Over the 2002–12
decade, career choices abound for those seeking high
earnings and lots of opportunities. High-paying occupations
that are projected to have many openings are varied. This
diverse group includes teachers, managers, and construction
trades workers.
The job openings shown in the chart represent the total
that are expected each year for workers who are entering
these occupations for the first time. The job openings
result from each occupation’s growth and from the need to
replace workers who retire or leave the occupation
permanently for some other reason. Not included among these
openings are ones that are created when workers move from
job to job within an occupation.
Median earnings, such as those listed below, indicate
that half of the workers in an occupation made more than
that amount, and half made less. The occupations in the
chart ranked in the highest or second-highest earnings
quartiles for 2002 median earnings. This means that median
earnings for workers in these occupations were higher than
the earnings for at least 50 percent of all occupations in 2002.
Most of these occupations had another thing going for
them in 2002: low or very low unemployment. Workers in
occupations that had higher levels of unemployment—truck
drivers, carpenters, and electricians—were more dependent
on a strong economy or seasonal employment.
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