by Emma Marc-Aurele
For many college students today, the pressure of finding jobs after graduating weighs heavily. Students often worry about excelling in classes and building an impressive resume in order to compete against peers and, in the end, make a living to sustain an independent adult-life after college.
The public perception about available jobs in Vermont is often grim. We sometimes hear, “the only available jobs pay minimum wage” and “the manufacturing sector is on sharp decline.”
But the Vermont Department of Labor’s occupational projections data tells a different story: Vermont has high-pay, high-demand jobs projected over the coming 10 years at every level of educational attainment.
Carolyn Weir of the McClure Foundation firmly agrees and states that the Vermont’s job industry is attractive for students and young adults on a larger scale than just its residents.
She said, “The availability of these great jobs creates a tremendous opportunity to retain or attract young people to the state – especially important considering the state’s demographic trends. After several years of discussion and debate, it’s now a universal message: there are good-paying jobs available in Vermont to people of all backgrounds. And this universal message is starting to spread, which further helps to attract and retain young adults in Vermont.”
The McClure Foundation, a philanthropic supporter of the Vermont Community Foundation, partnered with the Vermont Department of Labor to demonstrate the top 67 jobs in the state.
According to this Pathways to Promising Careers brochure issued by the Vermont Community Foundation, each of the 67 jobs are expected to have at least 150 openings (10,050 jobs at least) over the next decade and pay above the average Vermont hourly wage of $21.18.
The study confirms national research that shows promising job opportunities grow with postsecondary degrees. Only nine of the 67 jobs identified by Pathways can be filled without a postsecondary degree or certificate and the majority (41) require at least a four-year bachelor’s degree.
By informing students and even a larger public audience of this crucial information, The McClure Foundation, helps these people feel confident about their future in todays daunting economy – in Vermont anyway. The McClure Foundation’s mission seeks to provide access to college and career education in order to create a highly qualified and thriving work force.
Although the brochure proves that there are indeed jobs available to up-and-coming business men and women, it is no secret that training or education after high school is becoming increasingly necessary in order to earn a livable wage.
Philanthropic Advisor for the McClure Foundation Carolyn Weir hopes that the data helps ease the stress that comes with the financial burden of secondary schooling.
She explains, “All investments come with risk, including investments in college or postsecondary education – especially if the student is taking on debt in their quest to obtain a degree. Our jobs data helps minimize risk by giving students the best-available information about what high-paying jobs will be in demand when they graduate. It’s worth noting the 17 jobs on this list that can be obtained with a two-year associates degree. Many of these promising jobs relate to health care, to business management, to construction, and to computer science. And they pay more than you might expect, meaning a student has a better chance of paying off college loans in a short period.”
Vermont seems to have a way of reassuring to the young public that their hard work will eventually pay off; their countless number of late night in the library, their loan payments that will begin arriving in their mailboxes, and their brutal introduction to the real world will all be a little less abrasive with the promising of well-paid jobs.
High School Diploma and/or Other Training
Projected Openings for the Total Period 2012-2022
Median VT Wage, Yearly (2013)
Average VT Wage, Hourly (2012)
Manufacturing Sales Representatives
790
$53,230.00
$29.08
Insurance Sales Agents
340
$53,780.00
$32.38
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters
300
n/a
$21.55
Sales Representatives for Associated Services
270
$43,680.00
$24.84
Industrial Machinery Mechanics
260
$46,630.00
$23.51
Heating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers
200
n/a
$21.50
Manufacturing Purchasing Agents
150
$54,600.00
$27.62
Wholesale and Retail Merchandise Buyers
150
$43,200.00
$21.98
Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers
150
n/a
$30.35
Associate’s Degree or Equivalent Training
Projected Openings for the Total Period 2012-2022
Median VT Wage, Yearly (2013)
Average VT Wage, Hourly (2012)
Registered Nurses (some require BA degree)
2340
$61,180.00
$30.41
General and Operations Managers
870
$85,070.00
$49.38
Managers, Other Industries
800
$92,740.00
$42.69
First-Line Supervisors of Administrative Support Workers
730
$49,830.00
$25.21
Construction Managers
640
$78,960.00
$39.83
First-Line Supervisors of Construction Workers
530
n/a
$27.97
Computer Support Specialists
460
$44,360.00
$22.32
Properties and Real Estate Managers
420
$61,250.00
$30.66
First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics
340
n/a
$28.35
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers
280
$54,000.00
$27.73
Self-Enrichment Education Teachers
250
$43,610.00
$23.07
Dental Hygienists
240
$66,900.00
$32.47
Web Developers
240
$81,820.00
$28.80
First-Line Supervisors of Transportation Operators
170
$55,120.00
$26.79
Paralegals and Legal Assistants
160
$43,170.00
$22.09
Chefs and Head Cooks
160
$41,540.00
$22.22
Massage Therapists
150
$49,090.00
$22.93
Bachelor’s Degree
Projected Openings for the Total Period 2012-2022
Median VT Wage, Yearly (2013)
Average VT Wage, Hourly (2012)
Registered Nurses (some require BA degree)
2340
$61,180.00
$30.41
Accountants and Auditors
1340
$61,850.00
$33.15
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education
780
$51,860.00
n/a
Compliance Officers
570
n/a
$30.65
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists
520
n/a
$26.52
Medical and Health Service Managers
380
$81,940.00
$43.25
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
340
$52,360.00
n/a
Network and Computer Systems Administrators
330
$67,490.00
$35.45
Clergy
300
$45,030.00
$23.03
Graphic Designers
300
$39,860.00
$21.69
Management Analysts
290
$62,070.00
$38.05
Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health
280
$49,960.00
$26.24
Computer Software Engineers, Applications
280
n/a
$39.53
Social and Community Service Managers
250
$60,000.00
$29.67
Cost Estimators
240
$55,670.00
$28.61
Writers and Authors
220
$50,810.00
$31.54
Human Resources Specialists
220
n/a
$27.89
Financial Managers
220
$101,760.00
$58.13
Training and Development Specialists
200
$48,150.00
$28.77
Public Relations Specialists
190
$50,830.00
$27.28
Computer Software Engineers, Systems Software
190
n/a
$46.66
Civil Engineers
180
$67,850.00
$34.18
Meeting and Event Planners
170
n/a
$21.95
Financial Services Sales Agents
160
$59,570.00
$44.22
Chief Executives
160
$141,050.00
$77.99
Sales Managers
150
$87,770.00
$47.42
Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists
150
$51,450.00
$31.55
Master’s Degree or Beyond
Projected Openings for the Total Period 2012-2022
Median VT Wage, Yearly (2013)
Average VT Wage, Hourly (2012)
Lawyers
460
$79,960.00
$47.40
Physicians and Surgeons
440
$165,050.00
$74.48
Mental Health Counselors
400
$37,230.00
$25.08
Physical Therapists
380
$70,550.00
$34.74
Pharmacists
230
$130,340.00
$59.04
Rehabilitation Counselors
230
$43,070.00
$23.25
Clinical, Counseling, and School Psychologists
220
$49,280.00
$28.17
Education Administrators at Elementary and Secondary Schools
220
$85,520.00
n/a
Educational, Guidance, School, and Vocational Counselors
210
$48,090.00
$24.38
Education Administrators at Colleges
190
$67,190.00
$37.72
Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors
170
$41,390.00
$21.75
Librarians
160
$45,560.00
$22.73
Dentists
160
$187,200.00
$103.56
Medical and Public Health Social Workers
150
$46,290.00
$25.08
