Top-Paying Jobs in Basic Industries (with Salary Estimates for 2025) – International Edition

Key sectors such as those involved in supplying raw materials play a crucial role because these resources form the foundation for manufacturing products ranging from food items to sources of energy and building structures. These foundational industries significantly contribute to enhancing a nation’s economy and fostering progress. When contemplating your future professional journey, exploring opportunities within these essential areas might be worthwhile. Could you specify which ones interest you?

The highest-paid positions within fundamental industries along with their estimated salaries

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Our compilation comes from My Great Learning and Nexford sources. Nonetheless, please keep in mind that individual salaries within fundamental sectors can differ between companies, even though we strive for accuracy in our data.

Top highest-paying positions in core industries

The highest paying positions within fundamental sectors provide rewarding and fulfilling career paths, making them an excellent professional option. As technology continues to advance, numerous individuals are opting for these roles; shouldn’t you join this upward trend as well?

Which businesses operate within the realm of basic industries? This sector boasts many job opportunities due to its extensive nature and various subdivisions. Below are some high-paying roles in this domain along with their responsibilities:

1. Petroleum industry

Petroleum engineers rank highly as some of the best-paid professionals in core industries. Their significant contribution lies in developing and implementing effective techniques for extracting oil and natural gas, thereby fulfilling global energy demands.

A petroleum engineer needs a bachelor’s degree in petroleum engineering or a similar discipline. For more specialized or senior positions, a master’s degree or Ph.D. may be required.

Which role within fundamental sector jobs offers the highest pay? Petroleum engineering stands out as one of the best-paid professions in this field, boasting an average annual salary of $107,450. These experts typically find employment at drilling firms and enterprises focused on oil and gas exploration.

2. Manager of an offshore drilling platform

An offshore rig manager is a seasoned and proficient specialist overseeing drilling activities on offshore platforms. These massive facilities are employed to extract natural gas and petroleum from beneath seas located away from shorelines.

The candidate needs a high school diploma along with significant experience in a structured maritime setting. The yearly compensation for an offshore drilling rig supervisor varies between $92,228 and $118,210. Key responsibilities of a rig supervisor include:

• Making sure the work-permit system and health-safety-environment management tools are applied properly.
• Hold pre-tour meetings with rig crew members.
• Collaborating with clients and transport staff for rig relocation.
• Overseeing the assembly and disassembly of equipment setups
• Coordinating rig crews.
• Addressing operational and staffing problems involving rig crews and contractors

3. Reservoir engineer

A reservoir engineer is a specialist within the oil and gas industry who primarily focuses on understanding and overseeing the operations of subsurface reservoirs holding oil, natural gas, or water.

A reservoir engineer needs expertise in applied mathematics, subsurface geology, as well as an understanding of the fundamental principles of chemistry and physics that dictate how vapor and liquid states of crude oil, natural gas, and water behave within reservoir rocks.

How much does a reservoir engineer earn at basic industry positions? On average, a reservoir engineer receives an annual salary of $123,968. These professionals typically find employment with consulting firms, oil and gas exploration businesses, research organizations, and governmental bodies.

The duties of a reservoir engineer include:

• Producing precise reserve calculations for utilization in financial statements
• Numerical reservoir modeling
• Production forecasting
• Well-testing and drilling
• Reservoir Fluid Analysis Using PVT Techniques
• Planning for field development and strategies for reservoir depletion

4. Chemical engineer

One of the fundamental sectors where chemical engineering plays a crucial role involves designing and managing chemical facilities along with enhancing manufacturing processes.

A chemical engineer typically applies the concepts from physics, mathematics, chemistry, and engineering to develop and refine processes for products that involve chemical substances and reactions.

A Bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering is typically required as an initial qualification for someone entering the field of chemical engineering. Chemical engineers can expect an annual salary of approximately $81,891. Essential responsibilities often encompass:

• Production, engineering, and management of facilities and equipment in the field of industrial chemistry.
• Creation of novel compounds for items like edibles, drinks, beauty supplies, cleansing agents, and medicinal components.
• Evolution of innovative technologies like fuel cells.

5. Refinery manager

A refinery manager serves as a high-ranking official responsible for supervising the functioning of an oil refinery. These facilities convert raw crude oil into various items including jet fuel, gasoline, diesel, medications, and others.

To become a refinery manager, you typically require a Bachelor’s degree in fields such as mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, or similar disciplines. Additionally, proficiency in areas like process engineering, design, problem-solving, efficiency enhancement, and various other facets of refining operations is essential.

In the United States, a typical refinery manager earns approximately $193,905 annually. These managers hold a crucial position within their roles as they:

• Make sure to adhere to both client-specific and governmental rules and guidelines.
• Perform various labor tasks across the facility, such as managing materials, conducting routine cleaning activities, and operating machinery.
• Get trucks and tank cars ready for loading, then connect and disconnect the flexible hoses.
• Maintain cleanliness, organization, and safety in your workspace.
• Carry out specific tasks when required or designated.
• Achieve a minimum annual target for acquiring new business accounts.
• Sell all applicable LOBs.

