Careers That Pay Much Higher Than Minimum Wage Without A Bachelors

Source: Yahoo

Think you're doomed to a minimum wage career because you don't have a bachelor's degree? Think again.

By Terence Loose

Recently, the President made headlines with his slogan, "It's time to give America a raise." He's talking about raising the federal minimum wage, and many think it's a good idea, while others think it's a sure way to kill jobs.
Beyond the politics, if you're working for the current federal minimum wage - $7.25 per hour - you're probably in dire need of higher pay. Why? Because at that rate, you could work a 40-hour week for a year and only make $15,080 for 52 weeks of labor.
Oh, yeah, you'll definitely need a raise. But perhaps you don't have the time or lifestyle that will allow you to earn a bachelor's degree. Not a problem. Because there are plenty of jobs that pay triple the minimum wage ($21.75 an hour or more) and don't require a bachelor's degree. Read on to get the lowdown on seven of them.

Career #1: Computer User Support Specialist

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Median Hourly Wage*

$22.41

Median Annual Salary*

$46,620

Ready to pursue a career that could help you work towards better financial stability, but doesn't demand years of schooling to do it? If you have the desire to help people understand technology, too, then computer user support specialist could be the right role for you.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, these specialists provide technical assistance to computer users, answering questions or resolving problems in person, over the telephone, or electronically.
Schooling Needed: If you're not interested in being stuck in school forever, how about a degree that could be completed in as little as two years? According to the Department of Labor, computer user support specialist jobs require some computer knowledge, but not necessarily a post-secondary degree. More technical positions are likely to require a degree in a field such as computer science, information science, or engineering.
Next step: Click to Find the Right Computer Science Program.
Why It Pays: "Businesses in every sector of the economy rely heavily on efficiently running computer systems, so they need a vast array of computer specialists to support their networks. It's often the difference between success and failure, so these workers are in demand and get paid accordingly," says Nicole Williams, a career expert for LinkedIn.

Career #2: Paralegal

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Median Hourly Wage*

$22.87

Median Annual Salary*

$47,570

Do you picture yourself a modern day Perry Mason...right up until you envision the years in law school needed to get there? Well, relax, because the position of paralegal could have you rubbing elbows with the legal crowd, with a lot less schooling.
As a paralegal you could definitely scratch many of your legal itches. The U.S. Department of Labor says that paralegals do things like investigate the fact of cases, write reports to help lawyers prepare for trials, and even help lawyers during trials by handling exhibits and taking notes.
Schooling Needed: Law school is a lengthy and expensive investment. The good news is, you don't need it to get into the paralegal field. According to the Department of Labor, most applicants have an associate's degree in paralegal studies or a bachelor's degree in any field with a certificate in paralegal studies. Some employers may hire "college graduates with a bachelor's degree with no legal experience and train them on the job," reports the Department.
Next step: Click to Find the Right Paralegal Program.
Why It Pays: "Paralegals are often used in place of lawyers to keep legal bills under control. That said, since their work is very important to those they perform it for, they are still paid pretty well," says Nancy Tetreaux, a communication and career coach with 20 years experience in human resources management. She adds that she's known many paralegals who actually put themselves through expensive law schools with their income.

Career #3: Police Officer

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Median Hourly Wage*

$26.99

Median Annual Salary*

$56,130

As a police officer, you could keep the streets safe while earning good pay for your hard work. Police officers patrol areas, respond to calls from citizens, and of course enforce the law, says the U.S. Department of Labor. They also arrest suspects, prepare cases for court, and testify.
Schooling Needed: Rather get street smart than school smart? Depending on where you apply, that might not be a problem. Police officers must have at least a high school diploma or GED and graduate from their agency's training academy, notes the Department of Labor. Additionally, many agencies and police departments may also require some college coursework or a degree.
Next step: Click to Find the Right Criminal Justice Program.
Why It Pays: "Police officers are asked to potentially risk their lives to protect the rest of us, often in less than ideal weather or other conditions. For that, they get and deserve to be paid pretty well," says Williams. She says they also must think quickly and deal with people in very stressful situations, which takes many unique skills and is another reason for their relatively high pay.

