5 Best First Jobs If You Have Student Loans

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Education isn’t cheap. And the fact is, many students pursuing a bachelor’s degree can’t afford it. The result? Debt. Sometimes a lot of it.

For example, as of the end of 2024, the average student loan debt was more than $38,000, according to the Department of Education’s Federal Student Aid office. 

With the high price of eggs, gas and many other staples of life, choosing a career that can pay for, or even reduce, student loan payments and debt is important. Here are five jobs that fit the bill.

Nurse

Here’s a stable, well-paying profession that is rewarding in more ways than one.

First, of course, you’ll be helping others. Second, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median pay for nurses nationwide is $86,070 and job opportunities are expected to grow by 6% through 2033, which is faster than average.

Plus, if you have federal loans, you could also benefit from the Public Student Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) government program. Through the program, if you work in the public sector, after 120 regular monthly payments, the remainder of your loan is forgiven. 

High School Teacher

Another rewarding career, you’ll be inspiring and educating the leaders of tomorrow. And though the BLS expects a slight decline in demand for high school teachers over the next decade, with job opportunities shrinking by 1%, it does pay a bit more than most expect.

According to the BLS, the median pay for high school teachers is $65,220 per year. Plus, if you teach five consecutive academic years in a low-income school, up to $17,500 of your federal loan could be forgiven through the Teacher Loan Forgiveness (TLF) Program.

Firefighter

Firefighters have a unique lifestyle, often enjoying 24-hour shifts with many days off a month. Of course, they do some dangerous and important work. With a median pay of $57,120 per year, according to the BLS, you probably won’t get rich fighting blazes. But the profession is expected to be in demand and, like nurses, your college debt is eligible for forgiveness after 120 monthly payments through the Public Student Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. 

Engineer

There are many types of engineers, from electrical and mechanical engineers to petroleum and industrial engineers. It’s a technical, rewarding field which typically comes with high growth potential and a good salary. For instance, according to the BLS, the median salary across all engineering fields is $100,000, enough to handle those college loan payments nicely.

Nonprofit Professional

Is your desire to help people and change the world bigger than your love of money? That’s noble, and the federal government thinks so, too.

So, if you work for a not-for-profit or nonprofit 501(c)(3) company, you could enjoy student debt relief under the Public Student Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. The same rules apply as nurses and government workers: Make 120 months of regular payments and the remaining balance is erased. 

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