Five of the Top Careers for 2010

US News and World Report released its list of the Top 50 Careers for 2010. It was an interesting list that included five categories with 10 jobs in each. The jobs were chosen based a few factors. Pay scale, growth rate and of course educational requirements. Though a few of the jobs listed were no real surprise (Biomedical, environmental and computer software engineers) there were a few that I wouldn’t have guessed.

So here are a few of the more obscure or unexpected top jobs for 2010 hand picked from US New World Report’s list of the top 50. One job from each of the five categories. Science & Technology, Healthcare, Education & Civic, Creative Service, and Business & Finance.

• Meteorologist-Science & Technology- Though we all might first picture our local weatherman when we think meteorologist, the fact is the majority work for the National Weather Service. With Climate change and global warming becoming bigger issues each day it’s no surprise that jobs for meteorologists are expected to increase by about 15%. Meteorologists can move own to starting there own weather consulting firms or working in the private sector for research firms. The median salary is $81,000 not too shabby. To be a meteorologist you need a bachelor’s degree in Meteorology or at least chemistry or physics. To focus more on the research aspect of meteorology you’ll need your PHD.
• School Psychologist-Healthcare- Of the handful of healthcare positions mentioned, this one stuck out the most. School Psychologists is a career that’s expected to increase by 11%. Certainly more stressful than meteorology, becoming a school psychologist would mean obtaining a specialist degree, which most schools require. That would be on top of three years of graduate school. The median salary is $64,140 but could rise considerably if you start your own practice. Stressful, yes, but a job that would enable to truly help many children in need.
• Clergy-Education And Civic- This was one of the more surprising mentions on the list. And there was no real explanation as to why the growth in the Clergy. There is an expected increase of about 13% across the board.  Pay, opportunities and schooling require varies heavily depending on the church. Smaller congregations have the largest need but the smallest salary. Methodists and Catholic churches have the larger salaries and career paths. The room for growth also depends on the church and congregation. Education requirements for the clergy vary from needing a Masters n Theology to no previous education at all. Once again, depends on religion and church. Maybe the stressful economic times have created a growing need for clergy.
• Plumber-Creative & Service- So this is not usually on any list of top careers. In fact most people would not likely consider being a plumber very glamorous. But if the standard for a dream career is a steady work with a stable paycheck, than the Plumbing industry should top every list. With an expected increase of 15% and a median salary of about 45,000 to 79,000 it’s not a bad choice to make. While some people attend tech schools or community college, many plumbers find their way through on the job training or apprenticeships. Opportunities are large, as any successful plumber can eventually start his own business with an even larger income potential.
• Actuary- Business & Finance- Many of you may be starring blankly at your computer screen wondering what the heck is an actuary? Generally actuaries are most often found working for insurance providers and their job is to “evaluate the likelihood of events and quantify the contingent outcomes in order to minimize losses, both emotional and financial, associated with uncertain undesirable events.” Sound a little boring? Maybe. But with a median salary of $85,000 and an expected growth rate of 21% over the next decade, it’s wouldn’t take an actuary to figure out it’s a safe career to move into. In fact most Actuaries start at 56,000 right out of college. Casualty Actuarial Society and the Society of Actuaries offers certification programs and you would most likely need a bachelors degree in mathematics, statistics, economics or even actuarial science (if you’re local school offers it).

Maybe not the most glamorous of career choices but glamour isn’t exactly topping anyone’s list of needs as 2009 comes to a close. Check out these careers as well as the rest of US News and World Report’s list of top careers. Maybe you’ll find the perfect match for you in 2010.

Once you do be sure and update that resume and prepare for that interview! Before you know it you’ll be spending 2010 doing a job you love.

Good Luck and Happy New Year!