Highest Paying Jobs That Actually Require a Degree
EDUCATION
“Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.”
- Theodore Roosevelt -
There’s no doubt that income goes up with education. But how much? According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a person with a High School diploma earns an average of $40,612. An Associates degree would get you $48,776. Your earnings increase even more if you have a Bachelor's degree, as you can expect to earn $67,860 per year. That's $19,000 more than someone with an Associates degree and nearly $27,000 more than someone with only a High School diploma. However, obtaining any old four-year degree does not guarantee a good income. Higher wages are usually the result of being more specialized and experienced, which begins with focused and specialized education. Here are just a few highly paid jobs that you can obtain with a bachelors and a little bit of experience.
Human Resources Manager: $121,220
An HR manager is the professional who coordinates and administers company compensation and benefits packages. Human resources are the vital link between the needs of the company and the needs of its employees. This department's leaders are in charge of attracting and retaining the best talent for the organization. It performs this function through a variety of functions such as recruitment, training, compensation, and benefits. As a result, human resources are critical to an organization's success. Besides a degree, several certifications may be critical to your success in the fields. SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP): This certification demonstrates that you understand the behavioral competencies required to apply your HR knowledge in the modern workplace to support organizational goals. There is also the Professional in Human Resources (PHR): The PHR certifies your understanding of the technical and operational aspects of human resource management, as well as U.S. laws and regulations. Lastly, there is the Global Professional in Human Resources (GPHR): The GPHR recognizes your expertise in multinational human resource responsibilities, such as the development of HR policies and initiatives to support global growth. Recommended Degree: Human Resource Management, Finance, Business Management, Education, Organizational Psychology, Social Science
Training & Development Manager: $115,640
The training of employees at large companies and organizations can be such a major task that they often hire someone completely dedicated to this responsibility. Training and development managers are usually in charge of a wide range of tasks related to employee education, coaching, and management. Training and development managers combine these three aspects of their job to achieve the overall goal of cultivating a productive, efficient, and engaged workforce within a specific organization. Recommended Degree: Human Resources, Organizational Leadership, Business Administration, Education, Management
Hospital Administrator/ Medical Services Manager: $55,489
A medical services manager, also known as a hospital administrator, is in charge of a wide range of medical and health services, such as supervising staff and setting department goals. They may be in charge of specific departments as well as health care facilities such as nursing homes. Managers oversee employees and set goals for improving health care and health care services. Recommended Degree: Health Administration or Health Management
Registered Nurse: $78,618
An RN’s primary responsibilities include supervising individual patient care and conducting preliminary evaluations to determine conditions or evaluate symptoms. They develop and enforce nursing plans for staff, as well as supervise plan implementation. Registered nurses oversee other medical professionals and collaborate with family members and doctors to ensure patients receive safe and appropriate care. Previously, you had to have at least an Associate's degree in nursing to work as a registered nurse (ADN). However, many states have begun to require RNs to have a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) in order to qualify for their RN license. To complicate matters further, some states will allow an individual to begin practicing as an RN after earning an associate's degree in nursing, with the condition that the individual obtain a bachelor's degree within a certain time frame. Recommended Degree: Nursing
Occupational/Physical Therapist: $82,574
Physical and Occupational therapists help patients recover from surgery or injury. They aid in the restoration of mobility, the prevention of future injuries, and the development and implementation of treatment plans in collaboration with patients. Most Occupational Therapists enter the workforce with at least a master's degree in occupational therapy, though some choose to further their education with a doctorate. A Physical Therapist, Speech Pathologist, Psychologist, and Social Worker are all possible members of a rehabilitation team. Occupational therapists may work with specific populations, such as children or the elderly, or in specialized settings, such as mental health institutions or skilled nursing facilities. Graduates must take the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) national exam in addition to earning a master's degree from an accredited program. While requirements vary by state, all states require practitioners to pass the NBCOT exam in order to obtain the title "Occupational Therapist, Registered" (OTR) and state licensure. Recommended Degree: Doctorate in physical therapy (D.P.T.), Kinesiology and Exercise Science/Physiology, Psychology, Biology
Computer Hardware Engineer: $119,560
While many professionals dedicate their careers to creating and refining software, somebody actually has to create the devices and equipment that make computing possible. Computer hardware engineers create, design, and test computer hardware for use in computer and electrical systems. Designing and testing computer hardware components, analyzing test data, eliminating errors, modifying existing hardware, and designing hardware for other electrical devices are some of their responsibilities. Recommended Degree: Electronics Engineering Technology, Computer Engineering, Computer and Information Technology.
