Quickest career paths for earning $1 million

Think you need to be a doctor or a lawyer to make $1 million? Think again. A wide variety of jobs can put you on track to becoming a millionaire. Here’s a look at nine jobs in which you can amass $1 million in gross earnings in about a decade. All pay data and comparisons provided by online salary database PayScale.com. Pay is based on total cash compensation, which includes base annual salary or hourly wage, bonuses, profit sharing, tips, commissions, and other forms of cash earnings. — By Jen Hubley Luckwaldt, PayScale.com

Nurse anesthetist Nurse anesthetists assess patients prior to surgery, administer and adjust anesthesia, and then monitor patients during recovery. Median pay with 15 years’ experience: $149,000 Typical degree: Master’s Years to $1 million: 8 Find nurse anesthetist jobs.

Petroleum engineer Petroleum engineers oversee oil and gas drilling operations to maximize efficiency and profits. Median pay with 15 years’ experience: $137,000 Typical degree: Bachelor’s Years to $1 million: 11 Find petroleum engineer jobs.

Database architect Even moderate-sized companies have large amounts of data. Database architects help organize this data by implementing and managing data architectures. Median pay with 15 years’ experience: $110,000 Typical degree: Bachelor’s Years to $1 million: 11 Find database architect jobs.

Actuary Typically working for insurance companies, actuaries analyze statistical data to forecast risk and liability. Median pay with 15 years’ experience: $125,000 Typical degree: Bachelor’s Years to $1 Million: 12 Find actuary jobs.

Strategy consultant These business experts review a company’s business strategy, including plans for growth and product changes, and then make recommendations for improvements. Median pay with 15 years’ experience: $115,000 Typical degree: MBA Years to $1 million: 12 Find strategy consultant jobs.

Pharmaceutical sales representative These sales reps work on behalf of pharmaceutical companies to market products to doctors. Median pay with 15 years’ experience: $114,000 Typical degree: Bachelor’s Years to $1 million: 12 Find pharmaceutical sales jobs.

Semiconductor engineer Without these engineers, we’d have no semiconductors. Without semiconductors, we wouldn’t have computers, smartphones, or MP3 players. Median pay with 15 years’ experience: $113,000 Typical degree: Bachelor’s Years to $1 million: 12 Find semiconductor engineer jobs.

Medical perfusionist Medical perfusionists run heart-lung bypass machines during surgery and monitor patients’ condition during surgery. Median pay with 15 years’ experience: $102,000 Typical degree: Master’s Years to $1 million: 12 Find medical perfusionist jobs.

Landman A landman works for an oil or gas company, negotiating the purchase of land or mineral rights for exploration and drilling. Median pay with 15 years’ experience: $119,000 Typical degree level: Variable Years to $1 million: 13 See landman jobs.