I have 19 year old twin boys. Did not want to go onto school. They love boats and cool cars. Told them if they want to have toys they best get some education. Local jobs will not support a house, food and toys. Gave them a choice of what they wanted to do. For now it is school.

A degree in business is very vague and does not set you up well for your first job! I know I got a BBA in 83, went back to school and picked up a BS in computer science and it was easy to find a job.

Business administration is good. Computers would be ok but that limits you too, unless thats what you want.

You know(OP) to be an officer you either have to go to an academy ie West Point, Anapolis, I beleive the AF's is The academy. Or you go to college and join their ROTC. Army and AF both have them. If you look on th web you can contact certain school to see who has them. If you want a four year scholarship from them you should start now. Take in mind to get into a service academy your grades need to be top notch, you need to be involved and you need a congressional appointment. If you do ROTC there is no appointment but they still look for good grades, atheletes, etc. I think ROTC is the better option you dont have to get up at 05-0600 every morning 90% of your weekends are off. Spring break and xmas off. Your summers are off except for one where you are gone for a month. Academy cadets usually have a lot of their summers taken up. Greatest thing of it all is when you graduate you get the same rank and same pay as somebody that came out of west point or Anapolis. Granted a West point education is like a harvard degree.

Don't necessarily agree that computers limit you! Every major corporation has a large IT department and automation is a key to being competitive. With that said I would not get into the field now if I was coming out of school, US programmers have to compete with resources from India who work for $500 a month.

I have twin daughters that are Sr's in high school they are both looking into the health care field. I hope this will be a good choice for them.

nursing is good if you dont want to be a doctor, which takes about 10 years of schooling and massive debt. Other jobs in health care that pay bank are X ray techs, not the people that take them but people that look at them. Also people that do sonograms. I would stay far far away from teaching unless your state has a massive need. Think the key while being in college is working for company that you could work your way into after graduating or is in the field you want to do, even if its for less. I know kids have to make money but working at bars or applebees does nothing for you.

Really???? I guess I will live forever!!:drink:

+1. When I graduated in '86 with a BS in Computer Science I interviewed with @ 8 companies and had multiple offers to choose from. Not that way anymore. My son is a freshman in college and is currently undecided on a career path. I'm trying to steer him away from IT but ultimately it is his decision.

My neighbor is an Anesthesiologist and recommended this for my daughters.
Nurse Anesthetist Salary Information:

The average nurse anesthetist salary is near the $150,000 range. This is far better than any other nursing salary in the United States.

Not sue how accurate but could be a good choice for some!

not sure why everyone is throwing out salary figures in terms of happiness. people who make 150k plus arent necessarily happy with there jobs. do what you love.

also you cant generalize occupational earnings. there are exceptions for everything. i.e. some general physicians make only 80-100k a year while others make 250k.

I agree with you on happiness, I hope my daughters can find something that they enjoy pays well and can raise their children and not necessarily have to work all the time.

I would think a nurse at that rate might be high end I would think you would be looking more at high 80's either way a good job

As I have said before money doesnt make happiness but without you arent happy either. If somebody doesnt have a life but makes 150k a year compared to the guy that has a life but only makes 80 I would pick the 80. But I would also take a 150k income over 30-40k a year too. Its all relative making 150k a year in LA or NYC is like making 50-60 in rural areas. That doctor thats 300k into debt isnt out of debt and really making money until they are 35-40 years old. The one contstant is some form of education with out some you either will need some luck or a huge break.

Agreed.

You are comparing apples and oranges. I was talking about people with the same occupation in the same region. There are many physicans here in CT that make 80k while others make 250k. It all has to do with your employer, practice, experience, reputation, etc. The same argument can be had for all occupations. There are exceptions for everyone. I am sure there are janitors here that make near 100k while others make less then half that which is the reason why I say you cant generalize occupational earnings. They are different for everyone depending on the circumstances.

a nurse anesthetist is much different than a normal nurse. my cousin is a nurse anesthetist...he easily clears 175k a year with OT.

If you work on boats for a living you will not enjoy them as much and may get out of boating all together. Can't say I've ever seen my mechanic out on the lake. I went thru the same thing when I was your age. Thought about the MMI.....its a lot of hard manual labor, especially here in TX when it gets really hot. I knew from high school I was good with numbers, excelled in all the top math classes despite sleeping thru most of them. I knew from watching my parents that accounting would be a easy way to make money and I could make enough to have nice toys. So I went that route, now I'm a CPA, about to finish a masters in Tax. I've since developed a real passion for fighting the IRS. So what I thought was going to be the most boring career ever has turned into a strong passion to fight the most tyranical governmental organization ever devised in western civilization. If your good with numbers I highly recommend a field in accounting. There is a shortage of some 20,000 accountants, virtually gauranteeing you a job and there are many diferent fields to go into it that are a little more exciting (forensic accounting, tax, litigation, retirement). The best thing about it is that once you get experienced and get some solid clients you can start up your own business out of your own home with zero capital.

No I agree. But location, employers, housing cost, etc. all come into play when making a decision or should. Like I said paycheck is all relative to region. If you live on the east coast you will have to make more money to keep up.

