Salary ranges in the US...what are the high paying jobs?

[Coleroo]

p.s. i've also heard the teacher benefits around here in SC are NOT good

[rob62521]

Salary ranges (starting) =
Police / Fireman - 28k
Entry level manager - 30k
Accounting / Payroll (3+ years experience) - 40k
Teacher (with bachelor) - 40k
Teacher (with masters) - 55k

Wow, those are huge salaries for teachers. Starting salary for a teacher with a b.a. in my town is less than $30K. The highest salary for a teacher is around $70K that is someone who has a master's with 32 hours beyond the master's plus 33 years of teaching.

[boefixepa]

I often wonder how people around here are making it too. The housing has REALLY increased these last few years and even the cracker jack starter homes are over 200K. If you have a traditional mortagage you have to be making at least 60K to qualify for that. The average wages around here...well you are lucky to get 30K. If you have a degree, or the right kind of degree, you can get 40K. I really feel lucky in that new hubby and I combined, are just under 100K. I have BA in construction management, a good field, and he has an MBA and works in marketing/computers. We make basically the same amout of money. Even with all that I crunch the numbers and I look at how much we would have to live on if and when we have a baby. Ideally I'd like to quit and stay home, but crunching the numbers that would be REALLY hard. It worries me if prices keep going up like they are. I don't know where those 'magic' jobs are, but most people I know don't make more than 60K and if they do it's because they are lawyers, with tons of school debt, or they own companies....and that's always risky.

[ealimbuyao]

RN's

Registered Nurses are always in demand. The starting salary in Northern California is $40/hr with full benefits.

The highest paying RN's are the CRNA's (nurse anethetists) starts at 120K annually in remote areas (as what I've heard).

Any thoughts?

Ethel

[ealimbuyao]

I heard pharmacists make good money, but not sure if that's just locally or nationally. Anyone know?

That's what I heard too, but the demand is not so high. Only 2-3 pharmacists in a hospital are needed.

[asmom]

That's what I heard too, but the demand is not so high. Only 2-3 pharmacists in a hospital are needed.

That's definitely not true in Georgia. Pharmacists are in very high demand. Not only in the hospitals and other acute care facilities but in retail as well. There are also opportunities in research and the pharmaceutical industry. And I can't imagine what type of hospital uses only 2-3 pharmacists, that must be a very miniscule hospital.

Additionally pharmacists here start at ~85K, but the entry level degree for pharmacy now is a doctorate so they earn it.

[SnoopyCool]

I always assumed that engineering would be lots and lots of money, that's why I got a BS in that field (that and I like math and science a lot). But now I'm a stay-at-home mom making $0. Funny how life turns out!


And don't feel bad, I feel like the Hickville outcast sometimes too. But I wouldn't be surprised if a few people stretch the truth on the boards (something about the anonimity of the Internet).

[humandraydel]

Like, humandreydal who is only 25 and makes 70k in a lower cost of living area - WOW - as an engineer.

Well, I graduated 2.5 years ago and started at 55k. I recently changed jobs (which often leads to a raise) and now make 68 (plus good benefits, pension, 401k).

Really it's all about supply and demand. Engineers are in great demand right now - for example, entry level salaries went up last year by around 5.5%. Engineering is not a career where you'll start out making the big bucks, but by the time you have 10-15 years of experience you should be around 100k+.

In my opinion the most important thing you can do is pick a career that is in high demand and one where experience is valued. Someone suggested nursing and that seems like a good idea also.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

My carpool lady's DH makes $90k as a high school science teacher he has 15 years of experience.

[Daylily]

In my midwest area, teachers start out around 25k. They can get more if they do extras like the talented & gifted program or yearbook or coaching. The max for teachers here is around 55k and that would be someone who has worked in the same district for 30+ years.

That pretty much sums up why I left teaching for the IT field.

However, the state retirement program for teachers is excellent. You put in $1, they put in $2 !!!!!

[zetta]

I actually worked as a software engineer in Columbia, South Carolina in the mid-1990's. Back then, starting salaries with a BS were $36k and a friend with 6 years experience was making $70k. This was almost 15 years ago so I'm sure the comparable figures are much higher now -- probably more like $50 and $90k. Check out Salary.com Job salaries- Performance reviews- Compensation software (it's free) -- you can enter your zip code and then select different job descriptions to get an idea of the salaries in your area.

[cptacek]

I started my job in Information Technology, after getting my master's degree in math, at $68,000. I was 23, in 2001. People who didn't get their master's degree started at $58,000 at the same company. This was in Dallas.

I am looking at trying to get a job now coding for a company that allows telecommuting. I've only gotten one answer back from my resume so far, and salary wasn't discussed, but I am hoping that I will get paid about the same as now. I'm moving to a little fart of a town that won't have any jobs for me closer than an hour away (maybe farther), so the telecommuting option is looking better and better.

[safari]

I am 32, and make $116,00 in IT plus all benefits, 401K, etc. My take home pay is about $6,000 a month, plus I contribute $1,200 a month to 401K (including the company match). The pay is pretty good, but I live in Southern California, and the houses in my neighborhood start at $800K for a crappy 2-bedroom house. A decent house costs $1M+. I am glad I bought a condo back in 2001 for $342K, which is now worth $750K because I'd never be able to buy a house now with today's prices.

[Daylily]

I started my job in Information Technology, after getting my master's degree in math,

Neat! This is the same path I took! Except that I ventured into teaching for a short time before switching to IT.

[mwgr5]

Investment banking analysts have some of the highest undergrad salaries. A 1st year investment banking analyst at a big bank in NCY (ie Goldman Sachs, Lehman Brothers, JP Morgan) can expect to make over 120,000 their 1st year out of college.