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Unless you're retired, blessed with generous parents or extremely gifted in the lottery-ticket-buying department, a whole lot of your financial well-being is based on having a job.
Your chances of saving, avoiding debt and investing are all greatly enhanced when you have a good income.
Unfortunately, these are tough times, and not many people believe 2008 is going to see much of an improvement in the economy. So if you think your job could be better, or could be gone, you might want to get a handle on the job market.
What kind of jobs are growing the most and what will they pay? And what kind of degree do you need to get one?
The chart below, based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics' "Fastest-Growing Occupations 2004" projections, shows the top 20 fastest-growing jobs between 2004 and 2014. There is a short description of the job as well as the median salary for that position, based on information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2006-07 Edition. (Use this link to search for your own career in the A-Z Index.)
Fastest-Growing Jobs
- Home health aides
Description: Provide housekeeping and routine personal care
Education: On the job or community college or trade school
Median salary: $8.12 per hour - Network systems and data communications analysts
Description: Design, test and evaluate network systems
Education: Bachelor's degree
Median salary: $60,600 per year - Medical assistants
Description: Perform administrative and clerical work in medical office; may also perform clinical duties
Education: Associate's degree
Median salary: $24,610 per year - Physician assistants
Description: Provide diagnostic, therapeutic and preventive health care
Education: Associate's degree plus national accreditation
Median salary: $69,410 per year - Computer applications software engineers
Description: Analyze users' needs, and design, construct and maintain applications
Education: Bachelor's degree
Median salary: $74,980 per year - Physical therapist assistants
Description: Assist with therapies, record results
Education: Associate's degree
Median salary: $37,890 per year - Dental hygienists
Description: Clean teeth and gums, take X-rays
Education: Dental hygiene program plus state license
Median salary: $28.05 per hour - Computer systems software engineers
Description: Coordinate construction and maintenance of company's computer system
Education: Bachelor's degree
Median salary: $79,740 per year - Dental assistants
Description: Perform patient care, office and laboratory duties
Education: On the job or dental-assisting program at community college, trade school
Median salary: $13.62 per hour
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