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A trip to the dentist can be a harrowing experience. The prospect of sharp instruments poking our gums or prodding our teeth can wreak havoc on the psyche. That’s why Dr. Maria Lopez Howell, D.D.S., urges her fellow dentists to stay attuned to patients’ needs and concerns. Howell has worked as a practicing dentist for 29 years and also serves as consumer advisor spokeswoman for the American Dental Association. According to her, this is the best way to gain a patient’s trust: “Always ask them what matters most to them, so you can make their appointments comfortable and less stressful,” she says. “At the end of the day, that’s what we want. We want our patients to be happy.”
You might find a dentist at an outpatient care center or hospital, but you’re most likely to visit one at a private office or clinical setting. Dentists work alongside dental assistants, who help with record-keeping, sterilizing instruments, and teeth-cleaning. And like a dental hygienist, a dentist might also clean teeth and educate patients on proper dental care. Their other duties could also include extracting teeth, fitting dentures, and filling cavities. Some choose to specialize in areas that range from treating serious oral problems and diseases to straightening teeth and performing oral surgery.
The need for professionals to examine our teeth, fill and (in some cases) refill our cavities isn’t fading. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts employment growth of about 21 percent between 2010 and 2020, above the average for all occupations. Work opportunities are especially plentiful for those who work in traditional dentist offices and other health practitioner offices. There should be more than 25,000 new openings in this profession in the next eight years.
According to the BLS, dentists earned $142,740 in 2011, or approximately $68.62 per hour. The best-paid earned more than $187,999, while the lowest-paid earned less than $74,490. Dentists who work in private offices are paid particularly well, but so are those who work alongside other health practitioners. Certain cities also compensate well—specifically, the metro areas of Manchester, N.H., Tyler, Texas, and Rocky Mount, N.C.
See Full Salary DataThose interested in becoming a dentists should start their journey in high school, focusing on courses in chemistry, physics, biology, anatomy, and mathematics. Then, in their junior year of college, they must take and pass the Dental Acceptance Test (DAT). Also while pursing a bachelor’s degree, aspiring dentists should take courses in mathematics, chemistry, and biology. “It’s incredibly helpful to do as well as you can in those requirements when applying to dental school because it’s heavily based in science,” Howell says. Dental students take an eclectic mix of classes like local anesthesia, anatomy, periodontology (study of oral disease and health), and radiology. The training doesn’t stop there: Dentists interested in full-time teaching and research must acquire an additional two to five years of training. And specialty training involves a one- to two-year residency in a program linked to their chosen niche.
Contacting a local dental school can be the first, crucial step in gaining a foothold in dentistry. For those with minimal prior training, taking a job as a dental assistant can also be a good way to break into the profession. “I would go to ADA.org [the American Dental Association’s website],” Howell says. “There’s so much information about what you need to do.” She also suggests visiting a dental school to ask what the requirements are for being accepted. “If you really want to do it, you’ll find a way.”
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Nurses may be most visible at the hospital bedside or in the doctor’s office, but this fast-growing community of more than 2.7 million workers is rapidly expanding into a host of specialized jobs ranging from elder care to oncology. While many RNs work in hospitals or physicians’ offices treating and educating patients, explaining prescriptions and procedures, administering medication, or managing medical records, more are finding jobs in public health, home care, or alternate care settings such as rehabilitation centers, schools or businesses. Within the field, you can focus on the care of patients following heart surgery as a cardiovascular nurse, or aid in treating brain or spinal cord injuries as a neuroscience nurse. Even in a tough economy, nursing has flourished compared with most other occupations. Thanks in part to an aging population, long-term job growth is expected to be much faster than the national average. The largest number of new jobs will appear as physicians’ offices expand and staff up. Solid employment growth and a wide range of job prospects help make registered nursing a top healthcare job, as well as the No. 2 career on our list of The Best Jobs of 2013.
Between 2010 and 2020, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects registered nurse employment growth of 26 percent, thanks in large part to higher healthcare demand from aging Baby Boomers.
