst.
  • Median salary range: $88,000 to $118,000

Financial risk manager

No one wants to take bad risks with their money, which makes experts in financial risk important for companies that regularly invest. As a financial risk manager, you'll develop long-term financial plans and guide investment activities for the corporation you work for.

  • Requirements: Financial risk managers have a finance-related bachelor's or graduate degree and CFA, certified management accountant, or certified public accountant certification; they also often have experience as a financial analyst, accountant, or securities agent.
  • Median salary range: $ 90,000 to $117,000

Economist

Having the economic vision to see where things are headed is a highly valued skill in the finance industry, and that kind of foresight is exactly what you'll develop as an economist. Choosing to be an economist will have you researching and analyzing financial trends and data, addressing large- and small-scale financial issues, and making predictions about the financial climate.

  • Requirements: Economists need a finance-related bachelor's degree and often have a master's degree in economics.
  • Median salary range: $78,000 to $106,000

Highest-paying jobs in the sales industry

If you're good at helping others see what they need, you could have a bright future in the sales industry. Sales have been the backbone of commerce since humans first began dealing with the laws of supply and demand—basically, since the dawn of civilization. This essential part of our economic health represents an opportunity to pursue an extremely rewarding career in sales. Here are some of the highest-paying sales jobs in the industry:

Sales engineer

Being able to help people understand extremely sophisticated technological and scientific products is a special skill that's becoming more important as our world advances in technology. As a sales engineer, you'll develop an expert level of knowledge about advanced systems or products and communicate their benefits in your own unique and compelling way. 

  • Requirements: Usually, a bachelor's degree in engineering and certified systems engineer certification.
  • Median salary range: $142,000 to $179,000

Major gifts officer

If you find selling an organization or its mission much more appealing than selling a product, becoming a major gifts officer may be the ideal sales career choice for you. As a major gifts officer, you'll work with non-government organizations and non-profit organizations to form strategic partnerships, secure funding, and maintain relationships with donors.

  • Requirements: Bachelor's degree in finance or public relations.
  • Median salary range: $91,000 to $129,000

Realtor

A realtor is a licensed real estate agent who follows the high standards of the National Association of Realtors. As a realtor, you'll help clients manage the process of buying, selling, and leasing private and commercial property with your knowledge of property values, marketing, and state sales procedures.

  • Requirements: State and national licenses and membership with the National Association of Realtors.
  • Median salary range: $82,000 to $127,000

Software sales representative

Like engineering, selling sophisticated software products and services can often require an advanced level of technological expertise. As a software sales representative in this ever-expanding field, you'll have an intimate understanding of the purpose and use of your software product, and you'll be familiar with the design and technology that went into its development.

  • Requirements: A technology-related bachelor's degree is preferred.
  • Median salary range: $78,000 to $117,000

Enterprise sales executive

In the business-to-business world, enterprise accounts are usually large-scale accounts that require a special level of knowledge and attention. As an enterprise sales executive, you'll be responsible for identifying large-scale business opportunities and developing pricing strategies with customers, including creating proposals, presentations, and contracts.

  • Requirements: Bachelor's or master's degree in business administration or marketing and National Association of Safety Professionals certification are helpful.
  • Median salary range: $82,000 to $102,000

Starting down the right path is critical to reaching the most rewarding jobs, and hopefully, you now have a good view of the potential of these job paths in these highly rewarding industries. To stay on top of the latest news about these industries and others, sign up for email alerts from CareerBuilder.com. We'd love to keep you informed about what's going on. After all, we're here to help you write your own great success story.

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