Top 30 jobs favor education

Average Job Salary With and Without Degree

I was doing research on the fastest growing jobs for the next decade and was surprised at the average job salary difference between obtaining a degree and no degree.

In looking at the top 30 jobs, those that do not require an associate’s degree or higher were paid on average $20k-25K per year.

When you compare this to jobs requiring an associate’s degree, the average was $40K, double that of someone with no degree.

If a person has a bachelor’s degree, the average salary increases to $55K per year.  Add a masters or doctorate and the salary continues to increase.

Now, here is the kicker.  The potential salary increase for a person without a degree increases from $10/hour to $13/hour.  Annualize this on a normal 40hr week and the salary growth potential is $7,000.

An individual with a bachelor’s degree can increase from $55K to above $150K.  They can increase their salary by $100K.

Let’s review an example: a physical therapists aide makes on average $25K while a physical therapist makes $60K.  If they both have 10 years experience, the aide makes $30K and the physical therapist makes $150K.

So, what is a person to do who does not have a bachelor’s degree?  Go get one!  I recommend you go get one using night school or online classes.  Don’t worry about going back to a brick-and-mortar college.  Just get the degree.  What you want to avoid is the salary ceiling imposed because you don’t have a degree.  You are a smart person with lots of potential.

Another tip, ask your employer if you obtained a degree could you move up to an equivalent position.  The difference may be $400K to over $1M over 10 years.

Good luck.

Also read: Job search techniques that work – the 8 Step Plan