2013/11/30

Cost Estimator Careers - Top Careers for 2013

Cost Estimator Careers Information

Ever wonder how they budget for a new building or how a company decides upon the price of its products? Cost estimators use their considerable analytical skills to figure out just how much something should cost to build or make.
They look at preliminary plans, which may include blueprints or technical schematic diagrams, the cost of materials and labor, and the timeframe intended for completion. After crunching the numbers, they submit their findings in a report that will be used to determine whether or not the project is financially feasible or what may be done to save money.

Cost estimators generally work in one of two industries, construction or manufacturing. With construction projects, they review bids submitted by contractors. They must check these proposals against their own findings about the land, intended use, and local construction costs to make sure the project can be completed as advertised or, conversely, if it could be completed more cheaply.

In manufacturing, cost estimators review schematics of proposed products and make sure the product can be produced and then sold for a profit. In this field, they must consider not only materials and labor, but also the cost reduction curves that come as workers become more efficient and more units are sold. Both types of cost estimators rely heavily on computers and worksheets to save time with repetitive tasks, but because data is often immense and murky, cost estimators must rely on their education, training, and experience to give accurate cost estimations.

Cost Estimator Careers Path

Most cost estimators need to earn a Bachelor’s degree, but the particular field depends on whether the type of work is in construction or manufacturing. Construction companies prefer their estimators to have a degree in construction management, building science, or construction science though some postsecondary work may be enough if the applicant has a great deal of experience.

Manufacturing companies usually look for degrees in engineering, mathematics, business, or some other science or business related field. Cost estimators can join professional associations that offer continuing development and certificates. These are voluntary, but they help an estimator show potential employers and/or clients that he has obtained a certain proficiency level in his field.



Cost Estimator Careers: Compatible Personality Traits

Excellent analytic skills, strong oral and written communication skills, articulate, assertive, self motivated, works well with others, works well under pressure, willing to work in the field on occasion.

Cost Estimator Careers: Salary Expectations

The average salary for cost estimators is $57,860 per year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. However, earnings are highly dependent on an estimator’s experience, reputation, rate of charge, and number and size of projects completed. Estimators with the most experience may be able to move into management positions or start their own businesses and thus make more money per project.

Cost Estimator Careers: Job Outlook

The job outlook for cost estimators is very good in the coming years — the field is projected to grow by 36% by 2020. Growing populations and old infrastructure mean that the number of new construction and manufacturing projects should continue to increase. Projects are likely to become larger and more complex, even further necessitating demand for estimators. For cost estimators who specialize in construction, those with degrees in various construction fields, such as construction management, should do the best.

Likewise, those cost estimators who work in manufacturing who have degrees in engineering, mathematics, or a related field should do well. All cost estimators need to be aware that since their jobs are tied to economic cycles, some years may be slower than others. On the other side, however, boom years may offer more estimating positions than there are qualified people to fill them.

Audiologist Careers - Top Careers for 2013

Audiologist Careers Interview

Audiologist work to test for, diagnose, assess, and recommend treatment for hearing and balance conditions. Audiologists also fit patients with hearing aides and other devices and act as counselors for people adjusting to hearing loss. Many audiologists work at specialized audiology clinics, while others work in other healthcare settings, such as hospitals.

Especially at hospitals, audiologists, along with other healthcare professionals, seek to plan and implement a course of treatment for affected patients.
Specialization is commonplace for audiologist careers; some, for example, work with children or with the elderly. Those audiologists who choose to work in private practice are also responsible for many of the administrative and business duties that come with running a medical office.

Audiologist Careers Path

The standard educational background for audiologists is a specialized Master’s degree; however, these days more and more audiologists are obtaining Doctorates-Au.D-instead. Undergraduates intending to enroll in either type of audiology program should take a broad range of Bachelor’s coursework covering math, the sciences, English, and psychology.

Master’s programs will take two years, Doctorate programs four, and graduate coursework will involve the specific skills and knowledge needed to practice, including anatomy, physiology, physics, chemistry, audio technology, and treatments, all oriented around the human hearing and balance systems. Licensure largely depends on the requirements of a particular state; most states require a Master’s degree, but a few require Doctorates.

In many states, graduation from an accredited program and certification through the American Speech-Language Hearing Association or the American Board of Audiology will be sufficient for a license to practice. Aspiring audiologists should contact their state’s licensing board for more details.

