
Find the best careers for you

Few decisions in life will be as significant as your choice of career. Yet career advice often focuses on vague and intangible factors. While finding fulfilling and interesting work is important, choosing the best careers should also involve concrete data.
If you have narrowed down a field, what are the highest-paying jobs in that discipline? Or, instead of guessing which career paths are right for you, applying tools like personality tests or getting career advice from experts and those working in the field can take the guesswork out of this weighty decision.
Career paths
Knowing how to find the right career depends on which stage of the journey you are on:
- Are you a high school student in the middle of the college application process?
- Are you a freshman in college deciding on a major?
- Or, are you an older adult looking for a new career?
To begin, you can explore types of careers below, and select the ones you are interested in for more information on career paths and the links between college majors and careers.
Accountant
More infoMedian earnings: $77,250
Required degree: Bachelor
Projected openings (annual): 136,400
Actuary
More infoMedian earnings: $111,030
Required degree: Bachelor
Projected openings (annual): 2,200
Addictions counselor
More infoMedian earnings: $47,660
Required degree: Bachelor
Projected openings (annual): 41,500
Audiologist
More infoMedian earnings: $81,030
Required degree: Doctorate
Projected openings (annual): 800
Bookkeeper
More infoMedian earnings: $42,410
Required degree: Associate
Projected openings (annual): 188,500
Career advice
Getting sound career advice can be a challenge. For instance, is college even the right choice for your career path, or would trade school make more sense? Will pursuing a professional doctorate actually lead to a promotion or is there a surer way to get there? What is the difference between certificate programs, certifications, and licenses anyway?
If you already know where you want to work and have the requisite credentials, you can check out our career planning section to help you with the job hunt.
Final thoughts
While there is no one-size-fits-all answer to how to find the right career, some basic rules apply. First, explore types of careers to know what’s out there and which are the highest-paying jobs in your sector. Inform yourself on the connection between college majors and careers to make sure you are pursuing the education that will actually get you the job you want. Finally, choose a college and program with a proven track record of positive return on investment to ensure your education pays for itself in the end.