Highest Paying Jobs: Physicist

January 28th, 2012

Highest Paying Jobs: PhysicistHighest Paying Jobs consist of several positions with average salaries in excess of $100,000 annually. With an average annual salary of $112,000, Physicists are scientists in charge of researching gravity and motion, the conduct of gases, the behavior and construction of matter, the creation and movement of energy, and the relationship between energy and matter.

Physicists can be found within colleges and universities, centers of independent research, government firms, and medical centers. Many work within privately owned organizations, particularly those producing weapons, electronic devices, chemicals, and air transportation. With such an abundance of specialized knowledge required to work productively in these environments, there is no question as to why the Physicists are part of the Highest Paying Jobs.

Physics, in itself, is considered to be a broad form of science. These Highest Paying Jobs make it necessary to focus on perfecting a single craft before attempting to make a valuable contribution to a small or large organization. As an example, a Nuclear Physicist would be in charge of studying the composition of atomic nuclei and recording interactions. Current research would then be used to prove related hypotheses and draw new conclusions within the nuclear field. These conclusions lead to the development of nuclear power plants and the application of radioactive substances to assist doctors in diagnosing diseases.

If you have a knack for problem solving and discovering new phenomena, these Highest Paying Jobs are for you. Mathematics and science are pre-requisites for any advanced study in physics. Some branches of physics are closely related to other science fields, such as chemistry, astronomy, ontology, geology and cosmology. Good knowledge in any of these fields is advantageous. Physicists often work in teams, thus, you need good communication and people skills. You will also undertake many research projects. Most of a Physicist’s work involves some type of research.

High Paying Jobs Without A Degree: Medical Appliance Technician

January 27th, 2012

Medical Appliance TechnicianHigh Paying Jobs Without A Degree offer Medical Appliance Technicians the opportunity to adjust, maintain, repair, and calibrate a wide range of hydraulic, electromechanical, and electronic tools used in different medical settings. This includes hospitals and health practitioners‘ offices. Often, Medical Appliance Technicians are referred to as biomedical Medical Appliance Technicians technicians (BMET).

Their Duties

Medical Appliance Technicians work under the direction of health care practitioners to help evaluate patients with devices such as: medical imaging equipment (CT scanners, x-rays, ultrasounds), and patient monitors, among others. They utilize a variety of specialized tools and software programs built to work with medical hardware. Hand tools, are also used by medical appliance technicians to fix mechanical and hydraulic equipment malfunctions.

Most of the medical equipment used in various medical units is powered by electricity; however, some work is powered by hydraulic means. Thus, it is imperative that medical appliance technicians are familiar with any type of electric or hydraulic powered equipment in these High Paying Jobs Without A Degree.

Training

While many technicians acquire their skills through on-the-job training, the basic entry requirement is a high school diploma. Trainees at the job are assigned a professional in the field who teaches them the skills and procedures of setting up medical equipment. Licensure is not required, but the American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics, & Pedorthics offers certifications voluntarily.

In terms of job growth, these High Paying Jobs Without A Degree are considered above average. Medical Appliance Technicians work on schedule but may also be needed on-call if there is an emergency. Typically, a relevant associate’s degree is preferred by the employers to hire a technician, but if interested in future advancement opportunities, a bachelor’s degree will need to be obtained.

Highest Paying Jobs: Petroleum Engineer

January 22nd, 2012

Petroleum EngineerHighest Paying Jobs are available for Petroleum Engineers (Average Salary: $128,000), who professionalize in oil and gas exploration processes. From field evaluation to development and production, these engineers are capable of identifying and addressing some of the most prominent issues related to oil. Even though oil extraction processes have become increasingly difficult — as most of the major oil fields face depletion, due to exponential increase in demand – Petroleum Engineers are benefitting from the cause. The advanced technological methods available today, enable the application of improved computer modeling, probability, and statistical analysis, as well as new technologies to streamline work.

Petroleum Engineers’ primary goal is to maximize the recovery of hydrocarbons while minimizing the associated environmental effects, all at minimum costs. Often, in these Highest Paying Jobs, Petroleum Engineers work in extreme conditions — deserts, arctic regions, or deep-water conditions — coupled with extreme temperatures and high-pressure environments.

Petroleum Engineers are divided into several categories: drilling engineers, petroleum geologists, reservoir engineers and production engineers.

Specific Work Duties

In these Highest Paying Jobs, Petroleum Engineers work with geo-scientists, engineers, and business managers in deciphering well logging data. This data is used to predict production potential. Mathematical models are then used to compile the elaborate development plans for reservoirs. During the process, appropriate tubing sizes are selected along with the equipment needed for the oil well.

