If you're looking for a career that will pay the big bucks, you definitely want to look into these high-paying Houston nurse jobs and medical professions.

During 2007, seven of the top 10 highest-paying occupations in the Houston area were in the healthcare industry, and those jobs paid anywhere from $147,656 per year to $189,531 per year. Aside from paying an extremely high wage, most of these occupations also are expected to grow in the coming years.

All of these jobs necessitate some form of post-secondary training and will most likely require you to work some long hours, but if you're more concerned with high pay than a ton of free time, these jobs are the best of the best. Employers also may ask you to undergo a Texas background check (Click here).

According to the Texas Workforce Commission, the seven occupations include:

1. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons - Earn an average of $189,531 per year; Requires a professional degree; Employment to remain at 100 workers through 2016.
2. Surgeons - Earn an average of $179,293 per year; Requires a professional degree; Employment to grow by 37.5 percent by 2016.
3. Obstetricians and gynecologists - Earn an average of $152,606 per year; Requires a professional degree; Employment to grow by 57.1 percent by 2016.
4. General dentists - Earn an average of $151,852 per year; Requires a professional degree; Employment to grow by 20 percent by 2016.
5. General internists - Earn an average of $149,564 per year; Requires a professional degree; Employment to grow by 38.5 percent by 2016.
6. All other health diagnosing and treating practitioners - Earn an average of $147,675 per year; Requires a bachelor's degree; Employment to grow by 46.7 percent by 2016.
7. Anesthesiologists - Earn an average of $147,656 per year; Requires a professional degree; Employment to grow by 47.6 percent by 2016.