5 Best First Jobs If You Want To Make $80K in 3 Years
Written by
Angela Mae
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Amen Oyiboke
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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the last recorded real median household income was $80,610 in 2023. This means roughly half of all households earn more than that, while half earn less. The actual average hourly income, for private nonfarm industries, was $35.87 in January 2025 — that’s about $74,568 for full-time workers.
This goes to show that it’s completely doable to earn $80,000 from your job. You just might have better odds of doing this with the right skill set, education and a few years of experience. Even if you don’t start out earning that much, you can always get pay bumps along the way.
Here are some of the best first jobs that can earn you around $80,000 a year after three years.
Data Analyst
According to ZipRecruiter, an entry-level data analyst earns an average of $32.94 an hour. This translates to about $68,515 a year for a full-time employee. Some data analysts only earn $44,000 a year, while those with more experience can earn above six figures.
As a data analyst, you can steadily raise compensation to $80,000 a year within three years by honing your skills. You’ll generally need a good grasp on SQL, Python and other related skills. If you have a bachelor’s or master’s degree in computer science or a related tech field, that can help. Obtaining a professional certificate is another option.
Digital Marketing Specialist
The average entry-level digital marketing specialist salary in the U.S. is $65,418, according to ZipRecruiter. In this role, you’ll need skills that can help businesses with things like online expansion, lead generation, campaigns and related initiatives. A knowledge of pay-per-click (PPC), paid ads, search engine optimization (SEO), best marketing practices, and, of course, social media can help.
The pay for a digital marketing specialist can easily rise to $80,000 after just a few years. It depends on factors like your skills, experiences and location.
Sales Development Representative
Business-to-business (B2B) sales are a great starting point that can get you a high salary, particularly if you niche down to software as a service (SaaS).
“Many software companies hire entry-level sales talent for sales development representative (SDR) positions,” said Mike Basso, CEO of Sales Talent. “Software companies typically hire SDRs as recent college grads or with one or two years of entry-level sales experience.”
According to Basso, entry-level SDRs generally start at about $50,000 to $65,000 and earn commissions ranging from $15,000 to $30,000. Even within the first year, it’s possible to earn $80,000.
Sales isn’t for everyone, but it’s got great earning potential.
“The SDR position almost always requires prospecting new business over the telephone, and it is not for everyone,” said Basso. “However, those who excel as SDRs are often promoted to software account executives, which can take 18 months to two years, and potentially earn $140k to $160k per year.”
Cybersecurity Analyst
A cybersecurity analyst typically needs at least a four-year degree in information technology, cybersecurity, or a related field, according to Cybersecurity Guide. Getting an internship while still in college can also help you secure a role after graduating. Getting a Global Information Assurance Certification (GIAC), CompTIA Security+ certificate or similar certification is also key to getting top pay.
As per ZipRecruiter data, even an entry-level cybersecurity analyst can earn around $99,400 on average. But you might not get there right away. Those in the lowest 25 percentile earn an average of $72,200 — an amount that can easily increase to $80,000 after three years.
Insurance Agent
If tech isn’t your thing, there are other options, one of which is to become an insurance agent. ZipRecruiter estimates that the average starting pay for an insurance agent is $65,022 a year. With experience, you could earn closer to $80,000 — especially if you go into life insurance.
The skills and qualifications needed to become an insurance agent depend on the type of agent you want to become: a captive agent — someone who sells insurance for a company or independent agent.
You’ll typically need at least a GED or high school diploma, an insurance license in your state, and the successful completion of the licensing exam. A bachelor’s degree in a field like business or finance could increase your hiring odds.
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