With 353,000 new positions added to the job market in January 2024, job seekers are currently experiencing a favorable landscape. The wide array of job opportunities offers candidates the luxury of choice and the prospects of higher salaries. Job seekers are particularly interested in high-paying roles with additional benefits, such as low stress, associate degree requirements, suitability for introverts, or high-paying positions led by women.
## High-Salaried Entry-Level Jobs
Companies are now presenting high-paying positions tailored for entry-level candidates. Although the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that roles demanding at least five years of experience typically offer twice the compensation compared to those without such requirements, several major companies are providing highly competitive salaries exceeding the median average wage for entry-level positions. Predominantly, these lucrative opportunities are available within the healthcare, finance, and retail sectors. CashNetUSA's recent study scrutinized regional job listings and rated large corporations based on the percentage of entry-level jobs presenting the best compensation in the United States. The following are the top 15 entry-level positions that offer the highest compensation above the median pay with the least experience.
- Tenet Healthcare
THC -1.2% Corporation. 87.8% - Citigroup, Inc. 82.4%
- Bank of America
BAC -0.8% Corporation. 80.2% - Target. 79.7%
- AT&T
T +0.2% Inc. 76.0% - Verizon Communications
VZ -0.7% Inc. 74.9% - Tesla
TSLA +0.7% Inc. 70.3% - Amazon
AMZN -2.4% . 66.8% - Lockheed Martin
LMT 0.0% Corporation. 66.0% - Tyson Foods
TSN +0.2% Inc. 65.6% - Pepsico Inc. 65.2%
- Thermo Fisher Scientific
TMO -0.1% Inc. 53.2% - Arby’s. 46.1%
- Wells Fargo
WFC +0.2% & Company. 42.9% - Walgreens Boos Alliance. 38.8%
How to Secure an Entry-Level Job
Entering the world of work or a new industry can be an adventure—but it can also be stressful if you look at it as a problem to solve. What will the interview be like? Who will conduct it? Or will I be able to be on the top of my game? Matt Pelkey recommends giving yourself the best shot at finding employment quickly. Pelkey—senior lead content strategist at Enova (CashNetUSA’s parent company)—suggests these five steps to make an impression and stand out above the competition.
- Build your network. “You’re never too young to start networking. Let family and friends know you are looking for work and join industry events and online communities. You may find a connection that can provide you with interesting opportunities or even an introduction to an employer.”
- Polish your resume and cover letter for each job. “Employers get a lot of applications for entry-level positions. Stand out by referring to the employer by name in your letter, mentioning something you respect about the company. And adapt your resume to make it easy for them to spot the parts that are relevant to the position.”
- Highlight your transferable skills. “If you lack direct experience or qualifications, draw attention to your other skills and achievements and illustrate how they apply to the job at hand. For example, accomplishments such as captaining a sports team or excelling at school debates demonstrate your confidence and communication skills.”
- Practice being interviewed. “If you don’t have much experience in job interviews, a little preparation can help you seem more professional. Ask your school or college careers advisor for help, or prepare a list of common questions and practice answering them with a friend.”
- Follow up with a call or email. “Remind the employer that you’re personable and highly motivated by sending a thank you note and addressing it by name.”
“Few entry-level jobs will make you rich, but finding the right role in the right place can make a significant difference to how much you bring home,” Pelkey points out. “Good wages can also indicate that an employer values their team highly, no matter how junior the position. If everything clicks into place, it could prove a very fulfilling job—and an excellent starting place to move up the company as you develop your career.”