Career #4: Web Developer

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Median Hourly Wage*

$30.37

Median Annual Salary*

$63,160

When you surf the web, do you feel inspired to create your own websites? Well, that job could be more within reach than you think. Web developers design and build websites for all sorts of clients, says the U.S. Department of Labor. They are responsible not only for the look of the website, but its functionality.
Schooling Needed: The bad news: You'll need to do more than just spend 12 hours a day on the internet to land this job. The good news: You don't necessarily need a bachelor's, either. The Department of Labor says that web developers typically have an associate's degree in web design or a related field, along with knowledge of programming and graphic design.
Next step: Click to Find the Right Programming & Software Program.
Why It Pays: "Social media may be what everyone is talking about, but every business still needs a good website," says Susan Heathfield, a management consultant and author of About.com's Guide to Human Resources. Web developers get paid well, because companies are in a constant pattern of updating and enhancing their existing websites. "People who specialize in this will never be out of business," she says.

Career #5: Registered Nurse

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Median Hourly Wage*

$31.84

Median Annual Salary*

$66,220

If you've ever been sick or injured and needed the care of a nurse, you won't balk at the fact that registered nurses earn more than quadruple the minimum wage.
Nurses work in a wide variety of areas, from small clinics to large hospitals, says the U.S. Department of Labor. They do everything from administering medicines and treatments to teaching patients and their families how to manage illness or injury.
Schooling Needed: You can pursue this highly paid job by taking one of three routes. You can earn either an associate's or bachelor's degree in nursing or a diploma from an accredited nursing program, says the Department of Labor. Additionally, registered nurses must be licensed.
Next step: Click to Find the Right Nursing Program.
Why It Pays: "Nursing is a very demanding job that you have to be dedicated to go into. There is no easy nursing job, so it tends to demand good pay," says Deb Hornell, a management consultant with 25 years of experience and author of "Good Things for a Full Life." She says that the doctors and hospitals know that nurses are performing an integral job in the vital field of health care, so their pay reflects that respect.

Career #6: Diagnostic Medical Sonographer

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Median Hourly Wage*

$31.93

Median Annual Salary*

$66,410

You don't need to spend long, intensive years in medical school to work in a medical field. Sonographers use special equipment to create images of patients' vital organs and tissue in order to help doctors diagnose disease, or even check on the health or sex of an unborn child, says the U.S. Department of Labor.
Schooling Needed: No M.D.s needed here. According to the Department of Labor, diagnostic medical sonographers need an associate's degree or certificate in sonography. Employers usually prefer applicants with degrees and certificates from accredited institutes.
Next step: Click to Find the Right Sonography Program.
Why It Pays: There are a few reasons that these medical professionals tend to be paid well. First, it takes a unique set of qualities and skills to do this job well, such as a calmness that can put patients at ease during what can be a stressful diagnostic procedure, says Williams. "They also have to be trained to use very expensive, important equipment key to diagnosing many major health conditions," she says.

Career #7: Dental Hygienist

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Median Hourly Wage*

$34.19

Median Annual Salary*

$71,110

Believe it or not, there's a good chance that the person who cleans your teeth every six months (okay, year) makes more than you.
On top of cleaning teeth, the U.S. Department of Labor says dental hygienists check for oral diseases and educate patients about good oral health (that's the part where they tell you you need to floss more).
Schooling Needed: Nope, you don't need to drudge through years upon years of dental school to get on the painless side of the dentist's chair. According to the Department of Labor, dental hygienists usually need an associate's degree in dental hygiene, which could take as little as two years to complete. On top of that, all states require them to be licensed, while other requirements vary.
Next step: Click to Find the Right Dental Hygiene Program.
Why It Pays: Dental hygiene is a huge, growing field, partly because of the aging population and its emphasis on oral health, says Heathfield. And this occupation often pays per patient serviced, so dental hygienists have the opportunity to earn high pay as their client base grows, she says.

