It’s never too early to start looking for your first job after college. Although it’s only January, it will be May before you know it and you don’t want to be caught off guard when graduation sneaks up on you.
To help prepare graduates for this transition, Laurence Shatkin, Ph.D., and career expert Michael Farr wrote “200 Best Jobs for Recent Graduates, Fourth Edition. The book identifies 200 of the most rewarding jobs for graduates, including such pertinent information as annual earnings, beginning wages, job growth and more.
“These jobs have higher percentages of recent college graduates and may present more opportunities for initial entry or upward mobility,” Shatkin says.
Here’s a short list of the best overall jobs with a high percentage of college graduates between 20- and 24-year-olds, according to Farr and Shatkin.
Beginning wage: $40,100
Percent growth: 53.4 percent
Annual opening: 35,086
Beginning wage: $30,890
Percent growth: 24.8 percent
Annual opening: 47,750
Beginning wage: $30,890
Percent growth: 24.8 percent
Annual opening: 47,750
Beginning wage: $33,310
Percent growth: 20.1 percent
Annual opening: 45,015
Beginning wage: $29,580
Percent growth: 17.6 percent
Annual opening: 51,216
Beginning wage: $32,470
Percent growth: 18.5 percent
Annual opening: 38,379
Beginning wage: $28,430
Percent growth: 12.6 percent
Annual opening: 54,025
Beginning wage: $48,750
Percent growth: 23.7 percent
Annual opening: 3,245
Beginning wage: $28,360
Percent growth: 22.2 percent
Annual opening: 22,756
Beginning wage: $25,950
Percent growth: 12.9 percent
Annual opening: 97,334