With the right preparation, you could pursue a career that pays double your current salary - whether you're currently making $30K, $40K, or $50K.
Have you ever wondered what it would take to double your salary? Yes, I said "double" - and no, it's not impossible.
"Doubling your salary is achievable, but it does take time," says
Laura Lee Rose, time management and career expert and author of
"TimePeace: Making Peace With Time." That means you can't expect to
simply go out tomorrow and find a job that pays twice what you're
currently making. But with a little effort and the right plan, a
high-paying career is within reach.
Julie Erickson, management consultant, career coach, and owner of
myrightfitjob.com, agrees. "If you want to double your salary, you need
to do a strategic plan for yourself," she says. "Once you have a career
goal, figure out what you need in order to pursue it. Do you have the
education? Experience?"
Ready to double your salary? Here are a few career ideas, whether you're currently making $30K, $40K, or $50K a year.
If You're Making $30K, But Want $60K:
Registered Nurse
10th Percentile Annual Salary*: $45,040
Median Annual Salary*: $65,470
90th Percentile Annual Salary*: $94,720
You've never been hesitant when it comes to helping someone else. So
why not pursue a career as a registered nurse? Their typical duties
include coordinating patient care and providing advice to patients and
their family members, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. And by
pursuing a career as an RN, you could potentially get your salary to the
$60K mark.
Why It Pays: "RNs need a variety of skills ranging
from strength, agility, dexterity, medication knowledge, the ability to
provide special procedures," Rose says. She adds that RNs also need the
ability to provide patient and family teaching, counseling and
therapeutic intervention, as well as psychiatric and behavioral
knowledge.
Next step: Click to Find the Right Nursing Program.
Education Options: So what does it take to prepare
to pursue this career? Well, according to the Department of Labor, most
RNs have either a bachelor's of science in nursing (BSN), an associate's
degree in nursing (ADN), or a diploma from an approved nursing program.
The Department also notes that registered nurses must be licensed.
Market Research Analyst
10th Percentile Annual Salary: $33,280
Median Annual Salary: $60,300
90th Percentile Annual Salary: $113,500
Are you fascinated by how a company's marketing can affect consumer
spending habits? As a market research analyst, you could help companies
understand what products people want and at what price, according to the
U.S. Department of Labor - and earn a healthy salary doing so.
Why It Pays: "Technology and market trends are
shifting and evolving quickly, and it's only going to move faster in the
future," says Rose. "Being able to properly forecast the 'next
generation' allows the company the time to not only create the product
but hold a larger market share by being the first out there," she says.
Those are valuable skills and, as Rose explains, skills employers will
pay good money for.
Next step: Click to Find the Right Marketing Program.
Education Options: Think this is the career path for
you? According to the Department of Labor, to get started in this field
you'll typically need at least a bachelor's degree in market research
or a related subject. The Department also says many jobs require a
master's degree in marketing research or another field, such as
statistics, marketing, or business administration.
If You're Making $40k, But Want $80K:
Health and Medical Services Manager
10th Percentile Annual Salary: $53,940
Median Annual Salary: $88,580
90th Percentile Annual Salary: $150,560
You've got administrative skills, and you're interested in pursuing a
career in health care. As a health and medical services manager, you
could oversee an entire health care facility, according to the U.S.
Department of Labor - and it might even increase your salary
substantially.
Why It Pays: When asked why a job as a health and
medical services manager pays so well, Erickson says, "It's difficult
keeping track of all the regulations, billing, staff, records. As a
manager you're really responsible for bottom line. You have a lot of
things to juggle."
Education Options: According to the Department of
Labor, you'll typically need at least a bachelor's degree in health
administration to get started. The Department also says that master's
degrees in health services, long-term care administration, public
health, public administration, or business administration are common.
Art Director
10th Percentile Annual Salary: $43,870
Median Annual Salary: $80,880
90th Percentile Annual Salary: $162,800
If you have a good eye for design, fashion, and color, you might
consider preparing to pursue a career as an art director. In addition to
having a hand in creating the visual style of images in magazines,
movies, or TV shows - which is what the U.S. Department of Labor says
art directors typically do - you could also have the opportunity to
raise your salary.
Why It Pays: There's a lot riding on the art
director's work, which plays a part in why they're paid so well, says
Erickson. This is especially true when it comes to digital art, she
says.
"Everyone needs websites - something that looks good. Even companies
that you wouldn't necessarily think of as needing an art director, if
they're going to do websites in house, will need someone who's going to
be rebranding, putting new content up, making it look good." But she
adds that in addition to talent, you'll need experience to start earning
the big bucks.
Next step: Click to Find the Right Art Program.
Education Options: Ready to get started? According
to the Department of Labor, many art directors start out in a field like
graphic or set design or work as fine artists or photographers. They
usually earn a BA or BFA (bachelor of arts or fine arts) to gain the
appropriate education. Some art directors also get an MFA (master of
fine arts) or an MBA (master of business administration), the Department
notes.
If You're Making $50K, But Want $100K:
Human Resources Manager
10th Percentile Annual Salary: $59,020
Median Annual Salary: $99,720
90th Percentile Annual Salary: $173,140
If you could see yourself planning, directing, and coordinating the
administrative functions of an organization - some of the
responsibilities of a human resource manager as described by the U.S
Department of Labor - you may want to think about pursuing this career.
The most exciting part? This career could pay $100K or more.
Why It Pays: When asked why HR managers take home
such a good salary, Erickson says it's "because you're dealing with law,
compliance, and people." It's a complicated field, and there's not a
lot of room for error, especially when you're responsible for
administering someone's salary, health insurance, or retirement plan,
she says.
Education Options: If you think you'd make a great
HR manager, you'll likely need a bachelor's degree in human resources or
business administration to get started, according to the Department of
Labor. Some higher-level jobs require a master's degree in human
resources, labor relations, or business administration (MBA), the
Department adds.
Computer and Information Systems Manager
10th Percentile Annual Salary: $74,940
Median Annual Salary: $120,950
90th Percentile Annual Salary: $152,380
It takes a special type of mind to work well with both technology and
people. If you think you can handle both, consider preparing to pursue a
career as a computer and information systems manager. This role plans
and coordinates computer-related activities in an organization,
according to the U.S. Department of Labor. And pursuing it could
potentially up your salary to $100K.
Why It Pays: "All companies are going paperless. All
monetary transactions are moving to automatic billing and online
purchases. All brick-and-mortar retail shops have a Web presence," says
Rose. Because of this, they need skilled computer and information
systems managers to keep business running smoothly, she says.
Education Options: If this sounds like your dream
job, you'll need a bachelor's degree in computer or information science
plus some related work experience to get started, according to the
Department of Labor. The Department also notes that many organizations
require their computer and information systems managers to have a
graduate degree, like an MBA (master of business administration).
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