These Degrees Aren't as Cool as You Think

Source: Yahoo

Some cool-sounding majors are tempting...until you see the unemployment rates attached to them.

By Danielle Blundell

Certain college majors attract people like bees to honey. These are degrees that seem fun in and of themselves, or seem like they will help you prepare for cool jobs down the road. But just because a degree program looks like a great idea at first glance, doesn't mean it's the right one for you. If you're looking at a degree as a springboard to a promising career search, there are bigger factors than coolness to consider.
"Some degrees are just more marketable than others because employers know exactly what skills the graduate has acquired," says Kevin Anthony Williams, a Dallas, Texas-based career coach. "Media influence has glamorized certain careers and has led to a lot of students getting degrees in really cool areas, such as sports management, fashion design, and music. These degrees are cool-sounding and glamorous, but the competition is very stiff, and the majority of the jobs are concentrated in only a few select parts of the country."
So when it comes to future employment, how do you know which degrees are not so cool and which deserve a longer look? Glad you asked.
The 2013 Georgetown University study entitled "Hard Times: College Majors, Unemployment, and Earnings" identified unemployment rates for a variety of degrees.  We used their data to find a number of degrees that may sound cool, but are decidedly overrated when unemployment rates. We then went to work finding some much cooler degrees; ones you can use to pursue careers that have big job numbers, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

Not-So-Cool Degree: Bachelor's in Architecture

Unemployment Rate for Recent Grads:*12.8 percent
Skyscrapers, monuments, homes. Sure, it would be pretty cool to say you're the man or woman behind the design of a building and to hear your name mentioned alongside legends like I.M. Pei and Frank Lloyd Wright. And buildings are everywhere, so surely there's a need for qualified professionals to design them, right? Wrong.
Overrated Factors: Students should be wary of pursuing architecture degrees - and this line of work - since jobs aren't exactly plentiful due to the downturn in commercial and residential construction. That's the stance of Beth Carter, certified career coach and founder and president of executive search firm Carter Consultants Ltd. in Warren, R.I.
Williams agrees. "The job market for architects is cyclical and is heavily tied to the building economy," he says. "When housing and other construction starts are down, then layoffs and hiring freezes are common."

Cooler Degree: Bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering

Find Programs Unemployment Rate for Recent Grads:* 8.1 percent
Want to actually put those mathematical and design skills to work? The good news is that a mechanical engineering major has a relatively low unemployment rate. Carter points out that while it's true that a lot of manufacturing, and hence, manufacturing jobs, have moved overseas, many of the engineers are still located in the U.S. The U.S. Department of Labor bears out Carter's claim, estimating over a quarter of a million mechanical engineering positions filled in this occupation as of May 2012.
Next step: Click to Find the Right Mechanical Engineering Program.
Better yet, "the need to replace outdated heavy machinery with new and safer equipment keeps mechanical engineers in high demand and job placement post-graduation equally high relative to other fields," according to Williams.
Potential Career:** Mechanical Engineer
They may not design buildings, but what about the things that go inside those buildings, like air conditioners, escalators, elevators, and refrigerators? Mechanical engineers design these and many other products, according to the Department of Labor. Being able to imagine a product and create the design that brings it to life is pretty cool, which may be why the Department projects that 269,700 of these workers will be employed by 2022.

