The Best Jobs for Recent Grads

As soon-to-be college graduates jump-start their job search efforts, many are doing so with a fair amount of uncertainty. With little work experience, thousands of dollars in student loan debt, and recession-anxiety, many upcoming grads worry that their college-to-career transition will be problematic.

Fortunately, there are still plenty of opportunities for current college students and recent grads to find a rewarding job, despite economic woes, says Laurence Shatkin, Ph.D., co-author of 200 Best Jobs for College Graduates, Fourth Edition.

To open recent grads' eyes to where they're most likely to find worthwhile opportunities in the world of work, Farr and Shatkin also created a list of the best jobs for young grads. "These jobs have higher percentages of recent college graduates and may present more opportunities for initial entry or upward mobility," says Shatkin.

The following list identifies the best jobs overall with a high percentage of college graduates between 20- and 24-years-old, according to Shatkin and Farr:

Network Systems and Data Communications Analysts
Beginning Wage: $40,100
Percent Growth: 53.4 percent
Annual Openings: 35,086

Sales Agents, Financial Services
Beginning Wage: $30,890
Percent Growth: 24.8 percent
Annual Openings: 47,750

Sales Agents, Securities and Commodities
Beginning Wage: $30,890
Percent Growth: 24.8 percent
Annual Openings: 47,750

Market Research Analysts
Beginning Wage: $33,310
Percent Growth: 20.1 percent
Annual Openings: 45,015

Public Relations Specialists
Beginning Wage: $29,580
Percent Growth: 17.6 percent
Annual Openings: 51,216

Cost Estimators
Beginning Wage: $32,470
Percent Growth: 18.5 percent
Annual Openings: 38,379

Educational, Vocational, and School Counselors
Beginning Wage: $28,430
Percent Growth: 12.6 percent
Annual Openings: 54,025

Actuaries
Beginning Wage: $48,750
Percent Growth: 23.7 percent
Annual Openings: 3,245

Paralegals and Legal Assistants
Beginning Wage: $28,360
Percent Growth: 22.2 percent
Annual Openings: 22,756

Computer Support Specialists
Beginning Wage: $25,950
Percent Growth: 12.9 percent
Annual Openings:97,334

200 Best Jobs for College Graduates, Fourth Edition, is available at all major bookstores and from the publisher (www.jist.com or 1.800.648.JIST).