It’s a simple fact of life … we need money to survive. And in an economy that’s changing as rapidly as ours, figuring out which career path will keep you out of the red is a little bit harder than it might have been in years past. Several different agencies recently released reports of what they believe are the best jobs of 2015. We pulled the top five so that you can get a head start on your paper chase.
- Dental hygienist. UPDATED 3-15-15: Dental hygienists clean teeth, examine patients for signs of oral diseases such as gingivitis, and provide other preventative dental care. They also educate patients on ways to improve and maintain good oral health. Dental hygienists typically need an associate’s degree in dental hygiene. All states require dental hygienists to be licensed; requirements vary by state. The median pay for a dental hygienist in 2012 was $70,210 (U.S. Dept of Labor). In California, the median pay is just over $100,000. There is 33 percent job growth expected in this career through 2022 as well.
An earlier version of this story read: Bet you didn’t know that person sitting next to your dentist holding the spit cup is making about $70,000 a year. The work they do on your teeth and setting molds prepares the way for the real professional to come do their jobs, but with minimal schooling and 33 percent job growth over the next 5 to 7 years, being a dental hygienist is one career that’s worth taking a look at.
We at rollingout.com regret the mischaracterization of this career previously stated in this story. We hope those individuals looking at this career don’t let our minimizations negatively influence their consideration of the career. We recognize the stringent educational requirements and testing to become a Dental Hygienist. It’s a very in demand and well paid profession for a reason. Thank you for your comments.
- Physician. Doctors are the people we call on when something goes wrong with our bodies. The smartest of our lot keep in touch with the doctor before things go south. The $190,000 average annual salary makes most of these hardworking caregivers millionaires within the first six years in their profession. That’s a good thing considering at least 40 percent of that will go toward paying off the school loans and whatever else you had to put on credit to make it through medical school and residency. Ideally, once those loans are paid, doctors can financially enjoy the benefits of their years of schooling and preparation.
- Software developers are in high demand these days. And with the role that computer applications play in our lives these days, it’s no wonder why. Figuring out how to write the code that helps people take on their everyday task nets you an average of $92,660 per year these days. If you get really good at your craft, and get on with a major corporation or if you venture out on your own as an entrepreneur, annual pay of about $150,000 is not out of reach.
- Nurse practitioner. The average annual income generated by this profession is about $93,000, with the top 10 percent of nurse practitioners earning upward of $120,000 per year. More than just a registered nurse, a nurse practitioner endures some extra schooling in order to prescribe medicines, authorize treatments, perform physical exams, order labs, and take patient histories. Sounds a lot like a doctor, huh? Yeah … minus medical school, residency and an additional $150,000.
- Dentist. According to the report, the median salary of a dentist is $146,340 dollars, and the flexibility of the job allows you to work but not be overworked, and to get paid and get paid well. With 23,300 new jobs expected to become available through the year 2022, we’re thinking that the cutting, chopping, drilling and filling associated with getting a person’s smile right might just be the way to go.