Employment Outlook

The oil and gas industry has experienced a significant decline over the past several years; a biting recession, dwindling number of new oil field discoveries, and costly extraction of the oil left in existing fields, have all painted a gloomy picture for the industry’s future. However, despite the problems, forecasts have shown that output will continue in an upward trend over the next ten years. Companies are continually seeking Petroleum Engineers and there are many opportunities for career development once employed.

Big companies recruit graduate engineers annually, and move them into graduate training programs for these Highest Paying Jobs. More experienced engineers are continually recruited into special programs. A bachelor’s degree in Petroleum Engineering is the entry-level requirement, but other engineering degrees are also considered – such as civil, chemical, aeronautical, mechanical, earth sciences, and astrophysics.

High Paying Jobs Without A Degree: Firefighter

January 19th, 2012

High Paying Jobs Without A Degree: FirefighterHigh Paying Jobs Without A Degree are inclusive of several noble service duties, in this case, the Firefighter (Average Salary: $45,000). Firefighters, also known as firemen, are people trained in specialized rescue skills for people and property. Their primary role is to put out lethal fires that can potentially harm human lives and destroy property. In recent years, the role of Firefighters has extended beyond the fire-fighting mandate to include rescuing people in car accidents, collapsed buildings, and other emergency situations.

Over the years, there has been a steady increase in demand for these High Paying Jobs Without A Degree due to the complexities associated with modern, urban life that has led to an elevated incidence of fire hazards.

Specific objectives of firefighting include: personal safety, saving a victim’s life, rescuing property, and safeguarding the environment. A Firefighter’s skills will be regularly evaluated through a series of training exercises in the course of his career.

How to Train as a Firefighter

It is hard work becoming a Firefighter, let alone being one. As you might imagine, there’s stiff competition during recruitment, and sometimes the rigors and challenges may become disheartening. It comes as no surprise that the majority of those who embark on a training program abandon their prospects prematurely. Nonetheless, if you are serious about landing one of the High Paying Jobs Without A Degree, there are a series of steps you can take to adequately prepare.

Train as an emergency medical technician (EMT): most fire departments require this as a pre-requisite because a large percentage of the emergencies they respond to are medical-related.

Become a volunteer: a firefighting spirit exists in the willingness to work for the wider community cause. Nothing demonstrates this better than a volunteering experience, regardless of the field you serviced.

Enroll for a technology class: while this is not a basic requirement for a firefighting job, it certainly puts more weight on your resume.

Keep your background spotless: believe it or not, your conduct in the past goes a long way in determining your future behaviors, and this is one of the key predictors used by recruiters.

Most importantly, to land one of these High Paying Jobs Without A Degree, get good grasp of the hiring process for firefighters. This will give you the competitive edge against other qualified candidates.

Highest Paying Jobs: Lawyer

January 16th, 2012

Highest Paying Jobs: LawyerHighest Paying Jobs as a Lawyer (Average Salary: $129,000)
allow professionals to study a country’s laws and become proficient in the way rules are applied and enforced. Countries have varying laws that can be extremely complicated at times, and it is a Lawyer’s role is to advise people on the application of these laws.

Lawyers can practice in several areas including, but not limited to: criminal law, patent law, corporate law, taxation law, human rights, and environmental law.

In a typical work setting, a Lawyer will meet with clients, arrange legal documents; draft leases, contracts, wills; and attend trials in a courtroom. When a Lawyer represents the client during a trial, they will either defend them against charges or prosecute an accused person. In these Highest Paying Jobs, Lawyers spend a great deal of time doing research in efforts to protect the client. And because laws are always amended, lawyers must spend a lot of time keeping up-to-date with new amendments.

What Qualities Can Make You A Good Lawyer?

To become a good Lawyer in these Highest Paying Jobs, there are certain skills and qualities you must possess to become competent in any branch of law. First, you must learn to work closely with people. As a Lawyer, you deal with issues that directly affect people’s lives. You will need to be confident that your actions and counsel will rightfully meet your clients’ needs.

As a Lawyer, you need to be able to empathize with a person’s grievance, but at the same time be able to objectively analyze their situation and outcome (in light of the prevailing laws). This is a practice that comes only with training and experience.

You need to be able to articulate complex issues in a clear, straight, and concise manner — either in writing or verbally.

Most importantly, you need to have a love for reading, studying, and finding real facts about a situation.

Transitioning into these Highest Paying Jobs takes three years of law school. Law school applicants typically have a bachelor’s degree in English, political science, or other liberal arts studies. Once you complete law school, you will be awarded a juris doctorate (JD) degree. In order to become a licensed Lawyer, you will need to pass your state bar examination.