Audiologist Careers: Compatible Personality Traits

Caring, considerate, careful, calm, friendly, knowledgeable, observant, charismatic, reliable, trustworthy.

Audiologist Interview

To discover words of wisdom for a audiologist career,  Read More from an Audiologist…

Audiologist Careers: Salary Expectations

According to the Department of Labor, the median annual salary for audiologists is $66,660 per year. A significant source of advancement is the move to private practice, which can make for substantial increases in both earnings and quality of life.

Audiologist Careers: Job Outlook

The Department of Labor projects 37% growth in employment for audiologist, which is much faster than the economy as a whole. This is due to the expected, significant rise in the number of patients requiring audiologist’s services as the general population ages. Those holding doctorates will likely see better job opportunities than Master’s graduates.

Counselor Careers - Top Careers for 2013

Counselor Careers Information Counselors use their special training to help people deal with a variety of issues. Whether these be interpersonal, behavioral, mental health, or substance abuse related problems, counselors talk with their patients and help them sort through the impediments that keep them unhappy.
Counselors also help students and people looking for a career change discover their talents and figure out what type of vocation they may wish to follow. No matter the specific case, counselors want their patients to figure out ways to live as healthy and productive members of society.

There are many different types of counselors working in diverse fields.   Here is a look at some of the different career paths within the counseling field.

School counselors help young people in our schools deal with the issues they face so they might learn to the best of their abilities and grow into healthy adults. They are important because they are often the first line of defense for childhood victims of abuse as well as the beginnings of substance abuse.

Guidance counselors, also usually found in schools, help young people decide upon a career path. They prepare students for college entrance exams, help them decide upon a curriculum, and are generally available to explain different career options.

Rehabilitation counselors help those who must overcome disabilities that are the result of illness or injury. They may help patients relearn how to perform common activities in new ways and/or how to make the most of what they can do.

Substance abuse and behavioral health counselors help those who are addicted to drugs and/or have behavioral issues that prevent normal interactions with others.

Mental health counselors help those with conditions such as depression and anxiety, among others; they often involve their patients’ social networks in order to achieve the best results.

Marriage and family therapists work with multiple patients at a time. Because their work is less focused on the individual than the relationships between small groups of people, they help those involved in the therapy realize how to modify their behavioral patterns so they may build stronger relationships.

Counselor Careers Path

Though counselors will receive different training depending on their specific field, most counselors require at least a Master’s degree in order to practice. Common coursework is in human relationships, ethics, and counseling techniques.

Almost all states require their counselors to be licensed in order to practice. Licensure usually involves some combination of the following: a certain number of graduate credit hours, successful completion of an exam, a certain number of hours working under a more experienced counselor, and/or continuing education classes.

Some organizations offer their new hires additional training before they are given full responsibility.


Counselor Careers: Compatible Personality Traits

Highly empathetic, very well organized, excellent oral and written communication skills, patient, able to deal with stressful situations and emotions, willing to work long and/or odd hours, trustworthy, works well with others, highly ethical.

Counselor Careers: Salary Expectations

The average salary for a counselor is dependent on specialization, but the median annual salary for the field is $53,380 per year.

Those who are self-employed or who work in private practices alongside other health care professionals tend to make the most money. Counselors who spend their time establishing a strong practice that earns them referrals are likely to fair the best.

Counselor Careers: Job Outlook

The job outlook for all types of counselor is good in the coming years. The BLS projects the field to grow by 19% by 2020, which is about as fast as the national average.

This means that in many areas, the number of open positions will outnumber qualified applicants. Rural areas are especially in need of counseling professionals. Those with the proper education and licensure and who are willing to relocate should have the best prospects.

Dental Hygienist Careers - Top Careers for 2013

Dental Hygienist Careers Information

Dental hygienists are among the fastest growing occupations today. The role of a hygienist is vast but essentially they assist dentists and provide care & treatment to patients. They often examine the health of patients’ teeth and gums, record abnormalities, and diagnose the severity of problems.

Other activities dental hygienists routinely complete include applying fluoride treatments, removing deposits on teeth, administering local anesthetics, and taking x-rays.
In some offices, dental hygienists are responsible for preparing rooms for an examination or procedure and this typically involves making sure all of the needed tools and materials are in place. During in-depth procedures, hygienists will work alongside dentists to offer assistance when needed.

Patient education also comprises a large percentage of the job and dental hygienists help teach patients how to properly care for their teeth. An unique feature of the position is that it allows for flexible scheduling and hygienists can often choose to work part-time, full-time, days, evenings, or weekends.

