Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/9brt9h/travel_and) has announced the addition of the "Travel and Tourism in Mexico to 2017" report to their offering.
Despite a decline in 2009 due to the financial crisis, the Mexican travel and tourism sector performed well during the review period (2008-2012). Inbound trips to Mexico recovered to register a CAGR of 0.52%, and outbound tourist volumes posted a CAGR of 1.09% during the same period. Promotional activities by the tourism authority, coupled with relatively stable economic conditions, were the key growth drivers. According to the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), tourism accounted for 12.5% of the nation's GDP and 13.9% of its total employment in 2012.
Key Highlights
- Mexico's unemployment rate eased from 5.5% in 2009 to 5% in 2012, suggesting a gradual improvement in the labor market. Declining labor costs brought about an increase in the total number of employed persons from 46.6 million in 2011 to 48.1 million in 2012, showing a growth of 3.3%. The unemployment rate is expected to average about 4.4% to 4.8% in the next five years.
- Mexico's North American neighbors play a major role in tourism activity within the country. Realizing their importance, the Mexican government is taking steps to increase the volume of tourists arriving from the US and Canada. In 2012, Mexico welcomed a total of 18.4 million inbound tourists from the US and 1.3 million from Canada.
- Capital investment in tourism increased from MXN209.3 billion (US$16.6 billion) in 2010 to MXN228.2 billion (US$17.3 billion) in 2012, due to government measures to promote tourism.
- Domestic tourism plays a vital role in Mexico's economy. In 2012, Mexico registered 200.4 million domestic trips, while the volume of outbound trips measured 194.4 million. Domestic trip flows are high compared to inbound trip volumes.
- There has been growth in aviation capacity in Mexico, especially in recent years. In August 2013 Aeromexico Airlines increased its fleet size by one Boeing 787-8 jet. The airline has also planned to add another 19 Boeing 787-8 jet by the end of 2019. In 2011-2012, Interjet and Volaris have each ordered more than 40 Airbus jets.
- Mexico's accommodation industry has evolved gradually over the last decade, with significant investments in the region resulting in the expansion of existing hotels and the opening of new ones. In July 2013, US-based wholesale vacation provider Apple Leisure Group announced plans to invest US$600 million in six tourist projects in Mexico. Other structural economic changes such as improvements in air and road infrastructure have also increased demand for hotels.
Companies Mentioned

• ABC Aerolíneas, SA de CV
• Accor Mexico
• Aeroenlaces Nacionales SA de CV
• Alamo Rent a Car Mexico
• Alquiladora de Vehiculos Automotores SA de CV
• American Express Company
• Andalemundo Tours SA de CV
• Anfitriones Nacionales
• Casanova Rent Volks, SA de CV
• Concesionaria Vuela Compañía de Aviación, SA de CV
• Grupo Aereo Monterrey SA de CV
• Grupo Aeromexico SAB de CV
• Grupo Empresarial Angeles, SA de CV
• Grupo Posadas, SAB de CV
• InterContinental Hotels (Mexico)
• La Casa del Viaje, SA de CV
• Royal Rent a Car SA de CV
• Thrifty Car Rental Mexico
• Viajes Excelsior
• Wyndham Mexico

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/9brt9h/travel_and

September 27, 2013 By: Newswire

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The Mexico Tourism Board is launching its new "Live It to Believe It" campaign in the U.S. and Canada following a launch party at the New York Museum of Natural History September 25.
The campaign powerfully showcases Mexico’s wide diversity, culture, nature, flavors, history, innovation and state of the art destinations. The campaign is aspirational and elegant, meant to evoke memories through visitors experiences.
RELATED STORY: Mexico Tourism Board Rolls Out “Live It to Believe It” Campaign With New York Event
Slated to air this month nationwide, the first ad combines Vallarta and Nayarit as one; show casing their respective assets, they create a grand destination that has it all.  In addition, the Mexico City ad features an exciting cosmopolitan, vibrant and modern city, with a strong sense of history.
Other destinations such as Yucatan, Los Cabos and Cancun-Riviera Maya will also be integrated into the first phase of the campaign.
RELATED STORY: Just Back From Mexico City
With an initial investment of 36 million dollars, the campaign incorporates all media platforms including public relations, with a strong emphasis on digital channels.
The event hosted more than 400 guests including travel agents, industry associations, hotel chains, tour operators and special guests, including: Mexico’s Secretary of Foreign Affairs, José Antonio Meade; Mexico’s Ambassador to the U.S., Eduardo Medina Mora, Mexico’s Undersecretary for North America, Sergio Alcocer, the Consul General of Mexico in New York, Sandra Fuentes-Beraín and Rodolfo López Negrete, CEO of the Mexico Tourism Board, among others.

