Want to study a course that will earn you the big bucks someday? We studied articles produced by Jobsmart and Skorcareer, and have broken down jobs according to five main categories to help you choose your career path towards a high-paying profession!

1. Medical

The medical field is a lucrative profession, but it is also one of the most difficult courses to study. Training can last up to 15 years with huge university fee and debts. Anesthesiologists, dentists, pharmacists and surgeons can command top salaries with an average of 6-digit income monthly. Salary levels depend on the years of practice, skills and reputation. However, be prepared for long and irregular working hours, commitment and low salaries when first starting out as a houseman in a government hospital. Check out these medicine degrees if hard work does not faze you.

2. Programming

If you have already used a software and wondered how programmers write them, then studying computer development and programming may be right up your street.

An analyst programme with a software house provides and manages IT infrastructure to major institutions such as banks and financial services. There is also a big possibility that employees will have to go on overseas projects.

An analyst programmer earns about RM3500 a month, with massive additional allowances when posted overseas. There will be a daily allowance of about US100-200 when working on assignments abroad. On average, projects can last up to two months, resulting in a significant amount to the allowance received.

This is a specific IT area with a requirement for the understanding of languages like COBOL, UNIX, AS400 and others. Look up these courses.

3. IT Network Engineering

It is important to gain the right qualifications if your ambition is to be an IT network engineer. Some of the common ones are the MCSE (Microsoft Certified System Engineer), MCP (Microsoft Certified Professional and CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate). However, the market is saturated with people holding these certificates. To earn more money in a more niche area, there are certificates such as the CCNP (Cisco Certified Network Professional) and CCIE (Cisco Certified Inter-network Expert). Currently, not many people in Malaysia have these qualifications as they are very specialised. An IT expert with a CCIE certificate can expect at least RM12,000 a month. To make yourself more marketable, get these qualifications here.   

4. Engineering

Exploration and offshore engineering jobs in the oil and gas industry are highly paid. The job is normally carried out by contractors for major oil operators such as ExxonMobil, Shell or Petronas. For a chance to work in different locations and earn good money, enroll on a mining and oil gas operations degree here.

Telecommunications and new technologies such as 4G are quickly booming and pay well. Because demand is more than supply, these jobs push up the salary scale.

Aircraft engineers are paid well, although job openings can be scarce. A lucrative option would be a pilot, who earns up to RM40,000 a month inclusive of allowances.

To pursue an engineering qualification, click here.

5. Sales & marketing

Sales is one of the highest paid professionals in the world. A sales person could be selling anything from services to products, insurance, unit trusts or other investment tools. Sales people are paid in the form of basic salary and commission schemes. Occasionally, the basic salary is small whilst the commission is proportional to the sale you make. The more you sell, the more you earn. Unlike other careers, you can venture into sales without the relevant qualifications. There are however, transferable skills that you can gain from studying a business or communications degree. A mid 30s sales accounts manager for an IT company, handling a portfolio of major corporations such as IBM, Maxis, Hewlett Packard and Digi earns RM10,000 on just monthly commissions.