Dental Hygienist Careers Path

Dental hygienists must complete an accredited dental hygiene program and   pass written and oral examinations to become licensed in the state in which they want to practice.

Dental Hygienist Careers: Compatible Personality Traits

Solid interpersonal communication skills, strong desire to help others, able to closely follow instructions, good with hands, able to clearly articulate ideas

Dental Hygienist Interview

Read More about a Professional Dental Hygienist…

Dental Hygienist Careers: Salary Expectations

Dental Hygienists can expect a median salary of $68,250 annually or $32.81 hourly, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Dental Hygienist Careers: Job Outlook

The demand for dental hygienists is rapidly growing and job opportunities are expected to increase approximately 38 percent through 2020. This growth is largely driven by the expanding population and a stronger push for preventative dental care. As dentists’ offices become increasingly busy, they are expected to hire more hygienists.

Physical Therapy Careers - Top Careers for 2013

As patients advance through their treatment, therapists monitor their progress and modify the treatment as necessary. Therapy services most commonly include exercise but can also include deep tissue massage, ultrasound, electrical stimulation, and hot packs/cold compresses.

Patient education is also a large and important aspect of physical therapy.   Patients often include individuals suffering from arthritis, heart disease, fractures, cerebral palsy, or accident victims. Therapists can work in a variety of settings like hospitals, private clinics, or schools.

Physical Therapy Careers Path

A bachelor’s degree, as well as a master’s degree, from an accredited physical therapy program is required.   Therapists must also pass a state licensing exam.

Physical Therapy Careers Compatible Personality Traits

Strong desire to help others, compassionate, empathetic, patient, observant, detail oriented, exceptional problem solver, excellent interpersonal and communication skills

Physical Therapist Interview

Read More from a Physical Therapist…

Physical Therapy Careers Salary Expectations

The median annual salary is approximately $72,790, with the middle 50% of therapists earning between $60,300 and $85,540.

Physical Therapy Careers Job Outlook

Job opportunities are expected to increase 30% through 2018.   The growing elderly population will play a large role in stimulating the need for therapeutic services. Advancements in medical technology will also drive the demand for physical therapy services as courses of treatment will become available for conditions that were once untreatable.

Marriage and Family Therapist Careers - Top Careers for 2013

All this makes marriage and family therapists quite unlike traditional therapists who help individuals work through their own internal psychology. Of course, marriage and family therapists have to work hard to be objective and not take sides, especially when familial arguments can become quite acrimonious. Being literally in the middle of arguments all the time can be very stressful and so marriage and family therapists need to be good at working through the stress. But for people who are highly empathetic and sincerely enjoy helping others to enjoy their own lives, becoming a marriage and family therapist can be a highly rewarding career.

Marriage and Family Therapist Careers Path

Most marriage and family therapists earn a Master’s degree in counseling with the specialization of marriage and family therapy. They take courses in counseling techniques, human growth and development, and professional ethics, just to name a few. Furthermore, all states require marriage and family therapists to be licensed. This often requires a certain number of graduate hours earned, over 2 years or 3,000 hours of supervised clinical experience, a passing score on an exam, and continuing education credits throughout the career.

Marriage and Family Therapist Careers: Compatible Personality Traits

Excellent communicator, highly empathetic, strong desire to help others, objective, non-judgmental, problem-solver, good listener, able to remain relaxed in stressful situations, patient, trustworthy.

Marriage and Family Therapist Interview

Read More…

Marriage and Family Therapist Careers: Salary Expectations

The average salary for a marriage and family therapist is $44,590 a year, with the middle fifty percent earning between $34,840 and $56,320. Earnings may be further broken down by employment industry:

State government – $50,770
Local government – $48,220
Outpatient care centers – $46,830
Offices of other health practitioners – $41,220
Individual and family services – $39,690
Those marriage and family therapists who are self-employed and have an established practice with a solid client base usually earn the most. Those who work in a group practice also tend to do well. In either case, it is the counselors with the most experience and positive client feedback who can charge more and therefore earn more money.

Marriage and Family Therapist Careers: Job Outlook

Jobs for marriage and family therapists are expected to grow faster than average for all careers in the coming years. This is due in large part to people’s increasing willingness to discuss their marriage or family issues with a third party and the growing acceptance of counseling. Many such counselors just starting out may have to inherit the clients of retiring counselors or start with only a few couples or family members. But those marriage and family therapists with strong people skills who earn positive reviews from their clients will be able to build up a strong client base and gradually earn more money.

