Looks like I am on the wrong career path. Forbes has released its annual list of salaries for the chief executive officers of America's 500 biggest companies. The CEOs, whose salaries received an aggregate 6 percent pay increase last year, had a combined salary of $5.4 billion. Although jewelry-industry executives did not make it into the top 10, they do appear frequently on the list. Here's a look at some of the biggest earners:

Ranked at No. 17 is Robert J. Ulrich, 63, whose compensation totaled $39.63 million last year. Ulrich (the top retail executive on the list) has served as CEO of Target for the past 12 years. He has worked for the company for 39 years.

Ranked at No. 136 is H. Lee Scott Jr., 57, whose compensation totaled $10.46 million last year. Scott (the sixth highest-ranked retail executive on the list) has served as CEO of Wal-Mart for the past six years. He has worked for the company for 27 years.

Ranked at No. 141 is R. Lawrence Montgomery, 56, whose compensation totaled $10.05 million last year. Montgomery (the seventh highest-ranked retail executive on the list) has served as CEO of Kohl's for seven years. He has worked for the company for 18 years.

Also on the list are:

Terry J. Lundgren, 54, Federated Department Stores, ranked No. 208, total compensation of $6.9 million.
Myron E. Ullman III, 59, J.C. Penney, ranked No. 218, total compensation of $6.52 million.
James D. Sinegal, 70, Costco Wholesale, ranked No. 290, total compensation of $4.25 million.
Barry Diller, 64, IAC/Interactive Corp., (owner of HSN), ranked No. 320, total compensation of $3.59 million.
Aylin B. Lewis, 51, Sears Holdings, ranked No. 335, total compensation of $3.42 million.
Margaret C. Whitman, 49, eBay, ranked no. 370, total compensation of $2.91 million.
Blake W. Nordstrom, 45, Nordstrom, ranked no. 374, total compensation of $2.82 million.
Jeffrey P. Bezos, 42, Amazon, ranked no. 493, total compensation of $800,000.