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Two Ways for Teens to Choose a Career
Teenagers who are in high school feel some pressure to decide on a career. There are a few ways to explore your options.
One way is to assess your strengths, likes and dislikes. What subjects or interests do you like in school or at home? More importantly, are you good at any of those? Can you imagine a job in one of those fields? To help you even more, here is a list compiled by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of school subjects and related jobs. **Note the salaries; it doesn’t hurt to pick a field where you can earn big dollars. When you can, you should also look at the Occupational Outlook Handbook to find out the education requirements for the job in which you are interested. Although a job looks like it pays a great deal, the profession probably requires 6 years of school or more. You have to consider if you can manage the time and expense that goes along with acquiring the appropriate degree and/or licenses. Does the job pay enough to be worth your while? Be aware that the unemployment rate in a field drops as the education attained increases. The salary rate increases as education increases! |
Choose a Career by Subject
Building or Repair
Carpenter - $39,940 per year
Automotive Mechanic - $36,610 per year Drafter/Architect - $49,630 per year and $73,090 respectively Civil Engineer - $79,340 per year Electrician - $49,840 per year Community Service
Firefighter - $45,250 per year
Police Officer - $56,980 per year Social Worker - $44,200 per year School Counselor - $53,610 per year Science
Chemist - $73,060 per year
Microbiologist - $66,260 per year Physicist - $106,360 per year Reading and Writing
Desktop Publisher - $37,040 per year
Editor - $53,880 per year Librarian - $55,370 per year Reporter - $37,090 per year Writer - $55,940 per year |
Information Technology
Database Administrator - $77,080 per year
Computer Support - $48,900 per year Computer Hardware Engineer - $100,920 per year Software Developer - $93,350 per year Web Developer - $62,500 per year Systems Analyst - $79,680 per year Math
Statistician - $75,560 per year
Electrical Engineer - $89,630 per year Surveyor - $56,230 per year Actuary - $93,680 per year Social Studies
Anthropologist - $57,420
Economist - $91,860 per year Historian - $52,480 per year Urban Planner - $65,230 per year |
Healthcare
Pharmacist - $116,670 per year
Dentist - $149,310 per year Registered Nurse - $65,470 per year Optometrist - $97,820 per year Doctor - $187,200 per year The Arts
Actor - $20 per hour
Artist - $44,390 per year Photographer - $28,490 per year Musician - $23.50 per hour Animals
Zoologist - $57,710 per year
Veterinarian - $84,460 per year Sports
Coach - $28,360 per year
Fitness Trainer $31,720 per year Athlete - $40,860 per year |
Choose a Career by Fastest Growing Occupations in the Next 7 Years
Another way to determine a good field to go into is to see if there will be a lot of job openings in the next five or ten years. Here are some jobs that are the fastest growing occupations according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The Bureau projects growth every two years for over 800 job titles. The average growth in any occupation is 11%; however, many jobs grow faster. Take a look at Home Health Aides! Here they are:
Physical Therapist Assistants – Help patients regain movement and manage pain. 41% growth. Salary is $53,360 per year.
Genetic Counselors – 900 new jobs expected by 2022. Although there is big growth here, the field is small. Salary is over $60,000. This job requires a Master’s Degree.
Occupational Therapy Assistants – 12,900 new jobs by 2022. With just an Associate’s Degree and a License, an OT can earn $55,000 per year. Similar to the physical therapist job, growth in this field is due to an increasing aging population.
Brick, Stone and Marble Assistants – Choose this job if you want an entry level job, if you like working with your hands and you can accept a wage of around $28,000 per year. College is not required.
Sonographer – This is a great job in healthcare that doesn’t require a Doctorate. It pays over $66,000 per year and growth is expected at 46% over the next 7 years.
Interpreter or Translator – Employers are desperate for people skilled in this area, both for sign language and to translate foreign language. The estimated salary is $42,420 per year.
Insulation Installer – As energy becomes more expensive and as the world needs to conserve, insulation becomes a necessity. Salary is about $40,000 with a high school diploma and on the job training.
Home Health Aide or Personal Care Aide – This is a job that requires little formal education. HHA’s are trained in a certificate program or by an agency or healthcare organization. There will be 424,000 new jobs in the next seven years! The pay is pretty low and this job can be considered as a stepping stone to something more lucrative.
Organizational Psychologist – This type of psychologist works for a company and fosters work-life quality for workers. The pay is over $80,000 per year and requires a license and Master’s Degree. There will be 900 new jobs coming at a growth rate of 53%.
Physical Therapist Assistants – Help patients regain movement and manage pain. 41% growth. Salary is $53,360 per year.
Genetic Counselors – 900 new jobs expected by 2022. Although there is big growth here, the field is small. Salary is over $60,000. This job requires a Master’s Degree.
Occupational Therapy Assistants – 12,900 new jobs by 2022. With just an Associate’s Degree and a License, an OT can earn $55,000 per year. Similar to the physical therapist job, growth in this field is due to an increasing aging population.
Brick, Stone and Marble Assistants – Choose this job if you want an entry level job, if you like working with your hands and you can accept a wage of around $28,000 per year. College is not required.
Sonographer – This is a great job in healthcare that doesn’t require a Doctorate. It pays over $66,000 per year and growth is expected at 46% over the next 7 years.
Interpreter or Translator – Employers are desperate for people skilled in this area, both for sign language and to translate foreign language. The estimated salary is $42,420 per year.
Insulation Installer – As energy becomes more expensive and as the world needs to conserve, insulation becomes a necessity. Salary is about $40,000 with a high school diploma and on the job training.
Home Health Aide or Personal Care Aide – This is a job that requires little formal education. HHA’s are trained in a certificate program or by an agency or healthcare organization. There will be 424,000 new jobs in the next seven years! The pay is pretty low and this job can be considered as a stepping stone to something more lucrative.
Organizational Psychologist – This type of psychologist works for a company and fosters work-life quality for workers. The pay is over $80,000 per year and requires a license and Master’s Degree. There will be 900 new jobs coming at a growth rate of 53%.
If you are in college now and need a job now, read Jobs for College Students
