Which Jobs Pay New Hires Best?

Which Jobs Pay New Hires Best?


by Charles Purdy

Most college grads enter the workforce with thousands of dollars in student-loan debt--the College Board cites an average of close to $20,000 for bachelor's degree recipients. And then come the lean years: at the beginning of a career, many people expect to live on the cheap as they build a resume, develop relationships with clients, or continue to hone their skills.

But not all careers require a long apprenticeship. People who want to earn high salaries right from the start of their careers can choose from several fields in which newcomers are relatively well paid, according to the new, second edition of Laurence Shatkin's "250 Best-Paying Jobs" (Jist Publishing).


"Within these occupations, the workers who earn at the 10th percentile--meaning that 90 percent of the workers in the occupation earn more than they do--still earn at least $51,540," explains Shatkin.

In other words, the lowest-earning 10 percent of workers in these careers earn more than 75 percent of all American earners. (Slatkin's salary figures are based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Employment Survey released in May 2008.)

The following list features ten occupations from Shatkin's list of jobs in which even beginners are paid well. People who want an immediate return on their educational investment may want to take note. Have an interest in teeth? Even better:


1. Orthodontists

Beginning Wage: $100,980

Median Earnings: $166,400+



2. Prosthodontists

Beginning Wage: $72,710

Median Earnings: $166,400+



3. Nuclear Engineers

Beginning Wage: $68,300

Median Earnings: $97,080



4. Computer and Information Scientists, Research

Beginning Wage: $57,480

Median Earnings: $97,970



5. Education Administrators, Elementary and Secondary School

Beginning Wage: $55,580

Median Earnings: $83,880



6. Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers

Beginning Wage: $55,330

Median Earnings: $111,680



7. Lawyers

Beginning Wage: $54,460

Median Earnings: $110,590



8. Financial Managers

Beginning Wage: $53,860

Median Earnings: $99,330



9. Chemical Engineers

Beginning Wage: $53,730

Median Earnings: $84,680



10. Mathematicians

Beginning Wage: $53,570

Median Earnings: $95,150