Top-Paying Jobs in the Philippines

What are the top-paying jobs in the Philippines for the past 5 years? The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has the figures and "called on high school students, whether they intend to pursue technical or vocational or college education, to go for courses that the labor market demands." Choose courses that are in-demand, not necessarily popular or, using social networking jargon, "trending." These are the Top 10 High-Paying Jobs, based on a 2010 survey of DOLE's Bureau of Labor Employment Statistics (BLES):

1. Art Director - Median salary: P69,286 per month. Employed by the film industry, the Art Director usually requires a degree in Fine Arts or related courses. The Art Director obviously takes charge of the Art Department, which handles film sets and special effects.

2. Geologist - Median salary: P64,889 per month. Anyone who wishes to pursue this field must have a bachelor's degree in Geology. The geologist conducts field surveys and prepares reports in the exploration of oil, gas, gold, mineral deposits and other natural resources.

3. Aircraft Pilot, Navigator and Flight Engineer - Median salary: P57,789 per month. A degree in Bachelor of Science in Aviation is required. A description of these jobs is hardly needed.

4. Mining Engineer and Metallurgical Engineer - Median salary: P55,638 per month. Qualifications include a degree in Mining Engineering, Metallurgical Engineering, Geology or related courses. They are employed in mining companies or businesses that deal with iron, steel and similar materials.

5. Computer Programmer - Median salary: P43,573 per month. A degree in Computer Science is needed for software programmers.

6. Systems Analyst and Designer - Median salary: P42,112 per month. Related courses include a bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Science, Information Techonology or Management Information Systems.

7. Production Supervisor and General Foreman - Median salary: P36,133 per month. Employed in construction and manufacturing industries, a General Foreman or Production Supervisor does not always hold a college degree, although it's a definite advantage. Of course, these jobs require years of experience.

8. Actuarian - Median salary: P35,480 per month. Requiremens include degrees in Mathematics, Statistics, Economics, Business and Finance. Work involves the evaluation of "risks and uncertainties," and provide expert advice on the assessment of financial impact of those risks.

9. Call Center Representative / Customer Service Associate - Median salary: P35,424 per month. Certain companies require two years of college education.

10. Statistician - Median salary: P35,010 per month. Requires a bachelor's degree in Statistics and Mathematics.

This is the official list from a government agency, although, it's highly possible that you may be aware of other jobs that actually pay higher. [See also Employ Yourself: Choosing a College Course]