Career Currents: Best Careers 2010
For this year's list, U.S. News examined the Labor Department's brand-new job growth projections for 2008 to 2018. It looked for occupations that will add jobs at an above-average rate over the next decade or so and those that provide an above-average median income. It analyzed the data for jobs with enough bulk to make them worth mentioning. Although health care is a field that has faired during the present economic downturn, as pointed out in the report, not everyone wants to be a nurse or an engineer, or wants to go back to school to earn a doctorate degree, the study looked at occupations in a broad range of categories and educational requirements. It also considered, where possible, data on job satisfaction, turnover, and impending retirements, which increase job openings that may have only slightly above-average employment growth.
In the end, a list of 50 jobs was produced that present some of the best opportunities for workers in five categories. In the science and technology field, jobs range from network architect to meteorologist. This category includes the fastest-growing occupation‹with a 72 percent growth rate that far outstrips the 10 percent average across careers‹of biomedical engineer. Biomedical engineers help develop the equipment and devices that improve or enable the preservation of health. They're working to grow cardiac tissue or develop tomorrow's MRI machines, asthma inhalers, and artificial hearts. Computer software engineers, on the other hand, are working to develop tomorrow's hottest video game‹or missile system.
The report pointed out that the health care industry will continue to offer some of the best opportunities for employment. Aside from better known -- but still promising -- careers such as registered nurse or veterinarian, there are slightly more under-the-radar careers that require less schooling, such as X-ray technician, lab technician, or physical therapist assistant.
America's Best Careers 2010: Science and Technology
Information technology intersects plenty with environmental and medical science in today's growth careers. Biomedical engineers apply the science of engineering to the problems of the human body and medical care. Meteorologists and hydrologists use increasingly sophisticated technology to monitor the earth‹whether its water or its weather.
- Biomedical engineer
- Environmental science technician
- Hydrologist
- Environmental engineering technician
- Civil engineer
- Meteorologist
Sources: U.S. Department of Labor, U.S.News & World Report
The newly updated Medical Device Industry Job Guide provides detailed information you can use in your job search. More important, the publication provides detailed information about job openings, contacts and application procedures.
