If you liked attending college, chances are you'll like working there, too. Compared with most office environments, the surroundings are beautiful, the atmosphere intellectually stimulating, and the work hours more forgiving. And things really lighten up in the summer! For better or worse, there are lots of management jobs on campus, because university bureaucracies tend to be large, from student affairs to academic affairs, physical plant to student health service. One downside: Office politics can be brutal. Political correctness also bothers some academics, who feel that holding liberal views is a litmus test for getting hired or promoted. Many campus jobs require a master's or Ph.D. Universities sell degrees, after all. They need to practice what they preach.
Median Pay
National: $103,000. More pay data by metropolitan area
(Data provided by PayScale.com)
Training
U.S. News rankings of graduate programs (fee applies)
Smart Specialty
Student Affairs/Student Life. The work is unusually pleasant: You spend your day dealing with orientation, residence hall activities, and student clubs and organizations. Competition for these jobs is less rigorous than for academic ones, so you can often get your first job with just a bachelor's degree.
