Learning and Earning

It’s common knowledge that people with more education get jobs that pay more money. How much more? In a lifetime, college graduates earn nearly $1 million more than their friends and family members with only a high school diploma.

On average, earnings increase with education, regardless of race or gender. In 2005, the typical full-time year-round worker with a bachelor's degree earned $50,900 per year, which is about 62 percent more than the $31,500 earned by workers with only a high school diploma, 37 percent more than the $37,100 earned by those with some college but no degree, and 25 percent more than the $40,600 earned by those with associate degrees.

25 Fastest Growing Occupations:
(Occupations are ranked by projected growth rate from 2004-2014)

1 Home health aides - 57%
2 Computer software engineers, applications - 53%
3 Computer software engineers, systems software - 49%
4 Network systems and data communications analysts - 42%
5 Network and computer systems administrators - 38%
6 Medical assistants - 37%
7 Physician assistants - 37%
8 Occupational therapist assistants - 36%
9 Database administrators - 36%
10 Paralegals and legal assistants - 35%
11 Physical therapist assistants - 35%
12 Industrial engineers - 34%
13 Physical therapists - 34%
14 Pharmacy technicians - 33%
15 Occupational therapists - 33%
16 Dental assistants - 32%
17 Veterinary technologists and technicians - 32%
18 Dental hygienists - 32%
19 Forensic science technicians - 32%
20 Railroad conductors and yardmasters - 31%
21 Preschool teachers, except special education - 31%
22 Physical therapist aides - 30%
23 Environmental engineering technicians - 30%
24 Computer systems analysts - 29%
25 Registered nurses - 29%

25 Highest Paying Occupations in Mississippi
(Occupations are ranked by average annual earnings.)

1 Family and General Practitioners  - $145,600+
2 Internists, General - $145,600+
3 Obstetricians and Gynecologists - $145,600+
4 Pediatricians, General - $145,600+
5 Surgeons - $145,600+
6 Anesthesiologists - $140,100
7 Psychiatrists - $136,500
8 Dentists, General - $124,900
9 Engineering Managers - $105,300
10 Physicians and Surgeons, All Other - $103,900
11 Nuclear Engineers - $101,300
12 Chief Executives - $96,800
13 Pharmacists - $89,000
14 Physicists - $87,000
15 Natural Sciences Managers - $86,400
16 Engineers, All Other - $85,400
17 Optometrists - $83,300
18 Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers - $82,700
19 Aerospace Engineers - $79,700
20 Electronics Engineers, Except Computer - $77,200
21 Law Teachers, Postsecondary - $77,200
22 Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers - $77,100
23 Physical Scientists, All Other - $76,500
24 Marine Engineers and Naval Architects - $75,800
25 Managers, All Other - $74,800

Links:

Payscale.com
SalarySearcher.com
Mississippi Department of Employment Security
Salary.com
InfoPlease.com