September 26, 2013 By: Adam Leposa

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Travel Agent was on the scene last night at the launch party for the Mexico Tourism Board’s new “Live It to Believe It” marketing campaign for Riviera Nayarit and Puerto Vallarta. The presentation took place at the New York Museum of Natural History in the Hall of Ocean Life.
RELATED STORY: Mexico Launches Major Ad Campaign for Vallarta-Nayarit
The event began with a brief pause to remember the victims of the recent storms in Acapulco.
“We feel obliged to give back to this resort destination that has given so much to so many over the past six decades,” Mexico tourism officials said, noting that tourism officials have begun conversations with Tourism Cares for a program to help rebuild the destination.
After that Eduardo Medina-Mora, Mexico’s ambassador to the United States, to the stage to introduce the new marketing campaign.
“The real voyage of discovery does not consist of seeking new landscapes but seeing with new eyes,” Medina-Mora said, quoting Proust. “This campaign will transform the way we think of this destination.”
Then officials explained how the new marketing campaign was part of a five-point program aimed at increasing tourism to Mexico. Currently, tourism to Mexico is outpacing the world, with international air arrivals up 7.2 percent year-over-year as of the end of July, as compared to a gain of 5.2 percent globally. This increase includes gains in market share from the United States.
With the new campaign Mexico tourism officials plan to emphasize revenue over volume once more, increase market share in the United States, accelerate market diversification, pursue first-time visitors while retaining a high rate of repeat visits and diversify Mexico’s tourism offerings.
That theme of diversification and seeing Mexico with new eyes was reflected in the campaign’s two new TV spots, which we got to see next.
The first, for Vallarta-Nayarit, opens with the question “How can you explain the unexplainable?” and highlights both the natural beauty and luxury offerings of the destination.
The second TV spot, for Mexico City, focuses on encouraging repeat visitors. It opens with the remark, “The more I remember this place the more I want to go back,” and showcases both the historical offerings of Mexico City as well as its current status as an on-the-rise metropolis.
RELATED STORY: Just Back From Mexico City
Both TV spots are set to air next month. Mexico tourism officials are also in the midst of producing additional TV spots, the first of which will focus on the Yucatan. This campaign will also include a Times Square advertisement, ads on double-decker buses in major U.S. markets and $36 million spent across various media and PR platforms through the end of the year.

 http://www.travelagentcentral.com/mexico/mexico-tourism-board-rolls-out-live-it-believe-it-campaign-new-york-event-42736

