Yahoo
Good news: You don't have to necessarily spend years upon years earning a bachelor's or master's degree to pursue a career with decent pay potential.
In fact, there are quite a few careers out there that pay upwards of $30 an hour - or $60,000 annually - that are relatively short on school.
Intrigued? Keep reading to learn more.
Are you always on the ball with completing your tasks and naturally
know how to get from point A to point B? Then you may want to consider a
career as a logistician, which could be more within reach than you
might think.
In this role, you would analyze and manage an organization's supply chain, which is the system that moves a product from supplier to consumer, says the U.S. Department of Labor. This means overseeing the product in its entirety until delivery.
Why It Pays Well: Logisticians can be highly valuable players in the field of supply chain management, says James Kling, chair of the management department at Niagara University in upstate New York. As the economy becomes more global, supply chains become more complicated and expensive, so the need for skilled logisticians is real and immediate, he explains.
Next step: Click to Find the Right Business Program.
How to Get Started: Don't want to be stuck in a classroom for years and years earning a bachelor's plus a grad degree? Well, a bachelor's degree is usually required for this job, especially as logistics becomes more complex, says the Department of Labor. However, an associate's degree is adequate for some positions. Many logisticians have earned a degree in business, industrial engineering, process engineering, or supply chain management.
If you love keeping up with the latest technology, but don't want to
necessarily spend years and years of schooling to get into the field,
computer programming might be a good field to consider.
As a computer programmer, you could use your knowledge of programming languages to write code to create software programs, says the U.S. Department of Labor. You also might find yourself writing in a variety of computer languages, such as C ++ and Java, as well as debugging programs.
Why It Pays Well: These professionals are highly compensated for their specialized skills, especially since we're experiencing rapid technology growth, says Bob Kustka, career coach and author of "The Hire Ground: An Insider's Guide to Finding a Career.
From smart TVs to e-book readers, "consider the impact of technology, not only on companies, but on entire industries," says Kustka. "All of these changes require the work of computer programmers."
Next step: Click to Find the Right Programming & Software Program.
How to Get Started: Would you like to get cracking in a job as soon as possible? Don't worry - according to the Department of Labor, while most computer programmers have a bachelor's degree, some employers hire workers who have an associate's degree. A common course of study is computer science or a related subject, notes the Department.
Are you addicted to shows like CSI? Maybe you'd like to make cracking
cases into an actual career? If it's just the intimidating amount of
school you think you might have to go through that's stopping you...
rest easy. This career could be more attainable than you think.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, in this role you might spend your time gathering facts and collecting evidence of possible crimes in your career as a detective or criminal investigator. This may mean observing suspects, making arrests, and preparing cases for trial.
Why It Pays Well: "Employers are willing to pay these professionals more due to their skill set and the nature of protecting their business," says Stephanie Morris, assistant director of career services at Niagara University in upstate New York.
"Security personnel have the most important job of keeping assets and people safe. They are paid not only for their skills, but also for the responsibility they have," Morris says. Just keep in mind that pay can vary based on experience, she adds.
Next step: Click to Find the Right Criminal Justice Program.
How To Get Started: Not up for years in school? Not a problem. The Department of Labor says one must have at least a high school education or GED and graduate from their agency's police academy. Of course, you may want to get some schooling. According to the Department, many agencies and some police departments require some college coursework or degree.
Don't feel intimidated by numbers and math? You may be mentally
equipped for a career as an accountant. Boil it all down and much of an
accountant's work is focused around financial records.
In fact, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, as an accountant, your role might involve verifying financial documents for accuracy and adherence to laws. You might also suggest ways to improve profits or reduce costs to an organization or client.
Why It Pays Well: "Accounting pays well, because the skills that an accounting career requires are diverse and somewhat challenging," says Mary Beth Goodrich, an accounting professor at University of Texas at Dallas who works closely with students in their job hunt.
And what are those valuable skills? Critical thinking, good communication, adherence to ethical guidelines, and certain certifications, says Goodrich.
Next step: Click to Find the Right Accounting Program.
How to Get Started: Are you ready to break into this potentially high-paying profession? Then you'll be happy to know you won't need to sign up for grad school. The Department of Labor says most accountants only need a bachelor's degree in accounting or a related field.
