- The first key to deciding on a valuable college degree is to choose a profession rather than a subject. Unfortunately, after going to school through 12 grades students are programmed to think in subjects. Students think, "I like math so I will major in that." But just studying math or psychology or physics only prepares you to teach math, psychology or physics and only then if you get an advanced degree. To get a good paying job you need to specialize. Study something that leads directly to a job rather than just studying a subject.
- To find a good paying job that uses math you should major in a practical skill like engineering. Engineer salaries are typically one of the highest, depending on the type of engineering you choose. Petroleum engineers had the highest median salary among all engineers at $108,020. Second was nuclear and computer hardware engineers at about $97,000 each, followed closely by aerospace engineers at $92,520. Other engineers earned less, with the lowest being agricultural engineers at $68,730, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics in a 2008 survey.
- "Employment is expected to grow much faster than the average, and job prospects should be excellent" in the computers and computer networking field, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In a 2008 bureau salary survey the median annual salary of computer network, systems and database administrators ranged from $50,000 to $70,000 with high income individuals earning over $100,000.
- In today's world, there are all types of specialists. The more you specialize the more you can earn. Getting an advanced degree in a specialty can improve your chances of a higher paying job just as a medical specialist earns more than a regular physician. In the 2008 Bureau of Labor Statistics salary survey, the median salary for practicing primary care physicians was $186,044 while the median salary for a specialist was $339,738.
next post