What will you earn when you graduate college?

Dylan Snyder
Staff Writer

      It is getting to that time of year when many people have applied to or are applying to colleges. It can be a hard and stressful time in life because, at seventeen or eighteen, you are asked to choose the path to a career that you most likely will have until you retire. Changing majors in college is permitted but can be very expensive and time-consuming. College education gives you a “leg up” on high school graduates but does not guarantee the best paying or best working conditions. That is why it is important to do your research and choose your major and job wisely.

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      The top three highest paying jobs for college graduates are: Metallurgical Engineer ($98,000 per year) at number three, Pharmaceutical Sciences and Administration ($136,000 per year) at number two, and Petroleum Engineering ($136,000 per year) at the number one spot. These are not well known or popular jobs that many people leave high school wanting to major in, but that means that there is a higher demand for these type of workers, which means higher salary. They all require lots of hard work and education but are worth looking into when choosing your major.
      ​The top three lowest paying jobs for college graduates are: elementary education ($43,000 per year), drama and theater arts ($45,000 per year), and family and consumer sciences ($45,000 per year) at the number one spot. Teaching young children is a very rewarding and fun job, but the pay is not what is deserved, and there is not very much demand for employees in this field,meaning high competition for jobs.  Family and consumer services and theater arts each make a little more a year, but it is harder to make it in these jobs. As for theater, it is very hard to make it in any performing arts. Many people end up just performing small time local shows working side jobs and only a small percentage make it “big time” and go professional. Family and consumer services requires working closely with people, and in certain jobs, such as  child social work, can people feel rewarded and make a difference in your job. Work is not all about the money, but if you have a family to support, then it should be heavily considered when choosing a career.