Dentists

Average salaries: $151,630 (general dentists); $165,500 (oral surgeons). Dentists with their own practices usually have higher incomes than salaried ones.

Demand: Good. More older people have kept their teeth than in previous generations, and now need complicated dental work. Dental health concerns, insurance, new technologies, and cosmetic dentistry all contribute to growth.

Qualifications: Bachelor's degree, followed by four-year dental school; licensure. Specialists require additional training.