5 minute read
Blue Collar STEM
TWO YEARS TO PROSPERITY
The 12 fastest-growing and highest-paying jobs that require only a two-year degree
If you are a teenager or a parent of a teen, or if you are an adult trying to better your finances, you are probably wondering whether a college degree is advisable. Not long ago, the answer to that question was a resounding "yes." That is because education and income are intricately linked—the more education you have received, the higher the income you can expect to earn. However, in the past 30 years, there have been unfortunate changes in both the economy and the higher education system. Wages have stagnated for all but the wealthiest Americans, while the cost of college tuition has skyrocketed and financial aid that does not have to be repaid has become scarce. As for financial aid that does have to be repaid, the principal and interest on a student loan now rival that of a mortgage. Not surprisingly, high school students and adult career-changers are questioning the value of a college degree. After all, it is not much help to qualify for high income if most of one's earnings will be spent repaying a loan. So, the question is valid: Is a college education still worth obtaining? The answer to that question is still "yes," but with two vitally important criteria applied. First, only careers requiring just a two-year degree will be considered. Second, consideration is limited to jobs paying better than the national median income and projected to hire an above-average number of new laborers in the next few years. Medical careers are overwhelmingly the most rewarding of the training and employment options available based on those two criteria. Foremost is radiation therapy. A radiation therapist uses a linear accelerator machine to deliver radiation treatments to cancer and other diseases. Radiation
therapists earn an annual median wage of about $79,000, and the number of laborers in this specialization is expected to grow by 24 percent through at least the year 2022. Next-best in the top 12 career paths in nuclear medicine technology. Nuclear medicine technologists make diagnostic scans of parts of a patient's body and administer the radioactive drugs used in such scans. They earn an annual median wage of around $71,000, and through 2022, job growth is expected to be about 20 percent. Dental hygienists clean the teeth of patients and check the teeth and gums for signs of disease. Job growth through 2022 is projected at 33 percent, and dental hygienists earn an annual median wage of about $71,000. Even medicine has limits. When the end comes, the occupation needed is that of funeral service manager. A funeral service manager arranges and oversees funerals, and in the process, often carries out embalming or cremation. These men and women are also responsible for filing death certificates. While the expected 12 percent job growth in this field is merely average, openings frequently occur because turnover tends to be high. Funeral service managers earn an annual median wage of around $68,000. Medical sonography is the specialty of performing ultrasounds. Over the next few years, job growth for medical sonographers is expected to be extremely high, at 44 percent. The median annual wage for medical sonographers is approximately $66,000. Registered nurses experience more variety in their work than most of the other careers under consideration here. An RN engages in caring for patients, educating patients and their families, and often provides more time and compassion to patients and their families than physicians can give. Job growth for RNs over the next few years is projected at 26 percent, and the median annual wage for this occupation is $66,000. Magnetic resonance imaging has been a fast-growing diagnostic method in recent years. These examinations are done by MRI technologists, who are expected to experience 21 percent job growth through 2022 and whose median annual income is $66,000. Web developers design and build websites and web applications. Job growth for web developers is projected to be 20 percent through 2022, and the median annual income is $63,000. Respiratory therapists care for patients who are having difficulty breathing. They do tests to find the cause of the problem, and if needed, carry out procedures to clear mucus from the lungs or connect patients to ventilators. Job growth through the next few years is expected to be about 19 percent, and the annual median wage is $56,000. Not surprisingly, given all this job growth in medical specialties, medical equipment repairers can also look forward to increasing demand for their services. This occupation is projected to grow by 30 percent through 2022, and the median annual wage is $44,000. Radiologic technologists conduct diagnostic imaging exams, such as x-rays, on patients. By 2022, demand for radiologic technologists is projected to grow by 21 percent, and their median annual income is $55,000. The last of the 12 occupations considered here, but certainly not least in importance, is environmental engineering technicians. These experts collect samples for testing, take steps to minimize environmental pollution, and maintain and operate equipment used to prevent or clean up pollution. Job growth through 2022 in environmental engineering is expected to be an above-average 18 percent, and the median annual wage is $46,000. Preparation for a lucrative career does not have to cost a fortune, but it does need to be treated as the life-altering decision it truly is. Just as you would shop around for the highest-quality, lowest-cost wedding ring, you should shop around for the highest-quality, lowest-cost two-year degree. These two-year occupational degrees are available through both colleges and vocational schools. Finally, check the accreditation of any institution in which you are thinking of enrolling. Ensure the degree is respected by the industry you want to train for and that your course credits will transfer if you later decide to earn additional education. Get ready to work hard and be well rewarded. Earning a two-year degree will be a challenge—but it is also going to be the wisest investment you will ever make. HE
