Booming Health Care Careers that Pay Over $50K

by Carol Tice, PayScale.com

Work in the health care field thrives despite economic bad times--and opportunities are not limited to working in a hospital. Far from it. In addition to a wide variety of roles, health care offers many work locations: there are health care professionals working in sleep clinics, at colleges, in mobile classrooms, in research laboratories, on cruise ships--and even in prisons.

In 2008, health care employed 14.3 million people, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), and the field is forecast to add 3.2 million more jobs by 2018, as our population ages. (It's possible that this estimate is low, as it was made before the passage of the national health care reform bill, which is expected to give millions more Americans health care coverage and increased access to health services by 2014.)

Here's a look at some less-well-known health care careers that are forecast to grow, along with their median annual salaries (according to online salary database PayScale.com):

Nurse anesthetist ($144,821)
The average nurse works only about five years before being ready for a change, says Michele Kunz, director of nursing education at Mercy Medical Center in Long Island, N.Y. Many move on to "advance practice" specialties, and this is among the best-paying, combining basic nursing skills with expertise in administering anesthetic. Registered nurses receive additional training and obtain a master's degree to take on this role.

Nursing informatics analyst ($80,596)
Nursing experience and a knowledge of electronic medical records get you into this field, where, according to Kunz, "There's tons of opportunity." Hospitals need medically trained professionals to help them evaluate options, select software providers, and implement new medical-records systems to comply with provisions in last year's stimulus bill.

Health information-management director ($73,308)
Even without a nursing degree, you could find a place in the booming medical-records arena if you have strong information-technology expertise, "This is a giant field," says Kunz. "You could work for a hospital, for a vendor building programs, or in sales."

Nurse educator ($71,292)
Experienced nurses often move into educating their peers, says Kunz. As the ranks of doctors and nurses grow, the need for required refresher and certification courses also increases, she notes. Some educators travel around delivering courses at clinics and hospitals, while others set up independent or mobile classrooms.

Clinical laboratory scientist ($63,756)
Research funding in health care got a boost from last year's stimulus bill, so medical-lab positions are growing fast. Medical-research institutions are hiring as they receive federal grants and take on new projects, says Dr. Ming Tai-Seale of the Palo Alto Medical Foundation. Most clinical lab scientists have a four-year degree in medical technology or clinical laboratory science.

Clinical research coordinator ($50,881)
Also known as medical-research coordinator, this role involves overseeing research projects in the lab or the field to make sure they stay on track. A bachelor's degree in a science field or a nursing credential is a typical prerequisite. Tai-Seale reports that her foundation recently hired in this area to support new research projects funded by the National Institute of Mental Health.

Respiratory therapist ($50,521)
Helping patients with breathing problems is the main task of respiratory therapists. An associate's degree gets you into the field, and the BLS expects 21 percent growth.

Business reporter Carol Tice (www.caroltice.com) contributes to several national and regional business publications.

Source: All salary data is from PayScale.com. The salaries listed are median annual salaries for full-time workers with 5 to 8 years of experience and include any bonuses, commissions, or profit sharing.

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5 Ways to Earn Big Bucks Without a Big Degree

Train for a new career in less time than you might think.

by Mary Fineday, FindtheRightSchool.com

From health care careers that don't require a doctoral degree to professional jobs that offer responsibility and challenge without requiring years of education, these smart jobs may be waiting for you after less prep time than you might think. Check out five ways you can earn a healthy salary without spending hundreds of hours in a classroom (though you can earn advanced degrees in some of these professions as well).

Hotel managers
Roll out the red carpet for travelers and earn a hefty paycheck with this surprising management job. If you're organized, professional, and happy to interact with lots of diverse people, a career as a hotel manager can reward you for your skills. Hotel managers across the country saw mean annual wages of $52,550 in 2008, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Smaller hotel chains often require only an associate's degree or a certificate in hotel, restaurant, or hospitality management. Move up the career ladder with more experience or a bachelor's degree in business administration or hospitality management.

Environmental-engineering technicians
Do your part to help the environment with this eco-friendly career. As an environmental-engineering technician, you'll work closely with engineers on developing the tools and technologies that will help reduce air pollution and maintain pollution controls.

Environmental-engineering technicians earned mean annual wages of $44,440 in 2008, according to the BLS. What's more, the career is one of the fastest-growing in the United States, with a projected 27.5 percent growth between 2008 and 2018. You need only an associate's degree to work as a technician, and you may choose to earn more education and become a fully licensed engineer down the line.

