Many of us probably wanted to be doctors growing up, or at least played at doctors and patients. Even if we didn’t know very much about the profession or what kind of high-level of education was required to for it, the job still seemed exciting and well-respected. Of course, as we get older we come to know it's also one of the highest-paying careers in the world.

It's no surprise, then, that doctors are often glamorised through popular culture. Television shows like ER (once featuring hunk George Clooney), Grey’s Anatomy, and House have dominated the airwaves with dramatic story lines and over-the-top characters. Doctors always seem wonderfully heroic, rushing through emergency rooms to save a child’s life or as getting to the bottom of a medical mystery. In real life, there’s no question that they are intelligent, often brave, and almost certainly well off.

How rich? In comparison to most average careers, very.

According to Forbes Magazine and Becker’s Hospital Review, a doctor can make almost $1 million a year, depending on the medical field in which they specialise. While reading this article, it might be easy to start second-guessing your earlier career goals, or that rebellious phase you had as a youth when you did everything in your power to be nothing like your parents. Regardless of a doctor’s specialization, the profession still ranks as the highest paying in North America.

10. Dermatologist: $465,543

Rashes, burns, acne and diseases like cancer are the dermatologist’s domain. Other than skin, a dermatologist is also an expert in the treatment of hair, nails, and mucous membranes. After graduating from medical school, a student of dermatology must complete a 1 year internship and a 3 year medical residency program. Some continue their studies after a residency program in a fellowship, where, upon completion, they choose one area of dermatology in which to specialize and work in. Among the procedures performed by a dermatologist there are skin biopsies, cryotherapy and injection of special chemicals. In treating the skin, dermatologists earn an average salary of almost $500 thousand a year.

9. Anesthesiologist — Pain Management: $502,775

It’s the very important job of the anesthesiologist to make sure you don’t feel pain (or anything at all) when going under the knife. These doctors are are trained in the administration of medications that either dramatically reduce or eliminate the sensation of chronic pain. This may be needed during or after operations. In the case of chronic pain management, anesthesiologists may treat a patient for their back, major joint pain, and spinal stenosis. For people who experience pain with injuries or diseases over a lifetime, anesthesiologists are essential when working with physicians and surgeons that ensure a patient is as comfortable and functional as possible.