Have you often been told you have a vivid imagination? Do you tend to
doodle all day? If so, why not capitalize on your creativity by
pursuing a career as a multimedia artist or animator.
What does this career look like? According to the U.S. Department of Labor, you might spend your days creating animation and visual graphics for all forms of media, from movies to video games. You might also have meetings with clients and other designers, research upcoming projects, and develop storyboards.
Why It Pays Well: Technology is what drives salary, as these individuals are "digital artists," says Jerome Solomon, academic dean at Cogswell, a small digital arts college in Sunnyvale, California.
"[Multimedia art] is a skill that requires people to be able to use computers in very technical ways," he says. "The software is very sophisticated," he adds.
Next step: Click to Find the Right Multimedia Art Program.
How to Get Started: Don't want to be stuck studying in a dusty campus library for years and years? Good news: While it's true that you'll probably need a bachelor's degree, it doesn't appear that you'll need much more education than that. According to the Department of Labor, most of these artists have a bachelor's in fine art, computer graphics, animation, or a related field, according to the Department of Labor. Employers also require a strong portfolio and solid technical skills for most positions.
Are you an avid reviewer of businesses you visit or products you use?
If so, you may enjoy a career as a market research analyst, which may
pay fairly well, mind you. And on top of that, you don't need a graduate
degree to enter the profession either.
If you choose this career path, you would analyze market conditions to figure out potential sales of a product or service, says the U.S. Department of Labor. Essentially, you'd be responsible for figuring out what products people want, who will buy, and at what price.
Why It Pays Well: "[These] jobs command attractive salaries, because these positions require a hard-to- find combination in candidates of strong quantitative skills, the ability to think critically, and the ability to connect the dots for management," says Alex Edsel, director of the master's in marketing program at the University of Texas in Dallas.
Next step: Click to Find the Right Marketing & Communications Program.
How to Get Started: No master's degree required for this career. You would commonly only need a bachelor's degree in market research or a similar field, reports the Department of Labor. Many analysts have degrees in areas such as math, computer science, and statistics, while others have backgrounds in business administration, communications, or the social sciences.
If you're looking to get into a high-pay career, but not interested in spending years and years in school, keep reading.
Ready to make a career move that might add more cushion to your bank account?Good news: You don't have to necessarily spend years upon years earning a bachelor's or master's degree to pursue a career with decent pay potential.
In fact, there are quite a few careers out there that pay upwards of $30 an hour - or $60,000 annually - that are relatively short on school.
Intrigued? Keep reading to learn more.
Career #1: Logistician
- Mean Hourly Wage*
- $36.70
- Mean Annual Salary*
- $76,330
In this role, you would analyze and manage an organization's supply chain, which is the system that moves a product from supplier to consumer, says the U.S. Department of Labor. This means overseeing the product in its entirety until delivery.
Why It Pays Well: Logisticians can be highly valuable players in the field of supply chain management, says James Kling, chair of the management department at Niagara University in upstate New York. As the economy becomes more global, supply chains become more complicated and expensive, so the need for skilled logisticians is real and immediate, he explains.
Next step: Click to Find the Right Business Program.
How to Get Started: Don't want to be stuck in a classroom for years and years earning a bachelor's plus a grad degree? Well, a bachelor's degree is usually required for this job, especially as logistics becomes more complex, says the Department of Labor. However, an associate's degree is adequate for some positions. Many logisticians have earned a degree in business, industrial engineering, process engineering, or supply chain management.
Career #2: Computer Programmer
- Mean Hourly Wage*
- $38.91
- Mean Annual Salary*
- $80,930
As a computer programmer, you could use your knowledge of programming languages to write code to create software programs, says the U.S. Department of Labor. You also might find yourself writing in a variety of computer languages, such as C ++ and Java, as well as debugging programs.
Why It Pays Well: These professionals are highly compensated for their specialized skills, especially since we're experiencing rapid technology growth, says Bob Kustka, career coach and author of "The Hire Ground: An Insider's Guide to Finding a Career.
From smart TVs to e-book readers, "consider the impact of technology, not only on companies, but on entire industries," says Kustka. "All of these changes require the work of computer programmers."
