How to advance your skills at any age and redefine your retirement years.
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Even if you're retired or well into your career, it's never too late to learn a new skill. And because you don't need to go back into a physical classroom to learn those skills anymore (something that can be very anxiety-inducing for some people), taking the leap to study may be much less daunting when you can do it online.
Whether you're looking for a career change, want to stay relevant at your current job or are looking for something to do post-retirement, why not try something new?
There are so many websites that offer low-cost or even free courses where you can advance your skills on your own time without having to borrow thousands of dollars or change your routine and dedicate yourself to it full time.
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What are the highest-paying jobs in 2024?
If one of the reasons you're looking to learn a new skill is that you're interested in a higher-paying job, that's understandable. Or maybe someone younger than you is asking for advice, and you want to give them some tips on what they can pursue. Perhaps you're just curious about what the highest-paying jobs are these days. Whatever the reason, it's good to be current on these questions.
Though year after year doctors, lawyers, accountants and electrical engineers are at the top of the list of the highest-paying jobs, that's not always the most realistic career path for everyone, especially if you're looking to skill up quickly for a career change or a hobby. In either case – or maybe you're just curious – here are the highest-paying jobs in 2024, according to several sources like Yahoo! Finance, Indeed and U.S. News Money.
- Loan officer: $192K
- IT manager: $164K
- Financial manager: $140K
- Marketing manager: $140K
- Sales manager: $131K
- Software developer: $127K
- Computer network architect: $127K
- Actuary: $114K
- Information security analyst: $112K
- Scrum master: $106K
- Data scientist: $104K
- Tax manager: $130K
- Real estate analyst: $90K
- HR manager: $79K
- Virtual assistant: $75K
- Digital marketer: $67K
- Life insurance agent: $67K
- Freelance writer: $59K
- Customer service representative: $59K
- Translate/interpreter: $58K
- Graphic designer: $56K
- Online fitness trainer: $53K
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Do you need an education to do these jobs?
The quick answer? No, not necessarily. But it will take some skill leveling up. You can get some of these roles by educating yourself online or enrolling in online courses. And these courses don't typically ask you for a degree to enroll.
Why? They understand that a person might want to learn new skills for many reasons. Of course, if getting a higher-paid job or wanting a promotion is your reason for learning a new skill in the first place, then certainly having some college education may help you land one of these jobs sooner.
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Where to take online courses
There are several excellent online platforms where you can continue your education, acquire new skills and explore various subjects. Here are some of the top online learning platforms.
edEX: Ideal for tech enthusiasts and career-minded individuals seeking courses from top universities on subjects like AI, coding and data analytics.
Coursera: Perfect for those looking for university-level courses, specializations and degrees from renowned institutions worldwide, with financial aid options available.
Udacity: Ideal for aspiring programmers and tech enthusiasts seeking hands-on experience and industry connections through Nanodegree programs.
LinkedIn Learning: Suitable for professionals looking to advance their careers with courses on leadership, marketing and project management with personalized recommendations and LinkedIn integration.
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What if I am late in my career or near retirement?
Then, yes, you can take one of these courses (or many of them). Again, the whole purpose of online learning is to make it accessible to everyone. So, even though there may be other students in your cohort who are younger or at a totally different stage of their careers or their lives, don't let that hold you back.
Learning a new skill, even if you've been in your career for decades, can help you stay on top of your game as new tech and trends roll in. If you're a parent or a grandparent, learning a new skill can help you relate more to your children as they grow and pursue their careers. And, if you're near retirement or already retired, learning a new skill helps keep the mind sharp and maybe even gives you the education you need to start a new venture.
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How to choose the best online course for you
Choosing the best online course depends on several factors. Understand the reputation of the course, the length of time you have to complete it, whether courses are asynchronous or synchronous, your learning styles, budget, etc.
You can look at reviews, talk to students who have taken the course, and find out who in your network has attended one of these programs and ask about their job prospects. Again, it all depends on why you're taking the course in the first place. If you just want to do it for fun, perhaps you'll join a course taught by a favorite celebrity on MasterClass.
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Kurt's key takeaways
Learning new skills isn't only for recent high school or college grads. It's for anyone. Going "back to school" has never been easier with online courses. No matter your age and your intention, there is a course – and platform – out there for you.
Have you or anyone you know advanced any of your skills using one of the methods above? What about a friend who took an online course as a hobby? What was the experience like? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.
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Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on "FOX & Friends." Got a tech question? Get Kurt’s free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.
