Recreation and Leisure
Matt Lewis loves going to work every Monday, even if he isn't making as much money as his friends.
Median starting pay: $33,300
Median mid-career pay: $53,200
For a career path that requires so much energy, the pay can be a drag.
But while they may not be rolling in dough, camp directors, community planners and park managers often get to have a lot more fun than high-paid engineers.
Matt Lewis, who graduated Virginia Wesleyan College in 2007, now works as the youth program director at his local YMCA, which means organizing and taking part in any activities geared toward children -- and getting by on a small paycheck.
"I tell people I get paid in smiles," he said. "I know I'm not making as much money as a lot of my friends, but I love going to work every Monday and know that I'm changing lives every day, whether it's teaching someone how to swim or throw a football."
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Last updated January 14 2011: 2:40 PM ET
Source: PayScale.com
How PayScale.com determined salary: Survey includes national median starting and mid-career salary for 120 popular bachelor degree majors. Salaries are for graduates who received bachelor's degrees from schools in the United States who work full time in the United States.
How PayScale.com determined salary: Survey includes national median starting and mid-career salary for 120 popular bachelor degree majors. Salaries are for graduates who received bachelor's degrees from schools in the United States who work full time in the United States.