Computer Network Architect: $116,780
A network architect is someone who manages communication networks like local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs), and intranets. They are critical in the creation, maintenance, and modification of an IP network's hardware, software, and virtualized components. They operate on both small-scale networks and large-scale communication systems. Keeping the organization's security issues in mind, they should always be ready to design and implement security countermeasures when network vulnerabilities arise. Organizations are also looking for candidates with relevant work experience. Certification courses such as CCENT, CompTia A+ certification, and VMware Certified Professional can help you land a job as a computer network architect. Recommended Degree: Network Operations and Security, Computer & Information Technology, Management Information Systems, Computer Science.
Industrial/Architectural/Civil Engineer: $78,415
Industrial engineers evaluate machinery and devise methods to improve efficiency and safety. They test equipment for quality control and help to determine safety and control standards.
Architectural engineers collaborate with architects and other members of the construction team to meet building requirements or to comply with codes or regulations. They study blueprints and diagrams to develop project plans. They also monitor the building construction process to ensure that safety and code regulations are followed.
Civil engineers plan and design large transportation projects. They plan, design, build, supervise, operate, and maintain public and private infrastructure projects and systems such as roads, buildings, airports, tunnels, dams, bridges, and water supply and sewage treatment systems. Recommended Degree: Industrial Engineering, Architectural Engineering, Agricultural Engineering, Civil Engineering, Engineering Management, Information Engineering.
Electrical Engineer: $94,949
Electrical engineers are in charge of the electrical systems inside a structure and supervise their design and installation. They study blueprints and schematics to create a system plan and support those systems through regular maintenance checks and repair order. Electrical engineering students typically pursue a bachelor's degree that has been accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). All electrical engineers working in the utility industry must pass the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam. Individuals who pass the FE are known as engineers-in-training (EITs) or engineer interns (EIs) until they pass the Professional Engineer (PE) exam. After four years, engineers become eligible to pursue a Professional Engineer license through the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE). Becoming a Professional Engineer, or PE, allows the holder to work on a broader array of vocations that demand a greater deal of responsibility. Recommended Degree: Many qualified universities offer the BSEE (bachelor of science in electrical engineering) and the closely related BSCpE (bachelor of science in computer engineering).
Aerospace Engineer: $118,610
Aerospace technology is constantly changing to be more efficient, effective, and safe. Aerospace engineers are responsible for developing new innovations in this field. They work on aircraft, spacecraft, and even missile systems, making them important for national defense as well as business and exploration. A bachelor's degree alone can qualify candidates for entry-level aerospace engineering positions, but most experienced engineers, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, choose to obtain their Professional Engineer (PE) license. Work experience, a degree, and passing two exams, the Fundamentals of Engineering and Professional Engineering, are required. Many candidates take the first of these exams right after graduation in order to become official "engineers in training." They prepare to take additional exams to become licensed engineers as they gain more experience. Recommended Degree: Aerospace Engineering, Space Studies, Geospatial Science.
Mechanical Engineer: $95,963
Mechanical engineers' primary responsibilities include the design, construction, and testing of thermal and mechanical devices. They design systems to improve existing conditions or to discover new and innovative applications for thermal and mechanical systems. Mechanical engineers may create prototypes and supervise their manufacture and use. Recommended Degree: Mechanical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering Technology.
