Top 25 Jobs

Apparently, I've positioned myself for a growing market need for post-secondary instructors (#3)....pleasant surprise though I wonder at what kind of institutions these jobs will be:

25 Top Jobs for 2006

By Kate Lorenz, CareerBuilder.com Editor

What's in store for the millions of professionals -- new and old -- who will be putting on their job searching hats in 2006? Will unemployment rates remain around the current 5 percent range? Will employment numbers continue to trend upward, as they did for most of 2005?

Many sources note the job market landscape will continue to improve in a number of areas. Coming in at No. 1 is retail salesperson -- which is projected to increase by 736,000 jobs from now through 2014, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

These 25 occupations account for 8 million new jobs and about 40 percent of total job growth over the next decade. They are from a broad range of industries requiring varying degrees of training and salaries. Here are the top 25 jobs for 2006, as reported by the BLS:

1. Retail Salesperson
What it pays: $22,880
Minimum training needed: Short-term on-the-job training
New jobs by 2014: 736,000

2. Registered Nurse
What it pays: $55,680
Minimum training needed: Associate degree
New jobs by 2014: 703,000

3. Postsecondary Teacher
What it pays: $62,032
Minimum training needed: Doctoral degree
New jobs by 2014: 524,000

4. Customer Service Rep
What it pays: $29,350
Minimum training needed: Moderate-term on-the-job training
New jobs by 2014: 471,000

5. Janitor or Cleaner (except maids and housekeeping cleaners)
What it pays: $20,800
Minimum training needed: Short-term on-the-job training
New jobs by 2014: 440,000

6. Waiter/Waitress
What it pays: $15,980
Minimum training needed: Short-term on-the-job training
New jobs by 2014: 376,000

7. Combination Food Preparation and Serving Worker
What it pays: $17,850
Minimum training needed: Short-term on-the-job training
New jobs by 2014: 367,000

8. Home Health Aide
What it pays: $19,200
Minimum training needed: Short-term on-the-job training
New jobs by 2014: 350,000

9. Nursing Aid, Orderly, Attendant
What it pays: $21,890
Minimum training needed: Postsecondary vocational award
New jobs by 2014: 325,000

10. General and Operations Manager
What it pays: $93,580
Minimum training needed: Bachelor's degree plus work
New jobs by 2014: 308,000

11. Personal and Home Care Aide
What it pays: $17,560
Minimum training needed: Short-term on-the-job training
New jobs by 2014: 287,000

12. Elementary School Teacher
What it pays: $46,350
Minimum training needed: Bachelor's degree
New jobs by 2014: 265,000

13. Accountant and Auditor
What it pays: $57,160
Minimum training needed: Bachelor's degree
New jobs by 2014: 264,000

14. Office Clerk
What it pays: $24,440
Minimum training needed: Short-term on-the-job training
New jobs by 2014: 263,000

15. Hand Laborer and freight, stock and material mover
What it pays: $22,190
Minimum training needed: Short-term on-the-job training
New jobs by 2014: 248,000

16. Receptionist and Information Clerk
What it pays: $22,900
Minimum training needed: Short-term on-the-job training
New jobs by 2014: 246,000

17. Landscaping and Groundskeeping Worker
What it pays: $22,260
Minimum training needed: Short-term on-the-job training
New jobs by 2014: 230,000

18. Truck Driver, Heavy and Tractor Trailer
What it pays: $34,920
Minimum training needed: Moderate-term on-the-job training
New jobs by 2014: 223,000

19. Computer Applications Software Engineer
What it pays: $78,570
Minimum training needed: Bachelor's degree
New jobs by 2014: 222,000

20. Maintenance and Repair Worker
What it pays: $32,290
Minimum training needed: Moderate-term on-the-job training
New jobs by 2014: 202,000

21. Medical Assistant
What it pays: $25,860
Minimum training needed: Moderate-term on-the-job training
New jobs by 2014: 202,000

22. Executive Secretary and Administrative Assistant
What it pays: $37,350
Minimum training needed: Moderate-term on-the-job training
New jobs by 2014: 192,000

23. Sales Representative, Wholesale and Manufacturing
What it pays: $54,500
Minimum training needed: Moderate-term on-the-job training
New jobs by 2014: 187,000

24. Carpenter
What it pays: $38,250
Minimum training needed: Long-term on-the-job training
New jobs by 2014: 186,000

25. Teacher Assistant
What it pays: $20,750
Minimum training needed: Short-term on-the-job training
New jobs by 2014: 183,000

*All earnings are averages from November 2005 BLS information