Christine Delsol, Special to SFGate

Updated 8:52 pm, Tuesday, September 24, 2013

The world is becoming wealthier. According to a new report from The Boston Consulting Group, global wealth grew by about 8% in 2010 to $121.8 trillion. By the end of 2015 that amount is expected to increase to about $162 trillion. Despite this, most people will not see large increases in their personal fortunes anytime soon. This is because of the the gap between the rich and poor is increasing.
24/7 Wall St. looked at The Boston Consulting Group report "Shaping A New Tomorrow: How To Capitalize on the Momentum of Change" to identify the 10 nations with the highest total number of millionaire households. These countries were then compared to countries with the highest numbers of households with more than $100 million in AuM, as well as each country's GDP. The probable causes for individual financial success were also considered, including tax laws, industry and economic conditions.
The countries with the most millionaires have a number of things in common. They all have high GDPs, with only a few falling outside of the top ten for all nations. Most have also embraced market-driven economies. Each country also leads in at least one, and frequently multiple, industries in which successful entrepreneurs benefit.
While China and the United States both have among the greatest number of millionaire households, they have among the highest rates of income inequality, according to the United Nations. Millionaire households, or households with $1 million or more in total AuM (assets under management), represented just 0.9% of all households in 2010. These households own 39% of the total wealth, however. This is an increase from 37% in 2009. As wealth increases, the amount that is owned by millionaires increases dramatically.
This is 24/7 Wall St.'s countries with the most millionaires.
10. Hong Kong
> Millionaire Households: 200,000
> Ultra High Net Worth Households: 223
> GDP (millions of USD): 225,003 (N/A)
Hong Kong, although not technically a sovereign country, has a largely free market economy that relies on international trade and finance. It is home to HSBC and Hang Seng Bank, two of the largest Chinese banks. It is also home to Li Ka-shing, Forbes 11th richest man in the world, who works in a number of businesses through Hutchison Whampoa Limited and Cheung Kong Holdings. There is a flat 15% income tax and no capital gains tax or sales tax. Hong Kong also has the fourth highest concentration of millionaires, with 8.7% of all households having at least one million dollars. The island also has the third highest concentration of ultra-high-net-worth households, or those with $100 million or more.
9. France
> Millionaire Households: 210,000
> Ultra High Net Worth Households: 377
> GDP (millions of USD): 2,582,527 (5th highest)
France has the fifth highest GDP in the world and the ninth greatest number of millionaires. Over the last 15 years, a number of major French companies, such as Air France and France Telecom, have become either partly or totally privatized, giving rise to a new class of millionaires, like Stephane Richard, CEO of France Telecom. France has also alienated the wealthy in the past with policies such as the ISF tax, or wealth tax, which was passed in 1989 by Socialist president Francois Mitterand. The tax is an annual tax on French citizens with assets of more than roughly $1.1 million. Many politicians, including President Nicolas Sarkozy, have recently called for reform of the tax, saying that it drives wealthy individuals out of the country.
8. Italy
> Millionaire Households: 270,000
> Ultra High Net Worth Households: 494
> GDP (millions of USD): 2,055,114 (8th highest)
Italy's ranking for number of millionaires fell from 6th in 2009 to 8th in 2011. This is probably the result of the international financial crisis worsening economic conditions in the country. Unemployment alone has risen from 6.2% in 2007 to 8.4% as of March 2011, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Factors such as this can end up hurting even big earners. Regardless, the country is home to a large community of millionaires and billionaires. The Italian economy includes many companies which produce consumer goods such as automobiles, and textiles.
7. Taiwan
> Millionaire Households: 280,000
> Ultra High Net Worth Households: N/A
> GDP (millions of USD): 430,580 (24th highest)
Over the past decade, a number of large banks and financial institutions in Taiwan have been privatized. Taiwan is also known for its electronics and machinery industries, which generate approximately 70% of its GDP growth. Taiwan has begun to face a major wealth gap, however, with the average household income of the top 20% of earners being 6.34 times that of the bottom 20%. The government is considering passing a "luxury tax" to fight this which would be levied on investment housing transactions, private jets, and other luxury items, according to The Christian Science Monitor.