Interpreter Careers - Top Careers for 2013

There are two main types of interpretation. Simultaneous interpretation involves the interpreter beginning to speak before the first party has finished. This means that during simultaneous interpretation, an interpreter must listen and speak at the same time.

Consecutive interpretation means an interpreter allows the first party to finish before beginning the verbal interpretation. An interpreter using this style must have a very good memory and/or note-taking system.

Interpreter Careers Path

Although many interpreters have Bachelor’s degrees in their respective secondary languages, it is not necessary. In fact an undergraduate degree in a field other than language might be used for building a field of knowledge, such as medicine or business, that could be useful in certain types of interpreting jobs.

Above all, the best training for an interpreter comes from experience. Spending time with native speakers and visiting the language’s origin country will help refine linguistic and cultural knowledge. Beginning interpreters may have to take jobs for little or no pay, but this experience will be invaluable for securing better positions later.

Interpreter Careers: Compatible Personality Traits

Strong language skills, outstanding memory, good communicator, enjoys working with people, likes to travel, willing to work odd hours, strong concentration skills.

Interpreter Interview

To find out more about the daily workings of an interpreter, Read More for a Professional Interpreter…

Interpreter Careers: Salary Expectations

Salaried interpreters earn an average of $20.82 per hour, reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Pay, however, is greatly determined by the interpreter’s skill, experience, and chosen language. Those interpreters who speak languages that are in high demand or for which there are few interpreters can expect to make more than average.

Interpreter Careers: Job Outlook

The BLS projects the field of interpreters to grow by 42% by 2020, which is much faster than the national average. As our world becomes more connected and businesses set up offices overseas, demand for interpreters is expected increase greatly. Demand for PFIGS languages-Portugese, French, Italian, German, and Spanish-will remain high, but those who speak Middle Eastern and major Asian languages-Mandarin Chinese, Japanese, and Korean-will see even more opportunities. With the rise of video conferencing, interpreters of American Sign Language or other visual languages will also be able to find employment opportunities.

Diagnostic Medical Sonographer Careers- Top Careers for 2013

Diagnostic Medical Sonographer Careers Information

Diagnostic medical sonographers employ certain scanning technologies to observe, photograph, and film areas inside the human body. Workers in this field are also known as ultrasound technicians. Many sonographers will work with one specific imaging technology, but others will work with multiple technologies, and might be known by a title such as “medical imaging specialist.”

Diagnostic Medical Sonographer Careers & Degrees

Work in this field is considered dynamic and interesting because diagnostic medical sonographers have the chance to explore and document the nearly infinite areas and conditions of the human body. Any given work day might involve photographing broken bones and sports injuries or even the magic of ultrasound exams for pregnant mothers.

Diagnostic Medical Sonographer Careers Path

The most common credential possessed by diagnostic medical sonographers is a specialized Associate’s degree. However, there are one-year diploma and certificate programs as well as some four-year Bachelor’s programs.

Although no specific licensure is required of diagnostic medical sonographers, many healthcare providers prefer to hire sonographers registered with the Association of Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographers-the ARDMS. Registration depends on passing a general examination and a second examination on a specialty of students’ choice.

Diagnostic Medical Sonographer Careers: Compatible Personality Traits

Consistent, focused, steady, perceptive, careful, attentive, disciplined, committed, caring, adaptable, discerning, flexible.

Diagnostic Medical Sonographer Careers: Salary Expectations

According to the Department of Labor, the median annual salary for diagnostic medical sonographers is $64,380.

Diagnostic Medical Sonographer Careers: Job Outlook

Various specializations within the field, from working with women to working on the nueral system, are available to ambitious sonographers. Furthermore, sonography can be an excellent pathway to the lucrative and interesting field of nuclear medicine. The Department of Labor estimates very strong growth — 44% — in diagnostic medical sonography by 2020.

Physical Therapist Assistant Careers - Top Careers for 2013

Therapists will often delegate to physical therapist assistants many of the important duties of the field, from ultrasound scans to patient weight training to the application of heat packs or ice to aid in muscle recovery.
Physical therapist assistants are also responsible for creating and maintaining patient records, and discussing treatment progress and recommendations with physical therapists.
A certain degree of strength or athletic disposition is important to this profession, as assistants are often required to assist patients in their strength or flexibility training.   Because many physical therapy clinics are outpatient facilities where recovering patients come a few times a month as part of their long-term rehabilitation, it is common for physical therapist assistants to work nights and/or weekends.

