Careers for Mid-Career Job Changers and Seniors

Welcome to the 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.

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..

Allied Health Careers

Career Typical Salary 2017 Number of Jobs 10-Year Growth Forecast Entry Level Education
Cardiovascular Techs $55,570 55,000 10% Associate's
Dental Assistants $36,940 332,000 20% PS Non Degree
Dental Hygienists $72,910 208,000 20% Associate's
Dental Laboratory Technicians $37,680 38,100 15% HS Diploma
Dietitians And Nutritionists $58,920 68,000 14% Bachelor's
Home Health Aides $22,600 912,000 47% HS Diploma
Medical Assistants $31,540 634,000 29% PS Non Degree
Medical Lab Technicians $38,950 164,000 14% Associate's
Medical Lab Technologists $61,070 171,000 12% Bachelor's
Pharmacy Aides $25,240 37,000 -5% HS Diploma
Pharmacy Technicians $30,920 403,000 12% HS Diploma
Radiation Therapists $80,160 19,000 12% Associate's
Radiologic Tech $57,450 205,000 12% Associate's
Respiratory Therapists $58,670 130,000 23% Associate's
Respiratory Therapy Technicians $49,780 11,000 -56% Associate's
Sonographers $69,650 67,000 23% Associate's
Surgical Technologists $45,160 108,000 12% PS Non Degree

Arts And Entertainment

Career Typical Salary 2017 Number of Jobs 10-Year Growth Forecast Entry Level Education
Camera Operators $53,550 25,100 7% Bachelor's
Film And Video Editors $61,180 34200 17% Bachelor's
Multimedia Artists $70,530 73,700 8.4% Bachelor's
Photographers $32,490 147,300 -5.6% HS Diploma

Business

Career Typical Salary 2017 Number of Jobs 10-Year Growth Forecast Entry Level Education
Accountants And Auditors $69,350 1,397,700 10% Bachelor's
Bookkeeping And Accounting Clerks $39,240 1,730,500 -1.5% Some College
Budget Analysts $75,240 58,400 6.5% Bachelor's
Credit Analysts $71,290 73,800 8.4% Bachelor's
Health Services Managers $98,350 352,200 20.5% Bachelor's
Human Resources Managers $110,120 136,100 12.3% Bachelor's

Community And Social Services

Career Typical Salary 2017 Number of Jobs 10-Year Growth Forecast Entry Level Education
Clergy $47,100 243,900 19.9% Bachelor's
Human Service Assistants $33,120 389,800 63.9% HS Diploma
Mental Health Counselors $37,690 157,700 23.1% Master's

Culinary

Career Typical Salary 2017 Number of Jobs 10-Year Growth Forecast Entry Level Education
Bakers $25,690 191,000 7.6% N/A
Chefs $45,950 146,500 9.6% HS Diploma
Restaurant Cooks $25,180 1,231,900 11% N/A
Short Order Cooks $22,740 185,900 -3.3% N/A

Design

Career Typical Salary 2017 Number of Jobs 10-Year Growth Forecast Entry Level Education
Fashion Designers $67,420 23,800 2.6% Bachelor's
Floral Designers $26,350 55,000 -6.4% HS Diploma
Graphic Designers $48,700 266,300 4.2% Bachelor's
Interior Designers $51,500 66,500 4.4% Bachelor's
Merchandise Displayers $27,680 141,400 3.2% HS Diploma

Education

Career Typical Salary 2017 Number of Jobs 10-Year Growth Forecast Entry Level Education
Elementary And Secondary School Administrators $94,390 251,300 7.9% Master's
Elementary School Teachers $57,160 1,410,900 7.4% Bachelor's
Middle School Special Education Teachers $59,510 89,300 7.1% Bachelor's
Middle School Teachers $57,720 630,300 7.5% Bachelor's
Middle School Vocational Teachers $58,630 12,700 7.3% Bachelor's
Postsecondary Administrators $92,360 180,100 10.1% Master's
Preschool Teachers $28,990 478,500 10.5% Associate's
Secondary School Special Education Teachers $60,180 131,900 7.4% Bachelor's
Secondary School Teachers $59,170 1,018,700 7.5% Bachelor's
Secondary School Vocational Teachers $58,660 78,700 6.4% Bachelor's
Teacher Assistants $26,260 1,308,100 8.4% Some college

Hospitality And Travel

Career Typical Salary 2017 Number of Jobs 10-Year Growth Forecast Entry Level Education
Lodging Managers $51,800 47,800 4% HS Diploma
Travel Agents $36,990 81,700 -11.7% HS Diploma

Installation And Repair

Career Typical Salary 2017 Number of Jobs 10-Year Growth Forecast Entry Level Education
HVAC Mechanics And Installers $47,800 332,900 14.7% PS non degree
Home Appliance Repairers $38,160 46,600 -4.2% HS Diploma
Industrial Electrical Repair $57,190 68,300 2.4% PS non degree
Locksmiths and Safe Repairers $40,680 28,700 -3.3% HS Diploma