6. Switzerland
> Millionaire Households: 330,000
> Ultra High Net Worth Households: 352
> GDP (millions of USD): 523,772 (19th highest)
Switzerland has a highly developed services sector which benefits its economy greatly. Nearly 10% of households in the country have $1 million or more, more than double that of the United States. The country is a major center for financial services and is home to firms such as UBS, the world's second largest manager of private wealth assets. Other big employers include Novartis and Nestle. Switzerland has been an attractive destination for wealthy individuals, partly because foreigners did not need to declare their incomes or assets. In 2009, this rule was overturned. This may cause many millionaires, such as French singer Johnny Hallyday, who moved to Switzerland in 2006 to avoid French taxes, to leave the country.
5. Germany
> Millionaire Households: 400,000
> Ultra High Net Worth Households: 839
> GDP (millions of USD): 3,315,643 (4th highest)
Germany has the fifth largest economy in the world and the fifth largest number of millionaire households. The country is a leader in a number of major industries, producing large amounts of machinery, automobiles, chemicals, and more. Germany is home to Deutsche Bank, the world's largest foreign exchange dealer, as well as Siemens, the largest engineering conglomerate in Europe. Some of Germany's richest are tied to the automobile industry including BMW heiress Susanne Klatten and the Porsche family.
4. United Kingdom
> Millionaire Households: 570,000
> Ultra High Net Worth Households: 738
> GDP (millions of USD): 2,247,455 (6th highest)
Although the United Kingdom has large coal, gas, and oil resources, its main sources of GDP are services such as insurance, banking and business services. The number of millionaires increased dramatically after the Labour Party came into power in 1997 and enacted tax cuts, according to the Telegraph. The wealthy in the UK now range from Virgin CEO Richard Branson, to steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal, to Queen Elizabeth.
3. China
> Millionaire Households: 1,110,000
> Ultra High Net Worth Households: 393
> GDP (millions of USD): 5,878,257 (2nd highest)
Since the late 1970s, China has undergone a transformation from a largely centrally planned economy to one that is much more market-oriented. Many industries which were once government-controlled, such as oil, gas, and steel, have since been privatized to much success. As a result, its GDP has increased more than ten times what it was in 1978. The country is now an integral part of the world economy. As of 2010, China is the world's largest exporter. According to The Boston Consulting Group, wealth in China will grow at a compound annual rate of 18% between the end of 2010 and the end of 2015. Among the richest people in the country is Robin Li, co-founder and CEO of Baidu, China's most popular search engine. Li is currently estimated to have a fortune of about $9.4 billion.
2. Japan
> Millionaire Households: 1,530,000
> Ultra High Net Worth Households: N/A
> GDP (millions of USD): 5,458,872 (3rd highest)
Japan's economy relies on strong cooperation between government and private companies, largely connected through subsidies, and a strong work ethic that is a part of Japanese culture. Major industries in the country include consumer electronics, automobiles, computers, petrochemicals, iron and steel, and pharmaceuticals. Major companies such as Toyota, Honda, and Sony, ensure that the country's GDP remains high. Top earners in the country include retail magnate Tadashi Yanai, owner of Uniqlo and other brands, and Hiroshi Yamauchi, the man credited with turning Nintendo into the video game powerhouse it is today.
1. United States
> Millionaire Households: 5,220,000
> Ultra High Net Worth Households: 2,692
> GDP (millions of USD): 14,657,800 (highest)
The United States has by far the largest amount of millionaire households, as well as ultra-high-net-worth-households. The U.S. is home to the largest economy in the world — almost three times the size of China's, the next biggest. There is also a growing income gap in the country. In 2009, the top 20% of earners, or those making $100,000 or more a year, made half of all income generated in the country, according to the US Census. The bottom 20% made only 3.4%.
24/7 Wall St. is a USA TODAY content partner offering financial news and commentary. Its content is produced independently of USA TODAY.

