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HBCU Careers Magazine
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NBA player, Chart Topping Musician, Famous Actor. Sure we would all choose
one of these professions if we could. However, assuming that we can’t dunk
a basketball like LeBron, sing like Celine Dion or be fortunate enough to star
in an Oscar worthy film, we may have to be more selective with our career
choices. In no way, does this mean that you must settle for a low-paying job or
have an unfulfilling career.
According to the U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, job prospects are looking up for college graduates.
Healthcare jobs areexperiencing tremendous growth for a varietyof reasons, including lowunemployment
in the field, good pay, and the ability to achieve work-life balance. Outside of the healthcare sector, the
tech industry is another area that is good for job seekers. It’s experiencing faster than average growth,
which works well for both salaries and opportunities. Programmers, software developers, and support
personnel are all in high demand.
An objective look at the best paying jobs for college graduates must begin with the understanding that
STEM jobs offer the highest salaries, on average, for college graduates in the near term and career wise.
STEM, of course, refers to science, technology, engineering and math. With that being said, here is a list
of jobs for 2016 that have the strongest projected growth in those fields and provide healthy starting
salaries for recent graduates. Keep in mind, starting salaries can vary by city, state and level of experience.
1. Registered Nurse
Average Salary: $56,900 - $73,600
Predicted Growth: 2012-2022: 19 percent
Minimum Requirements:
Associate or Bachelor’s degree from an approved nursing program along with
a nursing license is required. The health care industry will continue to dominate for years to come. Most
health care professionals are benefiting from the aging population and increasing number of insured
individuals. Although the minimum requirements to become a nurse are often an associate degree, the
field is becoming increasingly competitive, and a bachelor’s degree in nursing is becoming a requirement
for many employers.
2. Software Engineer/ Applications Developer
Average Salary: $80,725 - $100,700
Predicted Growth in 2016-2024: 18.4 percent
Minimum Requirements:
A bachelor’s degree and experience with a variety of software and technical
systems are a must. However, information technology engineers are expected to continue to educate
themselves in the latest technology. The technology fieldwill continue to growas thedemand for computer
10 Best Jobs For 2016
By: Simone M. Campbell
Executive Director
Hunger4Humanity, Inc., Columbia MD