Career Options Research Center

Before you can create the perfect resume, you have to know how to target it. And that starts with selecting an occupation that suits you and, ideally, benefits from your job history and personal background. People beginning their job search, as well as those hoping to select a new career, can benefit from the occupation information in this section.

This Career Options Research Center provides information on salaries, job growth, and required education levels, for 180 occupations in hundreds of metro areas across the US. Click an occupation title in the table below for that occupation's profile page. If you're interested in a particular occupation, request information from any of the schools listed for it on the occupation profile page. You can request information from as many of the schools as you want, using the simple online info request forms provided by the schools.

Allied Health Service
Job Title	Workers	Growth Forecast	Median Pay	Bachelor+ Degree	Suitability For Part-Time
Cardiovascular Technologists	48,040	Very high	$47,000	25%	High
Dental Hygienists	173,090	Very high	$67,000	33%	Very high
Dentist Assistants	293,090	Very high	$32,000	9%	Very high
Dietitians	53,630	Medium	$51,000	72%	Very high
Home Health Caregivers	892,410	Very high	$20,000	7%	High
Medical Assistants	475,950	Very high	$28,000	10%	High
Medical Laboratory Technicians	149,670	High	$35,000	51%	Low
Medical Laboratory Technologists	166,510	High	$54,000	51%	Low
Occupation Therapists	94,800	Very high	$67,000	90%	Very high
Paramedics	207,610	High	$29,000	14%	Low
Pharmacy Assistants	53,190	Very low	$20,000	10%	High
Pharmacy Techs	324,110	Very high	$28,000	16%	High
Physician Assistants	71,950	Very high	$81,000	67%	High
Radiation Therapists	14,850	Very high	$73,000	42%	Low
Radiologic Technologists	208,570	High	$52,000	25%	High
Respiratory Therapists	103,870	Very high	$52,000	28%	High
Respiratory Therapy Technicians	16,210	Low	$42,000	16%	High
Surgical Techs	89,600	Very high	$39,000	16%	High
Ultrasound Technicians	48,920	High	$62,000	25%	High

Business
Job Title	Workers	Growth Forecast	Median Pay	Bachelor+ Degree	Suitability For Part-Time
Accountants	1,133,580	High	$59,000	79%	Low
Bookkeeping Clerks	1,855,010	High	$33,000	16%	High
Budget Analysts	62,630	Medium	$65,000	78%	Very Low
Compensation Managers	38,810	High	$87,000	58%	Very Low
Compensation Specialists	116,250	High	$54,000	56%	Low
Economists	12,600	Medium	$84,000	100%	Very Low
Employment Recruiters	205,800	High	$45,000	56%	Low
Health Services Managers	258,130	High	$80,000	57%	Very Low
Human Resource Managers	60,980	High	$96,000	58%	Very Low
Human Resource Specialists	217,440	High	$56,000	56%	Low
Management Consultants And Analysts	535,850	Very high	$74,000	78%	Low
Market Research Professionals	230,070	Very high	$61,000	82%	Low
Personal Financial Advisors	146,690	Very high	$69,000	81%	Low
Purchasers	286,990	Low	$54,000	42%	Very Low

Community Service
Job Title	Workers	Growth Forecast	Median Pay	Bachelor+ Degree	Suitability For Part-Time
Counselors	29,980	High	$40,000	73%	High
Educational Counselors	243,100	High	$51,000	73%	High
Family Social Workers	274,140	High	$40,000	77%	Low
Family Therapists	24,520	Very high	$45,000	73%	High
Health Social Workers	131,730	Very high	$46,000	77%	Low
Heath Teacher Education	62,120	Very high	$44,000	58%	Low
Human Services Assistants	332,880	Very high	$27,000	58%	Low
Mental Health And Drug Abuse Social Workers	131,010	Very high	$37,000	77%	Low
Mental Health Counselors	104,650	Very high	$37,000	73%	High
Rehab Counselors	112,700	Very high	$31,000	73%	High
Social Services Managers	117,150	Very high	$56,000	72%	Low
Social Workers	68,230	High	$46,000	77%	Low
Substance Abuse Counselors	79,180	Very high	$37,000	73%	High

Construction Workers
Job Title	Workers	Growth Forecast	Median Pay	Bachelor+ Degree	Suitability For Part-Time
Electricians	633,010	Medium	$46,000	7%	Very Low
Plumbers	437,540	High	$46,000	4%	Very Low

Culinary Workers
Job Title	Workers	Growth Forecast	Median Pay	Bachelor+ Degree	Suitability For Part-Time
Cafeteria Cooks	370,920	High	$22,000	5%	Very high
Chefs And Head Cooks	98,040	Medium	$39,000	14%	Low
Commercial Bakers	141,130	High	$23,000	8%	High
Cooks	17,340	Low	$23,000	5%	Very high
Food Workers	880,480	High	$19,000	7%	Very high
Hosting	349,990	High	$18,000	17%	Very high
Professional Restaurant Cooks	899,620	High	$22,000	5%	Very high
Restaurant And Food Service Managers	196,080	Medium	$46,000	24%	Low
Short Order Cooks	168,770	Low	$19,000	5%	Very high

