Highest paying jobs in the medical field

There's a reason parents dream their kids will grow up to be doctors - the profession consistently tops "highest paid" lists, medically geared or not, in addition to being relatively recession-proof as health care is always a necessity.

Doctors are at the heart of the health care system, and as such they dominate our list of the top 10 highest paying medical jobs. Salaries vary widely based on location, years of experience, and other factors - but when it comes to maximum earning potential, * not all specialties are created equal.

1. Surgeon

Salary: $71, 462-$516, 641

Surgeons specialize in operating on patients in order to cure, repair, or remove disease or injury. Because the human body is so complex surgeons often specialize and become an expert on specific body parts or regions. Cardiac and neurosurgeons are the highest paid of all surgeon specialties, followed closely by oral surgeons and then trauma and general surgeons.

2. Anesthesiologist

Salary: $99, 156-$362, 422

Anesthesiologists are doctors who specialize in the pain management of surgical patients. They examine patients and determine what type and how much anesthesia to administer, as well as actually administering the anesthesia, monitoring its efficacy, and making adjustments as needed during surgical procedures.

3. Obstetrician/Gynecologist

Salary: $60, 281-$271, 033

Obstetricians specialize in women's health, specifically the treatment and diagnosis of issues related to the female reproductive system. Gynecologists focus even more tightly on pregnancy and childbirth. The professions often overlap and OB/GYNs can choose to specialize in areas such as fertility, cancer, or primary care.