You may
be the new kid on the job block, but
that doesn't mean your salary has to
start low on the totem pole. The
PayScale.com Salary Survey
identified an array of exciting jobs
that pay a total compensation close
to or above an impressive $50,000
per year right from the start.
Here is
a list of 10 hot professions that
show you the money.
1. Investment Banking Analyst. If
you are good with numbers and
solving real-world problems, this
job pays handsomely in the early
years and has strong long-term
earning potential.
Typical Starting Salary: $59,084
2. Business Analyst, Computer
Software. Data mining is a new and
hot field with strong career
potential. Normally used by
financial institutions such as
banks, data miners sort through vast
amounts of information that help
companies make the best use of the
information in their data
warehouses. Master's degrees in
computer science, physics, or
statistics are usually required.
Typical Starting Salary: $50,727
3. Forensic Computer Analyst.
Computer forensics is the analysis
of information contained within and
created with computer systems and
computing devices. These analysts
investigate causes of computer
meltdowns, who has misused a
computer system, or how someone
committed a crime. These
professionals are quite popular in
white-collar criminal
investigations.
Typical Starting Salary: $51,852
4. Junior Associate Attorney. The
financial scales of justice
certainly tip toward the side of the
average attorney. And just after
five years experience the average
salary jumps to $89,210. Depending
on the field of specialty, the
long-term earning potential is
almost limitless. Big-shot lawyers
like former Sen. John Edwards
(malpractice) and celebrity criminal
defense attorney Mark Gerago have
cleaned up millions in their
careers.
Typical Starting Salary: $52,678
5. Physical Therapist. If anatomy is
your thing, physical therapy may be
your path to greener pastures. PTs
can even specialize in areas such as
hand or back therapy to boost their
marketability -- and salary
potential.
Typical Starting Salary: $52,573
6. Nurse Practitioner (ARNP).
Nursing opportunities never seem to
go out of style, and neither does
demand in this area. If a doctor
cannot squeeze you in for an
appointment, chances are there is a
nurse practitioner standing by in
his place. While nurse practitioners
don't command the big bucks that
physicians do, their services
certainly don't come cheap.
Typical Starting Salary: $67,166
7. Electrical Engineer. It is easy
to do the math on how marketable
engineers are. Companies dig deep to
lure young electrical engineers and
other subspecialties across the
board. Electrical engineers focus on
using electricity to transmit
energy. Payscale.com shows that
experienced electrical engineers
earn an average of $81,078.
Typical Starting Salary: $54,401
8. Software Engineer. Software
engineers design, write, and test
computer programs. Computer
networking and information
technology are hot fields that are
here to stay.
Typical Starting Salary: $56,795
9. Pharmaceutical Sales
Representative. You don't have to be
a physician or even science major to
make big bucks in medicine. Just
about anyone with a college degree
and a killer personality can be
trained in pharmaceutical sales.
These professionals make sales calls
to doctors' offices hoping to
convince the doctors to prescribe
the latest drugs made by the
pharmaceutical company they
represent. Seasoned pros can make
six-figure salaries in this field.
Typical Starting Salary: $51,104
10. Veterinarian. Do you love
animals? Veterinarians can combine a
passion for their warm, furry
friends with great earning power.
With growing animal research and
interest in pet care, veterinarian
medicine is bound to be a popular
profession for years to come.
Typical Starting Salary: $59,084
No matter what your skill, passion,
or personality, the job market
offers numerous professions that
also have above-average starting
salaries. Just keep your eyes open
and reach for the green.