Designers
Job Title	Workers	Growth Forecast	Median Pay	Bachelor+ Degree	Suitability For Part-Time
Apparel Designer	16,920	Medium	$61,000	55%	High
Florists	57,500	Very low	$23,000	55%	High
Graphic Designers	209,290	Medium	$42,000	55%	High
Interior Designers	53,290	High	$45,000	55%	High
Product And Window Displayers	63,320	High	$26,000	55%	High

Education
Job Title	Workers	Growth Forecast	Median Pay	Bachelor+ Degree	Suitability For Part-Time
College Officials	97,410	High	$81,000	78%	Low
Curriculum Specialists	122,180	Very high	$57,000	79%	High
Grade School Teachers	1,544,270	High	$49,000	95%	Low
High School Trade Teachers	99,800	Very low	$52,000	96%	Low
Middle School Classroom Teachers	661,820	High	$50,000	95%	Low
Middle School Special Ed Teachers	100,650	High	$51,000	87%	Low
Middle School Trade And Vocation Teachers	15,720	Very low	$48,000	95%	Low
Nursery And Pre-School Teachers	392,170	Very high	$24,000	43%	High
School Administrators	219,100	Medium	$84,000	78%	Low
Secondary School Special Ed Teachers	147,210	Medium	$51,000	87%	Low
Secondary School Teachers	1,090,490	Medium	$51,000	96%	Low
Teacher Aides	1,266,900	High	$22,000	18%	Very high

Engineering Tech
Job Title	Workers	Growth Forecast	Median Pay	Bachelor+ Degree	Suitability For Part-Time
Acoustical Technicians	16,600	Medium	$47,000	35%	Low
Architectural Drafters	114,910	Medium	$44,000	25%	Very Low
Biotechnology Technicians	58,070	Medium	$40,000	46%	High
Drafters	20,720	High	$45,000	25%	Very Low
Electrical Drafters	32,710	Low	$51,000	25%	Very Low
Forensic Techs	11,990	Very high	$50,000	46%	High
Mechanical Drafters	77,070	Medium	$47,000	25%	Very Low
Tech Writers	47,460	High	$62,000	74%	Very Low

Engineers
Job Title	Workers	Growth Forecast	Median Pay	Bachelor+ Degree	Suitability For Part-Time
Landscape Designers	21,130	High	$59,000	88%	Very Low

Entertainment
Job Title	Workers	Growth Forecast	Median Pay	Bachelor+ Degree	Suitability For Part-Time
AV Technicians	45,200	Very high	$38,000	35%	Low
Broadcast Announcers	37,290	Very low	$27,000	38%	Very high
Broadcast Technicians	33,550	High	$33,000	35%	Low
Copy Editors	110,010	Low	$50,000	81%	Low
Film Editors	18,720	High	$51,000	58%	High
Multimedia Artists	31,500	Very high	$56,000	58%	High
Professional Photographers	61,670	High	$29,000	46%	High
Public Relations Associates	240,610	High	$51,000	81%	Low
TV, Video And Film Camera Operators	19,270	High	$42,000	58%	High

Hospitality
Job Title	Workers	Growth Forecast	Median Pay	Bachelor+ Degree	Suitability For Part-Time
Event And Convention Planners	47,960	High	$44,000	67%	Low
Lodging Managers	32,460	High	$46,000	45%	Low
Travel Agents	86,420	Low	$31,000	26%	High

Information Technology
Job Title	Workers	Growth Forecast	Median Pay	Bachelor+ Degree	Suitability For Part-Time
Application Software Developers	494,160	Very high	$85,000	85%	Very Low
Computer And Information Scientists	26,610	Very high	$98,000	68%	Very Low
Computer Programmers	394,230	Very low	$70,000	73%	Very Low
Computer Support Technicians	545,520	High	$43,000	43%	Low
Computer System Specialists	191,780	High	$75,000	68%	Very Low
Data Communication Analysts	230,410	Very high	$71,000	57%	Low
Database Administrators	115,770	Very high	$70,000	72%	Very Low
IT Software Developer	381,830	Very high	$92,000	85%	Very Low
Network Administrators	327,850	Very high	$66,000	50%	Very Low
Systems Analysts	489,890	Very high	$76,000	68%	Very Low

Installation And Maintenance
Job Title	Workers	Growth Forecast	Median Pay	Bachelor+ Degree	Suitability For Part-Time
Home Appliance Maintenance Technicians	37,300	Low	$34,000	7%	Low
HVAC Techs	261,610	Medium	$40,000	3%	Very Low
Locksmiths	18,500	Very high	$34,000	0%	Low
Medical Maintenance Technicians	34,260	Very high	$42,000	15%	Low

Law
Job Title	Workers	Growth Forecast	Median Pay	Bachelor+ Degree	Suitability For Part-Time
Attorneys	553,690	High	$111,000	99%	Very Low
Court Reporters	17,930	Very high	$50,000	38%	Low
Law Secretaries	257,810	High	$40,000	18%	High
Paralegals	253,040	Very high	$46,000	45%	Low

