Basics

Before you apply to college you need to think about what kind of classes interest you so you know which major to focus on. With so many options, out there, however, it can be difficult to make a choice. While it is important to consider your interests and your skills, you also need to be practical – what career will earn you enough money to live the life you want?

What are the Highest Paying Careers?

When you start thinking about attending college, whether you choose a community college or a traditional university, you should have some idea of what kind of career you are interested in. What makes this so challenging is the fact that there are a nearly limitless array of options. With tuition costs ever-increasing, leaving graduates with more debt than ever, it is worth doing a little research to see if the career path you are on will pay enough for you to pay back your loan debt while also covering your cost of living. If you want to make sure that you will have financial security, consider going into one of the highest paying careers which include the following:

• Engineering – According to Bankrate.com, seven out of the top ten highest-paying majors are within various engineering fields. Not only are engineering jobs some of the highest paying jobs out there, but engineers can increase their rate of pay by obtaining additional certifications and licenses such as a Professional Engineering (PE) license. The median

Students entering the California Community College system will now have another tool to help them choose a degree program and motivate them to complete that program. Through a new online tool, California students will be able to see how much they can earn with the various degrees offered through their school. The tool was recently unveiled by the California Community College Chancellor’s Office.

Introducing Salary Surfer

The new website, dubbed Salary Surfer, allows students to track a person’s potential salary in California for five years after earning a two-year degree. The site uses data from graduates across the state, to compile significant information that can help students choose the best degree program for them. The Huffington Post reports that Salary Surfer shows the median annual incomes for 179 of the most popular community college programs in the state.

The website does not include data on students that transfer to four-year institutions. It does not have information on federal employees or self-employed graduates. Graduates that move out of state are also not included in the salary averages listed at Salary Surfer.

EdSource reports that Salary Surfer is the first online database of its kind in the state. The website tracks average annual salaries for the various programs two years after graduation, and again five years after graduation. Students can see how much they might expect to make in their discipline and compare that to what they were making prior to graduation.