Not-So-Cool Degree: Bachelor's in Film, Video, and Photographic Arts

Unemployment Rate for Recent Grads:* 11.4 percent
Watch movies for college credit? What's not to love, right? Wrong, again.
Overrated Factors: Consider the fact that film studies majors have a tough go at finding jobs post-grad, particularly, Williams says, if they don't come from prestigious programs.
The problem with a film studies degree, according to Carter, is that it's an oversaturated degree. Many people will graduate with this diploma because of its popularity, and unfortunately, there aren't that many jobs available for graduates and there is no real job security.
"You work on a film and once it is over there are no guarantees that there will be another one to work on," says Carter. "With colleges averaging $50,000 a year, it is just not practical to go into this line of work if you have student loans, housing, etc. to pay for."
Furthermore, she says, this major is one of those fields where true success can be a longshot. "The student must be willing to commit to a long road filled with low paying project-based work or administrative duties until they meet the right person who can open doors for them."

Cooler Degree: Bachelor's in Criminal Justice

Find Programs Unemployment Rate for Recent Grads:* 8.9 percent
Why not parlay your love of film - and cop dramas and heist movies - into studying the real thing by earning a criminal justice degree, which comes with a significantly lower unemployment rate?
"Crime is unfortunately a phenomenon that isn't going away in our society, so there will always be a need for qualified corrections officers, police officers, and FBI agents," says Williams.
Next step: Click to Find the Right Criminal Justice Program.
And with crime and other criminal justice issues becoming more complicated, someone with just a high school diploma can't do it, says Carter, so it's best to earn this degree to be at the forefront of the field.
Potential Career:** Police or Sheriff's Patrol Officer
If you're looking for a career to pursue after earning your bachelor's in criminal justice, what' s cooler than a police officer? The subject of countless T.V. shows and movies, police and sheriff's patrol officers are the heroes who enforce laws and respond to emergencies. And there doesn't appear to be any shortage down the road when it comes to job openings, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, which projects 692,700 jobs in this field by 2022.

Not-So-Cool Degree:
Bachelor's in Political Science

Unemployment Rate for Recent Grads:* 11.1 percent
Television shows have glamorized the entire spectrum of political science, from the counterterrorism of "Homeland" to the inside baseball politicking of "House of Cards." It may seem like a political science degree is a one-way ticket to power and influence.
Overrated Factors: According to Carter, political science may be seen as an overrated degree because it can be difficult for employers to gauge what skills graduates actually bring to the table.
"Companies do not have the time or resources to teach skills that one could learn in an undergrad program," she says, so the 'political savvy' that political science majors may learn often isn't as attractive as what those who major in business, engineering, marketing, and so on, learn - concrete, on-the-job skill sets and principles.

Cooler Degree: Bachelor's in Business Management and Administration

Find Programs Unemployment Rate for Recent Grads:* 7.8 percent
Politics is just the business of government, right? So if you're thinking about political science, consider thinking more broadly about your major by studying business management, a field that shows no signs of slowing down with its much lower unemployment rate.
"A degree in business management provides a very broad business education in accounting, finance, and marketing," says Williams, meaning your degree has the extra benefit of qualifying you to pursue entry-level positions in any of these fields. "Organizations look for people with these skills to place them in operation-type roles for the purpose of grooming them for leadership positions."
Next step: Click to Find the Right Business Administration Program.
Carter agrees, saying, "Regardless of what career path one takes, business is a good foundation to have."
Potential Career:** Top Executive
You may never become President of the United States, but many top executives are presidents and vice presidents of their own companies. Top executives use their management skills to carry out organizational goals, manage general activities related to providing goods or services, and consult about general operations, among other duties, says the U.S. Department of Labor.
While business administration majors can't usually expect to become top executives right out of school, with this degree, you do have the opportunity to pursue management positions that could potentially open up opportunities to try to climb the corporate ladder.
And if you're interested in this cool job, you're not alone. The Department of Labor anticipates 2,564,700 people in top executive positions by 2022.

