In today’s economy, sometimes I wonder if I made the right choice majoring in English. I cut the education portion my degree short because my husband got a job down in here in Phoenix. Still interested in teaching, I got a substitute teaching certificate. Then I found out teaching just wasn’t for me. So I turned to writing, editing and similar work, but there’s not that much work out there unless you’ve had experience. Luckily, as my experience has increased, I’m actually getting work and slowly digging my way out of hole of overdue bills and negative checking account balances. If you’re in this kind of position, you might consider changing careers. If this is where you are, there are five careers you may consider pursuing.
Accounting. Are you good with numbers? Can you balance your own checkbook and prepare a tax return? Could you give advice to companies about potential financial decisions? Then this career could be for you. You’ll need a bachelor’s degree in accounting or related field, but the field has an estimated 22% growth rate between 2008 and 2018. Accountants make an average annual salary of nearly $69,000.
Registered Nurse (RN). You’ll need an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in nursing or a nursing diploma, but it’s also a career with an estimated 22% growth between 2008 and 2018. You’ll assist in patient care and treatment among other things. RN salaries average almost $68,000 a year.
There always seems to be big money in technology-related fields. The U.S. Department of Labor says computer systems analyst is one of the big-money fields. You’ll need a bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related field. The DOL estimates a 20% growth in the field between 2008 and 2018. You could earn an average of $81,000 annually.
Dental Assistant. According to the DOL, the dental assisting field could grow by 36% between 2008 and 2018. You could qualify for a position in this field with just a one-year dental assisting program. Dental assistants can earn up to $34,000 a year.
Another technology-related field rounds out the top five. An associate’s degree in information technology or computer science could garner you a position as a computer support specialist. The Department of Labor reports a projected growth of 14% for the industry between 2008 and 2018. You could earn as much as $50,000 on average.
In today’s economy, the additional schooling to qualify for these positions may be a little daunting financially. Keep in mind there are loans, grants, and scholarships available and the investment today is likely minimal compared to the end result.
