Mean Income: $130,000 Top 10%: $140,769
Strategy manager sounds like one of those overly vague, made-up, hi-tech titles, but we promise it’s a real thing and that it pays well too. What strategy managers usually do is help a company reach its full potential. Again, we know it sounds vague, but trust us, we’re getting somewhere.
Helping a company grow and become more efficient is usually done through business partnerships and planning new initiatives. Strategy managers are able to do just that thanks to an academic background which includes a bachelor’s (and sometimes a master’s) degree.
Software Development Manager
Mean Income: $103,620 Top 10%: $170,626
These days, it seems that you have to be working in hi-tech in order to be considered successful. It is no surprise considering how incredibly dependent we are on our phone (tell yourself all the lies you want, we know you play Candy Crush on the toilet).
Software developers are the very people who basically run the modern-day world. After completing a degree in computer science and finding a job in their field, they make smartphone apps, build and maintain websites. They are essentially the construction workers of the digital world. Without them, there would be no online activity. And without online activity, how will our Instagram followers know what we had for lunch?
Pharmacy Manager
Mean Income: $130,000 Top 10%: $170,607
You must think that a pharmacy manager does very little other than scheduling the shifts for their staff but you'd be wrong. Actually, managing a pharmacy is much harder than most people realize. Being a pharmacist dealing with self-appointed medical professionals is hard, but you know what's even harder? Managing an establishment that does that every. Single. Day.
Pharmacy managers will need years of experience as regular pharmacists as well as a doctoral degree. They will also need nerves of steel. Oh, and some big wallets for all the money they will be making.
Integrated Circuit Designer Engineer
Mean Income: $127,500 Top 10%: $176,000
Those of you who aren't in hi-tech must read this title and think you're looking at a foreign language of some sort. Those of you who are in hi-tech are probably here by mistake because you must be too busy making money to be reading this. But we're not bitter. No matter what the therapist says.
Anyway, let us just explain that integrated circuit designer engineers deal with electrical design as well as development support. They also solve technical hardware problems for the companies that hire their services. In order to be able to do that, they study for a B.S. or even a Master’s of Science degree in electrical engineering.
IT Manager
Mean Income: $142,530 Top 10%: $146,945
You know the IT person you call whenever your work computer starts showing signs of ADHD? Apparently, those people have other responsibilities too, such as overseeing information technology systems. Sure, they help workers navigate through technological problems, but they also perform system maintenance on any software the company uses, install and upgrade different hardware systems, and more.
With all the sensitive information on their hands (plus, their anti-virus responsibilities), IT managers need professional training which includes at least a B.A. in computer science. They would also need a rewarding paycheck or they will be easily tempted to sell the company secrets to online psychopaths.