Business books, Web sites, seminars--all vie for your attention when it comes to offering advice on building a successful career. Everyone's looking for an edge these days. But no matter where you turn, the bottom-line secret to launching, establishing, and growing a lifelong pursuit is already common knowledge: Go to school, return to school, and keep learning if you want to be competitive.
While the cash value of a college degree can be intangible for years, there are fewer investments in yourself that bring as consistent a return as your education. College grads, an investigation by National Public Radio reveals, bring home twice the income of non-graduates. More than half of today's graduating high school students enter college, and the more education they receive influences lifelong earnings.
The Census Bureau found that the highest earnings were coupled with the highest levels of educational attainment. Graduates who hold a bachelor's degree earn nearly twice the lifelong earnings over workers who only have a high school diploma. Those holding master's degrees earn even more, and those who attain a PhD earn on average $2.4 million more than high school graduates.
Start with an Associate's Degree
If you're considering a two-year associate's degree to launch your career or to begin training for a career change, you can start earning a good salary straight away. Look at these choices:
- Registered Nurses
RN's can train for a great career in as little as two years in an online associate's degree program. You can improve your chances for advancement by returning to college for a bachelor's degree in nursing. In 2008, registered nurses earned a median annual wage of $62,450, with top-end salaries above $92,000.
- Computer Support Specialists
Quick to train, quick to advance, these IT beginners make up one of the fastest-growing professions that require only an associate's degree. Once on the job, you can always enroll in an online college for a bachelor's degree or advanced software certifications to advance to top earnings. Median 2008 earnings were $43,450, with top earners taking home more than $70,000.
Step Up to a Bachelor's Degree
If you've already broken into your field with a two-year degree, why not complete your bachelor's to remain competitive? Consider these careers that are powered by grads from four-year college degree programs:
- Interior Designers
With the Department of Labor predicting a strong 19 percent increase in interior design jobs between 2006 and 2016, it's a good time to complete a bachelor's degree in interior design. More than a quarter of all designers are self-employed, which means career flexibility. The 2008 median annual wage averaged $44,950, but the top end earnings of $82,750 suggests a solid return on your educational investment.
- Hospitality Managers
Lodging and hospitality managers earned upwards of $84,000 in 2008. Toss in benefits (lodging, dining, travel discounts) and a management job with a hotel, resort, cruise ship, or convention company looks like a solid career option. You can take classes online and start your career with an internship while you study.
Complete Your Master's Degree
If you've been working in your field for awhile but can't seem to move up, consider returning to college for your master's degree. Post-grad programs can boost you into management, sales, marketing, health care, and education roles that pay solid wages or bonuses.
- Education Administrators
Say you're a teacher that has hit the earnings ceiling. Return to college for an online degree in education administration and prepare for a principal's job or a leadership position with your school district. The annual median earnings for elementary and secondary school administrators were $83,880 in 2008.
- Personal Financial Advisors
Make a great living telling other people what to do with their money. If you already have an undergraduate degree in accounting, business, or finance, consider signing up for an online M.B.A. degree. With jobs for personal financial advisors predicted to rise by 37 percent during the 2006-2016 decade, prospects look bright. Median earnings in 2008 were nearly $70,000, with top salaries and bonuses topping six figures.
- Physical Therapists
The work is physical, but you can combine training with online classes to complete your master's degree program. With a 27 percent increase in jobs through 2016, physical therapists will be in prime demand. They earned a median annual wage of $72,790 (and top earnings around $104,350) in 2008, which sounds like a solid return on your tuition and books.