Dental hygienists
Care for your patients' teeth, make them feel comfortable in the dentist's chair, and earn a healthy living as a dental hygienist. This is a growing profession--nearly 63,000 new careers are expected to enter the field between 2008 and 2018. Best of all, you need only an associate's degree to work as a hygienist.

Dental hygienists earned mean annual wages of $66,950 in 2008, according to the BLS. That's an hourly wage of over $32. What's more, hygienists often work part-time--flexible schedules are common in this field.

Registered nurses
The BLS reports that registered nurses earned mean annual wages of $65,130 in 2008. This is another great health care career; nurses can be found in a wide variety of places, from hospitals and doctors' offices to public clinics, nursing homes, and schools.

An associate's degree is a popular way into the profession. Later on in your career, you may choose to specialize, earning up to a master's degree and increasing your earnings. With the demand you'll find in the nursing profession, the career moves you make are up to you.

Pharmacy technicians
Dispense medication, interact with patients, and work under the direction of a pharmacist as a pharmacy technician. Earn a certificate or an associate's degree in a pharmacy-technician program; these programs generally take between six months and two years.

Pharmacy technicians earned mean annual wages of $28,500 in 2008, the BLS reports. Then you can build up your experience and skills and move into a supervisory or specialized technician position, or go back to school and become a fully licensed pharmacist.

Professional careers without a professional degree
Career-training courses can typically be completed in less time than a bachelor's degree requires, and they are popular among working adults who need to keep a full-time career while completing their education. Consider the careers above as just a few options on the list of respected, professional jobs that require less education than you might think.

Mary Fineday is a freelance writer based in Austin, Texas.

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Top 5 Ways to Work for Yourself

by Jessica Hanley, FindtheRightSchool.com

Work doesn't have to mean a dreary cubicle and an unappreciative boss--in fact, several of today's most in-demand careers lend themselves to self-employment. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) expects the following careers to grow faster than average from 2008 to 2018, and some require only a couple of years of career training.



Whether you want to add hours on a contractual basis or start your own business, the following five careers allow you to build client relationships and be your own boss.

1. Accountant
Accountants keep financial records for businesses and individuals, and they often prepare financial statements, budget analysis, and taxes. Unlike management accountants, who are generally employed by large corporations, public accountants and tax specialists find their own work through individual clients. According to the BLS, accountants earned an average salary of $67,430 in 2009, and their employment is expected to grow by 22 percent from 2008 to 2018.

Accountants must be good with numbers, organized, and detail oriented. Most companies require their accountants to hold at least a bachelor's degree in accounting, and accountants who are self-employed often seek certification through the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam.

2. Web developer
Web developers use software languages to develop the technical aspects of Web sites, including organization, layout, and databases. Because Web developers can work from any computer with the required software, they can complete contract projects or run a small business from home. The BLS expects employment of all computer network, systems, and database administrators to grow by 30 percent from 2008 to 2018. In 2009, this group earned an average salary of $70,930.

Most Web developers have a bachelor's degree in computer science, computer programming, or a related field, and they continually learn about new technology and software to keep their work current. If you're interested in becoming a web developer and currently work full time, consider an online bachelor's degree program in computer science.

3. Software applications engineer
Software applications engineers design the computer software we rely on every day, from word processing programs to computer games. Software engineers use computer science and mathematics principles to create and test software that responds to users' needs. Technological advances have allowed many software engineers to telecommute and perform client projects from home. According to the BLS, computer software applications engineers earned an average of $90,170 in 2009, and their employment is expected to grow by 34 percent from 2008 to 2018.

Computer software engineers need technical knowledge, so most prepare by earning a bachelor's degree in computer science, mathematics, or software engineering. Professionals with an associate's degree in computer science may find work as computer programmers.

4. Skin-care specialist
Skin-care specialists, also called estheticians, are beauty professionals who specialize in facials, waxing, exfoliation, and other skin treatments. According to the BLS, 44 percent of cosmetologists (including skin-care specialists) are self-employed, and employment of skin-care specialists is expected to grow by 38 percent from 2008 to 2018. In 2009, skin-care specialists earned an average of $31,990.

Skin-care specialists prepare for state licensing by attending an accredited cosmetology school and completing a program in skin care. These programs can often be completed in less than nine months, allowing you to quickly transition to a career in beauty.

5. Landscape architect
Landscape architects use principles of architecture, engineering, and ecology to design functional, attractive outdoor spaces. They design everything from public parks to shopping centers, and they ensure their designs meet clients' needs without harming the local ecosystem. According to the BLS, approximately 21 percent of landscape architects work for themselves, and their employment is expected to grow by 20 percent from 2008 to 2018. In 2009, landscape architects earned an average salary of $65,910.