Legal

Career Typical Salary 2017 Number of Jobs 10-Year Growth Forecast Entry Level Education
Court Reporters $55,120 19,600 3.4% PS non degree
Legal Secretaries $44,730 194,700 -19.1% HS Diploma
Paralegals And Legal Assistants $50,410 285,600 14.6% Associate's

Massage And Physical Therapy

Career Typical Salary 2017 Number of Jobs 10-Year Growth Forecast Entry Level Education
Massage Therapists $39,990 160,300 26.3% PS non degree
Physical Therapist Aides $25,730 52,000 29.4% HS Diploma
Physical Therapist Assistants $57,430 88,300 31% Associate's
Physical Therapists $86,850 239,800 28% Doctoral/Prof

Mechanic

Career Typical Salary 2017 Number of Jobs 10-Year Growth Forecast Entry Level Education
Aircraft Mechanics $61,020 132,000 4.9% PS non degree
Automotive Body Repairers $41,970 160,400 8.5% HS Diploma
Automotive Mechanics $39,550 749,900 6.1% PS non degree
Bus And Truck Mechanics $46,360 278,800 9.2% HS Diploma
Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics $50,860 127,400 8.3% HS Diploma
Motorboat Mechanics $38,960 23,400 -.5% HS Diploma
Motorcycle Mechanics $35,680 18,300 .3% PS non degree
Small Engine Mechanics $34,370 37,600 10.3% HS Diploma

Medical Office

Career Typical Salary 2017 Number of Jobs 10-Year Growth Forecast Entry Level Education
Medical Records And Health Information Technicians $39,180 206,300 13.5% PS non degree
Medical Secretaries $34,610 574,200 22.5% HS Diploma
Medical Transcriptionists $35,250 57,400 -3.4% PS non degree

Nursing

Career Typical Salary 2017 Number of Jobs 10-Year Growth Forecast Entry Level Education
Licensed Practical And Licensed Vocational Nurses $45,030 724,500 12.3% PS non degree
Nursing Aides And Attendants $27,520 1,510,300 11.5% PS non degree
Registered Nurses $70,000 2,955,200 14.8% Bachelor's

Office Support

Career Typical Salary 2017 Number of Jobs 10-Year Growth Forecast Entry Level Education
Executive Secretaries And Administrative Assistants $57,410 685,300 -17.4% HS Diploma
Insurance Claims and Processing Clerks $38,790 308,500 11.1% HS Diploma
Office Clerks $31,500 3,117,700 -1% HS Diploma
Secretaries $35,590 2,536,200 -6.5% HS Diploma

Personal Care

Career Typical Salary 2017 Number of Jobs 10-Year Growth Forecast Entry Level Education
Barbers $25,650 56,400 13.4% PS non degree
Hairdressers And Cosmetologists $24,850 617,300 13% PS non degree
Manicurists And Pedicurists $23,230 126,300 13.2% PS non degree

Production

Career Typical Salary 2017 Number of Jobs 10-Year Growth Forecast Entry Level Education
Welders $40,240 404,800 5.6% HS Diploma
Welding Machine Operators $37,190 49,200 -10.2% HS Diploma

Protective Service

Career Typical Salary 2017 Number of Jobs 10-Year Growth Forecast Entry Level Education
Correctional Officers And Jailers $43,540 450,000 -7.7% HS Diploma
Detectives And Criminal Investigators $79,970 110,900 4.5% HS Diploma

Sales

Career Typical Salary 2017 Number of Jobs 10-Year Growth Forecast Entry Level Education
Insurance Sales Jobs $49,710 501,400 9.9% HS Diploma
Real Estate Brokers $56,730 95,300 4.9% HS Diploma
Real Estate Sales Agents $45,990 369,000 5.8% HS Diploma

Science

Career Typical Salary 2017 Number of Jobs 10-Year Growth Forecast Entry Level Education
Foresters $60,120 12,300 5% Bachelor's

Technician

Career Typical Salary 2017 Number of Jobs 10-Year Growth Forecast Entry Level Education
Electrical And Electronics Drafters $59,690 27,400 6.8% Associate's
Forest And Conservation Technicians $36,130 33,200 3.8% Associate's
Mechanical Drafters $55,130 64,800 5.2% Associate's
Technical Writers $70,930 52,400 11% Bachelor's

Transportation

Career Typical Salary 2017 Number of Jobs 10-Year Growth Forecast Entry Level Education
Delivery Truck Drivers $31,450 953,500 6.5% HS Diploma

Veterinary

Career Typical Salary 2017 Number of Jobs 10-Year Growth Forecast Entry Level Education
Vet Techs $33,400 71,000 41% Associate's
Veterinary Assistants And Laboratory Animal Caretakers $26,140 83,800 19.4% HS Diploma