Entry-Level Jobs with Big Earning Potential

Competition for entry-level work is starched-shirt stiff right now. But grabbing the first minimum-wage, dead-end gig that comes along won't serve you well in the long run. After all, you don't want to live in Mom and Dad's basement forever. A better strategy is to pursue a career that allows your responsibilities -- and your income -- to grow year after year. Here are eight of our top picks for those who are just starting out, and their median annual salaries according to online salary database PayScale.com.