Chemical Engineer: $108,540
From drugs to fuels to foods, chemistry is everywhere, and the need for chemical engineers is crucial. Chemical engineers solve problems that address manufacturing, usually with the purpose of enhancing large-scale production in a safe manner. This career requires a science-related bachelor’s degree but no training or previous experience. Recommended Degree: Energy Management.
Power: Petroleum/Nuclear/Environmental Engineer: $137,330
Petroleum engineers, among other things, design the equipment that allows oil extraction, such as developing equipment and plans to find oil in the ocean and oil and gas fields. As you might expect, it's a job that necessitates extensive knowledge of math and sciences such as chemistry and geology.
Nuclear engineers conduct research, design, and development of the tools and instruments required for the use of nuclear energy. They are in charge of safely directing the operations of nuclear energy facilities and must be able to deal with a high level of complexity.
Environmental engineers do exactly what their job titles imply: they protect the environment from man-made problems. They must be familiar with everything from soil science, biology, and chemistry to the plethora of federal and local regulations that are frequently associated with these projects. Environmental engineers may also assist in the development of regulations that industries must follow. Recommended Degree: Bachelor of Applied Science in Energy Management.
Biomedicine Engineer: $75,411
When there is a global pandemic or a local medical crisis, a biomedical engineer is almost certainly involved in some way. They use their engineering skills to design and build medical equipment such as hazmat suits or body parts replacements such as hip or knee joints. They could aid in the development of a new drug therapy. They might try to solve a difficult medical problem, such as cancer research. In a nutshell, they work on biological and medical problems. Recommended Degree: Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering.
Architect: $91,489
Architects plan and design a wide range of structures for residential homes, corporate buildings, commercial factories, and other similar types of construction, and are thus accountable for a wide range of expertise and specialized skill sets in their field. It is necessary to pass a series of comprehensive exams known as the Architect Registration Examination (ARE). Although all state architectural registration boards require architecture graduates to complete a comprehensive paid internship before taking the ARE, the majority of new graduates complete their training by working within architectural firms through the Architectural Experience Program (AXP). This program, administered by NCARB, prepares and guides students through the internship process. Recommended Degree: Architecture.
Construction Manager: $82,115
Construction managers are in charge of overseeing the majority of aspects of a construction project from start to finish. They collaborate with designers and engineers to develop a project plan and ensure that safety and building protocols are followed. They interact with clients and collaborate with construction teams to ensure that requirements and deadlines are met.
Recommended Degree: Construction Science, Construction Management, Engineering, or Architecture.
Pilots and Air Traffic Control: $121,430
Most airline pilots begin their careers as commercial pilots to gain experience, and in theory all that is required to get started is a high school diploma or equivalent, as well as a commercial pilot's license from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). However, the vast majority of commercial airliners require that their pilots have a full four-year degree prior to training, and these applicants are viewed more favorably.
Recommended Degree: Aviation, Aviation Technology, Aeronautical Science, Air Traffic Management. Also Required: FAA's Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate.
Actuary: $111,030
An actuary's role in the insurance industry is to assist businesses and clients in developing policies that minimize the cost of risk. They accomplish this by analyzing the financial costs of risk and uncertainty and assessing potential risk using mathematics, statistics, and financial theory.
Recommended Degree: Accounting, Mathematics, Actuarial science, Statistics, or another analytical field. You must also pass a series of certification exams.
Software Developer: $110,140
Behind every computer program and application, there is at least one software developer. Some developers create applications that allow users to perform a direct task, while others work on the systems that run computers. The pay for this career is excellent, and one of the most attractive aspects is that you can enter into these jobs without work experience or training beyond a bachelor’s degree.
Recommended Degree: Information Technology / Programming.
There are many more high-paying jobs out there, and the above list is more of a smattering of examples than a comprehensive summary. While it certainly seems to pay to know exactly what kind of job you are aiming for, and to get a highly specialized education to that effect, know getting a general Bachelors in English or Business is still highly desirable by employers. Give yourself room for growth when you are young and in college. Also remember that more than 3/4th of college grads end up in fields not related to their major. So, it’s not a major deal if you switch it up!
