Doing all the work necessary to receive a degree is no easy task. It becomes even more complicated when you’re taking care of a family and holding down multiple jobs. But don’t allow discouragement to rob you of the bright future that put you on the path to a degree in the first place. There are many careers waiting to be filled by those who pay the price for the right education.

Elementary Educator

Becoming an elementary teacher requires the successful completion of a four-year bachelor degree program in a teacher education program. You can also complete a degree program in the subject you would like to teach, but you’ll also have to take teaching courses to be hired as a teacher.

In either case, you’ll also have to complete an accredited teacher certification program. Following the certification, you’ll have to complete student teaching and pass licensing programs and competency examinations before you’ll be able to apply for a position.

The median salary for an elementary school teacher is about $54,000. The unemployment rate for elementary teachers is nearly five percent with a projected employment growth of 17 percent.

Family Nurse Practitioner

To become a family nurse practitioner, you first need a four-year degree in a nursing-related field. There are available programs at most universities; however, most are aimed at helping the graduate become a registered nurse (RN). It’s not necessary to become an RN if you want to become a family nurse practitioner, but it doesn’t hurt because of the part-time work available for RNs. After the four-year degree, you must complete a master’s degree program that’ll train you to become a family nurse practitioner (NP). This can take between two and four years to complete.

The good news is that the career opportunities for a family nurse practitioner have never been better. The median salary is $65,470. The unemployment rate is only four percent and the current projected employment growth is 26 percent.

Financial Planner

To become a financial planner, you’re going to need a bachelor’s degree and possibly some professional certifications like a CFA or CFP, which both require a four-year degree. Though a degree in finance, mathematics, accounting, or computer science will strengthen your resume, you could technically get a degree in anything.

The prospects for financial planners look terrific, with a median salary at about $67,520, an unemployment rate of nearly seven percent, and a projected employment growth of 32 percent.

Communications Specialist

The road to becoming a communication’s specialist requires a bachelor’s degree, work experience, and possible professional accreditation. There are communication, journalism, English, and marketing degrees that generally work best. Also plan on completing an internship.

Because the world has gone digital, the need for those who can accurately communicate is in great demand. The median salary for a Communications Specialists is $46,500 with a low unemployment rate of just more than seven percent and a projected employment growth of 17 percent.

After you’ve spent the time, effort, and money on a degree, it’s nice to know you’ll be rewarded by knowing your chances of finding a job are high after graduation. These four career options offer some of the best prospects in our current economy.