Starting Strong: Entry-Level Jobs with High-Paying Salaries

Whether you’re a recent graduate looking to get into the workforce for the first time, or you’re unsure of what you want to do but want to start earning some cash, there are plenty of great entry-level jobs out there that pay surprisingly well. Entry-level jobs don’t require you to have a ton of skills and experience, and they often provide valuable on-site training. Here are some entry-level jobs that will pay you a nice salary.

Human Resources Assistant

As a human resources (HR) assistant, it’s your job to support senior HR representatives in a variety of tasks. In most cases, you’ll be dealing with emails and phone calls, or scheduling appointments and making visitors feel comfortable. You may also be responsible for providing support during the hiring process, which might include reviewing incoming applications or scheduling interviews.

If you’re a real people person with excellent communication skills and a knack for organization, you’d probably make a great HR assistant. The best part about this role is that you can build an entire career out of being an HR representative, and when you get to the higher levels in this career path, you can expect to earn a very nice salary. As an HR assistant in an entry-level role, you’ll be making between $45,000 and $60,000 per year.

Administrative Assistant

This role is somewhat similar to our last entry, as its main function is to provide support to varying capacities. Administrative assistants typically work closely with senior management and members of the executive leadership team, often performing tasks such as scheduling meetings, taking notes, dealing with phone calls and emails, and keeping records.

As an administrative assistant, you’ll be expected to have excellent skills in time management, problem-solving, organization, communication, and depending on the company, customer service. It’s very possible that you’ll be working in a rather fast-paced environment, so bear that in mind if you’re looking to get into this role. As an administrative assistant, you can expect to make anywhere between $35,000 and $68,000 per year.

Claims Adjuster

This role is a pretty common entry-level position that can also be turned into a full-fledged career in the insurance industry. Claims adjusters are responsible for reviewing insurance claims and helping to determine to which extent an insurance company is liable in a claim. This typically includes gathering evidence and communicating with the parties involved. This role is sometimes called “claims analyst” or “claims specialist.”

Claims adjusters are detail-oriented, and have excellent communication skills. In addition to this, the role requires strong analytical and problem-solving skills. The average salary range for a claims adjuster is between $40,000 and $70,000 per year, depending on factors such as your location, and which company you work for.

Sales Representative

Many people make a great career out of sales, and depending on the company you’re working for, you could make a whole ton of money. As a sales representative, you’ll be responsible for identifying and contacting potential customers and successfully selling them a company’s product or service. Sales representatives are required to possess vast knowledge about a company’s offerings, and often find themselves collaborating with a marketing team.

The most successful sales representatives are masters at building and maintaining customer relationships. As such, they have excellent communication skills, they’re great listeners, and they’re skilled at telling stories and relating to a customer’s pain points and concerns. As an entry-level sales representative, you can expect to make anywhere between $45,000 and $70,000 a year.

Software Developer

The work of software developers can be seen in nearly every aspect of your day-to-day life. From the websites you visit and the apps you use, all the way to the video games you play. Software developers are responsible for creating programs that serve a multitude of purposes and run on a variety of platforms. These professionals play a key role in virtually every industry, so finding a job won’t be too much of a problem.

Software developers are familiar with programming languages such as C++, Python, and JavaScript, just to name a few. In addition to this, they pay great attention to detail and often display excellent project management skills. The average annual salary range for junior-level software developers is between $50,000 and $85,000 per year.

When you’re just starting out, your priority should be to build a solid foundation of basic skills and knowledge of your role and industry. If you fall under the category of being unsure of what you want to do in your career, taking on an entry-level job may help you determine which role is a good fit for you. In fact, there are many entry-level jobs out there that make great careers, or that provide direct pathways into higher-level positions.