Management Careers

When you have a background in management, there are a lot of opportunities for you out there. Something you should keep in mind is that your potential for getting hired will increase significantly when you are able to pair your management experience with other important skills. This is because the more technical, higher-paying management positions out there are being filled by people with specialized experience. If you want to be considered for these jobs, you need to either develop or showcase a specialty that helps you stand out. When you do this, you will have a clearer path toward the management career you want.

According the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are five specific management careers that have a median income of over $100,000. Not surprisingly, these careers will require you to have specialized training and education. These careers may not be for everyone, but they highlight the type of skills and credentials required to reach upper-level management. When you take the time to learn about different routes you can take your management career down, it can greatly impact the way you approach your education choices. Even if you decide that these careers don't suit you, the deliberative process you'll go through is a great way to find your way to something that you do want to pursue.

Architectural and Engineering Managers

With a median salary of roughly $120,000 a year, these managers have a higher median rate of pay than any other management career. What's more, it's not uncommon to find architectural and engineering managers who have only gotten their bachelor's degree. These managers are in charge of every aspect of construction jobs. This can range from building houses to building skyscrapers, and the core competencies required for this profession are extremely diverse. Architectural and engineering managers are required to be very proactive in how they handle issues on work-sites. They also need to possess the ability to multitask very quickly.

Natural Science Managers

Many people neglect to think about just how diverse the field of natural science is. Natural science managers can work for government organizations, private businesses and even for conservation organizations. The skills they develop through their training in the natural sciences provide these managers with a very unique perspective on management. They are often taught to look at managing an organization in the same way they look at managing a natural resource. These professionals have a median income of around $116,000 a year. A bachelor's degree is the minimum qualification to become a natural science manager.

Computer and Information Systems Managers

Every day, more and more business is handled on the Internet and through computers. To keep a business functioning efficiently, large and complex computer networks need to be designed, installed and maintained. The job of a computer and information systems manager is to ensure the consistent flow of data within an organization. These professionals can work for government or private organizations, and they have a median income of $115,780 a year.

Becoming a computer and information systems manager will require the right mixture of school and experience. It's not common to start out as a systems manager, though it can happen under certain circumstances. Normally, an employee will gain significant experience on the job while also gaining academic knowledge through training programs.

Advertising, Promotions and Marketing Managers

Behind ever successful marketing campaign, there is someone directing everything. Managers in the field of advertising, promotions and marketing have some of the most widely-varied salaries of any other profession listed here. This all depends on the connections, the experience and the level of service provided by the manager. Managers with lots of connections and a solid history of bringing in large clients could wield a high six-figure salary. However, the manager of a small, local event company may make significantly less money.

Managers in this field generally don't need to go beyond a bachelor's degree, since there is a heavy premium placed on real-world experience in this field. The median income for these managers is a little over $108,000 per year. These professionals will also often be expected to work very long, unreliable hours as part of their job.

Financial Managers

Rounding out this list of management careers are financial managers. The term "financial manager" can actually mean quite a lot of things. It could mean that you are managing a bank, managing a list of high-value accounts, or even managing the wealth and assets of a specific client. Due to the broadness of this term, it's hard to give a definitive path toward entering this field. The path you take toward becoming a financial manager will be largely dictated by the specific type of financial manager you want to become.

Something to bear in mind with financial management is that there is a lot to learn when it comes to regulations. There are very specific rules for the way you are supposed to handle money, especially if you are dealing with high-value trading accounts or banking. Despite the extensive knowledge required to be a financial manager, you don't necessarily need to have extensive credentials to become one. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median yearly income for financial managers in the United States is nearly $104,000. The minimum education qualification listed is a bachelor's degree in a related field.

Forge Your Own Path

It's important to look at your career as a winding path toward an uncertain goal. You want to have direction in life and a general idea of where you want to go, but things can change drastically over a very short amount of time. You may choose one industry because you can make a lot of money, but then despise working in it after a few years. Looking at your path as "definitive" is a good way to find yourself stuck in a career you're not happy with. However, looking at your career as something fluid can lead to real personal and professional development.