10 average-paying jobs that ramp up to six figures
Your starting salary isn't always as lucrative as you would've hoped. But hang tight in these jobs—the payoff is well worth it.
You've taken all the "right" steps when it comes to your career: You went to a good school, got some work experience, and completed your degree. Now it's time to cash in with a good-paying job so you can chip away at your $60,000 in student loans and pick up the tab at the bar occasionally. Right? Right?
Well, you're not alone if you're frustrated. Many people find their starting salary is less than they'd like. But a lower starting salary doesn't necessarily mean you'll always be stuck eating from the dollar menu.
Monster partnered with compensation data and software firm PayScale to find jobs that start off with average pay—compared to the median household income of $53,657 in 2014, according to the U.S. Census Bureau—but that nearly double in salary within a decade.
Get into one of these fields, stay diligent and watch your wallet grow.
| Job title | Early career median pay | Mid-career median pay | Pay differential |
|---|---|---|---|
1. Actuary |
$64,800 |
$136,300 |
$71,500 |
$57,000 |
$126,000 |
$69,000 |
|
$61,600 |
$112,500 |
$50,900 |
|
$53,200 |
$110,400 |
$57,200 |
|
5. Economist |
$62,900 |
$104,600 |
$41,700 |
$63,100 |
$101,800 |
$38,700 |
|
$61,800 |
$101,800 |
$40,000 |
|
$59,700 |
$101,500 |
$41,800 |
|
$60,500 |
$100,700 |
$40,200 |
|
$60,000 |
$100,500 |
$40,500 |
Note: PayScale defines early career as 0 to 5 years of experience, whereas mid-career is 10-plus years of experience.
Like what you’ve read? Join Monster to get personalized articles and job recommendations—and to help recruiters find you.