Many people associate high-paying jobs with years of post-college training, advanced degrees, and titles like Ph.D. or Dr. The truth is, while some careers do require extensive preparation, others are attainable with a four-year bachelor's degree. Below are some professions that are not only on the rise, but have average annual salaries exceeding $70,000. These careers generally only require a bachelor's degree to get started.
Physician Assistant
Physician Assistants, or PAs, are common sights in hospitals these days. Working under the supervision of a physician or surgeon, these formally trained health care professionals perform some of the same duties as a doctor. They see and diagnose patients, look at and evaluate X-rays, take medical histories, and more.
Average Annual Salary: $81,610 as of May 2008.
Career Training: According to the American Academy of Physician Assistants, the average PA program takes 26.4 months to complete and results in either a bachelor's or associate's degree. Programs offering bachelor's degrees require two years of college coursework to be completed prior to admission. Increasingly, many programs offer a master's option as well.
Job Outlook: With health care establishments looking to cut costs by using physician assistants to perform some of the regular duties and routines of physicians, their employment is on the rise. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts "much faster than average" job growth between now and 2016.
Environmental Engineer
Environmental engineers play a part in all aspects of environmental control and problem solving. They participate in preventative solutions as well as evaluation and cleanup of existing problems like air and water pollution. Recycling, waste disposal, and public health issues are all areas that an environmental engineer would be likely to tackle.
Average Annual Salary: $77,970.
Career Training: A bachelor's degree in engineering is commonly required for entry-level positions. Most programs offer specialized training in a particular area of engineering. Continuing education is very important for engineers to keep up with the latest technology.
Job Outlook: Environmental engineers are predicted to see the fastest job growth of all the engineering specialties. While engineering as a whole is expected to see average job growth at 11 percent, environmental engineers are predicted to grow by 25 percent during the next decade.
Computer Software Engineers
Computer software engineers rank among the best paying and fastest growing careers for bachelor's degree holders. Computer software and systems are developed, designed, and tested by computer software engineers. This career is usually broken down into two specialties: applications software and systems software.
Physician Assistant
Physician Assistants, or PAs, are common sights in hospitals these days. Working under the supervision of a physician or surgeon, these formally trained health care professionals perform some of the same duties as a doctor. They see and diagnose patients, look at and evaluate X-rays, take medical histories, and more.
Average Annual Salary: $81,610 as of May 2008.
Career Training: According to the American Academy of Physician Assistants, the average PA program takes 26.4 months to complete and results in either a bachelor's or associate's degree. Programs offering bachelor's degrees require two years of college coursework to be completed prior to admission. Increasingly, many programs offer a master's option as well.
Job Outlook: With health care establishments looking to cut costs by using physician assistants to perform some of the regular duties and routines of physicians, their employment is on the rise. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts "much faster than average" job growth between now and 2016.
Environmental Engineer
Environmental engineers play a part in all aspects of environmental control and problem solving. They participate in preventative solutions as well as evaluation and cleanup of existing problems like air and water pollution. Recycling, waste disposal, and public health issues are all areas that an environmental engineer would be likely to tackle.
Average Annual Salary: $77,970.
Career Training: A bachelor's degree in engineering is commonly required for entry-level positions. Most programs offer specialized training in a particular area of engineering. Continuing education is very important for engineers to keep up with the latest technology.
Job Outlook: Environmental engineers are predicted to see the fastest job growth of all the engineering specialties. While engineering as a whole is expected to see average job growth at 11 percent, environmental engineers are predicted to grow by 25 percent during the next decade.
Computer Software Engineers
Computer software engineers rank among the best paying and fastest growing careers for bachelor's degree holders. Computer software and systems are developed, designed, and tested by computer software engineers. This career is usually broken down into two specialties: applications software and systems software.
Average Annual Salary: $77,970.
Career Training: A bachelor's degree in computer engineering or computer science will offer the best possibilities for success. Like other technology-oriented careers, staying on top of changing technology through continuing education is important to surviving and thriving in the field.
Job Outlook: This career is expected to generate 324,000 new jobs over the coming decade, which means 38 percent job growth.
First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives
If coordinating chaotic schedules and planning activities for hundreds of officers and detectives sounds like a challenge you're up for, then becoming a police and detective supervisor might be an ideal position for you. Managerial and people skills go a long way in a profession like this one, as well as, of course, an interest in law enforcement and crime prevention.
Career Training: Many supervisors begin as police and detectives themselves. College training in police science may prove particularly relevant and helpful for police and detective supervisors. A bachelor's degree can offer an added advantage in the field.
Average Annual Salary: $76,820.
Job Outlook: Overall job growth for police and detectives is about 11 percent, or as fast as average. There is always a need for qualified professionals to keep the public safe.
Art Director
Art direction is a great career for combining artistic talent with managerial skills. Art directors oversee graphic designers in creating the artwork, layout, and other visual aspects of media. They may work for advertising agencies, book or magazine publishers, or online media outlets.
Average Annual Salary: $88,510 as of May 2008.
Career Training: A bachelor's degree in visual arts, especially with an emphasis on graphic design, is a common background for art directors.
Job Outlook: 16 percent growth is expected for the industry as a whole. Those with multi-media experience may have an added advantage.
Of course no degree can guarantee a particular job or salary, but hitting the books for four years will get you to that 70k mark quicker than doing nothing will.
Job Outlook: This career is expected to generate 324,000 new jobs over the coming decade, which means 38 percent job growth.
First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives
If coordinating chaotic schedules and planning activities for hundreds of officers and detectives sounds like a challenge you're up for, then becoming a police and detective supervisor might be an ideal position for you. Managerial and people skills go a long way in a profession like this one, as well as, of course, an interest in law enforcement and crime prevention.
Career Training: Many supervisors begin as police and detectives themselves. College training in police science may prove particularly relevant and helpful for police and detective supervisors. A bachelor's degree can offer an added advantage in the field.
Average Annual Salary: $76,820.
Job Outlook: Overall job growth for police and detectives is about 11 percent, or as fast as average. There is always a need for qualified professionals to keep the public safe.
Art Director
Art direction is a great career for combining artistic talent with managerial skills. Art directors oversee graphic designers in creating the artwork, layout, and other visual aspects of media. They may work for advertising agencies, book or magazine publishers, or online media outlets.
Average Annual Salary: $88,510 as of May 2008.
Career Training: A bachelor's degree in visual arts, especially with an emphasis on graphic design, is a common background for art directors.
Job Outlook: 16 percent growth is expected for the industry as a whole. Those with multi-media experience may have an added advantage.
Of course no degree can guarantee a particular job or salary, but hitting the books for four years will get you to that 70k mark quicker than doing nothing will.
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