Just because you've started down one career path doesn't mean you can't switch to a new career - and up your salary in the process.
Feeling stuck in a low-paying job can be awful - but you might be
able to do something about it. There are jobs you can transition to that
could offer you a higher salary than your current career. Interested in
making a mid-career switch? The first step is figuring out what you
might enjoy doing.
"Pull out [some] paper and write what you'd enjoy doing in a work
setting," says Tony Lee, publisher of CareerCast.com, a job board
ranking jobs and openings, and JobsRated.com, a website ranking the 200
best and worst jobs. When you're done, you should have a job description
of your ideal job - as well as your ideal salary. Determining where you
want your career path to head is the first step you can take toward
pursuing a high-pay career.
"My advice is that if you are even thinking about making a switch,
then it's worth getting serious about the exact steps you'll need to
take to make it happen," says Will Little, co-founder & CEO of Code
Fellows, an organization devoted to training talented people to fill
software engineering roles in Seattle. That could mean interning for
experience, going back to school to update your education, or even
trying to transition into your ideal position within your current
company, he adds. These are just a few smart career moves you could make
that could help you earn a more impressive paycheck.
Bottom Line? You don't have stay in a low-paid job you hate. It's
possible to move into a new career - and moving into a new occupation
could even mean a higher paycheck. Keep reading to learn more.
Career #1 - Software Developer
Median Annual Salary:* $90,060
If you're a technically savvy person looking to make a mid-career
switch, preparing to pursue a career as a software developer could pay
you big dividends down the road.
Switching Could Pay Off: "Software developers earn a
high salary, because, at a fundamental level, there is extraordinarily
high demand for them in the job market," says Little. Beyond that, he
adds, your previous business experience - even if it wasn't in coding
initially - could help you in your transition.
"If you ask executives what kind of engineers they are looking for,
you'll often hear phrases like ‘well-rounded' or ‘experienced with
business, professional, and coding skills'," says Little. "In other
words, companies are looking for software developers who have
experienced life from enough angles to bring a unique perspective to the
team."
Do you like solving puzzles? As a software developer, you could be
the creative mind behind a computer program, according to the U.S.
Department of Labor. You might develop an application, design how the
application will work, and maintain and test software to make sure it
works correctly.
Prepare For The Switch: According to the Department
of Labor, software developers usually have a bachelor's degree in
computer science, software engineering, or a related field such as
mathematics. However, some employers may prefer a master's degree.
Career #2 - Accountant
Median Annual Salary:* $63,550
If you enjoy working with numbers and are eager to shoulder some big
responsibilities for a company, you could prepare to pursue a
great-paying job as an accountant.
Switching Could Pay Off: Why does this job offer
such a nice salary? Well, as Lee points out, "This is an important
position." Companies need great accountants to manage their finances,
pay their taxes, and even strategize with leadership on how to reduce
waste and maximize profits.
As far as making the transition mid-career, your current work
experience might help you get a foot in the door. What kinds of skills
do you have that might transition nicely into the role of accountant?
"If you're going from being bookkeeper to accountant, it isn't a big
leap," says Lee. "Otherwise, you might have to go back to school."
But even if you do need more schooling, your previous work experience
could help when it comes time to look for a job in this field. In fact,
Mullen suggests looking for a position within your current company. As
she points out, you probably have a good idea of your company's goals,
products, and services. Knowing the needs of your company could put you
at an advantage when pursuing an accounting position there.
Next step: Click to Find the Right Accounting Program.
As an accountant you could be responsible for everything from
examining your company's financial operations to paying your company's
taxes properly and on time, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.
Prepare For The Switch: The Department of Labor says
most accountants need at least a bachelor's degree in accounting or a
related field, although some employers like to hire applicants with a
master's degree in accounting or business administration (MBA) with a
concentration in accounting.
Career #3 - Dental Hygienist
Median Annual Salary:* $70,210
You don't have to be a dentist to earn a great salary in a dental
office - so if you're looking for a job where you can help people, this
is one switch that could give you a healthy boost to your wallet.
Switching Could Pay Off: According to the U.S.
Department of Labor, the employment of dental hygienists is expected to
grow from 2010 to 2020 by 38 percent, much faster than the rate of other
occupations. In other words, the demand for skilled hygienists with
the right training drives the high salary of this job.
And there's more to this career than money, as Lee points out. "Most
dental hygienists enjoy doing this job," Lee says. Unlike dentists,
"When the day's over, they're not on call so they don't have to think
about work, they don't have long hours, and they're in demand without
being too stressed."
Excited about helping people stay healthy? As a dental hygienist, you
might clean teeth, look for signs of oral disease, and provide
preventative dental care, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.
