| According to the U.S. Census Bureau, workers | | | | trained in a wide range of skills (including voice, |
| with four-years of college traditionally make about | | | | video, and data wiring), make electrician an |
| $1 million more during their working life than their | | | | attractive choice. The BLS predicts the number of |
| counterparts with high school diplomas--but don't | | | | electrician jobs should jump by seven percent, or |
| let that figure fool you. True, many top-paying | | | | 52,000 between 2006 and 2016. |
| professional jobs require four years of college (or | | | | Plumber |
| more)--but you needn't endure four years of | | | | Although you might think of unclogging drains as |
| study halls and pub-crawls to land a good job. | | | | unglamorous work, there's far more to a |
| Here are four excellent careers that can combine | | | | plumber's job than you might think. Plumbers |
| paid on-the-job training with classroom work, | | | | install, maintain, and repair entire pipe |
| without requiring a four-year degree. | | | | systems--including the piping that allows nuclear |
| Radiological Technician | | | | power stations to churn out megawatts of |
| Sure, without a four-year degree, med school isn't | | | | electricity, and the valves that oil refineries use to |
| an option--but what if you still want to work in | | | | process crude oil into gasoline. |
| healthcare? Healthcare is one of America's | | | | If you're attracted to skilled trades, plumbers are |
| fastest-growing career sectors, expected to add | | | | expected to see job growth over the next |
| millions of new jobs in the years ahead. If you | | | | several years. Because the number of open |
| want a healthcare career without a four-year | | | | positions should exceed the number of qualified |
| degree, radiological technician might be an ideal | | | | applicants, your job prospects should be excellent. |
| career for you. | | | | Finally, let's not forget your wages. Median annual |
| Radiologists and radiologic technicians work with | | | | earnings for pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and |
| sophisticated imaging machines to help diagnose | | | | steamfitters stood at $44,090 in May 2007. The |
| patient illness. The job requires you to | | | | highest-paid percentile of workers made as |
| understand the in and outs of computed | | | | $75,070. |
| tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging | | | | Although typically you may not need a bachelor's |
| (MRI), and positron emission tomography (PET). | | | | degree for a career as a plumber, the training can |
| While the technology is complex, you needn't | | | | take up to five years. However, the extended |
| spend four years at university to land a job. In | | | | apprenticeship program offered by unions or |
| fact, two-year associate’s degree programs | | | | non-union contractor agencies allows you to earn |
| are typically the most common credential. If you | | | | money while training on the job. At the same |
| already have healthcare experience, enrolling in a | | | | time, you may take as much as 144 hours of |
| one-year certificate program may be all the | | | | classroom study per year, learning drafting, |
| education you need to land an entry-level position. | | | | blueprint reading, physics, chemistry, safety, and |
| You can find training through hospitals or colleges. | | | | building codes. |
| You may learn human anatomy and physiology, | | | | Auto Mechanic |
| radiation physics, medical terminology, and patient | | | | It's every motorhead's dream job. If you've ever |
| care and positioning. | | | | dreamed of restoring classic muscle or working on |
| The job offers the opportunity to work with | | | | economy imports, a career as a mechanic can |
| patients, and, like many other healthcare careers, | | | | help you marry your passion to a livable wage. |
| is highly portable. You can also earn a competitive | | | | Median annual earnings for automotive mechanics |
| salary. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor | | | | stood at $34,170, according to the BLS, while the |
| Statistics (BLS), median annual earnings for | | | | highest-paid mechanics earn as much as $57,650. |
| radiologists and radiologic technicians stood at | | | | Although advancing automotive technology has |
| $50,260 in May 2007. The highest-paid workers | | | | complicated training required for a job as a skilled |
| made as much as $71,600. | | | | automotive mechanic, a four-year degree is |
| Electrician | | | | usually not necessary. You can earn an associate's |
| Looking for a truly high-powered career? Consider | | | | degree in two years through a combination of |
| working as an electrician. Electricians keep the | | | | hands-on practice and classroom study. If you |
| juice flowing in private homes as well as | | | | decide to take an accelerated course, you can |
| commercial buildings and large industrial complexes. | | | | earn a certificate in six months to a year. If you |
| Although learning the requisite skills--everything | | | | decide to go for an associate's degree, most likely |
| from electrical theory, blueprint reading, and | | | | you'll spend between six and eight weeks |
| mathematics to electrical code requirements, | | | | alternating between full-time work for the |
| safety, and first aid--takes time and effort, a | | | | automotive service department of a participating |
| four-year degree is usually not necessary. Most | | | | business (generally under the supervision of |
| electricians learn their trade through apprenticeship | | | | experienced mechanics), and attending classes. |
| programs which combine paid on-the-job training | | | | Of course, these are just four of a thousand |
| with classroom instruction. | | | | other rewarding careers that dispense with the |
| As a skilled trade, electrician jobs offer the | | | | four-year degree. Whether it's checking out your |
| opportunity to make a comfortable living. | | | | local community college, browsing certificate |
| According to the BLS, in May 2007, median annual | | | | programs online, or speaking with your local union |
| earnings for electricians stood at $44,780, while | | | | representative, there's no limit to the places you |
| those in the top 90th percentile earned up to | | | | can go. No degree? No problem. |
| $76,000. Excellent job prospects for workers | | | | |