Top 5 Overpaid Jobs in America

Whether you're looking to use your unique skills to earn as much money as possible, or you're just angry that some people earn outrageous salaries, you should know about some of the high-paying jobs in America.

#1: CEO

Pay: $14.1 million

CEOs who work for one of the country's top 350 firms can expect to earn about $14.1 million, including money from stock options.

It hasn't always been this way. CEOs have always earned high salaries, but recent trends have made them extraordinarily wealthy. Consider that between 1978 and 2012 CEO compensation increased by about 875 percent.

In 1965, CEOs earned 18.3 times more than the typical employee. Conversely, in 2012, that number jumped to 202.3.

No other job has seen that kind of growth.

#2: Meteorologist

Pay: $360,000 in top markets

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Atmospheric scientists, which includes meteorologists, get paid nearly $90,000 a year. That seems like a fair salary for scientists who've earned PhDs and do the kind of work that could help humanity avoid climate change.

But meteorologists don't do those things. They're more like TV personalities than scientists. Despite this, they get paid much more than those working in hard sciences. Chief meteorologists working in a top ten TV market earned about $360,000 in 2012. Even those in the 31 to 40 markets earned almost $200,000.

That's a pretty good salary for someone who only guesses the weather correctly about 73 percent of the time. Imagine what would happen to a doctor who messed up 27 percent of the time. She wouldn't keep her job for very long. But meteorologists have set the bar low enough that they get praised for telling people about the weather taking place right outside their windows.

#3: Petroleum Engineers

Pay: $138,900

Petroleum engineers can work in practically any area of the petroleum industry. Some of them extract oil; some design pipelines; some oversee safety standards.

For this work, they earn about $138,900. Now, that's a lot of money, but it's nothing compared to what a CEO can earn. Consider, though, that many petroleum engineers start their careers with only four years of experience. That means an engineer can start earning major money right out of undergraduate school. At least the CEO probably spent a couple of years in business school. 

#4: Patent Attorneys

Pay: $170,000

Patent attorneys are some of the best-compensated lawyers in the US. Making $170,000 might sound fairly reasonable considering that these lawyers protect the intellectual property rights of individuals and businesses. They could do a lot of good work that protects creative people from losing a lot of money to unscrupulous competitors.

A lot of patent attorneys, however, aren't doing this kind of productive work. Many of them are overpaid because they're actually making it harder for companies to develop and profit from new ideas. A company named Personal Audio has even hired patent attorneys to sue some of the world's most popular podcasters, claiming that podcast technology steals from an earlier patented idea.

That idea: cassette tape recordings of magazine articles. If you have a hard time seeing the connection between cassette tapes and podcasts, then you've just realized why so many people think that patent attorneys are overpaid.

#5: Data Scientists

Pay: $133,000

Data scientists usually have advanced degrees in mathematics and computer science. Given how much education they need, $133,000 might not seem like too much money.

Consider what most data scientists actually do and how it affects your life before you decide that they get justly compensated.

Data scientists often work with huge amounts of information that they take from websites, apps, and other types of technology. Some scientists use their skills to predict earthquakes and improve technology. Those professionals deserve high salaries.

Unfortunately, a lot of people in this field just mine data so they can target you for advertisements or sell your "private" information to companies that want to know more about your habits.

The ability to invade privacy, organize information, and sell it to companies that make life (and the Internet) worse shouldn't mean that these people earn more than $100,000 a year. If the world got to vote, data scientists would probably earn some of the world's lowest salaries.

What other overpaid jobs can you think of? Do you plan to pursue a career in one of these areas?

Want To Grow In Your Career? 5 Ideas That Will Get You Noticed

Even if you believe you're completely secure at your current job level, know that job promotions and salary increases don't grown on trees. If you want to grow in your career, here are five ideas that will get you noticed and on the road to a higher job title and the higher income that goes with it.

Go Beyond your Current Job Performance

Make sure you know exactly what your particular career description entails in all of its duties and functions. Compare it to what you have been accomplishing on a daily, weekly and quarterly basis. If sales figures or quotas are involved in your job, take that into account as well. Now make an effort to perform those tasks at 110% of your abilities at all times. Management and higher ups will be sure to notice your dedication.

Knowledge is King

Impressing upper management with your increased knowledge and education in your field, can make you a highly sought after team member. Advanced college degrees and certificates in most fields can now be granted by taking courses over the internet. An excellent form of web learning is the system at atrixware.com. Here you will find software tools for excellent e-learning design, delivery and development strategies. Online courses can be customized to meet your needs for best results and understanding.

Take on Additional Duties and Responsibilities

Be proactive in your approach to job requirements and leadership roles. Ask for an additional assignment or chair a committee or meeting without being asked. Volunteer to organize a holiday party, social event or community project.

Learn to Delegate Judiciously

While maintaining a heavier workload for yourself, be sure to learn the fine art of delegating items to fellow employees when necessary. Make sure you are fully bound to the project material so that other workers asked to help carry the burden do not feel exploited or taken advantage of.

Cordiality is the Key

A congenial and cordial tone is crucial to being liked and respected by fellow employees within your office or corporate environment. Show deference to those in management above your ranking, while showing respect to employees below your title or company stature.

An increasingly competitive job market could mean that a fork in the road or a wrong turn on the corporate highway can lead the most experienced employee astray. Especially at a time of corporate downsizing, each individual must make an effort to stand out amongst his or her company comrades.

Brionna Kennedy is native to the Pacific Northwest, growing up in Washington, then moving down to Oregon for college. She enjoys writing on fashion and business, but any subject will do, she loves to learn about new topics. When she isn't writing, she lives for the outdoors. Oregon has been the perfect setting to indulge her love of kayaking, rock climbing, and hiking.