 http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2013/09/15/countries-most-billionaires/2811571/

Mexico City, Sep 8 (EFE).- Russia's largest tour companies are looking at ways to promote Mexican destinations among Russian travelers, the Tourism Secretariat said.
Tourism Secretary Claudia Ruiz Massieu made progress during a tour of Russia in opening that market for Mexico, the secretariat said in a statement.
"As a result of Ruiz Massieu's work, air links were expanded and different tour operators expressed interest in putting products like Vallarta-Nayarit and other destinations on the market," the secretariat said.
Tour operator South Cross expressed interest in promoting products that include Puerto Vallarta and other Mexican Pacific destinations for the 2014-2015 winter season.

 

Tourist attractions in Mexican Cancun and the Maya Riviera play a key role because of their natural beauty as well as business potential. These factors have influenced a group of businessmen from Qatar who are willing to invest USD 100 million to develop tourism project there.
In that sense, Juan Pablo Mirabent Pizarro, former president of the Mexican Association of Real Estate Professionals (AMPI), reported that a few weeks ago, he traveled around Mexico with a group of investors from Qatar. He explained that, after inviting them to come to Quintana Roo and visit several places there, a portfolio of businesses was presented to them in which they may invest.
“We showed them hotel grounds in both destinations, as well as properties convenient to build luxury residential condominiums, shopping malls, and even hospitals. In the coming months, they will inform us about their decision,” he added.
The real estate professional said that Qatari businessmen are willing to invest at least USD 100 million in Mexican tourism projects because they saw the economic and business potential that they could develop in Cancun and the Maya Riviera.
He said that they did not know the place and they liked the idea of ​​having a presence in both locations. Since both places are well-known and popular around the Middle East, they are confident that the businessmen can fulfill the investment in the coming months.

http://www.tourism-review.com/qatari-investors-to-bring-usd-100-million-in-mexican-tourism--news3840

 

Gwyneth Paltrow reconocida actriz y cantante estadounidense declaró a la famosa revista extranjera Glamour, en su edición del mes de septiembre, que su lugar favorito para vacacionar se encuentra en la Riviera Nayarit.
http://www.noticiasenlinea.mx/el-lugar-favorito-de-gwyneth-paltrow-es-riviera-nayarit/

By Chris Isidore  @CNNMoney September 4, 2013: 12:54 PM ET

Individual car buyers flocked to dealerships in August as all of the nation's top automakers reported their strongest sales in years.

U.S. automakers General Motors (GM, Fortune 500), Ford Motor (F, Fortune 500), Chrysler Group all reported double-digit percentage increases in sales in August. Japanese rivals Toyota Motor (TM) and Nissan (NSANY) also reported large sales gains, putting the industry on pace for a 16-million annual sales rate for the first time since before the recession started in late 2007.
The fact that it was individual buyers, rather than government and corporate fleets, dominating the sales figures is especially good news for the industry. Individual sales are typically at higher prices than those to fleets, such as rental car companies.
Michelle Krebs, senior analyst for Edmunds.com, said it was the lowest percentage of August fleet sales in the more than six years her firm has been tracking such sales.
"The sales are clearly on the strength of individual car buyers going to their dealers and buying a car," she said.
Related: Toyota recalls 369,000 vehicles
Krebs and other experts point to a number of factors driving the strong sales, including greater access to low-cost car loans, an improving employment situation, greater household wealth driven by rising home prices and year-over-year gains in stocks. All of those factors helped feed pent-up demand by consumers no longer willing to postpone a new car purchase.
"All those people who waited are now buying cars. Their cars are just getting too old, they've had with postponing a purchase," said Karl Brauer, senior analyst for Kelley Blue Book. "Even if the economy is still only improving slowly, there's enough confidence for them to go and spend money."
Pick-up truck sales were particularly strong, helped by a rebound in home building, which can prompt purchases by contractors and construction workers.  

  http://money.cnn.com/2013/09/04/news/companies/car-sales/index.html

The United States has been named the world's fifth most competitive country as growing confidence in the country's financial system helped reverse a four year slide down the leader board.

In the World Economic Forum's annual Global Competitiveness Report released Wednesday, the U.S. climbed two places to take fifth spot. Switzerland retained its number one ranking, with Singapore, Finland and Germany rounding out the top five.
The WEF rates a country's competitiveness based on its performance in 12 categories, including quality of institutions, infrastructure, financial market development and higher education and training.
America's rise this year was "down to a perceived improvement in the country's financial market as well as greater confidence in its public institutions," it said.
"The de-leveraging process in the banking sector continues to show positive effects on the stability and efficiency of the country's financial markets."
The news coincides with the fifth anniversary of the global financial crisis. The improved standing of the U.S. suggests some of the scars have begun to heal.
5 years later: Lessons from the crash
Banks are better capitalized and face tougher regulation -- albeit still not tough enough for some. Despite criticism that the Obama administration has failed to do enough to prosecute large financial institutions, the government appears to have stepped up its efforts in recent months. There has been a rise in new cases against large banks; some are related to the financial crisis and the housing market collapse from 2008.
The Securities and Exchange Commission says that as of September 2013, $2.7 billion has been paid in penalties for misconduct that led to or arose from the financial crisis.
Big banks legal tab: $66 billion and growing
A stabilization in stock markets also indicates a restoration of faith in the financial system. After shedding 5,000 points in the wake of the crisis, the Dow Jones Industrial Average has returned to new record highs this year.
The report noted trust in politicians remains weak. That lack of trust, and a perception that the U.S. government spends its resources relatively wastefully, are among the factors limiting overall competitiveness.  

