The Hottest Jobs (No College Degree Required)

Sales representatives
High turnover and new products equal demand: $42,000-$114,000

Translators
The need is expected to grow 26% by 2014: $43,000-$100,000

Insurance adjusters
These jobs aren’t easily outsourced or replaced by technology: $34,000-$75,000

Transportation workers
Rail and trucking companies can’t meet the demand: $28,000-$53,000

Personal trainers
A growth business, due to the spread of health clubs: $23,000-$55,000

Auto technicians
Today’s computerized engines require specialized training: $27,000-$40,000

Legal secretaries
Experts predict 47,000 new openings by 2014: $35,900-$60,000


The Hottest Jobs (For College Grads)

Forensic accountant
Combines accounting, auditing and investigative skills: $30,000-$150,000

Logistics manager
Plan, implement and control flow of goods or services: $35,000-$118,000

Corporate librarian
More companies need specialists to manage information: $37,000-$93,000

Emerging media specialist
Managers in Web content and online marketing need communication skills and tech savvy: $26,500-$100,000

Physical therapist
Aging baby boomers will drive the increasing need: $34,600-$74,000

Information security
Workers plan, implement and support network security: $47,000-$122,000


Source: Challenger, Gray & Christmas Inc., with data provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics and industry sources


What’s Your Weekly Salary?

Here’s a sampling of jobs and their median weekly pay nationwide. See how you fit in.

Petroleum engineer: $1,891 ($98,332)

Veterinarian: $1,160 ($60,320)

Computer programmer: $1,130 ($58,760)

Registered nurse: $901 ($46,852)

Firefighter: $898 ($46,696)

Occupational therapist: $882 ($45,864)

Clergy: $774 ($40,248)

Social worker: $706 ($36,712)

Corrections officer: $610 ($31,720)

Dietitian: $555 ($28,860)

Taxi driver: $461 ($23,972)

Poverty Threshold $381 ($19,806)

1st Year Regional Airline Pilot $366 ($19,019)

Bartender: $342 ($17,778)

Telemarketer: $303 ($15,756)

Dishwasher: $245 ($12,740)

Child-care worker: $228 ($11,856)

I have a girlfriend (single mom) who, in addition to her normal job, works at a Gentlemans Club three nights a week. She takes home on average $600 a night. On one specific night she took home $9,300.

Sort of makes you wonder.

So she is a *****, just like MESA

Ellen - Great post. How many research assistants do you have ?

Wonder of that specific night?
Not really...

The whole msn.com team

I wish my girlfriend made that much...

I don't think I'd want a gf working in a "gentlemen's" club making $10k on specific nights.....
Now a certain friend...now that's another story

My g/f makes more than any of our CA's and she only gets naked and dances on poles for me

These numbers are a bit low. I am speaking of actual experience, as I have held each one of these jobs in a full time status at one time or another. Obviously, I understand that these are averaged numbers, and it will vary by region, but this is what I made while employed in theses positions.

Bulk Fuel Tanker (Semi) Driver - 72,000 per year, full benefits to include 100% 401k match up to 6 percent of pay, company paid insurance for family, and 5000 dollar yearly bonus paid December 1st. Home every day, rotating bi-weekly schedule: Sunday through Thursday week one / Sunday through Wednesday week two. (three day weekend every other week)

Auto Technician (new car dealership) - 48,000 Per year, plus one car per year at invoice. I was the lowest paid at the company as I was only there a short time. I know of people at high end dealerships making SUBSTANTIALLY more.

Bartender - I worked four nights per week, Wednesday though Saturday 5:00p.m. - 1:00 a.m, and easily brought home 1100.00 in cash per week, not including the rather small paycheck. 57,200 per year, and by far the most enjoyable job I have ever had.