Not-So-Cool Degree: Bachelor's in Commercial Art and Graphic Design

Unemployment Rate for Recent Grads:* 10.5 percent
If you've ever seen a really cool advertisement or a web page that seems to pop off the screen, you may have thought about how much fun it would be to study commercial art and graphic design.
Overrated Factors: With its high unemployment rate, this degree may leave you doing more watching of ads than creating them.
Graphic design is a dicey major when it comes to employment prospects because much of the work is on a freelance or self-employment basis rather than full-time jobs with benefits. "There is just not that much work out there and a lot of it involves more web design, so a 'pure' graphic designer (one who doesn't design specifically for websites) will not be very marketable," says Carter.
Williams agrees. "This degree is probably more suited for people interested in freelance or self-employment," he says. "Organizations are less willing to carry the overhead of a graphic designer, but they are willing to engage them on a project basis."
His advice? "To be marketable and employable, a graphic designer will need to demonstrate web programming or project management skills," says Williams.

Cooler Degree: Bachelor's in Computer Science

Find Programs Unemployment Rate for Recent Grads:* 8.7 percent
Chances are, if you love graphic design, you spend a great deal of time on your desktop and are pretty skilled with software. How about channeling all that computer savvy into a computer science degree?
While facility with computers has been a valued asset for some time, new technological advances in intelligent products make computer science skills even more important.
Next step: Click to Find the Right Computer Science Program.
"(Artificial Intelligence) is no longer for the geeks," says Williams. "Consumers are purchasing products that are intuitive, from cars to homes. Computer science majors acquire the skills to research, design and develop intuitive systems that are not only used in industry but have now found themselves in our homes and our lives."
Potential Career:** Software Developer, Applications
Some of the apps that we have today for our various computer devices are pretty amazing. So what could be cooler than designing them for a living? Applications software developers are the new rock stars of the tech world. They make great money (a median salary of over $90,000 a year, according to the U.S. Department of Labor), and there's plenty of work available, with a Department of Labor-projected 752,900 applications software developers working by 2022.

Not-So-Cool Degree: Bachelor's in Fine Arts

Unemployment Rate for Recent Grads:* 10.1 percent
Ah, to live the life of a bohemian artist, spending hours painting, drawing, even gallivanting around campus and documenting it in photographs. What could be a cooler way to feed your creative soul?
Overrated Factors: While majoring in fine arts may be great for creative expression, it may be better left as a hobby. As with other liberal arts majors, employers often find it difficult to assess where the skills of a fine arts major would apply in an organization, so it's up to the graduate to market themselves accordingly, says Williams.
If you use your fine arts degree to go the route of curator, gallery owner, or arts administrator, there is an overall lack of opportunity and positions in this field as a whole. "There are a finite number of openings and many tend to stay with their organizations for years," says Carter. "So unless someone wants to do the junior work for a good chunk of their career until their boss retires then this is not worth it."

Cooler Degree: Bachelor's in Marketing and Marketing Research

Find Programs Unemployment Rate for Recent Grads:* 6.6 percent
Going down the artist path with your fine arts degree, whether painter, photographer, or otherwise, has its own set of challenges. "This is truly a labor of love and it can take a considerable amount of time to become established as an artist with a credible portfolio," says Williams. Again, 'job' is a relative term here, too, he says, as you might find yourself self-employed and jobless until you get an exhibition or sell some of your works.
If you can combine your interests with a practical degree program like marketing, Carter says you've got a winning formula for employment prospects.
Next step: Click to Find the Right Marketing Program.
"With the economy taking off again, companies have been ramping up their marketing efforts," says Carter, and from her perspective as a recruiter, they are looking for recent marketing grads. "The older Fortune 500 companies lost many consumers due to start-ups really embracing social media as a marketing tool. Microbreweries, niche companies, you name it, have capitalized on all the ways you can market, but they need marketing graduates."
Potential Career:** Market Research Analyst
Wouldn't it be cool to figure out why people want certain products and what people are willing to pay for them? According to the U.S. Department of Labor, there is an increasing use of research on consumer behavior by companies for the purposes of developing better market strategies. Perhaps this is why the Department projects 131,500 new jobs in this field from 2012-2022.

