Potential Jobs Earnings for Graduates

The 10 fastest-growing jobs in America and their salaries

People have many different reasons for pursuing a degree. Some individuals truly love learning. Others may have a passion for a specific field of study. Some individuals may be just starting their advanced education while others may be seeking to further an already established career. Whatever the reason, it is important to remember that earning a degree substantially increases your opportunities for advancement and success. Plus, individuals who have a degree consistently earn higher salaries than non-college graduates.

In today's over-crowded and competitive job market, employers are always seeking talented, educated employees and are willing to pay higher salaries to hire them.

Convenience: This may be the number one reason for the massive growth in the online education industry over the past few years. When you take your courses online, you have the ability to set your study schedule according to your own personal needs. This flexibility makes online learning a perfect choice for people who are already working full or part time, parents who have small children or other family commitments, or people who travel on a consistent basis. You decide where and when to study. As long as you have a computer and internet access, your classroom is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Here is a listing of the 10 fastest-growing jobs in the U.S., projected over the next ten years, along with their average annual salaries.

1. Medical Assistants ($23,940)
2. Social & Human Service Assistants ($23,370)
3. Home Health Aides ($20,670)
4. Medical Records & Health Information Technicians ($23,890)
5. Physical Therapist Aides ($20,670)
6. Physical Therapist Assistants ($36,080)
7. Network Systems & Data Communications Analysts ($58,420)
8. Physician Assistants ($64,670)
9. Computer Software Engineers, Applications ($70,900)
10. Computer Software Engineers, Systems Software ($74,040)

As you can see from this listing, the higher paying careers usually require a college degree. They also provide more opportunities for job advancement and promotion. Statistics show that an individual with a college degree can expect to earn almost double the amount of money over a lifetime than non-college graduates. If you earn a Master's Degree, your lifetime earnings will be nearly 170% more than a non-college graduate. There is a very clear connection between having a college degree and earning a higher salary. The time and effort you spend furthering your education will continue to pay dividends throughout your career, in both better jobs and better salaries.