An Alternate Career – Call It Plan B

My parents were correct when they pushed me to obtain a college degree.  The fact that I was a graduate did enable me to stay employed all of my life.  One day as I drove to a vendor, I heard Rush Limbaugh talking about having a job that could not be out sourced.  He pointed out that service jobs would always be needed and they would require someone to visit a home or a business to be completed.  There is always a need for plumbers, electricians and other services.  I took his observation to heart and found something to do that requires my services on site.  I am a notary public and prepare legal documents for my clients.

 

 

Just today I found this article posted on Careerbuilder.com.

By Rachel Zupek, CareerBuilder.com writer

 

In a perfect world, we’d all earn more money than we’d know what to do with. But, in such tough economic times, we have to be realistic.

 

The truth is, while earning an abundance of money would be ideal, those earning the average national income or even slightly above it, should consider themselves lucky.

 

It’s hard to feel lucky, however, when than the national mean average salary is $42,504 per year, according to the National Compensation Survey. It might not seem like much, but these days, it’s more than enough — or at least it has to be.

 

That’s why we’ve compiled a list of jobs that pay around the average, in the $40,000 range. If you can’t find a job earning enough to keep you comfortable for the rest of your life, at least you might find something to keep you comfortable for the time being.

 

Here are 10 jobs in various trades that earn around or more than the national average, and the industries with the highest levels of employment for each profession — aka, the places with the most jobs.*

1. Graphic designers design or create graphic layouts for books, magazines, newspapers, Web sites and other commercial or promotional needs.**

Qualifications: A bachelor’s or an associate degree

Industries with most job openings: Specialized in design services, publisher of newspaper, book, periodical and directory publishers, advertising

Salary: $40,000/year*BLS.
** Job descriptions provided by CBSalary.com and the BLS.

2. Precision instrument repairers fix and maintain watches, cameras, musical instruments, medical equipment and other precision instruments.

Qualifications: A high school diploma, in some cases post-secondary education.

Industries with most job openings: Professional and and supplies merchant wholesalers; electronic and precision equipment repair and maintenance; electronics and appliance stores.

Salary: $41,498/year

3. Medical and public health social workers offer patients and families psychosocial support to help cope with chronic, acute or terminal illnesses. They can also suggest caregivers, and counsel and educate the patient on his or her illness.

Qualifications: A bachelor’s degree, sometimes an advanced degree; state licensure.

Industries with most job openings: General medical and surgical hospitals, individual and family services, home health-care services.

$43,056/year

Salary:

4. Kindergarten teachers (except special education) teach young children basic science, music, art and literature, and encourage physical, mental and social development.

Qualifications: A bachelor’s degree from a teacher education program and a state teaching license.

Industries with most job openings: Elementary and secondary schools; child day-care services; individual and family services.

Salary: $43,394/year

5. Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters put together, install and fix pipelines or pipe systems that carry water, steam, air and other liquids or gases.

Qualifications: Training in career and technical schools and community colleges, apprenticeships and on-the-job training.

Industries with most job openings: Building equipment contractors; nonresidential building construction; utility system construction.

Salary: $44,866/year

6. Dietitians and nutritionists plan diet requirements and determine nutritional needs for clients; manage meal programs and oversee meal preparation.

Qualifications: A bachelor’s degree and state licensure, certification or registration.

Industries with most job openings: General medical and surgical hospitals; nursing-care facilities; outpatient care centers.
$45,001/year

Salary:

7. Reporters and correspondents report and convey facts about newsworthy events to an audience via newspaper, magazine, radio, television or Internet.

Qualifications: A bachelor’s degree in journalism or mass communications is preferred, but some other majors are OK; internships are preferred.

Industries with most job openings: Newspaper, periodical, book and directory publishers; radio and television broadcasting; other information services.

Salary: $45,115/year

8. Bailiffs maintain the order and security in a courtroom and escorts jury members outside the courtroom to prohibit interaction with the public.

Qualifications: They vary by employer, but most require a high school diploma or equivalent, and some also require some college education or full-time work experience.

Industries with most job openings: Local government.

Salary: $47,502/year

9. Respiratory therapists administer respiratory care and life support to patients with breathing problems and other cardiopulmonary disorders, under the supervision of a physician.

Qualifications: An associate degree is the minimum educational requirement, but a bachelor’s or master’s degree may be important for advancement; state licensure.

Industries with most job openings: General medical and surgical hospitals; specialty hospitals (except mental or substance abuse); nursing-care facilities.

Salary: $48,033/year

10. Architectural and civil drafters prepare detailed drawings of architectural and structural features of buildings used in civil engineering projects like highways, bridges and public works.

Qualifications: Employers prefer applicants who have completed post-secondary school training in drafting, which is offered by technical institutes, community colleges and some four-year colleges and universities.

Industries with most job openings: Architectural, engineering and related services; residential building construction; nonresidential building construction.

Salary: $49,429/year

* Salary data according to the most recent National Compensation

Survey, December 2006 – January 2008, provided by the

Rachel Zupek is a writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues.