Six Top Careers 2011

Looking for a new career but lucking out? Perhaps one of these six top careers will be just the ticket. The bad news for some people is many of these top careers will require some math and/or science knowledge. But before you jump off a cliff, there is hope.

First, many of these jobs have much easier starting points (you don’t need to be a wizard to start in the field). And second, it’s not too late to get a degree online or at a University (and most offer online courses).
Without further ado, let’s look at six top careers.

Top Careers 2011

Software Engineer

Most people think of these guys and gals as programmers, but a software engineer can also research and maintain software and software systems. The hiring outlook is very solid and will continue to grow as computers permeate every part of our daily existence.
A median salary for a software engineer is about $85,000.

According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, starting salary offers for graduates with a bachelor’s degree in computer science averaged $61,407 in July 2009.

And according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the software engineer jobs market is projected to increase by 21 percent from 2008 to 2018, much faster than the average for all occupations.

Mathematician

Want to be a mathematician? Don’t think of your 8th grade math teacher here. A Mathematician can work in the corporate community as well (that’s where the better pay is). The job outlook is very favorable.

Given the wide scope of jobs, the median salary for a mathematician comes in at around $99,000.

The top four states for mathematicians in regards to pay are: California, Virginia, Maryland and New Jersey.

Some of the top paying areas for mathematicians come from: federal executive branch, management, consulting, architectural, engineering, colleges/universities and professional schools.

Actuary

This is a fun one (for the right person). As an actuary, you’ll be determining the probabilities of all sorts of interesting scenarios, such as when someone’s likely to die, when something is likely to be stolen, when natural disasters might strike and what type of damage they’ll do. Jobs abound if you like this sort of work.

Median income for an actuary comes in above $87,000.

While you’re most likely to work for an insurance company, other types of businesses that need actuaries are consulting services, brokerages, state governments and large corporations.

The best five states for actuaries according to pay are: New York, Montana, Washington, D.C., Minnesota and Pennsylvania.

Meteorologist (Atmospheric Scientists)

Who hasn’t practiced being the weather person on TV? Did you know that meteorologists are in demand? In fairness, only a few meteorologists are on TV. The rest are behind the scenes tackling important issues.

You will need a bachelor’s degree in meteorology or a related field.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 34% of all atmospheric scientists are employed by the government. They also said that this job field is increasing “faster than average.”

Median income for meteorologists is about $85,000.

Historian

Love history? If you want to analyze, record and research historical information, then this is the career for you. If you also like money, you’ll want to stay out of the school system and instead seek employment in the private sector or start your own business. Oddly enough, the stress level for historians can be a little higher than normal.

Median income for historians is about $58,000.

Pay for historians can vary widely. Generally, your top paying jobs will come from the government, which pays about $88,000 annually. Historians are also needed by consulting services, civic and social organizations, colleges/universities, professional schools, architectural services, etc.

States with the highest level of employments for historians are: New York, California, Pennsylvania, Texas and Virginia.
States with the highest level of pay for historians are: Maryland, Washington, D.C., Colorado, Virginia, and California.

Dental Hygienist

We round out this list of top careers with one that appeals to a lot of people—dental hygienist. Unlike like some of the above careers, you don’t need lots of science and math knowledge. If this sounds like you, then you’re in luck because the job potential for dental hygienists is growing at a healthy pace.

The median salary for a dental hygienist is about $69,000.

States that employ the most dental hygienists are: California, Texas, New York, Florida and Michigan.

States that pay dental hygienists the most are: Alaska, California, Washington, Washington, D.C., and Nevada.

Jobs abound in this field. The Bureau of Labor Statistics said, “Dental hygienists rank among the fastest growing occupations.”
You will need to attend a school providing a dental hygienist program. The length of these programs and how you take them will vary.

We hope you found our information on these six top careers helpful.