| Choosing a Profession with a High Return on | | | | experience and prove their skill. |
| Investment | | | | Teaching: You may not have thought of teaching |
| If you’ve ever thought about going to college, | | | | as offering a high return on investment. When |
| you know that paying for it can be a costly | | | | John Quakerfield first contemplated a teaching |
| investment. Besides paying for tuition and books, | | | | career, he wanted to make a difference in the |
| you also have to factor in that you won’t be | | | | lives of young children, but didn’t expect to |
| earning full-time wages while in school. So you | | | | get rich doing it. He was surprised at the starting |
| want to make sure that if you go back to school, | | | | salaries of teachers in his area. “I started off |
| you’ll have a high return on investment. | | | | earning $34,000 a year, and within a few years |
| Getting bang on your college buck means - | | | | had worked up to $45,000,” said John. |
| choosing to study for a profession that will pay | | | | “And I’m doing something I love.” |
| off in the long run. The following professions all | | | | Engineering: Many people are surprised to find out |
| require a 4-year university degree, but salaries | | | | that to become an engineer only requires a |
| and opportunities for advancement varies greatly. | | | | 4-year degree. The course load is difficult and |
| Here are five professions that have a high ROI: | | | | very intensive, but after four years, graduates |
| Nursing: In the next 10 years, Americans will face | | | | can expect high starting salaries and a very good |
| a critical nursing shortage as many nurses retire | | | | job market. The average starting salary for |
| and aging baby-boomers require more nursing | | | | engineers is the highest on our list, at $63,000, |
| care. Already, nurses command a high salary, with | | | | with many engineers earning over $100,000 after |
| wages starting around $39,000, and averaging | | | | working in the field for a few years. |
| $65,000 a year. Nursing graduates will have no | | | | Accounting: Accounting is another profession that |
| problem getting hired, and will largely be able to | | | | requires only a 4-year degree to receive a |
| choose when and where they work. | | | | professional designation. Accountants enjoy regular |
| Construction Management: Construction | | | | hours, and many have the option to work |
| management is an often over-looked college | | | | remotely and from home. Accounting grads can |
| degree. In the past, many construction managers | | | | expect a starting salary of around $42,000 per |
| started working in construction right out of high | | | | year, with Accountant managers averaging |
| school, and gradually worked their way up to | | | | salaries in the low six-figures. |
| management. Today, it is a real advantage to gain | | | | If you are looking for your college degree to earn |
| the experience and credibility that comes with a | | | | you the best return on investment, consider |
| degree. Construction managers average $30,000 | | | | studying these majors when thinking about your |
| to $40,000 per year when they first start out, | | | | future profession. |
| but can easily earn a six-figure salary as they gain | | | | |