According to a U.S. News & Worlds Report’s survey among 20 – 34 years old, salary is the most important factor when they are considering careers, followed by work/life balance and stress levels. Although most of them realized that money is not everything, they still thought it was the most important factor when seeking work.

Bearing this in mind, below are a few suggestions of career paths Millennials might consider. The rates of pay quoted are averages, as they can vary greatly from state to state.

Financial Adviser

Financial advisers help people to plan their financial security and have to be knowledgeable about tax laws, investments, securities, insurances, pension plans, and real estate. You need a relevant degree such as a major in finance, business, statistics, economics or something else related.  The most successful ones often pursue an MBA once they are working, as this extra qualification can help them to move further up the ladder.

Once you have your degree you need to spend time working as an intern to gain experience, and after three years you can apply for the certificates or licenses you need. A successful financial adviser can expect to average around $120,000 a year, and the unemployment rate among them is less than 2%.

Civil Engineer

A Master of Science in Civil Engineering by Michigan Tech will teach you how to design, build, analyze and lead advanced civil engineering projects anywhere in the world. There are more than 300, 000 civil engineers in the US and the industry is growing all the time.  The average annual salary is about $85,000, but engineers at the top of the scale can earn more than $130,000.

If you enjoy building things from scratch, civil engineering could be the career for you. There is a high demand for qualified civil engineers.

Accountant

To be an account you need to have the right degree.  A bachelor’s degree in accounting or something closely related is needed before you can start the extra training. Most people specialize in one area, such as taxation or financial reporting. You then need to find an entry-level job that will allow you to continue your education. Once fully qualified you can expect to earn around $75,00 a year. Accountancy has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the US.

Actuary

An actuary is one of the top rated jobs in the US, with the growth forecast for the actuary jobs available is greater than in any other career. Many of the jobs are in the insurance industry, but some work as consultants or in corporate management. The task of an actuary is to manage future risks and to identify where profits or losses might be made.

To get to this position you need to either complete a three-year undergraduate actuarial science degree or a four-year degree in economics or commerce. You will then need to apply to one of the professional bodies and pass their certification exams.

The unemployment rate is less than 1% and you can expect to earn a salary of somewhere in the region of $110,000, although often there are bonuses too based on success.

Operations Research Analyst

You need to be a logical thinker to be an operations research analyst and at the least, a bachelor’s degree in Science of Mathematical Sciences and Operations Science. Some employers require a master’s degree also. You could find work in the private sector or with the U.S. Department of Defense or some other government agency.

To start with, you would work with more experienced analyst’s but as you become more competent you will be given your own projects to deal with. The average salary for this job is $85,000.

Software Developer

A degree in computer sciences or a related field will be needed if you want to be a software developer. This will give you the most useful background to pursue this career path, but you will also need to spend a lot of time away from the classroom writing software to put the theory into practice.

Software developing is not focussed purely on computer languages, but you will need to know a couple at least. You will also need to study data structures and algorithms to be able to progress. Then the best course of action is then to seek an internship, where you can gain experience as well as more qualifications.

This is a rapidly growing industry in which you can expect to earn a salary of around $100,000.

Radiation Therapist

Radiation therapists have a number of very important tasks. They assist medical professionals in treating cancer and some other diseases by administering radiation therapy.  You first need to complete a degree in the field of radiation therapy and radiography, which is usually a four-year course. You then have to be registered with the American Registry of Radiologic Technologies and take their test to ensure you are competent and will uphold their standards of ethics. The average salary for this work is $85,000.

Mechanical Engineer

As a mechanical engineer, you would design, develop and build, research, and test mechanical devices such as machinery and engines. Some mechanical engineers specialize in specific industries such as automobiles or the medical field. You will need a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, but the job opportunities are vast and varied. You can expect to earn an average of $90,000, although engineers at the top of the scale can command much more.

Environmental Engineer

There are few jobs that are so involved in safeguarding public safety as environmental engineers who oversee pollution control, hazardous waste management, and water quality among many other things that affect our daily lives. They research and design systems that will minimize any effects on the environment and work with government departments and in the private sector.

You will need a bachelor’s degree at least in environmental engineering and then will need to be accredited by their professional body. Those that then pursue a master’s degree will progress further up the ladder in this career and can expect to earn somewhere in the region of $90,000 per year.

Social Media Manager

If you are a millennial there is a good chance you have used social media many times, so understand well how it works. You can use your skills to manage the social media campaigns for businesses who do not have the time to commit to the amount it needs. Most media market managers are expected to have a degree in communications, public relations or marketing and you have to keep up to date all the time with any changes the social media platforms make.

You can do this as a freelancer from home and grow your own business or work with one of the many social media agencies that at the moment provide more than 250,000 jobs in the US, and the numbers are growing all the time. If you understand how Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Youtube work and can remain positive in everything you post, you could earn anywhere between $50,00 and $150,000 a year.

Finding The Right Career

You will spend most of your waking time at work and want your career to be something that you are happy doing. The above are just a few suggestions, and all of them are much easier to attain with the advent of online courses. Now you can earn your degree while you have a full-time job, so if you want to advance in your current job or change career totally, the options are there for you get the qualifications you need.