Landscape architects should be artistic, good with their hands, and able to draft using computer-aided drafting software. Nearly all states require landscape architects to be licensed, which requires earning a bachelor's degree or master's degree in landscape architecture.

Start working for yourself
Whether you're interested in computers, beauty, or plants, you can work for yourself in one of today's hottest industries. Online degree programs and career training options can help you transition into your dream career without giving up your current job.

Jessica Hanley is a writer pursuing a graduate degree in creative writing. Her previous experience includes marketing for the Penguin Young Readers Group and teaching writing to students of all ages. Jessica received a B.A. in English from Stanford University.

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The Right Way to Say, 'I Quit!'

4 mistakes to avoid when you leave a job

by Margaret Steen, for Yahoo! HotJobs

The job market is finally showing signs of life--and that means more workers will likely have the opportunity to change jobs in the coming months.

It's clear that many will welcome this: A recent survey by the Corporate Executive Board, a research and advisory services company, found that 25 percent of workers whom employers had labeled as having high potential were hoping to move to a new company in the next year. This figure is up from just 10 percent in 2006.

Once you've found a new job, you may not give too much thought to the one you're exiting. But leaving a job--and the colleagues who will now become part of your network--the right way is crucial to your career.

(Read tips on effective networking.)

"Reputation is very important," says Marianne Adoradio, a career counselor in Silicon Valley. You'll cement yours with how you leave.

Experts explain how to avoid four common mistakes when leaving a job:

Staying too long
In most jobs, the standard is to give two weeks' notice when resigning. When you give notice, you may feel as though you should stay longer to make sure you don't leave your former employer short-handed.

Sometimes this is a good idea--for example, if you're working on a project that will be done in three or four weeks. However, you may discover that as soon as you announce your resignation, you are no longer considered indispensable and are left out of the loop. Your continued presence can even be a drain on an employer if you're no longer being useful.

Plus, "it's depressing and very demotivating," Adoradio says.

Saying too much
Whatever your reasons for leaving, now is the time to simply say that you have accepted a position that will move you closer to your long-term career goals.

"Leave graciously, and take the high road," says Kathryn Ullrich, the author of "Getting to the Top: Strategies for Career Success." "Don't use it as a time to air your grievances."

If you have an exit interview with the human resources department, it's OK to raise legitimate issues and let them know why the new offer seemed better. But don't use either formal or informal interviews to trash your coworkers.

(Looking to boost your earning power at a new job--or your current job? Read "8 Easy Ways to Boost Your Salary.")

Not preparing
If your job involves confidential information or you're leaving to go to a competitor, you may find yourself escorted out the door as soon as you tender your resignation, Ullrich said.

You should prepare for this possibility by making sure you have removed any personal items from your office or computer. (Do not take company items or information, of course.)

Accepting a counteroffer without careful consideration
Your company may offer you a raise or promotion to get you to stay. Sometimes this is a good deal--but keep in mind that much of the time, workers who accept a counteroffer end up leaving anyway not too much longer after. (And your employer might have lingering doubts about your loyalty.)

"People need to know why they're leaving in the first place," Adoradio says. If the boss you don't get along with is still there, or if you still don't see a likely promotion path at your current company, it's unlikely that a counteroffer will give you what you're looking for.

And even if it will, "you have to question, well, why didn't they offer this to me in the first place?" Ullrich says.

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No Power? No Problem

How to lead from any level--and get ahead

by Mike O'Brien, Climber.com

One of the most frequent complaints that entry-level and midlevel professionals share with recruiters is that their current positions don't provide them with enough authority to lead. But for true leaders, the ability to influence others is much more powerful than officially vested authority.

So if you want to make the kind of difference that will set you apart from other job seekers and elevate your profile on career-management sites, you have to learn to lead from any level. Here's how:

1. Brand yourself as a leader
Whether you realize it or not, you have an employment brand that's made up of how you present yourself and your work within your company. What does your brand say about you? Is it professional, upwardly mobile, and open to opportunities? Or ferociously independent, highly creative, and strongly opinionated? Or technical, antisocial, and quiet? Just reading those descriptions probably conjured up images of people you've worked with. Now ask yourself how others would describe you.

Choosing and expressing an appropriate brand is critical to establishing your position in the minds of your audience. So if your focus is on being a leader, identify what a leader looks like to you--and then start presenting yourself accordingly.