Prepare For The Switch: You'll typically need an
associate's degree in dental hygiene to enter this field, according to
the Department of Labor, although they do note that certificates,
bachelor's degrees, and master's degrees in dental hygiene are also
available - though less common among dental hygienists.
Career #4 - Medical and Health Services Manager
Median Annual Salary:* $88,580
Working in the medical field but wish you could take on more
managerial tasks? Preparing to pursue a career as a medical and health
services manager could help you transition into a career with more
responsibility - and a higher salary.
Switching Could Pay Off: "This is a higher level
position," says Lee. That higher level responsibility is one of the main
reasons this job pays so well - and should continue to as we face
changing demands on health care providers. "The Affordable Care Act
(ACA) requires a higher level of sophistication in the medical world,"
Lee says. She explains that the skills required to be a manager in this
field are higher than ever before. And all of that translates to higher
pay.
What about switching to this job mid-career? "It might be harder to
make a career transition if you don't have some medical experience
already, but if you do, this could be a good way to move from the front
line to a managerial role." The good news is, there are a wide variety
of positions for medical and health services managers, and recent
changes to healthcare in this country could open some more doors for
future managers.
As a medical and health services manager, you might plan, direct, and
coordinate medical and health services in your facility - or you might
manage a specific clinical area or department, according to the U.S.
Department of Labor.
Prepare For The Switch: You will typically need at
least a bachelor's degree in health administration to get started,
according to the Department of Labor. However, master's degrees in
health services, long-term care administration, public health, public
administration, or business administration also are common.
Career #5 - Market Research Analyst
Median Annual Salary:* $60,300
If you love digging into research - and love the idea of a fast-paced
marketing job - preparing to pursue a career as a market research
analyst could be one way into a fun new career and a higher salary.
Switching Could Pay Off: "This job pays well when
you can gather data and turn that info into actionable insights - that's
strategic thinking," says Shannon Mullen, executive recruiter and
founder of Mullen Marketing Search. "People who make a lot of money in
market research can really see usable insights and help their clients
decide what to do."
What about making this switch mid-career? "If you have relevant
experience, you can slide sideways much easier without a huge pay hit,"
says Mullen. Work in social media, web analytics, or any position where
you're pulling insights out of information could help prepare you for
the switch, she says.
Without that experience, Mullen recommends going back to school and
focusing on any major where research is foundation of the work. "Take as
many research classes as possible," she advises.
Psyched about diving into big data? According to the U.S. Department
of Labor, as a market research analyst you might study market
conditions, monitor and forecast marketing trends, gather data about
consumers, and convert complex data into understandable reports.
Prepare For The Switch: If you're ready to make this
switch, you'll typically need a bachelor's degree in market research or
a related field. Many have degrees in fields such as statistics, math,
or computer science. Other market research analysts have a background in
business administration, one of the social sciences, or communications,
according to the Department of Labor. Many market research analyst
positions that involve more leadership or technical research require a
master's degree. Schools offer graduate programs in marketing research
but many analysts earn advanced degrees in statistics, marketing, or
business administration (MBA).
Career #6 - Diagnostic Medical Sonographer
Median Annual Salary:* $65,860
With the changing face of healthcare, preparing to pursue a career as
a diagnostic medical sonographer could launch you into an exciting
medical field - and a career with a great paycheck to boot.
Switching Could Pay Off: "This is a career that is -
in many ways - a lot like dental hygiene in that you need to have very
specific training," Lee says. Add to that the fact that this is a career
that's booming, and you'll start to understand why sonographers can
command such a healthy salary. According to the U.S. Department of
Labor, employment of diagnostic medical sonographers is expected to grow
by 44 percent from 2010 to 2020 - which is an incredibly high rate.
So how can you make this career switch? If you've done any
customer-oriented work, that experience could help you as you transition
into this role, where you'll be interacting with patients on a
day-to-day basis. But, as Lee points out, to make this switch, you'll
need the specialized skills you can only get by going back to school for
sonography.
"For this work, you have to learn how to use the equipment and how to interpret the results," says Lee.
Next step: Click to Find the Right Sonography Program.
Ready for a great medical career - that doesn't require the years and
years of medical school it takes to pursue a career as a doctor? As a
diagnostic medical sonographer, you might use special imaging equipment
to assess and diagnose various medical conditions, according to the
Department of Labor.
Prepare For The Switch: The Department of Labor
notes that diagnostic medical sonographers need either an associate's or
postsecondary certificate. Colleges offer both associate's and
bachelor's degree programs in sonography. Employers prefer a degree or
certificate from an accredited institute or hospital program.