Careers for Mid-Career Job Changers and Seniors

Welcome to the new career and education section of Workforce50.com. Many boomers and seniors reach a time when they consider a career or job change. The reasons people pursue a change at this time in life are numerous and often personal. Our 50+ readers who are thinking about job transition can use the career data and education links here to assist their searches.

Browse the occupation data by general field of interest or specific job title, average salary in the U.S., and the forecasted growth rate of the job. To explore a job and local training opportunities further, simply click on the title to view more detailed job data in a nearby major metropolitan area. Then peruse the lists of both campus-based and online schools that provide training for that job. Click on the title of the school to learn more and request information about a specific training program.

Careers listed here may be appropriate for those seeking a job change. Click a career name to view our job data for that occupation in major metropolitan areas across the U.S. Unless otherwise noted, data is as of 2006 and will be updated annually.

 

Architecture And Engineering

CareerTypical SalaryNum Jobs 200610-Year Growth ForecastPct College Grads
Electrical And Electronics Drafters$46,83035,0004%25%
Mechanical Drafters$43,70078,0005%25%
 

Arts And Entertainment

CareerTypical SalaryNum Jobs 200610-Year Growth ForecastPct College Grads
Camera Operators$40,06027,00012%58%
Fashion Designers$62,61020,0005%55%
Film And Video Editors$46,67021,00013%58%
Graphic Designers$39,900261,00010%55%
Interior Designers$42,26072,00020%55%
Merchandise Displayers$23,82087,00011%55%
Multimedia Artists$51,35087,00026%58%
Photographers$26,170122,00010%46%
Technical Writers$58,05049,00020%74%
 

Business

CareerTypical SalaryNum Jobs 200610-Year Growth ForecastPct College Grads
Accountants And Auditors$54,6301,274,00018%79%
Budget Analysts$61,43062,0007%78%
 

Community And Social Services

CareerTypical SalaryNum Jobs 200610-Year Growth ForecastPct College Grads
Human Service Assistants$25,580339,00034%58%
Mental Health Counselors$34,380100,00030%73%
 

Education And Library

CareerTypical SalaryNum Jobs 200610-Year Growth ForecastPct College Grads
Elementary School Teachers$45,5701,540,00014%95%
Middle School Special Education Teachers$47,650102,00016%87%
Middle School Teachers$46,300658,00011%95%
Middle School Vocational Teachers$44,24016,000-4%95%
Preschool Teachers$22,680437,00026%43%
Secondary School Special Education Teachers$48,330138,0009%87%
Secondary School Teachers$47,7401,038,0006%96%
Secondary School Vocational Teachers$48,69096,000-4%96%
Teacher Assistants$20,7401,312,00010%18%
 

Food Preparation And Serving Related

CareerTypical SalaryNum Jobs 200610-Year Growth ForecastPct College Grads
Bakers$22,030149,00010%8%
Chefs$34,370115,0008%14%
Restaurant Cooks$20,340850,00012%5%
Short Order Cooks$17,880195,0005%5%
 

Healthcare

CareerTypical SalaryNum Jobs 200610-Year Growth ForecastPct College Grads
Cardiovascular Tech$42,30045,00026%25%
Dental Hygienists$62,800167,00030%33%
Dental Laboratory Technicians$32,58053,0004%12%
Dietitians And Nutritionists$46,98057,0009%72%
Licensed Practical And Licensed Vocational Nurses$36,550749,00014%7%
Medical Lab Technicians$32,840151,00015%51%
Medical Lab Technologists$49,700167,00012%51%
Medical Records And Health Information Technicians$28,030170,00018%12%
Pharmacy Technicians$25,630285,00032%16%
Physical Therapists$66,200173,00027%89%
Radiation Therapists$66,17015,00025%42%
Radiologic Tech$48,170196,00015%25%
Registered Nurses$57,2802,505,00024%56%
Respiratory Therapists$47,420102,00023%28%
Respiratory Therapy Technicians$39,12019,0001%16%
Sonographers$57,16046,00019%25%
Surgical Technologists$36,08086,00025%16%
Vet Tech$26,78071,00041%16%
 

Healthcare Support

CareerTypical SalaryNum Jobs 200610-Year Growth ForecastPct College Grads
Dental Assistants$30,220280,00029%9%
Massage Therapists$33,400118,00020%32%
Medical Assistants$26,290417,00035%10%
Medical Transcriptionists$29,95098,00014%10%
Nursing Aides And Attendants$22,1801,447,00018%7%
Pharmacy Aides$19,44050,000-10%10%
Physical Therapist Aides$22,06046,00024%23%
Physical Therapist Assistants$41,36060,00032%23%
Veterinary Assistants And Laboratory Animal Caretakers$19,96075,00016%10%
 

Installation And Repair

CareerTypical SalaryNum Jobs 200610-Year Growth ForecastPct College Grads
HVAC Mechanics And Installers$37,660292,0009%3%
Aircraft Mechanics$47,740122,00011%11%
Automotive Body Repairers$35,180183,00012%3%
Automotive Mechanics$33,780773,00014%4%
Bus And Truck Mechanics$37,660275,00012%3%
Home Appliance Repairers$33,86057,0002%7%
Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics$40,440131,00012%3%
Motorboat Mechanics$33,21024,00019%5%
Motorcycle Mechanics$30,05021,00013%5%
 

Legal

CareerTypical SalaryNum Jobs 200610-Year Growth ForecastPct College Grads
Court Reporters$45,61019,00025%38%
Paralegals And Legal Assistants$43,040238,00022%45%
 

Life And Physical Science

CareerTypical SalaryNum Jobs 200610-Year Growth ForecastPct College Grads
Forest And Conservation Technicians$30,88034,000-1%46%
Foresters$51,19013,0005%86%
 

Management

CareerTypical SalaryNum Jobs 200610-Year Growth ForecastPct College Grads
Elementary And Secondary School Administrators$77,740226,0008%78%
Health Services Managers$73,340262,00016%57%
Human Resources Managers$88,51058,00011%58%
Lodging Managers$42,32071,00012%45%
Postsecondary Administrators$73,990131,00014%78%
 

Office And Administrative Support

CareerTypical SalaryNum Jobs 200610-Year Growth ForecastPct College Grads
Bookkeeping And Accounting Clerks$30,5602,114,00013%16%
Executive Secretaries And Administrative Assistants$37,2401,618,00015%18%
Legal Secretaries$38,190275,00012%18%
Medical Secretaries$28,090408,00017%18%
Office Clerks$23,7103,200,00013%19%
 

Personal Care And Service

CareerTypical SalaryNum Jobs 200610-Year Growth ForecastPct College Grads
Hairdressers And Cosmetologists$21,320617,00012%6%
Manicurists And Pedicurists$19,19078,00028%10%
 

Production

CareerTypical SalaryNum Jobs 200610-Year Growth ForecastPct College Grads
Welders$31,400409,0005%2%
Welding Machine Operators$30,98053,0003%2%
 

Protective Service

CareerTypical SalaryNum Jobs 200610-Year Growth ForecastPct College Grads
Correctional Officers And Jailers$35,760442,00017%11%
Detectives And Criminal Investigators$58,260106,00017%54%
 

Sales And Related

CareerTypical SalaryNum Jobs 200610-Year Growth ForecastPct College Grads
Real Estate Brokers$60,790131,00011%45%
Real Estate Sales Agents$39,760432,00011%45%
Travel Agents$29,210101,0001%26%
 

Transportation And Material Moving

CareerTypical SalaryNum Jobs 200610-Year Growth ForecastPct College Grads
Delivery Truck Drivers$25,3001,051,0008%4%

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