2. Influence key workplace decision-makers
Regardless of conventional wisdom, most people base decisions--even complex technical and financial ones--on emotional factors. So if you can connect with people emotionally, you'll have an advantage when it comes to influencing them to follow your lead. Pay attention to the emotional cues you receive when you're speaking with others--whether they're engaged or distracted, intent or upset. Understand what drives your audience, and then communicate in ways that feed that drive: for example, an appreciation of rules and structure may drive your company's staff lawyer; for your designer, it could be a focus on personal freedom.

3. Tell your story with passion
At the heart of any successful sale lies a story, one that builds a connection between a product, person, or service and a target audience. In your case, your story should focus on your primary passion--whether that is leadership, execution, strategy, or performance. By presenting yourself effectively with a specific message in nearly every conversation, and speaking or writing with intention, you can build a reputation of both focus and power. This tip extends to your job-search materials as well. Whether you're speaking with recruiters or posting your resume on a career-management site, every contact is a chance for you to share your story with excitement and intensity.

Because if you believe in it, others will, too. And once you've engaged them in that story, they'll be much more likely to follow where you lead.

Mike O'Brien is an innovative entrepreneur dedicated to helping others create breakthrough success, and is the founder and CEO of Climber.com, one of the nation's leading online career-management sites. For more information about how to find your perfect career, visit www.Climber.com, or connect with Mike on LinkedIn.

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Is a College Education Worth the Expense?

by Bridget Quigg, PayScale.com

"College tuition"--those two words together strike fear into the hearts of parents and students across the country. Paying for a degree before entering, or while new in, the job market can be a monumental struggle. Many schools now charge more than $100,000 or even $200,000 in tuition, room, and board, for that precious degree. But, in the end, is it worth the expense?

Online salary database PayScale.com decided to take this issue head on, and figure out how valuable a four-year college degree is over a 30-year period of work, for 554 U.S. colleges. They did so using a common business calculation: return on investment (ROI).

PayScale figured out how much more a college graduate of each school makes in 30 years of working, compared with a high school graduate, then subtracted tuition and room and board costs, factored in the school's graduation rate (non-graduates see little improvement in pay over high school graduates), did some number crunching, and came up with a handy guide for potential students and their funders: a breakdown of whether college tuition is worth the investment.


Which schools are worth your precious cash? According to PayScale's research, you should look for nationally recognized private schools, particularly those with an engineering focus. Hence, M.I.T. is at the top of the list, followed closely by Ivy League schools like Harvard, Stanford, and Princeton. A recent graduate of M.I.T. will have spent approximately $189,300 to get his or her degree. But that expense will yield the graduate $1,688,000 (in 2010 dollars) more in earnings than someone who didn't go to college.

And to help people writing tuition checks feel better about where they're putting their money, PayScale also calculated an annualized ROI for each school's tuition. Continuing with the M.I.T. example, PayScale found that the money spent on a degree there returns 12.6 percent per year over 30 years. Compared with the stock market's performance, that percentage of return is competitive. Over the last 30 years, with dividend earnings included, the S&P 500 has returned about 11 percent, according to Yale economist Robert Shiller.

"For every year of work, the typical M.I.T. grad earns $50,000 more than the typical high school grad," says Al Lee, PayScale's director of quantitative analysis, who led the study. However, M.I.T. isn't a typical school in terms of money growth. In fact, only 16 percent of schools on PayScale's list beat the S&P 500.

For example, George Washington University is a small private school with a high price tag--more than $200,000 in tuition, room, and board over four years (in 2009 dollars) for recent grads. What is the annualized return on that money over 30 years? It's 10 percent. That's a decent rate of return, but it doesn't outperform the S&P 500 or give you back what M.I.T. or Harvard would.

Lee recommends that if you're paying full price for a less well-known private school, you need to think hard about whether the non-financial advantages of attending that college make up for the lower return.

However, if you can get financial aid, it completely changes the picture. Finding scholarship money really improves your long-term return calculation. If you're really fortunate, you could take advantage of offers like Stanford's University Scholarship: students who are accepted to the school and whose families earn under $60,000 a year receive tuition, room, and board for free.

Keep in mind, each student is unique--so a low-earning graduate from a highly ranked school like Stanford may earn less than a high earner from a public school like the University of Washington. Engineering schools, though, tend to have a floor below which their graduates' earnings do not fall. They are usually a safe investment.

If you want to spend a little as possible on your tuition and earn back as much as you can, an in-state public school with a technical focus, like Georgia Tech, is your best bet, according to PayScale's research.

So, which 10 schools are the best investment? See the list below. They are all private and well recognized by most Americans. The closest public school to the top is the University of California at Berkeley. It ranks number 16, with a sizable annualized return of 13.1 percent. Check out the PayScale college ROI package to compare college costs and the potential return on investment for each school.

1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.I.T.)