  http://money.cnn.com/2013/09/04/news/economy/us-competitiveness-ranking/index.html

Posted by Dr. Santiago Hernandez, August 22, 2013

Campaña de promoción conjunta Vallarta-Nayarit

A partir del 15 de septiembre la región tendrá publicidad en espectaculares, televisión y otros medios masivos de comunicación durante ocho meses
“Hay resultados muy importantes y tangibles del trabajo realizado por el sector privado y turístico de la región como parte de la campaña de promoción conjunta”, puntualizó López Negrete.

 http://vallartaopina.net/2013/09/02/bombardearan-varias-ciudades-de-los-estados-unidos-y-canada

Michael B. Sauter and Alexander E.M. Hess, 24/7 Wall St. 6:03 a.m. EDT August 31, 2013

The median household income in the United States has increased slightly over the past two years, but it is still down more than 6% from the start of the recession. As of June, a U.S. family earned an estimated median of $52,100 annually, according to Sentier Research. This means that the vast majority of families, let alone individuals, earn far less than the coveted six-figure annual salary that is often associated with prosperity.
Of the more than 800 different occupations considered in the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Employment Statistics Database, only 30 earned an estimated median of more than $100,000 annually. Psychiatrists were estimated to earn the most, but there were less than 25,000 psychiatrists in the country in 2012. 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the occupations with a median annual salary of more than $100,000 that employed the most people. Lawyers, for example, earned a median annual salary of roughly $113,500, and there are well more than half a million lawyers in the country. These are America's most popular six-figure jobs.
Most of these high-paid occupations are managerial positions. This includes managers in finance, sales, computer and information systems, and architectural and engineering. These are managers who likely have been employed in their field for years and have developed enough expertise to direct multiple employees in their field and oversee operations — and they are paid accordingly. As of 2012, there were close to 6.4 million people in managerial roles in the United States. The median annual salary for a manager is just under $94,000.
Some of the occupations are higher-paying because of the amount of training and education required to obtain them. Lawyers, for example, must take three years of post-graduate law school and pass a state's bar examination just to begin practicing. Pharmacists need to first complete several years of undergraduate study before spending three to four years obtaining a Doctor of Pharmacy degree. Some pharmacists must even spend as many as two years in residency for some advanced positions.
These positions are all the largest in the country for their level of income, but they are not all growing. In fact, the number of marketing and financial managers declined by more than 10% between 2002 and 2012. Other jobs have shown more promise. The number of computer and information systems managers rose by 17% over that time, while the number of pharmacists grew by more than 23%.
To determine the America's top-paying six-figure jobs, 24/7 Wall St. screened figures from the BLS Occupational Employment Statistics program for 2012, for the jobs with more than 100,000 workers and a median wage of more than $100,000 annually. The figures are estimates subject to sampling error and do not count self-employed workers. Data are collected by the program over several years. We considered only occupations that existed in both 2002 and 2012, when discussing job growth. Further information on each occupation came from the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.
These are America's most popular six-figure jobs.
9. Family and General Practitioners
• Employment: 110,050
• Median wage: $172,020
Family and general physicians treat commonplace injuries and illnesses, conduct check-ups and recommend patients to specialists as needed. Like other physicians, family and general practitioners have to attend medical school, complete a residency program and must be licensed. Unlike many surgeons and specialists, family and general physicians tend to have a solid base of regular clients. In 2012, the median wage for such physicians was more than $172,000, one of the highest in the nation.
MORE: America's disappearing jobs
8. Marketing Managers
• Employment: 171,430
• Median wage: $119,480
Marketing managers are responsible for monitoring market trends and demand in order to develop strategies that would help a company maximize its sales. This may involve changing prices or estimating the effect of introducing a new product to market. Marketing managers typically have a bachelor's degree and a background in accounting, economics, statistics or one of several other fields. Most also have significant work experience prior to becoming managers. Pay can vary considerably: the top 25% earned more than $160,810 annually in 2012, while the bottom 25% were paid less than $85,740 — still over $50,000 more than the median wage for all occupations.
7. Architectural and Engineering Managers
• Employment: 187,640
• Median wage: $124,870
Architectural and engineering managers are charged with drawing up the plans needed to meet the technical goals of a project. They then oversee the project from its beginning to ensure its successful completion. Becoming an architectural or engineering manager requires either a bachelor's degree in an engineering speciality, or a professional degree in architecture, according to the BLS. More than three-fourths of all such managers earned $100,000 annually as of 2012. However, the number of such managers also declined by an estimated 18% between 2002 and 2012.
6. Chief Executives
• Employment: 255,940
• Median wage: $168,140
There were more than a quarter of a million chief executives nationwide as of 2012. Becoming a top executive, however, is not very easy, especially at a large business. Top executives often require extensive managerial experience and many have a master's in business administration. According to BLS figures for 2010, just 17% of top executives were chief executives. In 2012, the median wage for chief executives was more than $168,000 — although pay is determined by a combination of factors such as company size and type. Performance bonuses, stock options and executive perks actually may increase income substantially, although these compensation packages are often roundly criticized.
5. Pharmacists
• Employment: 281,560
• Median wage: $116,670
Pharmacists, like many of the medical professions, are highly paid, partly because of the amount and cost of the training required. After earning their bachelor's degree, pharmacists must spend an additional three to four years obtaining their doctorate in pharmacy. A smaller group of those looking for a clinical pharmacy or research job must also go through one to two years of residency. As pharmacies often can be open past normal business hours, some pharmacists may work nights and weekends as well. Because of the growing number of new drugs available and the increasing elderly population, pharmacists are also a growing occupation nationwide. The number of pharmacists increased an estimated 28.3% between 2002 and 2012.
MORE: The best paying jobs for high school graduates
4. Computer and Information Systems Managers
• Employment: 309,740
• Median wage: $120,950
Computer and information systems managers are responsible for managing the work of an IT department at a private sector company or government entity. Their responsibilities include proposing improvements to an organization's hardware and software needs, overseeing the execution of these improvements, and ensuring the security of the network and data. Some IT managers, such as chief information and chief technology officers, are among the senior executives at a firm. Pay for a typical manager exceeded $120,000 per year as of 2012, and more than one in four earned more than $150,000 last year.
3. Sales Managers
• Employment: 344,730
• Median wage: $105,260
Sales managers typically run a sales team. They direct and train members of the team and review performance data. Pay for someone in this position can vary widely, depending on their role and what industry they are in, according to the BLS. The bottom 10% earned less than $53,000, while the top 25% earned more than $150,000. Commissions, too, can be a major factor for total compensation. Therefore the product being sold and the team's success can make a big difference in the managers' final take-home pay. There are an estimated 344,730 sales managers in the country.
2. Financial Managers
• Employment: 484,910
• Median wage: $109,740
Financial managers create financial statements and direct investment strategies. They typically do not need more than a bachelor's degree, but lower-level workers usually need at least five years on the job before they can advance to the position. These managers are often responsible for keeping the company finances, cash flow and credit in good order. Many financial managers work at insurance companies, banks and other institutions, offering financial advice and services to businesses, but they can work in all industries.
1. Lawyers
• Employment: 581,920
• Median wage: $113,530
There were well over half a million lawyers in the United States as of 2012, making the profession the largest among those with a median wage of at least $100,000 annually. Attorneys are required to first earn a bachelor's degree. They then typically have to complete a law school education and pass a state's bar exam. Lawyers can specialize in criminal law, tax law, litigation or many other areas. However, in recent years, many of the most lucrative positions — those at the firms collectively known as Big Law — have disappeared. According to a July report by The New Republic, most Big Law firms may soon disappear as businesses cut costs and demand for high-cost legal services continues to decline.
24/7 Wall St. is a USA TODAY content partner offering financial news and commentary. Its content is produced independently of USA TODAY.

 http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/personalfinance/2013/08/31/most-popular-six-figure-jobs/2749981/