6. Geoscientist

A geoscientist investigates the physical phenomena of the Earth’s components and formations to comprehend its past, makeup, and the elements that mold it. Their areas of work include government agencies, mining operations, the petroleum sector, and engineering firms.

Geologists operate within the mining and energy industries, dedicated to discovering natural resources. Additionally, they lead efforts in mitigating damages caused by natural threats and catastrophes, as well as alerting the populace regarding potential occurrences of these incidents. Their expertise also plays a crucial role in conversations surrounding climate change discussions.

The typical annual income for a geologist is around $61,355. Becoming a geoscientist requires both specialized educational training and practical fieldwork experience. Typically, obtaining a bachelor’s degree is essential within this discipline to develop competencies in fields such as:

• Data analysis
• Remote sensing
• Geological mapping
• Geographic information system(GIS)
• Lab technique
• Numerical modeling

7. Specialist in health safety and environmental protection

This area combines various disciplines to focus on the implementation and study of environmental conservation strategies, with particular emphasis on ensuring public health and safety, particularly within companies and from an employment perspective.

To become an HSE specialist, you need a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, Engineering, Occupational Health and Safety, or a similar discipline. Certain roles may demand additional certifications like Certified Safety Professional (CSP) or Occupational Health and Safety Technician (OHST).

EHS managers recognize and comprehend the required environmental, health, and safety regulations. It is essential to convey these implications to the management team so that the organization can adopt suitable precautions.

The typical annual wage for an Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) specialist is $69,193. An EHS working group may concentrate on tasks such as:

• Sharing expertise concerning the health, safety, and environmental impacts of a substance.
• Advancement of positive work habits, including gathering materials after use for recycling purposes.

8. Data scientist

In today’s commercial environment, data reigns supreme, compelling all sectors to pursue competent data scientists. Even fundamental industries along with their various branches require data, thus intensifying the need for experts in this field.

For this role, you would need to examine and interpret data to facilitate top-tier business choices. Major companies in key sectors are currently hiring for data scientist positions. Securing one of these jobs will require your ability to manage extensive datasets efficiently.

You must possess impeccable programming and mathematical abilities. Proficiency in machine learning and data analysis is essential for this position as well. It ranks among the top-earning jobs in the field, offering an average annual salary of $125,677.

This position offers significant opportunities for advancement as it remains crucial over time. You have the potential to make considerable earnings in this role by continuously acquiring knowledge and enhancing your abilities.

9. Synthetic chemist

For this role, you will develop innovative chemical formulations, which are essential for various sectors like agriculture, medicine, and production. Part of your responsibilities will include verifying the purity of these compounds.

To secure this position, a chemistry degree is essential. Additionally, possessing robust research skills and an acute attention to detail will significantly aid your success as a synthetic chemist.

The compensation for this role is notably high. You might earn up to $83,712 per year in the U.S. The exact amount may vary based on your expertise, background, and credentials. It ranks among the top-earning positions within the core sectors.

10. Metallurgist

A metallurgist is someone who studies, produces, and enhances metallic products, which can include everything from automotive components to semiconductor materials. These professionals often find employment at consulting engineering businesses, mining and production enterprises, as well as governmental agencies and academic institutions.

To pursue a career as a metallurgist, one needs at least a bachelor’s degree in engineering or science; however, obtaining a master’s degree may be necessary for certain positions. This role demands extensive knowledge about metals. Additionally, creativity and strong analytical abilities are essential.

Responsibilities anticipated from a metallurgist include:

• Obtaining metals and minerals from their ores
• Creating procedures for extracting minerals and forming alloys.
• Guiding operators about production techniques and quality control processes.
• Performing micro-scale X-ray analysis on metals and alloy materials.
• Examining metals during their usage, documenting information, and providing insights into their effectiveness and limitations.
• Examining how metals react when they come into contact with radiation in nuclear settings.
• Overseeing a group of metallurgists and technicians.
• Creating budget plans and technical documents.

This position offers one of the highest salaries available. A metallurgist has the potential to make as much as $90,692 annually. However, keep in mind that your earnings could vary depending on your level of expertise and proficiency. Nonetheless, there’s significant opportunity for advancement within this role.

Wrapping up

The top careers in fundamental sectors offer all the necessary components, including stability and substantial compensation. Positions with the highest earnings within these core fields typically demand specific expertise and rigorous education yet can yield considerable monetary benefits. Such well-compensated roles play an indispensable role in sustaining our economic system by backing crucial areas like production, building, and farming.

Farovint.co.ke featured an article outlining the top-paying professions in Kenya along with their respective salary figures. With the expansion of Kenya’s economy, there is a significant increase in the requirement for well-trained professionals across sectors such as technology, finance, healthcare, and more.

Many individuals in Kenya aspire to secure the most lucrative jobs driven by their wish for financial stability, an improved quality of life, and the opportunity to achieve both personal ambitions and career objectives.