High Paying Jobs by Señor K
Check out these five fields of work that guarantee a six figure salary...
Do you dream of a life of luxury? Don’t be embarrassed to say ‘yes.’ Wanting the most from life is nothing to be ashamed of--not that material purchases buy happiness, in fact most studies say they don’t, but being rich definitely allows a freedom from not worrying about money and instead focusing on having fun and enjoying life. That being said, you will have to work super hard to make that kind of money in today’s economy so here are some career opportunities that often start at salaries of over $100,000 a year. Note too that many of these jobs require a hefty amount of schooling which may demand student loans be taken out. Not to worry, most studies show that student debt in these fields gets paid off reasonably quickly due to the high salaries they offer upon graduation.
Law
If you like to problem-solve, help people, or just plain like to argue; a profession in the law may be a good career choice. Lawyer salaries vary, but most make well over $100,000 annually with the top lawyers making over $500,000. To enter this field requires a bachelor’s degree as a well as a JD (a juris doctorate) which you get by completing 3 years of law school. All of this schooling adds up to a lot of work, but it pays off by offering a career that rewards with excellent pay and job satisfaction. Lots of specialization can be found in the field of law; for example nature lovers can focus on environmental and water law, social justice proponents can focus on criminal law where they defend or prosecute law-breakers, and those who love the chase of big business can be corporate lawyers for major companies like Apple or Sketchers. This last category tends to offer the highest overall salaries, but almost all law professions offer competitive pay that will provide for a pretty luxurious lifestyle. Job growth in this field is projected to be above 8% so the outlook for employment in this field is excellent.
Medicine
In the next ten years, a sizable portion of America’s population will be over 65 years of age. The Baby Boomers-- the Generation of Americans that were born following World War II--number an astonishing 73 million people, and they will demand lots and lots of health care. From nursing homes and nurses to Physicians assistants, anesthesiologists and general practice doctors, the health care needs of this generation are wide. Job growth in the field of medicine is predicted to grow at a rate of over 12%, and salaries in many medical fields are rising.
It used to be that doctors made all the money and nurses and other support staff were lower on the pay ladder. That may still be the case, but nurse salaries now average over $105,000 annually and anesthesiologists (the folks that put patients to sleep during operations) averaging over $200,000. Other well-paying career options in the field include dentistry, physician’s assistant (like a half nurse, half doctor), medical school professors, and healthcare administrative service managers-- folks who help run hospitals and health insurance companies--which is a good choice if you like the field of medicine but get squeamish around needles and blood.
All of these career options require at least a bachelor’s degree and then usually some sort of graduate degree. Nurses go to nursing school, doctors go to medical school, and even administrators will often get a master’s degree in health care administration. Not to worry though, all this schoolin pays off as you end up with that not only pays well but helps others in their time of need.
Computing and IT
Knowledge of computer science and programming can lead to a huge variety of job opportunities in the field of information technology. And most of those jobs start around $100,000 a year! There are coders, cyber security experts, robot engineers, chip designers, technical support troubleshooters, and more.
Many workers in this industry begin with a degree in computer science but others train themselves and get certified in specific coding languages using online training programs. While many may fantasize about working for a big tech company like Google or Facebook, others will take advantage of working remotely and live in far off destinations like the beaches of Thailand or the jungles of Costa Rica.
One worker we interviewed basically spends his whole day surfing then works from 4pm to midnight writing code for his clients around the world. With technology increasing everyday in both complexity and performance, the need for experts in this field is predicted to explode with growth.
So, next time your Mom or Dad tells you to get off the computer you can tell them you are training for a high paying career in IT.
Accounting
Accountants basically help individuals and companies keep track of their money. Firms like Nike and McDonald’s make decisions based on knowing where they are making money and where they are losing money and accountants provide that knowledge. To enter this field, one has to complete a college degree and pass the CPA (certified public accountant) exam which is a pretty brutal test. An advantage is that once you pass that test you can go work for a company whose values you support--for example if sports is your thing you can go to work for a sporting goods company or a professional team.
All companies need their money accounted for, so there are lots and lots of accounting jobs out there. Overall you will need to refine your skills in mathematics to enter this profession and be willing to occasionally work really long hours, like during tax season. Still the pay is terrific and this is a job that can’t be outsourced to a robot so the future of working in the field looks bright.
No College Degree
While college degrees almost always lead to higher long term salaries; there are a few careers that don’t require a college degree but can often still lead to a healthy paycheck. Most of them still require a decent amount of training but if hitting the books in college isn’t your thing you might consider some of these options….
Police Officer- Entering this field requires graduating from a local police academy course as well on-the-job training. Salaries start out around $50,000 annually and can top out at over $100,000 for detectives and supervisors. Of course, this work can be dangerous as you are dealing with criminals and dangerous situations but there is also the fulfilling feeling that you are dedicating your life to making your community a safer place.
Commercial Pilot - If you love the skies and the thrill of flight you may enjoy a career in aviation. To be a pilot you need to enroll in flight school and complete a certain number of ‘flying hours’ to reach various levels of pilot certification. Most pilots don’t start out flying big 747s to Japan rather they work their way up by first flying helicopters and private jets before moving up to flying for airlines.
Elevator Repairman- Handy with tools? Do you like to fix things? It may sound old school, but elevator repairman is a great paying job that is often unionized which means solid benefits as well. Entering the field requires completing an apprenticeship program which is a mix of on the job training and classroom lessons. Not only is there growth predicted in this field but salaries start around $70,000 a year and top out at over $100,000.