Earn a Six-Figure Salary with these In-demand JobsIt seems like every other day there is something on the news saying that college degrees aren’t worth it for students. If that really was true, why do most job postings from companies have “degree preferred” or “must have at least a bachelor’s degree” in the education portion of their ads?
Degrees may not have been a top requirement 20-30 years ago, but in today’s fast-paced business world, your education credentials are almost as important as your experience. So let’s take a look at 7 of the hottest six-figure jobs available today and the degrees necessary to get there.
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Unless otherwise noted, all statistics and relevant information comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2012-13 Edition.
Advertising Manager
In order to achieve this position, a bachelor’s degree in advertising, journalism or marketing are required. This individual usually works inside of an advertising agency. Their job is to create a buzz among potential buyers of the product they are assigned by creating different types of campaigns (TV, print and online). Advertising managers may also work inside of radio and TV stations and help put together campaigns to run locally in conjunction with a brand’s national campaign. The advertising manager’s responsibility isn’t just campaign planning, it also involves managing creative and sales team members. They also normally partner with the financing department for budgetary and cost purposes. Estimates for job growth from 2010-2020 for Advertising Management is around 14% with a median salary of over $108,000.
Marketing and Promotions Manager
Positions for marketing and promotions managers usually require at least a bachelor’s degree in fields such as marketing, art and design, graphic design or journalism. It’s also a good idea to take courses in statistics, finance and media planning. The job of a Marketing Manager is to research the competition and know the demands of your audience.
The Promotion Manager’s focus is slightly different from a Marketing Manager’s as they usually team up a marketing campaign with an incentive – hence promotion being in their job title. Both types of managers are responsible for working with various departments, including creative and finance, as well as product development and public relations team members from within or outside of their agency. Job growth for both management positions is expected to grow 14% by 2020, and the median salary for both positions range between $108,000 and $122,000. The top 10% of earners earned over $166,400 in 2010.
Architectural and Engineering Managers
In order to get to this stage in their career, architectural and engineering managers usually have at least a bachelor’s degree in architecture or engineering, as well as a good deal of experience (about 5 years) working in the field. They may even have a master’s degree in engineering management (MEM) or a master’s in business administrations (MBA) to enhance their management and planning skills. The responsibilities of architectural and engineering managers vary all the way from project management to improving processes in manufacturing and design all the way to developing new products or designs. The projected job growth from now until 2020 is estimated at 9% with a current median salary of $119,260.
Computer and Information Systems Managers
Responsibilities required for these types of managerial positions vary, but they are all related in one way or another and may even fall under a secondary management title called Information Technology Manager. The responsibilities of a manager in this field range from planning and coordinating to directing the computer and technology needs of an organization. Although a bachelor’s degree in information science or computer science is recommended, most managers in this field have a graduate degree as well (many leading brick and mortar universities are offering master’s degrees in computer science online as well as on campus). This is not a position one can just jump into with a degree alone, they will need at least five years of experience as well. Job growth projections from now until 2020 are an impressive 18% and the median salary as of 2010 was $115,780.
Financial Managers
If playing with numbers, creating reports and investing are of interest to you, check out financial management. These managers are responsible for everything from keeping an organization afloat financially and making sure payments are paid on time to making the right investments. Most financial managers have at least five years of experience working in positions such as accounting, auditing, financial analysis, or in a banking institution as a loan officer or financial planner. They also have at least a bachelor’s degree in finance or business. Projected job growth from between now and 2020 is around 9%, and the current median salary is $103,910 with earners in the top 10% earning more than $166,400.
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Natural Sciences Managers
The job of a Natural Sciences Manager is never dull. If they aren’t overseeing a research project they are developing one, or they are the supervising scientists, chemists, physicists or biologists who work under them. Their responsibilities may also include performing testing and quality control procedures. The education background for this type of managerial role requires at the very least a bachelor’s degree in a related science field, although a Ph. D. is recommended. While job growth in this field is slow at 8%, the median salary more than makes up for it at $116,020.
Petroleum Engineers
This growing field is one that is taking on even more importance as the United States strives to develop its own programs to break away from foreign oil dependence. This type of engineer is responsible for designing and developing methods that will extract oil and gas from deposits under the earth’s surface. Their main objective is also to improve and find new ways to extract the deposits as cleanly as possible. In previous years, bachelor’s degrees in engineering were required. However, a steady number of universities are providing petroleum engineering degrees to cater to the development and advancement of the industry. As you might have suspected, job growth in the field is above average and is expected to hit 17% by 2020. The median pay as of 2010 was also impressive at $114,080, with the top 10% earners making over $166,000 annually.
Most of these salaries are not something you’ll achieve right out of school. They are something that you work toward. But the fact that these six-figure salaries are even possible is impressive and a goal worth working for! And if you are still wavering on whether to enroll due to the time demands on your schedule or commuting issues, there are alternatives available. Many of today’s leading colleges and universities offer their degrees online.