• Average Cost for College in 2009: $189,300
• 30-Year ROI (2010 Dollars): $1,688,000
• Annual ROI: 12.6%

2. California Institute of Technology (CalTech)

• Average Cost for College in 2009: $181,100
• 30-Year ROI (2010 Dollars): $1,644,000
• Annual ROI: 12.6%

3. Harvard University

• Average Cost for College in 2009: $189,600
• 30-Year ROI (2010 Dollars): $1,631,000
• Annual ROI: 12.5%

4. Harvey Mudd College

• Average Cost for College in 2009: $187,700
• 30-Year ROI (2010 Dollars): $1,627,000
• Annual ROI: 12.5%

5. Dartmouth College

• Average Cost for College in 2009: $188,400
• 30-Year ROI (2010 Dollars): $1,587,000
• Annual ROI: 12.4%

6. Stanford University

• Average Cost for College in 2009: $191,800
• 30-Year ROI (2010 Dollars): $1,565,000
• Annual ROI: 12.3%

7. Princeton University

• Average Cost for College in 2009: $187,700
• 30-Year ROI (2010 Dollars): $1,517,000
• Annual ROI: 12.3%

8. Yale University

• Average Cost for College in 2009: $194,200
• 30-Year ROI (2010 Dollars): $1,392,000
• Annual ROI: 11.9%

9. University of Notre Dame

• Average Cost for College in 2009: $181,900
• 30-Year ROI (2010 Dollars): $1,384,000
• Annual ROI: 12.1%

10. University of Pennsylvania

• Average Cost for College in 2009: $191,300
• 30-Year ROI (2010 Dollars): $1,361,000
• Annual ROI: 11.8%

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The 6 Most Disgusting Jobs

Mike Rowe of 'Dirty Jobs' shares his top--that is, bottom--picks.

by Maria Hanson, LiveCareer

Think your job stinks? Well, it could be worse. You could be knee-deep in casino-restaurant food scraps that you had to cook into gourmet pig slop. Or you could spend your afternoons trying to make snakes regurgitate.

There are oodles of odoriferous occupations and gross gigs out there. To choose the most disgusting, we turned to Mike Rowe, who immerses himself in dirty jobs every week as the intrepid host of "Dirty Jobs" on the Discovery Channel. But as he points out, even the nastiest-seeming job is valuable to society. "There would be no civilization without them," he says. "Our lights would go out, our food would disappear, our garbage would pile up, and our streets would run with crap."

Here's an exclusive look at Mike's top picks for the dirtiest occupations (all happen to involve animals), with annual median salary information provided by LiveCareer's Free Salary Calculator.

Pig farmer--Vegas style ($40,804)
If you're the head hog of a pig farm, it's common to get down and dirty with your animals. One pig farmer in Las Vegas even collects uneaten food from casinos, turns it into a bubbling stew, and feeds it to his ravenous swine. "I swear I can still smell it," says Mike.

Geoduck harvester ($22,793)
Digging for clams is kind of fun. Digging for geoduck (pronounced "gooey-duck") clams is kind of creepy. That's because these clams have thick, fleshy siphons that protrude up to three feet outside of their shells. They bury themselves a few feet underground in the primal muck of Puget Sound. You end up with mud and grit everywhere and--if you're lucky--a slimy, snaky thing in your hand.

Turkey inseminator ($33,419)
Turkeys these days are bred to have such large chests (that is, white meat) that they can't fertilize eggs naturally--so they get a helping hand. It's not easy recruiting turkey sperm donors or recipients. "There's squawking. There's screaming," says Mike. "Foul, no matter how you spin it."

Snake researcher ($55,409)
Snake researchers have to be calm to deal with wrangling snakes while not getting bitten. Back in the lab, they examine snakes for things like diseases, or to see what they've been eating. They do this by making them regurgitate their lunch. "Dirty, dirty job," says Mike, who was bitten numerous times by angry water snakes when he tried his hand at reptile research.

Monkey caretaker ($28,819)
Not all monkeys are as gentle or well-intentioned as Curious George. Some are so keen on protecting their territory that they can become like tiny terrorists, says Mike. One relentlessly stalked and attacked Mike and his crew on a visit to South Africa. "There was blood, pain, screams, laughter. This was the dirty job that wasn't supposed to be," he says. "The inmates run the asylum."

Shark-suit tester ($33,710)
How can you tell if a steel suit made of chain mail can protect you from the bite of a 12-foot reef shark? Simple. Fill the ocean with blood and chum. Wait for the sharks to whip themselves into a feeding frenzy. "Now, put on the suit and jump in," says Mike.

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