Current higher education trends indicate that there’s a major growth in the number of post-graduate degrees, as compared to previous generations. This growing number of educated people coupled with high job competition has led to talks about the master’s degree as the new bachelor’s. According to a recent article by the New York Times, “Nearly 2 in 25 people, age 25 and over have a master’s, about the same proportion that had a bachelor’s or higher in 1960.”
While it’s true that master’s degrees significantly increase salary in many cases, it’s important to keep in mind that more money doesn’t necessarily guarantee more happiness. CareerBliss analyzed workplace happiness assessments from thousands of professionals and found that professionals in certain job types reported they were happy with their salaries and overall jobs - without a post-graduate degree.
If you’re looking for a career that will deliver a happy salary without having to spend thousands of dollars on a master’s degree, consider the following 5 jobs:
#1 Legal Secretary — Similar to a paralegal, legal secretaries assist lawyers in carrying out cases, claims, appeals, etc. They are integral because they are often responsible for managing case files, and must be familiar with law procedures. There’s generally no specific education requirement, however, successful legal secretaries should have a lot of experience in legal settings.
Average salary: $47,431.00
#2 Loan Officer — Working in the banking and financial services industry, loan officers are responsible for carrying out transactions between bank lenders and borrowers. They must be well-versed with banking logistics, rules and regulations to ensure that they adhere to all relevant policies/procedures. Loan officers should generally have a bachelor’s degree in finance or a related field. They also have to pass national exams in some cases.
Average salary:$55,435.00
#3 QA Analyst — A Quality Assurance analysts’ job is to review and detect any discrepancies in the quality of products. The type of experience and education required for QA jobs depends on the industry. Technical QA Analysts must have a bachelor’s degree in an IT related field, such as computer science. It’s not uncommon for QA Analysts to advance in the field based on their experience and expertise.
Average salary: $68,516.00
#4 Realtor—Also known as a Real Estate Agent, realtors earn money via commission through buying/selling or renting out houses. Their primary concern is to market the house or property to consumers. A bachelor’s degree in business or a related field is beneficial. A strong set of negotiation, analytical, and communication skills are required for successful real estate agents. Realtors typically need some sort of a Real Estate Salesperson license to practice.
Average salary: $52,483.00
#5 Research Assistant — This profession can apply to a variety of different fields, such as a university or a research institute. Responsibilities include helping carrying out studies or experiments. A clinical research assistant for example, would assist in the administrative processes of clinical studies. Research assistants are usually required to have a bachelor’s in the field of interest.
Average salary: $32,314.00
So, if you’re trying to decide on a career path or considering a career transition, a master’s degree doesn’t necessarily have to be on the cards.
CareerBliss’ data is based on feedback from past and present employees in the fields mentioned above. If you’re interested in any of these fields, check out company reviews at CareerBliss.com to learn more.
Honestly, you shouldn’t get a Master’s degree unless you intend to teach at a college or university. People don’t seem to give a hoot if you have an M.A.
Twitter: JTDabbagian