What would you do with $50,000? You might pay down your bills, upgrade your home, take a little vacation and shore up your savings with the rest. Sounds pretty good, doesn't it? Now, imagine earning $50,000 the first year out of college. With career training, it's possible.
Whether you're tired of what you're doing now and ready for a change or you're looking for an education that compliments your current experience, training makes sense for your long-term earning potential. A range of careers in growing industries like health care and IT reward new graduates with yearly salaries over $50k. Check out some of the hottest careers paying $50k yearly salaries for new hires. Some of these great careers feature even higher career-average salaries; you could be earning six figures down the line.
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Degree #1: Engineering
Challenge your mind with a hands-on career in engineering. Choose from engineering fields including civil, computer, biomedical and electrical. No matter what you choose, you'll find yourself in a career that has you relying on your education to design, invent and create. Engineering majors earn some of the highest starting salaries among all bachelor's degree graduates, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports. The four-year bachelor's degree is required for all but the most basic technical positions.
Starting salary: Electrical engineering majors saw starting salary offers of $60,900, according to PayScale's 2008 College Salary Report.
Career average: The Bureau of Labor Statistics notes strong career-wide salaries for electrical engineers -- $85,350 in 2008.
Degree #2: Computer science
Looking for a high-tech degree with broad applications? Training in computer science could be for you. Learn the fundamentals of programming, theory and practical computer knowledge with a degree in computer science. This degree has broad applications, from graphics to networking and from operating systems to security. Unlock forward-looking careers in robotics and artificial intelligence with a degree in computer science. Graduates of computer science programs often work in IT, though science fields like biology and mathematics also see incoming graduates.
Starting salary: Computer science graduates saw starting salary offers of $55,900 in 2008, PayScale reports.
Career average: Salary varies depending on your position. Computer software engineers saw mean annual wages of $87,900 in 2008, the BLS reports, while research scientists earned $100,900.
Degree #3: Physician assistant
Take the next step in your health care career by becoming a physician assistant. You'll work closely with doctors and patients to offer treatment and care personalized to your specialty. A typical physician assistant program lasts two years and must be preceded by two years of college and some health care experience. Physician assistants often come to the career after time spent as a registered nurse, physical therapist or in another health care career. Employment opportunities for physician assistants are expected to grow much faster than average, the BLS reports.
Starting salary: Physician assistants saw healthy starting salaries of $74,300 in 2008, according to PayScale.
Career average: Physician assistants earned mean annual wages of $81,610 in 2008, the BLS notes.
Degree #4: Management information systems
With a management information systems degree, you'll have the power to work behind-the-scenes in the IT industry, streamlining business from a high-tech perspective. Hiring managers for database administrators, computer systems analysts and other related careers often appreciate the management information systems (MIS) degree for the broad range of practical application the degree provides. The MIS degree is less theoretical than computer science training. A bachelor's degree could eventually lead to a management position, making this a degree with real growth potential.
Starting salary: MIS majors across industry saw starting salary offers of $49,200 in 2008, PayScale reports. Those figures easily top 50k depending on your location, GPA and other factors.
Career average: The BLS notes that computer and information systems managers earned mean annual wages of $118,710 in 2008. An M.B.A. may be preferred for some managerial positions.
Degree #5: Nursing
Put your natural empathy to good use with a career in nursing. Trained nurses are needed in hospitals, clinics, schools, nursing homes and more, meaning you're more likely to find a career with your degree. Training to become a registered nurse could begin with an associate degree, though specialization down the road would require more education. Nursing careers are expected to see continued growth in the coming years as the health care industry continues to flourish.
Starting salary: PayScale reports that nurses graduating in 2008 saw average starting salary offers of $54,200.
Career average: Registered nurses earned mean annual wages of $65,130 in 2008. That figure potentially goes higher with specialization and further training.
While no degree program can guarantee a particular starting salary or career, hiring managers in the fields above often prefer or require formal training from their applicants. Career training can pull you out of the job search and get you into a career that rewards you for your knowledge. Quit daydreaming about what you would do with $50,000; invest in yourself with an education and make it happen.
