Five Lucrative Bachelor's Degree Careers

In today's economic climate, paying for college might feel too large a burden, especially with the cost of a college degree. However, many people are choosing degrees that will set them on the path to high-paying careers. Here are five of the most lucrative careers available for those who take the time to go to school and get the right degree.

Petroleum Engineer
While engineers tend to make the largest salaries in general, demand for petroleum engineers is expected to rise significantly as energy issues become more prominent. Petroleum engineers specialize in methods of extracting and processing gas and oil. For 2011, the average starting salary for this career is estimated to be approximately $93,000 with mid-career median earnings of $157,000.

Aerospace Engineer
This type of engineer helps to design and construct aircraft as an aeronautical engineer, and spacecraft as an astronautical engineer. Aerospace engineers are concerned with the science involved in the forces and physical properties of air and spacecraft. The 2011 average starting salary for this type of engineer is $59,400 with mid-career median earnings of $108,000.

Applied Mathematician
Applied mathematics concerns itself with the practical application of math to fields such as engineering, science, business and industry. This is separate from pure mathematics, which focuses more on theoretical problems. In this way, applied mathematicians may easily work in a variety of fields. The 2011 average starting salary for this type of mathematician is $56,400, with mid-career median earnings of $101,000.

Computer Scientist
Computer scientists create and apply the algorithms that create, describe and transform information to model more complex systems. They are primarily concerned with studying existing programs that are used to implement web browsers or games and improving that software or using it as a model for creating new software. The 2011 average starting salary for a computer scientist is $56,200, with mid-career median earnings of $97,700.

Economist
Economists may focus on economics on a greater or smaller scale, from looking at how economies function to how smaller economic agents interact. These are often distinguished as macroeconomics and microeconomics. The 2011 average starting salary for an economist is $48,800, with mid-career median earnings of $97,800.

These five careers represent a sample of the many well-paying careers available to a person holding a bachelor's degree. Besides the many types of engineering degrees, others with average starting salaries over $50,000 include physics, building construction, statistics, finance and management information systems. By planning ahead for the right career, paying for college can seem far less daunting.

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