Top 5 Careers Your Teenager Needs To Know About

The time is quickly approaching when students in high school will be sitting for their college entrance exams and getting ready to graduate. If your child is at this point in their educational career, there’s no doubt that you’ve begun discussing possible career options. Every parent wants their child to do better than they did, to have more than they had and to be more satisfied than they are. If your teenager is considering career paths, here are the most lucrative careers to consider:

1. Surgeon

Surgeons are the top paid medical professionals in the nation. In fact, a surgeon that specializes on a particular area of the body, like the heart, can make close to $200,000 a year. If your child is interested in biology, and science in general, becoming a surgeon could bring him or her great job satisfaction. They should major in biology for their first four years and then apply to medical school, where they will spend another four years. Beyond those eight years of schooling will be two to seven years of specialized training.

2. CEO

A chief executive officer holds the highest rank in a business or company. Typically, the CEO is also the person in the company with the most lucrative salary. The average CEO earns just over $140,000 per year; more than enough to ensure that your child lives comfortably. Unless they are planning on starting their own business, a four year degree is a must. They should then plan on attending graduate school and earning their MBA if they want to rub shoulders with some of the most influential people in the business world.

3. Engineering

Engineers make a great deal of money but engineering managers make even more. These professionals often oversee others in managerial positions and earn a hefty salary for doing so: about $140,000 per year. If your child has a technical mind, is interested in math and has a love of science, an engineering degree will help them get a foot in the door of the engineering world. To become a manager, they will need to attend graduate school, concentrating in business or science.

4. Pilot

Airline pilots have always held a place of prestige and mystery in the public eye. Many people, however, have no idea how a pilot becomes a pilot. To become a pilot, they do not have to attend college but, as the competition becomes greater, a four-year degree is highly sought after by the airlines. Alternately, your child may want to join the military and receive their training while serving their country. The average salary for an airline pilot is $134,000 per year.

5. Dentist

Most dental schools only require that their entering students have obtained a two-year degree. As more people are entering the field, a four-year degree is becoming desirable. Once your child has earned his or her bachelor’s degree, dental school will take another four years to complete. Should your burgeoning dentist decide to specialize, they can expect an additional two to five years of specialized training. All of this education will be well worth it; dentists average just over $130,000 a year.

If you’re helping your teenager decide on a career, or if they want to explore one on his or her own, look to this list of the top five paying jobs in the nation. Any of these options will ensure that your child is wealthy, satisfied and happy; who could ask for more? While most of these careers require a longer than average length of schooling, it will be well worth it in the end.

Nicole Morgan is a mom and career counselor, she blogs for intelicus.com where you can find information about online masters degrees. She enjoys finding the right educational fit for her potential students!