I understand my sister in law just became a nurse out of college and I know what he gets paid. I think the high end you are talking about is probably with years of experience, location and OT, which all make a big difference. I think your average joe coming out of school be no wheres close that figure coming out of school, and depending on the practice or location never get that high. Either way for a nurse to make sub 100k and above is pretty good.

I dont want anybody to take this the wrong way. And you can do descent with this but you talk to a lot of people who work their hands they will tell you a minumum its hard work, and go to college. My dad and his dad both worked with their hands and both told me the samething. Alot of guys do pretty good on it, a lot of them done. A lot of them struggle with being laid off and going from one construction crew to another and always worrying about benefits. Some do ok, friends dad works may-nov working heavy machinery and with overtime makes 100k a year and has half the year off. The money lies in speciality jobs like heavy machinery, divers, all the weird stuff, the standard boat mechanic, framer, or dry waller, is not going to be living high on the hog.

you still dont get it. a nurse and a nurse anesthetist are completely different. one cannot be the other. my cousin is right out of training with little or no experience making the previously stated amount. location and OT arent even huge drivers. everyone in the field of being an anesthetist is making huge money. double to triple that of normal hospital workers. what you are saying is general physicians make 150k while plastic surgeons make 400k. They are both doctors but in completly different fields. They arent comparable.

Good Job!

I understand the difference and you are right. I just find it hard to beleive a nurse of any sort is getting straight out of school making 150 with no experience. I would like to see that job posting. From my research that is the top end of the scale. Even regular nurses dont make 80 coming out of school MOST of the time probably not ALL the time. Congrats to your nephew if that was the case.

From http://www.crnasalary.com/
Nurse anesthetist
CRNA Salary Information

Reflecting their level of responsibility, CRNAs are one of the best paid nursing specialties.

According to a Merritt Hawkins & Associates study from 2009 the average salary for CRNAs was $189,000. Although in 2005 the average annual CRNA salary was reported as $160,000, although starting salaries tend to be closer to $110,000-$130,000

I find that hard to believe for a starting salary. I wonder if the nurses would have to purchase mal-practice insurance?

Great facts thatnks. yeah I thought 175ish was high starting out of college. Even though thats a possibility I would guess with todays market starting at that is probably hard with competition. This brings up something else is that these people that go to school to get these jobs deserve good money but this kind of money to be a high speed nurse right out of the gate, we wonder why it cost 20 grand to get a few stitches and x rays.

You bring up a good point about the insurance, that could be part of it, which if it is I wonder how much a year that is. From what I have seen average that cost 28-50 a year. so if you start at 130 and minus 50 then your at 80 which is still good. Good point brad that could be the reason this starts out so high

http://www.valuemd.com/physician-salary-first-year.html
Doctors starting salary, how much faith can you put in something you find with a search engine?

SPECIALTY Years 1-2
Allergy/ Immunology $158,000
Ambulatory $80,000
Anesthesiology: Pediatrics $283,000
Anesthesiology: General $207,000
Anesthesiology: Pain Management $315,000
Cardiology: Invasive $258,000
Cardiology: Interventional $290,000
Cardiology: Noninvasive $268,000
Critical Care $187,000
Dermatology $195,000
Emergency Medicine $192,000
Endocrinology $171,000
FP (with OB) $182,000
FP (w/o OB) $161,000
FP - Sports Medicine $152,000
FP - Urgent Care $128,000
Gastroenterology $265,000
Hematology/Oncology $181,348
Infectious Disease $154,000
Internal Medicine $154,000
IM (Hospitalist) $161,000
Medicine/Pediatrics $139,000
Medical Oncology $198,000
Neonatal Medicine $286,000
Nephrology $191,000
Neurology $180,000
Obstetrics/Gynecology $211,000
Gynecology $159,000
Maternal/Fetal Medicine $286,000
Occupational Medicine $139,000
Ophthalmology $138,000
Ophthalmology Retina $280,000
Orthopedic Surgery $256,000
ORS - Foot & Ankle $228,000
ORS - Hand & Upper Extremities $288,000
ORS - Hip & Joint Replacement $330,000
ORS - Spine Surgery $398,000
ORS - Sports Medicine $266,000
Otorhinolaryngology $194,000
Pathology $169,000
Pediatrics $135,000
Pediatrics - Cardiology $145,000
Pediatrics - Critical Care $196,000
Pediatrics - Hematology/Oncology $182,000
Pediatrics - Neurology $175,000
Physiatry $169,000
Podiatry $128,000
Psychiatry $149,000
Psychiatry - Child and Adolescent $158,000
Pulmonary Medicine + Critical Care $215,000
Radiation Oncology $241,000
Radiology $201,000
Rheumatology $179,000
Surgery - General $226,000
Surgery - Cardiovascular $336,000
Surgery - Neurological $354,000
Surgery - Plastic $237,000
Surgery - Vascular $270,000
Urology $261,000

nurse anesthetists do not pay insurance fees as they are covered under the operating anesthesiologists policy. that 110-130k number is on the low side. my cousin was offered several postitions in the 145-165k range. granted the position requires training and additional school, it still demands nearly double the starting salary of regular nurses.