Physical Therapist Assistant Careers Path

In most states, physical therapist assistants must hold an Associate’s degree.   Coursework focuses on the skills and knowledge necessary to become a professional in the field, as well as large amount of hands-on clinical training.
Students should expect classes in math, anatomy, biology, chemistry, psychology, physiology, at other related subjects.   Licensure is required in some states in order for graduates to begin practicing as physical therapist assistants.
If you are interested in this profession, contact your state licensing board to find out about other requirements, as some states also require physical therapist assistants to hold other healthcare certifications, such as CPR or first aid.

Physical Therapist Assistant Careers: Compatible Personality Traits

Strong, caring, handy, practical, athletic, knowledgeable, problem-solving, trustworthy, patient, motivating, charismatic.

Physical Therapist Assistant Interview

Read More by a Physical Therapist Assistant…
Physical Therapist Assistant Careers: Salary Expectations
Given their relatively quick educational requirements and their strong advancement potential, physical therapist assistants are well-compensated, even in entry level positions. According to the Department of Labor, the annual median salary for physical therapist assistants is $49,690.
Advancement possibilities include management and administrative roles as well as specialist positions where experienced assistants work with certain groups or fields, such as children or sports medicine.
Physical Therapist Assistant Careers: Job Outlook
The Department of Labor anticipates 46% job growth among physical therapist assistants by 2020, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. The healthcare industry as a whole is expanding as the American population ages and requires more medical care.
Older people are in particular more likely to require more physical rehabilitation services, and so physical therapy clinics-and their employees-should enjoy good business for the foreseeable future.
- See more at: http://myfootpath.com/careers/health-care-careers/physical-therapist-assistant-careers/#sthash.Mgb2OXF6.dpuf

Veterinary Technician Careers - Top Careers for 2013

Veterinary Technician Careers Information

Veterinary technicians assist veterinarians in their clinical and administrative work.   As such, veterinary technicians or “vet techs” perform many of the basic duties associated with primary care for animals and pets.   Any given work day might include tasks such as administering and processing tests, speaking with animal owners, completing charts and other medical records, preparing samples, and both diagnosing and treating a variety of diseases and conditions.
Veterinary technicians may also work in a research capacity.   Although some of this type of research is oriented around animals and their health, some veterinary technicians do engage in animal-based research aimed at improving human health and well-being, including drug testing.
However, the vast majority of veterinary technicians, like veterinarians themselves, work in clinics oriented around primary car for household pets.

Veterinary Technician Careers Path

Most veterinary technicians obtain a two-year Associate’s degree in a program accredited by the American Veterinary Medicine Association (AVMA).  Those programs are typically in either a Vet Tech or Laboratory Animal Science program.
Graduates must then pass an state examination, almost always the National Veterinary Technician exam (NVT).   This training is usually supplemented with a period of on-the-job training, the duration of which depends on the particular job candidate and clinic.

Veterinary Technician Careers: Compatible Personality Traits

Caring, animal-friendly, outgoing, dependable, handy, strong, careful, observant, patient, hard-working, family-oriented.

Veterinary Technician Interview

Interested in working with zoo animals as a veterinary technician career?  Read more from a veterinary technician…
Veterinary Technician Careers: Salary Expectations
According the Department of Labor, Veterinary Technicians make an annual median salary of $29,710.
Veterinary Technician Careers: Job Outlook
This profession has one of the strongest job growth outlooks in the whole economy. The veterinary field as a whole is expected to achieve excellent growth, but veterinary technicians are in even better luck, because the number of people who train for these positions has remained relatively low.
Given the increasing demand in the field, prospective veterinary technicians can expect very good job prospects in the coming years. The Department of Labor projects a whopping 52% growth in the field, which is much faster than the national average for all careers.

2013/11/29

Bachelor’s Degree in Biomedical Engineering - Top Careers for 2013

Over the last few decades, biomedical engineering degree programs, along with advances in medical science, have created solutions to illnesses, injuries, and diseases that a generation ago would have been unthinkable. Thanks to biomedical engineers, the changes in our quality of life are staggering. If you want to contribute to this exciting and expanding field, a bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering is a great place to start.
Types of Biomedical Engineering Degrees Available

Biomedical engineering degrees have been available at the graduate level, with master’s and doctoral degrees being offered for some time. However, bachelor’s degrees in biomedical engineering have been gaining accreditation more rapidly, and currently there are more than 60 undergraduate programs accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET).