The BLS reports the median annual wage for a registered nurse was $65,950 in 2011. The best-paid 10 percent of RNs made more than $96,630, while the bottom 10 percent earned less than $44,970. The highest wages are reserved for personal care nurses, or those working for private-sector pharmaceutical or medical-device manufacturers. By location, the highest-paid positions are clustered in the metropolitan areas of northern California, including municipalities in and around San Jose, Oakland, and San Francisco.
See Full Salary DataAt a minimum, an entry-level nursing job requires a bachelor of science degree in nursing, an associate’s degree, or a diploma program administered in a hospital. The two-year associate’s degree can be a quicker and more economical route, but many graduates of associate’s programs eventually aim to complete a bachelor’s degree for a more comprehensive nursing education, and experts say that the bachelor’s degree is fast becoming the industry standard. For those who have already earned a bachelor’s degree in a different field, accelerated B.S.N. degree programs can take from 12 to 18 months. Students must also pass a national licensing examination known as the National Council Licensure Examination, and may have to meet other requirements which vary by state. Many nurses choose to pursue master’s degrees in advanced-practice nursing specialties, such as a nurse practitioner or nurse anesthetist.
“Even though there’s great growth potential, the market is still competitive,” says Donna Cardillo, RN, a speaker known as the “career guru” for nurses. She recommends nurses use both traditional and virtual tricks of the interviewing trade, including printing business cards for the interview process (many nurses don’t) and keeping up-to-date profiles on social-media sites like LinkedIn. The most effective job leads, however, come from one-on-one contacts that can be found by joining professional organizations such as state chapters of the American Nurses Association or other specialized professional groups. For older job seekers looking to enter the field, Cardillo recommends they play up their experience in non-nursing fields, as those experiences can show a diverse set of skills. Another tip: Look beyond the hospital. Nurses are fanning out into a host of jobs, ranging from rehab and long-term care facilities to nurse-run community clinics, schools, or corporations where preventative care and wellness are becoming a bigger focus—and a bigger source of jobs. “The whole job market is shifting,” Cardillo says.
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Even during a tough job market, the unique mix of medical knowledge and people skills required to run a pharmacy counter remain in demand. The more than 272,320 pharmacists in the United States dispense medicine and advice in tens of thousands of retail pharmacies and hospitals, as well as in mail-order, clinical, or corporate settings. Earnings potential remains relatively high in the field, and wages have climbed slightly from a year ago. While hiring has cooled a bit in recent years, experts say an aging population and increasingly complex medicines will keep industry growth healthy for years to come. A recent focal point in the industry is medication therapy management, or MTM. Pharmacists counsel patients by thoroughly reviewing their medications and finding the best way to reduce drug-related costs, but more importantly, the goal of MTM is to improve the quality of a patient's life.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects 25.4 percent employment growth for pharmacists by 2020, with the field adding 69,700 new jobs. Solid employment growth and a high median salary help make pharmacist a top contender on this year's list of Best Jobs.
According to the BLS, the median annual salary for a pharmacist was $113,390 in 2011. The best-paid 10 percent made approximately $144,090 a year, while the lowest-paid made approximately $84,490. The field's best-compensated areas include residential mental health or rehabilitation facilities and consulting services. The highest-paid in the profession work in California near the metropolitan areas of El Centro, Napa, and Santa Cruz-Watsonville.
See Full Salary DataThere's a long learning curve for pharmacists, usually starting with two years of professional study at a college or university before beginning a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) program at a college of pharmacy that generally takes four years to complete. Then, there are several examinations to pass, and often a one- or two-year postgraduate residency program, or fellowships designed to prepare pharmacists for specialized areas like clinical practices or research labs. Some degree plans also include a master's degree in business administration (MBA) or public-health component. All states require a license to practice pharmacy and a specified number of hours worked in a practice setting as well. Some require additional exams covering pharmacy law.
