Do you want to land a fat paycheck after college? Alright, stupid question, I know.
Did you know that the median pay for a recent college graduate with a full-time job in 2010, stood at $53,976?
I’m pretty positive that you don’t randomly Google average salaries. I didn’t know this salary figure until I read an article on CNN Money about the college majors with big payoffs. I was disappointed to find out that I didn’t graduate from any of the programs mentioned on this list.
The article also points out the benefits of actually attending college over not pursuing post-secondary education:
“The average employed young person with a bachelor’s degree earned 81% more in 2011 than his or counterpart with a high school diploma.
I’ve written about what to do after college because it’s an exciting time in a young person’s life. The world is yours. Anything can happen. You shape the rest of your life. This is why I want to help you land that fat paycheck in your early years.
If you happen to a be a bit younger and want to make wise decisions about your education, I have a solution for you.
How can you guarantee yourself the big bucks after college?
Enrol in a program that’s guaranteed to pay well!
If you want life after college to be enjoyable, you want to have some money coming in. To have money coming in, you need to ensure that you’re in a field that actually has a history of paying good money.
I do understand the argument to this though…
You don’t need a college education nor do you need to enroll in a lucrative program to make good money in your lifetime. You can start a business with no money or work hard at a job with advancement opportunities.
However, the only way to guarantee that fat paycheck after graduation is to check out the list of the top paying majors and enroll in one of them. You want to get involved in a field that has a history of paying well. The aforementioned list includes the top paying jobs. If you want a fat paycheck after college, you should pursue one of those majors.
What about student debt and paying off student loans after college?
Don’t enroll in a program that has a history of paying poorly in your 20s. How are you supposed to deal with student loans if you have a low-income? It’s sort of impossible, unless you make a sex tape with a celebrity.
A reader once wrote in the following about being stuck with student loans on an unimpressive salary:
“Currently I’m still underemployed – no hope of escaping that – and netting $1000 a month of which $150 is taken out for student loans. They can take 15% of your after-tax income as long as you’re left with at least $750 a month.”
This happens to the best of us. I just don’t want it to happen to you. If you can pass this article along to a young person I would greatly appreciate it.
What if I took a major that doesn’t pay well?
It’s not too late. It’s never too late. You have many options. You can go back to school, upgrade your skills, or find another way to make money. You don’t have to stress about your major not being one of the highest paid ones out there.
To recap the formula for landing a fat paycheck after college:
- Enroll in a program that has a history of paying well.
- Do your best to find work in that field.
I personally took an unconventional route and I don’t regret it. When younger friends ask for advice I suggest that they study something that they will actually enjoy and pays well.