Degrees You Can Earn on Your Lunch Break

Source: Yahoo

Here are five degrees that you can work into your busy schedule.

By Terri Williams

If you're like most people, you lead a busy life, and trying to schedule time to go to school may seem like an impossibility. While it may be your desire to earn a degree - or an additional degree - you don't see how you can add anything else to your plate. And quitting your job to attend school is not an option.
Online education may not be the right choice for everyone, but the flexibility online learning provides can be appealing to many busy individuals. "The advent of online education has opened doors to students who otherwise would not have been able to pursue a degree due to time and location barriers," according to Curt Bonk, a professor of instructional systems technology at Indiana University, who points out that potential students may be adults with jobs, families or other demands on their time.
Fortunately, online options could allow you to do coursework during your lunch break, after work, on weekends, or whenever you can find free time.
So if you thought it was impossible to go to school while maintaining your lifestyle, keep reading to discover five degrees designed for your busy schedule.

Online Degree #1: Bachelor's in Computer Science

Find Degree Programs You might use a computer all day at work without ever getting to understand its true capabilities. That could all change if you work in computer science classes online at lunch. You could learn about the inner language of computers, including classes in program design and artificial intelligence, according to the College Board, an organization which helps millions of students get ready for college with programs and services like the SAT and the Advanced Placement program.
The Convenience Factor: Why is this one to consider pursuing on your lunch break? Because the curriculum is technology-focused, and the online learning environment is comparable to on-campus classes, says Professor Raghu Santanam of the information systems department at the W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University.
Next step: Click to Find the Right Computer Science Program.
He explains that students can upload their presentation videos and follow up with interactive discussions among classmates on discussion boards, all of which is convenient for those with busy schedules.
Even if students can only study in short spurts of time, they can still pursue this popular degree. "Since a variety of delivery mechanisms can be used to enrich the learning experience, students can work at their own pace," says Santanam.

Potential Career: Computer Programmer*

Median Annual Salary:

$76,140**

90th Percentile of Annual Salaries:

>$123,490**

10th Percentile of Annual Salaries:

<$43,640**

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, most computer programmers do have a computer science bachelor's degree, or a degree in a related subject. As a computer programmer, you could put your familiarity with computers to use by working closely with software developers to create new software programs; writing code, expanding and debugging existing software, and making use of code libraries.

Online Degree #2: Bachelor's in Accounting

Find Degree Programs If you love crunching numbers but you're already crunched for time, you may still be able to calculate some free time in your spare hours to study for an online bachelor's degree in accounting, where you might engage in classes in tax accounting, cost accounting, and auditing, reports the College Board.
The Convenience Factor: And why should you consider studying accounting online? "Accounting also has a heavy emphasis on software and financial models," says Bonk. "And since these software programs can be stopped and started again, depending on the student's availability, information can be reviewed whenever students have time."
Next step: Click to Find the Right Accounting Program.
Since accounting deals with concrete numbers and established practices, it could be a lot easier to pursue this degree in an online format: "An online accounting degree teaches the basics of auditing, taxation, and other financial subjects," says Bonk. These types of classes are ideal for students who cannot commit to large blocks of study time."

Potential Career: Accountant*

Median Annual Salary:

$65,080**

90th Percentile of Annual Salaries:

>$113,740**

10th Percentile of Annual Salaries:

<$40,370**

An accountant position could be the perfect place to bring your number-crunching skills to life. The U.S. Department of Labor tells us that most accountants need at the least a bachelor's degree in accounting or a related field. Accountants maintain and organize financial records, assess financial operations, compute taxes, inspect account books, and examine financial statements for accuracy.