High Paying Jobs Without A Degree: Quality Control Inspector

January 12th, 2012

High Paying Jobs Without A Degree: Quality Control InspectorHigh Paying Jobs Without A Degree offer an opportunity for Quality Control Inspectors (Average Salary: $46,000) to help businesses maintain exceptional standards. Quality control processes ensure that all products produced by a business are positioned for success in the marketplace. For this reason, Quality Control Inspector is one of the most crucial positions in a company.

In quality control, the emphasis is on testing a product to reveal flaws, and then relaying the data to higher-level management and deciding on whether a product should be released. It differs from quality assurance, which is the streamlining of production processes to lessen the occurrence of defects.

Nature of Work

Quality Control Inspectors are mostly employed by manufacturers with huge production lines in these High Paying Jobs Without A Degree. There are generally two broad categories of work under quality control: production quality control and receiving quality control.

Receiving quality controllers inspect components that are not manufactured on site. Many large manufacturers, carmakers for example, outsource the manufacturing of some car parts to other companies. This necessitates thorough checks against the agreed standards. In some circumstances, quality controllers may not be able to verify every item in a consignment of received parts, in which case, a random sample is subjected to the test.

Under production quality control, inspectors verify the quality of each product item at various points of the production line in these High Paying Jobs Without A Degree. Usually, items are examined against a checklist, and those found with defects are not allowed to proceed on the production line. Production quality control is usually the last phase in the quality control process, thus products are subjected to very stringent examination, and sometimes safety tests are done here.

Training

Training for Quality Control Inspectors in these High Paying Jobs Without A Degree is usually is very specialized and targets professionals in science fields. These fields include (but are not limited to) technicians, engineers, production supervisors, receiving managers, and planners. A solid mathematics background is a pre-requisite.

Highest Paying Jobs: Marketing Manager

January 8th, 2012

Highest Paying Jobs: Marketing ManagerHighest Paying Jobs offer a great deal of opportunity for Marketing Managers (Average Salary: $123,000). A Marketing Manager is someone who oversees the application of a company’s marketing practices and manages all of the marketing resources. In simpler terms, marketing activities are those that attract customers to a company or its products. The field of marketing is characterized by aggressive marketing techniques as companies in similar industries compete for the biggest share of the same market.

If you intend to work Highest Paying Jobs as a Marketing Manager, prepare to work extended hours and travel frequently, sometimes on short notice. Ordinarily, a Marketing Manager will preside over several teams, each responsible for a particular marketing segment. For instance, the branding team of an organization concentrates on brand marketing, while product teams are responsible for marketing particular products. If a company is small, some marketing roles are intertwined and handled by a single team. Big firms, on the other hand, can afford to outsource marketing tasks to other firms.

Specific roles of a marketing manager include:

  • Creating a marketing strategy
  • Market research and analysis (normally outsourced for big firms)
  • Managing tangible marketing resources
  • Build and maintain customer relationships
  • Analyze sales data and market share figures
  • Predict outcomes

How to Become One

For these Highest Paying Jobs, you will need some basic education, which is usually a degree in marketing, management, or any other business related subject. Working as an intern goes a long way in fostering your practical marketing knowledge. If you’re still in school, consider shadowing any marketing personnel to better familiarize yourself with daily work routines. Be sure to offer your own ideas and suggestions in the process. Doing so may score you points on your reference letter.

Most Marketing Managers spend up to five years in lower level marketing roles, such as marketing assistant, market research assistant, and sales representative before working these Highest Paying Jobs. If you choose this path, prepare yourself for a challenging role with outstanding rewards.

High Paying Jobs Without A Degree: Stationary Engineer and Boiler Operator

January 6th, 2012

Stationary Engineer and Boiler OperatorHigh Paying Jobs Without A Degree present opportunities for Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators (Average Salary: $55,000), both of which perform tasks similar to that of a marine or locomotive engineer. They are responsible for maintaining chillers, boilers, generators, turbines, condensers, pumps, diesel engines, compressors, refrigeration equipment, and air-conditioning.

Large heating, air-conditioning, and ventilation systems are normally installed in huge warehouses, malls, office buildings, and other commercial facilities to create a safe environment for workers. Some industrial plants have additional requirements to provide steam, electrical power, or other similar services to their facilities. All these systems require specially trained people to operate. In these High Paying Jobs Without A Degree, Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators fit such a mold.

