The Average Salary for 22 Career Fields

The Average Salary for 22 Career Fields The Average Salary for 22 Career Fields 8 Newly released data from the BLS about occupational employment and wages in 2014 offers a great survey of the landscape, including specifics on the average salary for many major business sectors. The data is useful for job seekers who are scoping out their careers over the long run, with an eye toward where the money is. If you fall into that category, figure out where you fit in this list of the average salary for some of nations biggest occupational fields. Heres a chart created by the BLS, and below it, youll find a breakdown of each career field. Here are the average salaries for many popular career fields! Weve linked each field to the latest flexible and telecommuting job listings in that field, to give you a jump-start in your job search. Management: Jobs at the administrative and management levels, not surprisingly, ranked at the top of the list, with average salaries at the highest levels approaching $150,00 a year. Computer/IT:  Professional opportunities in computer and information technology rank near the top overall, but are somewhat lower-paid on average compared to other top-tier industries because of the fierce demand for qualified candidates. Math: Math professionals can include instructors, project managers, and technicians, and the salaries are on par with computer/IT experts, comfortably topping $100,000 a year on average. Legal: Average pay in the legal field can top more than $100,000 for more experienced full-time legal professionals with expertise in career areas that are in demand, such as technology and intellectual property. Architecture:  These days, architects can include people in the technological sector, but for purposes of this survey, architect means building and construction experts, whose average salary is about $100,000 a year. Engineering: Engineers can also command an average salary of around $100,000, working to provide cloud-based services, cyber security, and other web-based solutions. Business and financial: Experts in business and financial operations are in demand, with average salaries approaching $100,000 for qualified and experienced candidates. Healthcare:  This broad category can include doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals, and the average salary falls in the $100,000 range, depending on the job demand and education level required, the survey found. Technical:  Help-desk experts, technical advisers, and cyber-security architects fall into this category, where the average salary, according to the survey, is about $75,000 annually. Physical and social sciences: Encompassing professions from chemists to research assistants, this sector can pay as much as $100,000 a year to individuals with the right credentials and background. Education: Holding doctoral or masters degrees are big factors for job seekers looking to crack the top ranks of this category, where the average salary can reach the $75,000 to $80,000 a year range. Entertainment and media: Digital media strategists, writers, marketing professionals, and web and audio-visual professionals can fall into this broad category; the average salary can be $60,000 to $75,000 per year. Maintenance and repair: This category can include technical and computer areas where greater training skills are required, as well as less technically advanced expertise for some positions. Construction: Experts in construction management command the highest average salaries, in the $60,000 to $70,000 range, and often take on supervisory roles and have a background in project management. Community services: Working with children, mentoring both children and adults, and supporting community organizations are key skills for this career area, where salaries can exceed $50,000 a year. Social services: If helping others is your forte, you may be able to find work in this category where the average salary can be in excess of $50,000 to $60,000 for qualified candidates, according to the survey. Protective services: This broad category can include law enforcement as well as cyber-based security services, and the average annual salary is more than $50,000. Office and administrative support: Administrative professionals play a key role in keeping companies and offices running smoothly; experienced office administrators can command about $40,000 a year on average. Healthcare support: You can work as a nurses aide, a physical therapist aide, or a fitness specialist in this area, where annual salaries are about $25,000 a year. Sales: Lots of variables factor into the average salary for sales professionals, from personality to commission rates; the survey found that the average salary for sales professionals can approach $50,000 a year. Farming, fishing, and forestry: Jobs in these industries can include hands-on field positions, lecturers, scientists, lab aides, and seasonal workers; the average salary is around $25,000, or less for positions requiring less education, the survey found. Food service and hospitality: The food service and hospitality industry offers opportunities for job seekers whose expertise ranges from the area of retail and distribution, to food science and technology. Salaries are on the lower end for food prep specialists, but candidates with higher qualifications can command significantly more. Readers, which job category is most attractive to you, based on the average salary? Share your thoughts in the comments section below!