For those looking to get started in the field, a bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering or a related engineering or life sciences field is the first step. The key is to find an undergraduate degree program that will give you an understanding of engineering basics, along with the essential principles of the life sciences.

While undergraduate programs in biomedical engineering can help you get started, most positions, even entry-level positions, will require some level of graduate education. Graduate education is more important in biomedical engineering than most engineering fields, as the field is so complex, and integrates principles of a wide range of disciplines.

Within the field of biomedical engineering there are many subfields to study, including genetic engineering, medical imaging, neural engineering, rehabilitation engineering, biomechanics and many more. Different degree programs may emphasize different areas of the field, or allow a student to pursue research in one or more specific area.

What a Bachelor’s Degree in Biomedical Engineering Degree Teaches You

Biomedical engineering, in short, is the marriage between medical techniques and engineering expertise. If you think about the engineering principles that are used in the external world to build all kinds of structures, and then pair that with advanced medical techniques that allow surgeons to transplant hearts and rebuild limbs, you’ve got a recipe to drastically improve healthcare diagnosis and treatment.

The result of this combined knowledge is that doctors and researches are able to solve health problems in ways they never thought possible. Artificial hearts and other organs now allow patients to live without being bed-ridden or connected to an external machine. Those who have lost limbs have been given back their independence thanks to advances in prosthetics and artificial limbs. Ocular prosthetics and cochlear implants have given those who lost sensory capacity the ability to hear and see again.

These advances, and countless more, are thanks to the skills taught in biomedical degree programs, combined with the talent and dedication of students and professionals. Biomedical engineering can give you the opportunity to help change the lives of those who need it most.

Generally speaking, all programs will instruct students in biology, anatomy, physiology, chemistry, physics, and mechanics. Training will also often include biomechanics, bioelectrical systems and bioinstrumentation, cell, tissue, and biomelecular engineering.

Further training will depend on the area of the field on which the student wishes to focus. In their graduate studies, students may pursue medical imaging, implant science, the creation of medical devices, clinical engineering (the actual implementation of medical equipment), neural engineering, or many other fields of specialty.

Biodmedical Engineering Career Salaries

Biomedical engineers earn a median salary of $81,540 per year or $39.20 per hour
Featured Careers with Biomedical Engineering Degree:

Biomedical Engineer

Questions to Ask About a Bachelor’s Degree in Biomedical Engineering

1. Is the creation of medical technology in order to help those suffering from disease, trauma, or other setbacks fascinating to me?

2. Am I interested in a wide range of scientific fields, and want to combine as many as possible in order to help other people?

3. Can I put in long hours, both in my education and my professional life, knowing that the spiritual and financial reward will be great?

Home Health Aide Careers - Top Careers for 2013

Home Health Aide Careers Information

Personal and home care aides and home health aides provide care that allows patients to remain at home instead of staying at hospitals, clinics, or retirement homes.  Working under doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals, home health aides provide front-line care for recovering, disabled, or elderly patients.

The routine for aides can vary, from staying with a client for only a few days to being with the same patient for years. Some aides work exclusively with one client who might need more care than others. While personal/home care aides and home health aides have similar duties, there are several distinctions between the two careers:

Personal and Home Care Aides typically provide solely household duties, such as housekeeping, and work independently from their supervisors.

Home Health Aides provide basic medical care for their patients, such as checking their pulse rate, temperature, and respiration rate. Home health aides answer directly to medical professionals, usually a nurse, and can even be trained to assist with medical equipment.

Home Health Aide Careers Path

In most cases, formal education is not a requirement for employment as a home health aide.   This means that a career as a home health aide is a good option for those looking to gain employment in the healthcare industry in a very short timeframe.   Some employers will direct students to short-time coursework to prepare new hires, but on-the-job training is more common.

The lack of expensive educational requirements makes employment as a home health aide an excellent springboard to many other medical careers.

Many students work as home health aides before or during their coursework, and then move on to positions as registered nurses or medical technicians.   Oftentimes, having previous medical experience of the kind professionals can garner as a home health aide puts them in a strong position in both school admissions and the job market.

