5 fast-growing government jobs you need to know about now.
Since the start of the recession, the employment outlook has been grim. But there’s one place where the picture is much brighter…the public sector.
According to the non-profit Partnership for Public Service’s 2009 projections, the federal government is estimated to hire nearly 273,000 new workers by fall 2012.
Job #1 – Accountants
Government accountants maintain and analyze the records of government agencies, ensuring that everything is being recorded and reported in accordance with laws and regulations.
Get Started: A bachelor’s degree in accounting or a related field is a usual prerequisite for government accounting jobs.
Get Paid: As of May 2008, the median annual wage of accountants and auditors was $59,430.
Job # 2 – Paralegals
Paralegals assist attorneys with legal research, drafting legal documents, and other crucial tasks. They will be needed by government agencies like the Department of Justice and the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Get Started: Train for this exciting position with an associate’s degree or certificate in paralegal studies.
Get Paid: Paralegals and legal assistants have an average annual salary of $46,120. Those with the federal executive branch earned an average annual salary of $58,540.
Job #3 – Nurses
According to the Partnership for Public Service, the Department of Veteran Affairs will need to hire 19,071 nurses by the end of 2012. The Department of Health and Human Services and Department of the Army are other federal agencies needing nurses.
Get Started: Train to become a registered nurse by earning your nursing diploma, associate’s degree, or bachelor’s degree. From there, you’ll need to get licensed in your state.
Get Paid: In May 2008, RNs had an average annual salary of $62,450.
Job #4 – Detectives and Criminal Investigators
You can help bring criminals to justice by collecting and analyzing evidence in order to solve and prevent crimes.
Get Started: An associate’s or bachelor’s degree in criminal justice can put you on the right track. If you already have a degree but want to move into this field, consider a master’s in criminal justice.
Get Paid: The average annual salary is $51,180 for those with a local government. The average can be much higher in some agencies, like the postal service and federal executive branch.
Job #5 – Correctional Officers
After the detectives and criminal investigators apprehend the bad guys, someone has to be in charge of their security and safety while incarcerated. The U.S. Department of Labor projects employment opportunities for correctional officers to grow faster than average.
Get Started: Most correctional officers are employed by state and local agencies, many of which require a college degree, while the Federal Bureau of Prisons requires a bachelor’s degree for all its correctional officers. Get your career started today with a degree in criminal justice.
Get Paid: Those working for the federal government earn an average of $50,830, while the median wage for state governments is $38,850.
Article by Yahoo Education Staff, Original article here
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