Top 10 $60,000 Jobs, Careers For 2012 And Beyond. Part I.

So earlier this year we posted about the Top 10 Most In Demand Jobs, Careers For 2012, and we thought we’d follow that up with the Top 10 Jobs and Careers with median salaries of $60,000+ in 2012 and beyond. If you’re deciding on a new career path would you like to know which jobs will be in high demand and pay the most once you’ve decided to make the jump or graduated?  Of course you would…or should.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS) National Employment Matrix, which provides projected growth between 2008 and 2018 for the Bureau’s 750 major job categories. Identified are the jobs that are going to add the largest number of new positions – at least a 20% increase – as well as those that had a median annual income of at least $60,000. These reflect the best-paying jobs that will also have the highest demand for new workers in the future.

• Personal financial advisors will have 62,800 projected new jobs which is an increase of 30.1% with a median income of $64,750. According to the BLS, growing numbers of advisors will be needed to assist the millions of workers expected to retire in the next decade. Members of the baby boomer generation will reach their peak years of retirement savings, personal investments and are expected to increase the number of people seeking the help of financial advisors.  By 2018, the number of personal financial advisors is expected to increase by more than 60,000, a 30% growth from 2008.
• Dental hygienists will have 62,900 projected new jobs which is an increase of 36.1% with a median income of $68,250. Many colleges have dental hygiene programs, most of which can be completed in less than four years. According to the BLS, the demand for dental services will grow because of population growth, older people increasingly retaining more teeth, and a growing emphasis on preventative dental care.  In 2008, there were roughly 175,000 dental hygienists in the U.S. By 2018, that number is expected to increase to nearly 240,000, an increase of more than 36%.
• Civil engineers will have 67,600 projected new jobs which is an increase of 24.1% with a median income of $77,650.  In general, engineering jobs are expected to grow at roughly the national rate of 10%; however, the number of civil engineers is projected to grow at a rate two and a half times faster. This is because this type of engineering, which involves overseeing transportation, municipal and industrial infrastructure development, is the most closely linked with population growth. By 2018, there will be nearly 70,000 new positions in the U.S.
• Market research analysts will have 70,100 projected new jobs which is an increase of 28.1% with a median income of $60,570. Over the next decade, these individuals are expected to be in high demand. According to the BLS, market research analysts will experience much faster than average job growth because competition between companies seeking to expand their market and sales of their products will generate a growing need for marketing professionals
• Computer systems analysts will have 108,100 projected new jobs which is an increase of 20.3% with a median income of $77,740. Building and managing computer networks for companies for use in file sharing and inter-office communication as well as maintaining security within the network; it remains possible to get a job as a systems analyst with a high school diploma and some certification. However,  an increasing number of businesses are requiring bachelor’s degrees.

So that’s numbers six through ten, and we’ll be back tomorrow with numbers one through five.