Careers That Require a Lot of School But Don't Pay Off

Career #1: Mental Health Counselor

Are you the go-to person when your friends need advice? Feel like you are wise beyond your years? Then you might consider the career of a mental health counselor.
Why It Doesn't Pay Off: Before you commit, ask yourself this: Are you ready to spend extra time in school to earn the requisite master's degree and then log another 2,000 to 4,000 hours of supervised clinical experience in order to become licensed as a professional? Because that's what the U.S. Department of Labor says it will take to prepare for this career of diagnosing disorders like depression and anxiety.
"You're talking about people's mental condition here, so that's something that requires a master's and several years of schooling before you can start making money," says Kent Lee, the Phoenix-based career expert and CEO of Perfect Resume, which provides interview coaching and resume writing services. "After that, it's also a pretty competitive field for getting jobs."
And what do you get in return for all that hard work and competition? The median pay for a career as a mental health counselor is just $40,080, according to the Department of Labor

Career #2: Reporter and Correspondent

Maybe you've been told you're good with words, so you're leaning toward a job in journalism. Sure, reporters may look snazzy and authoritative in their fancy suits on television recounting the day's headlines. But how much do you really know about this profession?
Why It Doesn't Pay Off: If you think delivering the news brings home the bacon, you might be surprised to find out that reporters and correspondents make a median annual salary of only $35,870, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. "So many people want to be reporters, and I think most people, quite honestly, have no idea how little most of them make - even the ones you see on TV." says Lee.
Making matters worse, the Department notes that employers typically require candidates to have a bachelor's in journalism, communications, or a related field, plus relevant internships. Some local paper reporters, says Lee, take home salaries in the high $20,000 to mid $30,000 range, well-below the national median pay - and certainly less than exciting after spending four years in school preparing.

Career #3: Recreational Therapist

What is a recreational therapist? The U.S. Department of Labor says they help patients with disabilities and illnesses - both physical and emotional. You're an active and compassionate person, so this career is a natural fit, right? Maybe so. But if you pick this profession, just know that the educational road ahead could be long and the pay disappointing.
Why It Doesn't Pay Off: First off: You'll probably need a bachelor's in therapeutic recreation or a related field, says the Department of Labor. The Department also notes that most employers prefer to hire candidates who are licensed and certified, which can require an exam and a supervised internship of about 480 hours. Even with all those credentials, the median annual pay the Department reports for this job is only $42,280.
And yet, according to Lee, this field can actually be quite competitive. But for the back-breaking and often emotional trauma you could have to deal with, it might not be worth the compensation and amount of schooling required, he says.
 

Career #4: Curator

Love visiting museums and discussing art? You might think being a curator is right up your gallery, but if you're not exactly thrilled at the prospect of grad school, then think again.
Why It Doesn't Pay Off: Turns out, being opinionated about a Jackson Pollock actually requires some serious school. In most cases, you're looking at a master's so you're well-versed in a given style of art or medium to lecture and write about it, says Lee, which will obviously take more time to earn.
The U.S. Department of Labor does say most museum curators have a master's, though some jobs may only require a bachelor's and work experience. Some museums also like candidates with doctoral degrees. That's a lot of years spent in the classroom for a relatively low median pay, which the Department of Labor says is $49,590.
To top it off, if you walk down this career path, you'll inevitably encounter other obstacles. "The problem here is competition," says Lee, as there are only so many museums or galleries to work in.