Online Degree #3: Bachelor's in Elementary Education

Find Degree Programs If you spend your workday wondering how you could pass on your knowledge to young minds, consider setting aside time during your lunch break to pursue an online bachelor's degree in elementary education, where you might learn such things as teaching methods, instructional technology, and educational psychology, according to the College Board.
The Convenience Factor: What makes elementary education appropriate for online study? Due to the format of this degree, this course of study is ideal for those in a time crunch. Bonk says that these types of classes don't have labs and they don't involve heavy scientific studies, which would require longer periods of study time.
Next step: Click to Find the Right Education Program.
Even if time is in short supply, you can still grasp the concepts of this online major, which can also include classes in the history of education, classroom management, and child development, says Bonk.

Potential Career: Elementary School Teacher*

Median Annual Salary:

$53,590**

90th Percentile of Annual Salaries:

>$83,600**

10th Percentile of Annual Salaries:

<$35,760**

Some online learners may decide to pass on their learning to the next generation as elementary school teachers. Elementary school teachers in public education must have a state certification or license and a bachelor's degree in elementary education, says the U.S. Department of Labor. In some states they may be required to major in a specific content area such as science or math. They will also typically take a teacher preparation program at their university for classes in child psychology and education. Some states may require teachers to earn a master's degree after certification.

Online Degree #4: Master's in Business Administration

Find Degree Programs If you can execute your business management skills by managing your free time to study, you could pursue an online master's in business administration and potentially prepare to gain a competitive edge in the business world.
Business administration students with a concentration in marketing may study general business and management skills, as well as learning skills in branding, consumer behavior, and advertising, according to the Princeton Review, a leader in college and graduate school test preparation services.
The Convenience Factor: Is an MBA really something to study online? At first glance, it may appear that an MBA is not an ideal choice for an online degree. However, "It's much easier to learn management and leadership skills in an online setting, as opposed to learning medical procedures or another subject that would require a higher level of long-term concentration," says Bonk.
Next step: Click to Find the Right Business Administration Program.
As a result, you can still pursue your degree while juggling your busy schedule. "Students can read and study in spurts, and still be able to grasp the concepts of business administration," explains Bonk. "They can develop business plans, and learn such concepts as team-building and entrepreneurship while working at their own pace."

Potential Career: Financial Analyst*

Median Annual Salary:

$78,380**

90th Percentile of Annual Salaries:

>$152,420**

10th Percentile of Annual Salaries:

<$48,100**

Business skills can definitely be put to good use by financial analysts, who offer guidance to both businesses and individuals as they make investment decisions. The U.S. Department of Labor explains that most positions in this field require a bachelor's degree, with appropriate preparation coming in fields of study such as economics, finance, mathematics, statistics, accounting, and engineering. The Department of Labor also points out that employers will often require a master's in business administration or a master's degree in finance for advanced positions.

Online Degree #5: Master's in Psychology

Find Degree Programs If you're intrigued by the connection between the human mind and human behavior, consider analyzing how much spare time you have to pursue an online master's degree in psychology. Master's degree programs in psychology typically have courses such as statistics, research design, and industrial-organizational psychology, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.
The Convenience Factor: What about the nature of this major makes it suitable for online study? "A master's degree in psychology can be applied to almost any career field and is well suited for online education," says Kristi Cordell-McNulty, assistant professor and director of the M.S. program in applied psychology in the department of psychology, sociology, and social work at Angelo State University. "Since psychology deals with theories, it's the type of information that you can digest in small segments of time."
Next step: Click to Find the Right Psychology Program.
Cordell-McNulty adds that students can review case studies and perform other types of research online, which can then be saved and viewed at the student's convenience.

Potential Career: Industrial/Organizational Psychologist*

Median Annual Salary:

$80,330**

90th Percentile of Annual Salaries:

>$140,390**

10th Percentile of Annual Salaries:

<$49,570**

If you're interested in applying psychological principles to the workplace, you should know that industrial-organizational psychologists do just that, according to the Department of Labor. These workers use research methods and psychological concepts to improve work life quality. A graduate with a master's degree in psychology can work as an industrial-organizational psychologist, the Department of Labor adds.