Not all high-earning careers require medical school or a Ph.D.
If the job you're in right now is barely offering enough money to make ends meet, you probably wouldn't mind an upgrade.Perhaps you've been putting off looking for something new because it seems like all the high-paying careers require advanced schooling like a master's degree, medical school, or a doctoral program.
However, you may be surprised at how many high-paying careers require only a bachelor's degree.
In fact, with the right college degree under your belt, you could find yourself on track to pursuing one of the high-paying careers below.
Career #1: Probation Officer
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- Median
Annual Salary* - $48,190
- Top 10%
of Earners* - More than $83,410
- Bottom 10%
of Earners* - Less than $31,590
High-Pay Potential: "Our prisons are overcrowded, and more and more court systems are looking for probation officers to assist with interventions so people can get back on the right track," according to Cindy Key, managing partner at Key Concepts, a career and branding strategy company. "Plus, there are a large number of prisoners coming out of the system, so there's growth happening in this career."
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How to Get Started: If you can see yourself in the world of law enforcement, good news: A career as a probation officer may be within reach with a bachelor's degree. According to the Department of Labor, a bachelor's degree in criminal justice, behavioral sciences, social work, or a related field is what's typically required. Also, probation officers usually have to pass a variety of exams before beginning work.
Career #2: Market Research Analyst
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- Median
Annual Salary* - $60,300
- Top 10%
of Earners* - More than $113,500
- Bottom 10%
of Earners* - Less than $33,280
High-Pay Potential: "A market research analyst is valued in the marketplace primarily because most of our businesses and most organizations are very data-driven," Key says. "It's about being able to connect the dots for the people above you and those technical people who may be putting together the product or service. You have to be able to see detail as well as see the big picture."
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How to Get Started: While the pay and the job might seem intimidating, you don't need a master's to get into this field. In fact, what's typically needed, per the Department of Labor, is a bachelor's degree in market research or a related field, such as business administration.
Career #3: Personal Financial Advisor
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- Median
Annual Salary* - $67,520
- Top 10%
of Earners* - More than $187,199
- Bottom 10%
of Earners* - Less than $32,280
High-Pay Potential: The amount of knowledge required for this career helps practitioners command a high salary. According to Key, "This is a continuous learning field. [Personal financial advisors] have to re-certify on a regular basis, which makes this career a high-paying job." Financial advisors are not only able to manage complicated math, but they also enjoy finding creative solutions to problems, as well as specializing in attention to detail, says Key.
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How to Get Started: If you have strong money management skills, you could be well-suited for this career. Only a bachelor's degree is typically needed for a personal financial advisor career, the Department of Labor says. Although employers don't require a specific field of study, according to the Department, one degree that could provide good preparation for this career is finance.
Career #4: Logistician
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- Median
Annual Salary* - $72,780
- Top 10%
of Earners* - More than $112,100
- Bottom 10%
of Earners* - Less than $45,190
High-Pay Potential: Whatever the business, the logistician is responsible for making sure the production line doesn't break down, so he or she has a vital - and often well-compensated - role. "As a logistician, results count," Key says. "In business having what you need when you need it is critical, so logisticians working within a supply chain have important responsibilities, such as getting supplies like water and food to a storm area or products into a retail store to delight holiday shoppers."
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How to Get Started: It may surprise you to learn that a logistician position is far from out of reach. In fact, some logistician positions may only require an associate's degree, according to the Department of Labor, while many others may require a bachelor's degree in business.
Career #5: Network and Computer Systems Administrator
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- Median
Annual Salary* - $72,560
- Top 10%
of Earners* - More than $115,180
- Bottom 10%
of Earners* - Less than $44,330
High-Pay Potential: It shouldn't surprise you to learn that the people who make sure our computer networks run the way they are supposed to get paid well. Key states that, "Almost anything and everything today is running on a network, from our telephones to ATMs. Network and computer systems administrators must make certain all these computer systems coordinate correctly, which makes these jobs high-stakes and high-stress. When things work so well when we turn them on, we don't always understand what happens behind the scenes."
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How to Get Started: If you've got an interest in honing your problem-solving and computer skills, keep reading. This is another career that you don't need years and years of schooling to get into. The Department of Labor states that most employers require a bachelor's degree in computer or information science, and some may require just a postsecondary certificate.
Career #6: Aerospace Engineer
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- Median
Annual Salary* - $103,720
- Top 10%
of Earners* - More than $149,120
- Bottom 10%
of Earners* - Less than $65,450
High-Pay Potential: "[Aerospace engineers] are in high demand because the aerospace manufacturing business is a huge market within the government and private companies," Key says. "From how our cars run to developing aircraft, there's a lot of application for aerospace engineering in a large number of industries."
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How to Get Started: You might think you need to be a rocket scientist for a job as an aerospace engineer, but according to the Department of Labor, a bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering or some type of engineering or science related to aerospace systems is what's usually needed. Depending on if the job pertains to national security, some security clearance may also be required.
A bachelor's in business administration could be a smart choice,
because it gives students practical skills that can be applied across
many organizations, says John Paul Engel, executive recruiter with
Knowledge Capital Consulting and author of "Project Be the Change," a
book featuring career and academic advice from successful people.
Thanks to market demand and an increased dependence on technology, a
bachelor's degree in computer science is another major that could pay
off.
Engineering is another major that could pay off. In fact, according
to Engel, engineering skills are highly valued in today's world.
If you're not intimidated by numbers, then a bachelor's in accounting
could be the right degree for you. Plus, you could pursue a career with
a high salary. How could it pay off? An accounting major brings
specialized skills and knowledge regarding taxes to an organization,
says Engel.
With consumers becoming increasingly dependent on smartphones,
laptops, and tablets for shopping, marketing majors have more
opportunities than ever to identify consumer needs and trends. New grads
with a bachelor's in marketing are valued and compensated well for
their specialized knowledge, especially in the latest digital marketing
techniques, says Engel.
If you believe money makes the world go 'round, finance may be the
right field to study. Plus, it could help prep you for a high-flying,
not to mention high-earning, career.
According to the NACE, an impressive 68.7 percent of computer science
majors had at least one job offer by the time they graduated.
Computers aren't your thing? You could still find plenty of job
opportunities to pursue with an economics major. Economics clocked in at
number two in job offers, with 61.5 percent of surveyed students
reporting they had at least one job offer by graduation.
Engineering had the fourth highest job rate, with 59 percent of
students in engineering reporting receiving at least one offer of
employment by graduation.
A bachelor's degree in business administration rounds out the top
five majors with the highest rate of offers, with 54.3 percent of
seniors reporting at least one offer of employment by graduation.