2fast9tech2,
Do you know if there is a high demand for nurse anesthetists? What area was your cousin interviewing?

there is a huge demand. my cousin was picked up by a local walk in clinic whom paid for his training. he actually stayed with them after completion.

his good friend who was actually in the same school with him relocated to TX for a 165k offer.

as my cousin puts it, the nurses do all the work while the anesthesiologists just oversee everything. anesthesiologists make around 275k. its a lucrative field but then again, they have all the risk. putting someone to sleep is no easy task. kill or injure someone its all over.

Now I know why the Health insurance plans I give my employees is so out of whack. Those $$ are stupidly high.

Yeah then deduct the cost of the education (student loans) and the cost of insurance and suddenly Dr's aren't rich anymore! I have a neighbor that is a surgeon, she took a few years off to have kids/raise the family (her husband is a Dr. as well). Her insurance was 30K a year and she kept the policy current (paid the premiums) because she had no claims and feared not being able to get insurance again when she resumed her work schedule!

I know a OBGYN that is out on disability (fell down a staircase, looks fine but ins. company declared him disabled due to the fact he can't lift one arm over his head and that would inhibit child delivery). He makes more money disabled than he netted working (gross - insurance - office overhead = net and the DI payout is currently greater than his former net income!).

Lawyers are making all the money in the medical field, the days of Dr's being the rich guy in towna and playing golf on Wednesdays is over.......

Many hospitals in Florida aren't allowing them to work in their facilities forcing them to work offsite in Dr. offices instead. Wages are way down from 20 years ago in that field. Insurance companies don't want hospitals using these nurses, they want Dr's knocking people out!

my wife is an RN, does well and deserves every penny she makes, very knowledgable and works he arse off, you'd be surprised how many times the nurses keep the doctors in line. Her dream is to go back to school for 2 yrs and be a Nurse Anesthetist, it would be very tough for us to give up her salary right now but well worth it in the long run.

This statement couldn't be further from the truth...

Spend 10+ years post High School in a grueling academic environment. Take those gross $$$ and subtract hundreds of thousands of dollars of debt to pay of, insurance that makes a 16 year old kid with a quad 1350 Nortech's policy look like safe auto, and see how much you take home. I'd say they more than deserve it.

Great post, it's all about the LAWYERS.

Best of luck to her! She has to love what she does, it's not an easy job :drink:

And for the record, yes, I am very bias. My wife is a Pediatrician starting with a successful private practice this spring. I have been with her every step of the way, and it's no walk in the park. I sure as hell couldn't do it!

The days of going into medicine to make a quick easy buck are long, long gone.

You want to make some money and only work 6 months a year? Come on out to the offshore oil and gas industry.

You wouldnt believe me if I told you what supervisor level positions pay out here.

Tugs dont pay well at all relative to other maritime work. Figure $60-80k for a captain. Supply boats in the Gulf do better, with mates with certain companies pulling in $100k or so for 6 months of work. But the real money is on the rigs.

All of these jobs will require a maritime license, so count on either spending a lot of time doing really chit jobs until you get enough sea time to get a license or going to a maritime academy. I would recommend the US Merchant Marine Academy, but I am biased somewhat. Plus, if you wanted to be an officer in the USAF first, it is up to you as you get a commission in the military with whatever branch you choose.

I just may have to go back to school.:coolcowboy:

I beleive you. Although I know a lot of people like to booster their wages higher than than they are. I remember I used to be in the Army and Id run up on some E-5 SGT saying he made 100k a year then the long line of untruthfulness gets spread

There are a lot of levels of nursing.

You have LPNs making $35k per year.
2 year RN makes around $40-45k per year.
4 year RN probably makes $50-60k per year.
A nurse with a master's probably makes $60-80k per year.
A nurse practioner, which requires additional schooling, probably makes $80-100k per year.

I'm in the health field so these numbers are just what my nursing friends tell me.

[QUOTE=RT930turbo;3585850]This statement couldn't be further from the truth...

.Best of luck to her! She has to love what she does, it's not an easy job :drink:

She does, she was born for the medical field, was an ER nurse for 3-4 yrs and now with a plastic surgeon for the past 5yrs in the OR, good thing we live in a vain city, they couldnt be busier.

That is of course dependant on where you live. First year RN's in Delaware can expect to make $55-60k. That is just out of school.

My opinion, although not always highly valued, is that if you have what sounds like a bit of mechanical- technical apptitude you should consider going off to a good college where they have an excellent program for engineering majors and get a degree in a specialized form of engineering. This country has a huge need for engineers and many US companies are importing engineers from all over the world to fill the voids. As technology and innovation continue to grow the need for highly educated and talented engineers will continue to grow and be the basis for a very lucrative profession.
Just my two cents.

Best Regards,
Ray @ Raylar

Well.. I started playing with cars and boats as a hobbie when I was young. I still play with boats when I have the time, still love being on the water. I now own a collision repair buisness and still love to play with cars too. I never went to college, but I made darn sure all 3 of my kids did.

I'm a mining engineer and I started working for my company freshman year of college. Great job security and great pay.