Management Personnel
Job Title	Workers	Growth Forecast	Median Pay	Bachelor+ Degree	Suitability For Part-Time
Food Supervisors	805,360	High	$29,000	14%	Low
Industrial Product Managers	154,030	Very low	$83,000	43%	Very Low
Managers	365,460	Medium	$90,000	55%	Low
Non-Retail Sales Supervisors	275,390	Low	$68,000	38%	Very Low
Procurement Managers	67,150	Low	$89,000	57%	Very Low

Mechanics
Job Title	Workers	Growth Forecast	Median Pay	Bachelor+ Degree	Suitability For Part-Time
Airplane Mechanics	116,310	High	$51,000	11%	Very Low
Auto Body Mechanics	147,200	High	$37,000	3%	Very Low
Auto Repair Technicians	649,460	High	$35,000	4%	Very Low
Diesel Mechanics	125,930	High	$43,000	3%	Very Low
Motorboat Maintenance Technicians	19,640	High	$35,000	5%	Low
Motorcycle Maintenance Technicians	16,850	High	$31,000	5%	Low
RV Service Technicians	13,400	High	$31,000	6%	Low
Small Engine Maintenance Technicians	26,440	Medium	$29,000	5%	Low
Surveying Personnel	55,780	Very high	$53,000	82%	Very Low
Truck Repair Technicians	248,620	High	$39,000	3%	Very Low

Medical Office
Job Title	Workers	Growth Forecast	Median Pay	Bachelor+ Degree	Suitability For Part-Time
Medical Coders	168,650	High	$31,000	12%	Low
Medical Secretaries	454,500	High	$30,000	18%	High
Medical Transcribers	86,200	High	$32,000	10%	High

Medical Workers
Job Title	Workers	Growth Forecast	Median Pay	Bachelor+ Degree	Suitability For Part-Time
Clinical Psychologists	97,880	High	$64,000	99%	High

Nurse
Job Title	Workers	Growth Forecast	Median Pay	Bachelor+ Degree	Suitability For Part-Time
Nurse Aides	1,422,720	High	$24,000	7%	High
Nurses	2,542,760	Very high	$62,000	56%	High
Practical Nurses	730,500	High	$39,000	7%	High

Office Workers
Job Title	Workers	Growth Forecast	Median Pay	Bachelor+ Degree	Suitability For Part-Time
Admin Assistants	1,491,520	High	$40,000	18%	High
Insurance Claims Specialists	237,800	Very low	$33,000	22%	Low
Office Clerks	2,906,600	High	$25,000	19%	High
Office Support	272,190	Very low	$29,000	32%	Low
Secretaries	1,872,070	Low	$29,000	18%	High

Personal Service
Job Title	Workers	Growth Forecast	Median Pay	Bachelor+ Degree	Suitability For Part-Time
Hair Washers	15,570	High	$17,000	10%	Very high
Hairdressers	355,990	High	$23,000	6%	Very high
Manicurists	51,590	Very high	$20,000	10%	Very high
Men's Hair Stylists And Barbers	10,330	Low	$24,000	4%	High

Physical Therapy
Job Title	Workers	Growth Forecast	Median Pay	Bachelor+ Degree	Suitability For Part-Time
Fitness Teachers	229,030	Very high	$29,000	47%	Very high
Massage Therapists	51,250	Very high	$35,000	32%	Very high
Physical Therapist Assistants	61,820	Very high	$46,000	23%	Very high
Physical Therapists	167,300	Very high	$73,000	89%	High
Physical Therapy Aides	44,410	Very high	$24,000	23%	Very high

Police And Protective
Job Title	Workers	Growth Forecast	Median Pay	Bachelor+ Degree	Suitability For Part-Time
Detectives And Investigators	104,480	High	$61,000	54%	Very Low
Prison Guards	428,040	High	$38,000	11%	Very Low
Private Investigators	35,820	High	$42,000	52%	Low

Production Workers
Job Title	Workers	Growth Forecast	Median Pay	Bachelor+ Degree	Suitability For Part-Time
Welders	392,520	Medium	$34,000	2%	Very Low
Welding Machine Workers	51,840	Low	$32,000	2%	Very Low

Sales Personnel
Job Title	Workers	Growth Forecast	Median Pay	Bachelor+ Degree	Suitability For Part-Time
Real Estate Brokers	51,390	High	$58,000	45%	High
Real Estate Salespersons	164,080	High	$40,000	45%	High
Retail Sales Managers	1,186,270	Low	$35,000	25%	Low
Sales Engineers	78,030	Medium	$83,000	79%	Very Low

Transport
Job Title	Workers	Growth Forecast	Median Pay	Bachelor+ Degree	Suitability For Part-Time
Delivery Truckers	908,960	Medium	$28,000	4%	Low
Truck Drivers	1,672,580	High	$37,000	4%	Low

Vet
Job Title	Workers	Growth Forecast	Median Pay	Bachelor+ Degree	Suitability For Part-Time
Vet Technicians	78,920	Very high	$29,000	16%	High
Veterinarian Assistants	71,950	High	$21,000	10%	High