On occasion, Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators use manual controls to maintain equipment. Where necessary, hands and power tools are used to make small adjustments. On a daily basis, these professionals carefully monitor machinery and perform routine checks. They also log records for different machines to review performance and identify potential problems.

Training

Most Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators start off as mechanics and receive on-the-job training from their senior mechanics. To break into these High Paying Jobs Without A Degree, you would need at least a high school diploma. Some people with post-secondary vocational training may also be considered. Those without formal training would normally be considered on the basis of experience.

Due to the complex equipment that Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators work with, continued studying is necessary. Whenever new equipment is introduced, training will be provided and worker’s duties will be adjusted.

Most states require a license to work in these High Paying Jobs Without A Degree. In order to receive your license, you will be will required to meet specific experience criteria and pass an examination. If you choose to relocate afterwards, you may be required to get a new license for that state.

Highest Paying Jobs: Dentist

January 5th, 2012

Highest Paying Jobs: DentistHighest Paying Jobs present opportunities for Dentists (Average Salary: $159,000), who are practically doctors specializing in the detection, prevention, and treatment of ailments in the oral cavity. Also referred to as dental surgeons, Dentists have the ability to carry out anything from minor fillings and cleanings to complex dental surgeries. In the process, a support team consisting of dental technicians, hygienists, and assistants aid them.

The overwhelming majority (about 80 percent) of Dentists in these Highest Paying Jobs are general practitioners. The minority specializes in the areas of surgery, periodontistry, and orthodonistry, to name a few. Other fulfilling dental career paths include teaching, dental industry, and research. While many dentists practice in private clinics, others work in public health agencies, the military, and public hospitals.

Prepare to Become a Dentist

Dentists are some of the most respected professionals in the world. If you want to become one, start preparing right from high school by paying close attention in math and science, as well as other foundation courses for college – biology, chemistry, and some liberal arts subjects.

College courses to take are biology, chemistry, biochemistry, and physics. It’s not a must to major in science but completion of the pre-dental science is a pre-requisite before progressing. Most potential candidates for dental school have completed a four-year undergraduate degree. As different schools have different requirements, students must consult a knowledgeable advisor to assist them in the degree seeking process.

Future Prospects

There is a great deal of opportunity for those looking to enter the dentistry profession. With many senior Dentists in the twilight of their careers and expected to bow out in the next two decades, there will be a need for new Dentists to fill positions in private practice. In addition, these Highest Paying Jobs will require Dentists in the areas of research and teaching. And with an increase in dental cosmetic services, there will be an increased demand for specialist dentists in this area as well.

Advanced technology now enables Dentists to be more efficient in these Highest Paying Jobs. New research on the relationship between oral health and overall body health makes this an essential profession for as long as we exist.

High Paying Jobs Without A Degree: Floral Designer

January 4th, 2012

High Paying Jobs Without A Degree: Floral DesignerHigh Paying Jobs Without A Degree are inclusive of creative roles as a Floral Designer (Average Salary: $45,000). Floral Designers are responsible for creating pleasant artistic compositions using flowers and other plant materials. Floral design work requires a hands-on approach, and with the completion of these intimate works comes an instant feeling of gratification. Professional floral artwork must include a balance of the basic essentials in floral design: color, form, texture, line, and space; combined with floral design principles: contrast, balance, harmony, rhythm, unity, and proportion. Current commercial floral designs have been heavily influenced by European, western, and eastern styles.

These High Paying Jobs Without A Degree offer numerous benefits. For starters, you will be surrounded by beauty every day at work. In addition, you will get a sense of fulfillment from making other people’s lives and surroundings more pleasant. Many design florists choose to open up their own florist business, which comes with all the rewards of freedom, flexibility, and financial independence. Moreover, opportunities for floral designers are looking more promising than ever, with the floral industry predicted to develop more than $20 billion this year alone. Floral Designers will play an even larger role in the most memorable moments in people’s lives (weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, and more).

What Kind of Work Do Floral Designers Actually Do?

As a Floral Designer, there are a variety of specialties you can take on, depending upon your skills and personal preferences. Typically, a Floral Designer will cut flowers and other live greenery, then organize them into presentations of different shapes and sizes. They arrange flowers in containers decorated with ribbons; create bouquets, centerpieces, and corsages of platforms, tables, or wreaths, all depending upon the occasion. Some designers spruce up their work with accessories like toys, balloons, candy, and candles. Typically employers for these High Paying Jobs Without A Degree consist of internet flower shops, grocery stores, and wholesale flower distributors.

There is no specialized education or experience needed to break into these High Paying Jobs Without A Degree. However, there are various schools that can impart the skills that can give you an edge against the competition.