There is no doubt that you need a high school diploma to function effectively in the job market, and a bachelor’s degree offers a significant jump in potential earnings to working professionals. Yet, many workers choose to stop their pursuit of academic credentials there, despite the opportunity that advanced degrees can provide.
Studies show that graduate-level education can improve a professional’s job prospects in several ways. A master’s degree often qualifies a worker for higher-level roles and enhances their job security once employed, reducing their likelihood of being laid off during difficult economic times. What’s more, master’s degree holders tend to enjoy higher lifetime earnings than those who have less education.
Yet, not every professional worker absolutely needs a master’s degree to achieve career success. Here are the professionals who are most in need of an advanced credential and who should look into online master’s programs today.
Professionals in Certain Career Fields
There are certain careers where graduate degrees are not just beneficial but absolutely mandatory. Many careers in healthcare, for example, have a master’s degree as a minimum requirement as determined not just by employers but by state regulations. Law enforcement is another field in which master’s degrees tend to be must-haves, and some higher-level education jobs also demand a master-level credential. It might be worth investigating whether your intended career requires a master’s qualification before you take any steps to become a professional in that field.
Professionals at the Start of Their Careers
Master’s degrees tend to impart advanced knowledge and skill in a specialized area — but in some cases, you can gain that specialized knowledge and skill organically through years of work experience. However, if you are at the very beginning of your career, you might not want to wait several years to gain the knowledge and skills you need to advance up your career ladder. In that case, you might spend a few months pursuing a master’s degree, which should qualify you for a higher position within your career field.
Professionals Looking to Pivot Careers
Research has found that the average person will switch careers between three and seven times during their working lives, but pivoting into a new career field can be risky. Usually, new careers require new knowledge and skills, and you may be forced to start at a much lower rung of the ladder from the career you left. To prevent any regressions in your career progress, you may choose to pursue a master’s degree in your new career field, so you can achieve the success you imagine on your new career path.
Professionals With Burning Ambition
It can take more than 20 years of real-world work experience to reach the higher levels of management and unlock the authority and earning potential of your dreams. If you simply can’t wait, you might instead spend just a couple years on a master’s degree that will allow you to create for yourself the position you aspire to. Master-level degrees in business administration or entrepreneurship will help you achieve success in building your own business, so you can become an executive of a successful company in no time.
Professionals in Need of Higher Earnings
Beyond greed, there are many reasons you might be interested in increasing your earning potential — perhaps you live in a region with a high cost of living; perhaps you have a large family to support; or perhaps you have a large amount of debt you are trying to overcome. In any case, a master’s degree can increase your lifetime earnings by more than a half a million dollars, which means you will undoubtedly earn a higher salary and take more money home after you graduate and start using your advanced knowledge and skill.
Professionals Who Feel Passionately About Certain Subjects
Then again, you might not need a career-driven reason to pursue higher education. If you have a passion for a particular subject, you might feel a profound sense of fulfillment by completing formal education and establishing yourself as a master of that field. Of course, a benefit of following your passion is the opportunity to find work that you love, so this might be the best possible reason you could have for seeking a master’s degree.
Most people can benefit from a master’s degree, but if you recognize yourself in any of the examples above, you might have some extra incentive to pursue higher education.
