Most college grads enter the workforce with thousands of dollars in student-loan debt -- the College Board cites an average of close to $20,000 for bachelor's degree recipients. And then come the lean years: at the beginning of a career, many people expect to live on the cheap as they build a resume, develop relationships with clients or continue to hone their skills.But not all careers require a long apprenticeship. People who want to earn high salaries right from the start of their careers can choose from several fields in which newcomers are relatively well-paid, according to the second edition of Laurence Shatkin's 250 Best-Paying Jobs.
"Within these occupations, the workers who earn at the 10th percentile -- meaning that 90 percent of the workers in the occupation earn more than they do -- still earn at least $51,540," explains Shatkin.
In other words, the lowest-earning 10 percent of workers in these careers earn more than 75 percent of all American earners. (Shatkin's salary figures are based on the US Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Employment Survey released in May 2008.)
The following list is taken from the book 250 Best-Paying Jobs. It features 10 occupations in which Shatkin says beginners are paid well. People who want an immediate return on their educational investment may want to take note. Have an interest in teeth? Even better:
Orthodontists
Beginning Wage: $100,980
Median Earnings: $166,400+
Prosthodontists
Beginning Wage: $72,710
Median Earnings: $166,400+
Nuclear Engineers
Beginning Wage: $68,300
Median Earnings: $97,080
Computer and Information Scientists, Research
Beginning Wage: $57,480
Median Earnings: $97,970
Education Administrators, Elementary and Secondary School
Beginning Wage: $55,580
Median Earnings: $83,880
Airline Pilots, Copilots, Flight Engineers
Beginning Wage: $55,330
Median Earnings: $111,680
Lawyers
Beginning Wage: $54,460
Median Earnings: $110,590
Financial Managers
Beginning Wage: $53,860
Median Earnings: $99,330
Chemical Engineers
Beginning Wage: $53,730
Median Earnings: $84,680
Mathematicians
Beginning Wage: $53,570
Median Earnings: $95,150