Home Health Aide Careers: Compatible Personality Traits

Dependable, caring, courageous, concerned, durable, diligent, considerate, polite, charismatic, friendly, accommodating, reliable, consistent.

Home Health Aide Careers: Salary Expectations

Because of the lack of educational requirements, home health aides will often make less than other entry-level medical professions. According to the Department of Labor, the median annual salary for home health aides is $20,560. Possibilities for advancement, however do exist, both within home healthcare businesses and within the larger healthcare sector, as experience is an important requirement or asset for those wishing to move into other medical occupations.

Home Health Aide Careers: Job Outlook

Because the enormous baby-boomer generation is aging, the healthcare industry as a whole is expected to experience very strong growth. Occupations within healthcare which are especially related to aging patients, such as work as a home health aide, should have particularly good prospects. The Department of Labor estimates that employment for home health aides should grow by more than 70% by 2020.

Dental Hygienist - 10 States with the Biggest Job Growth in 2013

Total number of U.S. workers: 181,800
10-year growth projection: 37.7%
Annual salary range: $56,950 to $83,310
Typical education: associate's degree

Those in the oral health field have a great deal to smile about. In addition to growing demand for dental hygienists, the numbers of dentist and dental assistant jobs also are expected to increase by 20.7% and 30.8%, respectively.

Median pay for a dental hygienist, who typically cleans teeth, takes x-rays and educates patients on proper care, is more than double that of an assistant. (A dental assistant’s duties may include prepping patients for treatment, assisting the dentist and sterilizing equipment.) And the path to get started as a hygienist is much less costly than that of a dentist. You usually need a two-year associate's degree in dental hygiene, which requires you to study anatomy, physiology, nutrition, radiography and periodontology. You also have to get a license to practice. Requirements vary by state. You can find more information about programs and licensure from the American Dental Hygienists' Association.

Painter - 10 States with the Biggest Job Growth in 2013

Total number of U.S. workers: 390,500
10-year growth projection: 18.5%
Annual salary range: $28,120 to $46,280
Typical education: Less than high school

Sorry, would-be-Picassos, but this call for painters is more blue-collar than blue period. In an attempt to lengthen the lives of industrial structures, such as bridges, tall buildings and oil rigs, painters will be increasingly in demand to brush them with protective coatings. House painters should also find no shortage of walls to work on. More people are renting, and landlords need a new coat of primer and paint applied each time a new tenant moves in.

Little experience is necessary; just pick up a brush and learn as you go. But you might benefit from a formal paid apprenticeship. You'll receive technical instruction, including lessons on color matching, application technique and safety practices. You can find registered apprenticeship opportunities in your area through the U.S. Department of Labor. To become an industrial painter, you may need certifications for certain jobs, which can take one day to several weeks to obtain. Find out more from the National Association of Corrosion Engineers.

Computer Network Administrator- 10 States with the Biggest Job Growth in 2013

Total number of U.S. workers: 347,200
10-year growth projection: 27.8%
Annual salary range: $55,150 to $90,160
Typical education: bachelor's degree

Thank the hackers for this thriving career opportunity. Increasing digital dangers are pushing Uncle Sam, state and local governments, and companies of all stripes to protect their technology and beef up information security. Hospitals and doctors' offices, in particular, will need help managing their expanding networks as they begin to keep more digital records, as firms invest in newer and faster systems.

To get started as a network administrator, who runs the day-to-day operations of an organization’s computer network, you'll likely need a sheepskin in computer or information science. A degree in computer engineering or electrical engineering may work, too. Some companies may also want you to get certified to use certain products, usually by Microsoft, Red Hat or Cisco.

Physical Therapist's Assistant - 10 States with the Biggest Job Growth in 2013

Total number of U.S. workers: 67,400
10-year growth projection: 45.7%
Annual salary range: $41,320 to $60,250
Typical education: associate's degree

Aging baby-boomers are a boon for those working in physical therapy. Many more workers in this field will be needed to care for victims of heart attacks and strokes and to lead them through cardiac and physical rehabilitation. And with ongoing advances in medicine, more people will survive such traumas and need rehabilitative services.

Therapist assistants fall between full-fledged physical therapists and lower-skilled therapist aides in terms of pay and training required. The field will see robust demand. Because an assistant is able to provide some therapy services directly, median pay is more than double that of an aide. And while assistants typically earn about $27,000 less a year than physical therapists, they just need an associate's degree, as opposed to a therapist's doctoral degree, to get started. You can find an accredited program through the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education.