16 Jobs That Pay Less Than You Think

By Max Nisen

Prestigious work that requires loads of education doesn't always land you a fat salary.

In fact, some of the most highly respected professions out there - ones that take years of schooling and help create essential medical products, towering skyscrapers, and academic breakthroughs - don't pay nearly as much as you might imagine.

That's especially true when you realize that computer engineers headed to the Bay Area can earn six figures right out of college, and that surgeons earn an average of $358,000.