May is Graduation Month

Employment is brighter for some graduating students than for others, depending on the degree earned. Registered nurses (RNs) top the list for most in demand in the nation over the next decade with an expected 1,110,841 openings. About 60% of the job openings are expected because RNs are either retiring or changing occupations (called replacement demand in the table). A bachelor’s degree is typically required to be an RN and it pays an entry wage of around $48,500. According to the latest data (fourth quarter of 2015), there are 2.9 million employed RNs in the nation. The annual average wage for all RNs is $69,800.

Other occupations in high demand over the next decade include general and operations managers, accountants and auditors, and computer systems analysts.

Preschool teachers top the list of in-demand occupations for jobs that typically require an associate’s degree. Openings in the nation are expected to total 151,181 over the next decade with entry-level wages of $20,000.

Entry-level wages for some jobs that require an associate’s degree pay better than those requiring a bachelor’s degree.  For example, the entry-level wage for the average dental hygienist in the nation is $52,600 and the education required is an associate’s degree compared to a registered nurse requiring a bachelor’s degree who has an entry wage of $48,500.

When determining a major for post-secondary degrees, the forecasted number of openings and entry-level wages is important to both the employer and the new hires coming out of the education pipeline.