Get the education you need to hit the magic salary number of $50,000.
By David Plowman
Does a salary of $50,000 per year sound good to you? Is this your magic number?
We have some good news: landing a $50K job might be easier than you think with the right education and training.
Check out these 8 jobs that pay $50,000 and up.
Job #1 - Accountant
Accountants audit records, track fraud, analyze complex budgets, and more. In fact, today's number-crunchers can pursue a variety of career paths, from chief financial officers to forensic accountants.
The Training: Most employers require entry-level accountants to have a degree in accounting or a degree in business. Depending on the desired career specialty, accountants may also be required to obtain state certifications.
The Pay: Accountants' salaries vary depending on their specialty, their training, and the type of company they are working for, but the average salary is $65,840 per year.
Find Accounting degree programs now.
Job #2 - Registered Nurse
Registered nurses (RNs) are in high demand, and it's no wonder why. With an aging baby boomer population, an increased focus on preventive care, and various technological advances, RNs are needed to provide treatment and support to patients.
The Training: Aspiring nurses can choose from a nursing diploma, associate's degree in nursing, or bachelor's degree in nursing program. From there, work on getting a nursing license.
The Pay: RNs net an average salary of $62,450 per year.
Find RN training programs in your area.
Job #3 - Database Administrator
Database administrators maintain and retain large volumes of electronic data, designing computer systems to retrieve the data in meaningful ways. Many database administrators are also responsible for the system's security.
The Training: If you want to get into this line of work, your best bet is to earn a degree in network administration or a related technology field.
The Pay: Database administrators typically net $72,000 annually.
Job #4 - Legal Administrator
Because legal administrative assistants must have stellar administrative skills and specialized legal training, workers in this field are usually in greater demand and compensated better than their administrative counterparts in other fields.
The Training: Most legal support workers attend a specialized legal school to get them up-to-speed in the specific skills required in the legal world.
The Pay: This additional training can yield almost-immediate payoffs. While the median salary for administrative workers is estimated to be $32,000, most legal administrative workers net an average salary of $56,600 per year.
Search for Legal training programs in your area now.
Job #5 - Interior Designer
Interior designers renovate old spaces, design brand-new ones, and more. If you find yourself mentally rearranging the apartments and homes of your friends and family, consider a high-paying career in interior design.
The Training: Develop your talent - and gain the necessary skills and know-how to do the job right - with a two- or four-year degree in interior design.
The Pay: Interior designers net an average of $51,000 annually.
Find Interior Design degrees now.
Job #6 - Engineer
Like many of the careers listed here, engineering offers many opportunities to branch out to other industries. For example, an engineer can decide to design robots, develop ways to conserve soil, or design aircraft or even rockets. In general, "engineer" refers to designing and developing parts, machinery or products that perform certain functions that, hopefully, make life simpler for the rest of us.
The Training: To develop their mechanical chops, most engineers have at least received a bachelor's degree in engineering and are usually required to take additional certification courses. Considering the career heights engineers can aspire to, it's likely to be well worth the effort.
The Pay: The average salary for engineers is $88,600.
Search for schools offering Engineering programs.
Job #7 - Police/Sheriff's Patrol Officer
The general goal of a police officer is of course "to serve and protect," but exactly how officers do that, and the tools they use to do their jobs, are greatly varied. Some write traffic citations while others use sophisticated computer equipment to solve a homicide case.
The Training: A four-year college degree with an emphasis in police science is all it takes to enable eager recruits to "take a bite out of crime" for the rest of their lives.
The Pay: Crime may not pay, but fighting crime certainty does. The average salary for police and sheriff officers is $52,800.
Find Police & Law Enforcement programs now.
Job #8 - Animator/Multimedia Artist
The onslaught of video games, special effects, and increasingly sophisticated websites are all testimony to the popularity - and necessity - of animation. As a result, animators and multimedia artists are in unprecedented demand.
The Training: Because of the creative, specialized bent of the industry, most aspiring animators opt to attend arts schools that provide more hands-on training. Many art schools have developed working relationships with studios and web developers allowing students to get the inside track on employment opportunities.
The Pay: As with many creative jobs, an animator's salary may vary wildly depending on the artist's experience, employment status, and numerous other factors. That said, the average salary for an established animator is $62,000.
Search for Art Schools now.
All salary data from U.S. Department of Labor.
