After analyzing job meaning for 453 jobs from the Occupational Information Network (O*NET), Payscale then examined median pay, job satisfaction, job stress, and typical education level for each occupation, and compiled its second annual list of the Most and Least Meaningful Jobs in America.

 

Katie Bardaro, Payscale's lead economist, says workers in these meaningful jobs are "typically driven by an interest to better society and by philanthropic initiatives, rather than purely money or subject matter interest." We sifted through Payscale's list and found the 15 most meaningful jobs with an average annual pay of $70,000 or more.

 

No. 15: Nuclear Medicine Technologists

Median pay: $70,400

81% of employees say this job is meaningful. 

78% of employees say this job is highly satisfying. 

60% of employees say this job is stressful.

 

No. 14: Physician Assistants

Median pay: $88,200

83% of employees say this job is meaningful. 

80% of employees say this job is highly satisfying. 

73% of employees say this job is stressful.

 

No. 13: Managers of Police and Detectives

Median pay: $70,600

84% of employees say this job is meaningful. 

81% of employees say this job is highly satisfying. 

86% of employees say this job is stressful.

 

No. 12: Medical and Health Services Managers

Median pay: $70,500

85% of employees say this job is meaningful. 

82% of employees say this job is highly satisfying. 

82% of employees say this job is stressful.

 

No. 11: Pediatricians

Median pay: $147,700

85% of employees say this job is meaningful. 

80% of employees say this job is highly satisfying. 

63% of employees say this job is stressful

 

No. 10: Family and General Practitioners

Median pay: $164,300

86% of employees say this job is meaningful. 

76% of employees say this job is highly satisfying. 

70% of employees say this job is stressful.

 

No. 9: Dentists

Median pay: $130,000

86% of employees say this job is meaningful. 

84% of employees say this job is highly satisfying. 

64% of employees say this job is stressful.

 

No. 8: Optometrists

86% of employees say this job is meaningful. 

77% of employees say this job is highly satisfying. 

52% of employees say this job is stressful.

 

No. 7: Veterinarians

Median pay: $70,800

88% of employees say this job is meaningful. 

74% of employees say this job is highly satisfying. 

73% of employees say this job is stressful.

 

No. 6: Podiatrists

Median pay: $111,400

89% of employees say this job is meaningful. 

78% of employees say this job is highly satisfying. 

74% of employees say this job is stressful

 

No. 5: Psychiatrists

Median pay: $192,800

89% of employees say this job is meaningful. 

74% of employees say this job is highly satisfying. 

71% of employees say this job is stressful.

 

No. 4: Physical Therapists

Median pay: $72,800

90% of employees say this job is meaningful. 

82% of employees say this job is highly satisfying. 

56% of employees say this job is stressful.

 

No. 3: Anesthesiologists

Median pay: $291,300

91% of employees say this job is meaningful. 

78% of employees say this job is highly satisfying. 

79% of employees say this job is stressful.

 

No. 2: Elementary/Secondary Education Administrators

Median pay: $75,900

93% of employees say this job is meaningful. 

87% of employees say this job is highly satisfying. 

85% of employees say this job is stressful.

 

No. 1: Surgeons

Median pay: $299,600

94% of employees say this job is meaningful. 

82% of employees say this job is highly satisfying. 

79% of employees say this job is stressful.

 

Article Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/highest-paying-meaningful-jobs-2014-6?op=1#ixzz39jECRZKJ