Next step: Click to Find the Right Programming & Software Program.
How to Get Started: Would you like to get cracking in a job as soon as possible? Don't worry - according to the Department of Labor, while most computer programmers have a bachelor's degree, some employers hire workers who have an associate's degree. A common course of study is computer science or a related subject, notes the Department.
Career #3: Detective and Criminal Investigator
- Mean Hourly Wage*
- $38.00
- Mean Annual Salary*
- $79,030
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, in this role you might spend your time gathering facts and collecting evidence of possible crimes in your career as a detective or criminal investigator. This may mean observing suspects, making arrests, and preparing cases for trial.
Why It Pays Well: "Employers are willing to pay these professionals more due to their skill set and the nature of protecting their business," says Stephanie Morris, assistant director of career services at Niagara University in upstate New York.
"Security personnel have the most important job of keeping assets and people safe. They are paid not only for their skills, but also for the responsibility they have," Morris says. Just keep in mind that pay can vary based on experience, she adds.
Next step: Click to Find the Right Criminal Justice Program.
How To Get Started: Not up for years in school? Not a problem. The Department of Labor says one must have at least a high school education or GED and graduate from their agency's police academy. Of course, you may want to get some schooling. According to the Department, many agencies and some police departments require some college coursework or degree.
Career #4: Accountant
- Mean Hourly Wage*
- $34.86
- Mean Annual Salary*
- $72,500
In fact, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, as an accountant, your role might involve verifying financial documents for accuracy and adherence to laws. You might also suggest ways to improve profits or reduce costs to an organization or client.
Why It Pays Well: "Accounting pays well, because the skills that an accounting career requires are diverse and somewhat challenging," says Mary Beth Goodrich, an accounting professor at University of Texas at Dallas who works closely with students in their job hunt.
And what are those valuable skills? Critical thinking, good communication, adherence to ethical guidelines, and certain certifications, says Goodrich.
Next step: Click to Find the Right Accounting Program.
How to Get Started: Are you ready to break into this potentially high-paying profession? Then you'll be happy to know you won't need to sign up for grad school. The Department of Labor says most accountants only need a bachelor's degree in accounting or a related field.
Career#5: Multimedia Artists and Animators
- Mean Hourly Wage*
- $34.81
- Mean Annual Salary*
- $72,400
What does this career look like? According to the U.S. Department of Labor, you might spend your days creating animation and visual graphics for all forms of media, from movies to video games. You might also have meetings with clients and other designers, research upcoming projects, and develop storyboards.
Why It Pays Well: Technology is what drives salary, as these individuals are "digital artists," says Jerome Solomon, academic dean at Cogswell, a small digital arts college in Sunnyvale, California.
"[Multimedia art] is a skill that requires people to be able to use computers in very technical ways," he says. "The software is very sophisticated," he adds.
Next step: Click to Find the Right Multimedia Art Program.
How to Get Started: Don't want to be stuck studying in a dusty campus library for years and years? Good news: While it's true that you'll probably need a bachelor's degree, it doesn't appear that you'll need much more education than that. According to the Department of Labor, most of these artists have a bachelor's in fine art, computer graphics, animation, or a related field, according to the Department of Labor. Employers also require a strong portfolio and solid technical skills for most positions.
Career#6: Market Research Analyst
- Mean Hourly Wage*
- $32.59
- Mean Annual Salary*
- $67,780
If you choose this career path, you would analyze market conditions to figure out potential sales of a product or service, says the U.S. Department of Labor. Essentially, you'd be responsible for figuring out what products people want, who will buy, and at what price.
Why It Pays Well: "[These] jobs command attractive salaries, because these positions require a hard-to- find combination in candidates of strong quantitative skills, the ability to think critically, and the ability to connect the dots for management," says Alex Edsel, director of the master's in marketing program at the University of Texas in Dallas.
Next step: Click to Find the Right Marketing & Communications Program.
How to Get Started: No master's degree required for this career. You would commonly only need a bachelor's degree in market research or a similar field, reports the Department of Labor. Many analysts have degrees in areas such as math, computer science, and statistics, while others have backgrounds in business administration, communications, or the social sciences.