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More millennials have finished college than any generation before them, and they are seeing economic payoffs as a result. While most millennials finish their educations with four-year degrees, they are increasingly choosing to attend graduate school. By pursuing a master’s degree in one of the following fields, millennials have the potential to increase their earnings even more and obtain a greater sense of job security in the future.
Mathematics
Advanced degrees in mathematics allow millennials to pursue careers in nearly any industry to find solutions to real-world problems. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for people with advanced degrees in this field will rise over 20% before 2022.
Occupational Therapy
Millennials with a passion for helping others can help the aging population lead more active lives while finding good job prospects in this field. In 2013, occupational therapists earned a mean annual wage of nearly $78,000, and the aging population of the United States means millennials with an advanced degree in occupational therapy will not struggle to find work.
Industrial Organizational Psychology
Corporations and businesses are increasingly turning to professionals with this advanced degree to solve issues in their workplaces. Employment in this field is projected to increase over 50% by 2022, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Political Science
Millennials may use this advanced degree to study and analyze political ideas, trends and ideologies, and the demand for professionals with political science degrees is expected to grow by over 20% by 2022, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Electrical Engineering
Pursuing master’s of science in electrical engineering gives millennials the skills they need to thrive in a world of rapidly changing technologies. Millennials with this degree may pursue work in industrial, academic, entrepreneurial or governmental sectors and do anything from designing antenna networks to creating optical communications or advanced computer networks.
Public Health
Like Master’s degrees in occupational therapy, those in public health are in high demand due to the country’s aging population. Millennials with this degree can expect to earn a median salary of $84,000 per year following graduation.
Finance
The fast-paced world of finance is an ideal environment for millennials looking for an adrenaline rush. With a median yearly salary of $119,000 for graduates, this field is one of the most lucrative for millennials.
The key to making a master’s degree pay off for millennials is to choose a field that opens the doors to high-paying, secure careers. If millennials choose one of the aforementioned degrees, the investment will pay off long into the future.
This article was contributed by guest author Lizzie Weakley.