The job hunt should start during school, with internships early in the process. "Exposure to patients and patient care during school will make them more successful," says Papatya Tankut, vice president of pharmacy professional services at CVS Caremark. Also, while technical skills matter, evidence of leadership, communication, and conflict resolution can help set applicants apart from the pack. Business acumen also counts, since pharmacies are often part of larger retail operations. Broadly, pharmacists begin their career dispensing drugs and advice, but can move into supervisory or administrative positions covering multiple pharmacy locations or larger geographic regions. Also, jobs in mail-order or Internet pharmacies or wholesalers are expanding as well. Large pharmacy groups also often maintain administrative, lobbying, marketing, or real-estate arms staffed with trained pharmacists. "Today the options have broadened so much," Tankut says.
Advice From Real PharmacistsSimilar jobs you might be interested in... Even during a tough job market, the unique mix of medical knowledge and people skills required to run a pharmacy counter remain in demand. The more than 272,320 pharmacists in the United States dispense medicine and advice in tens of thousands of retail pharmacies and hospitals, as well as in mail-order, clinical, or corporate settings. Earnings potential remains relatively high in the field, and wages have climbed slightly from a year ago. While hiring has cooled a bit in recent years, experts say an aging population and increasingly complex medicines will keep industry growth healthy for years to come. A recent focal point in the industry is medication therapy management, or MTM. Pharmacists counsel patients by thoroughly reviewing their medications and finding the best way to reduce drug-related costs, but more importantly, the goal of MTM is to improve the quality of a patient's life.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects 25.4 percent employment growth for pharmacists by 2020, with the field adding 69,700 new jobs. Solid employment growth and a high median salary help make pharmacist a top contender on this year's list of Best Jobs.
According to the BLS, the median annual salary for a pharmacist was $113,390 in 2011. The best-paid 10 percent made approximately $144,090 a year, while the lowest-paid made approximately $84,490. The field's best-compensated areas include residential mental health or rehabilitation facilities and consulting services. The highest-paid in the profession work in California near the metropolitan areas of El Centro, Napa, and Santa Cruz-Watsonville.
See Full Salary DataThere's a long learning curve for pharmacists, usually starting with two years of professional study at a college or university before beginning a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) program at a college of pharmacy that generally takes four years to complete. Then, there are several examinations to pass, and often a one- or two-year postgraduate residency program, or fellowships designed to prepare pharmacists for specialized areas like clinical practices or research labs. Some degree plans also include a master's degree in business administration (MBA) or public-health component. All states require a license to practice pharmacy and a specified number of hours worked in a practice setting as well. Some require additional exams covering pharmacy law.
The job hunt should start during school, with internships early in the process. "Exposure to patients and patient care during school will make them more successful," says Papatya Tankut, vice president of pharmacy professional services at CVS Caremark. Also, while technical skills matter, evidence of leadership, communication, and conflict resolution can help set applicants apart from the pack. Business acumen also counts, since pharmacies are often part of larger retail operations. Broadly, pharmacists begin their career dispensing drugs and advice, but can move into supervisory or administrative positions covering multiple pharmacy locations or larger geographic regions. Also, jobs in mail-order or Internet pharmacies or wholesalers are expanding as well. Large pharmacy groups also often maintain administrative, lobbying, marketing, or real-estate arms staffed with trained pharmacists. "Today the options have broadened so much," Tankut says.
Advice From Real PharmacistsSimilar jobs you might be interested in... Even during a tough job market, the unique mix of medical knowledge and people skills required to run a pharmacy counter remain in demand. The more than 272,320 pharmacists in the United States dispense medicine and advice in tens of thousands of retail pharmacies and hospitals, as well as in mail-order, clinical, or corporate settings. Earnings potential remains relatively high in the field, and wages have climbed slightly from a year ago. While hiring has cooled a bit in recent years, experts say an aging population and increasingly complex medicines will keep industry growth healthy for years to come. A recent focal point in the industry is medication therapy management, or MTM. Pharmacists counsel patients by thoroughly reviewing their medications and finding the best way to reduce drug-related costs, but more importantly, the goal of MTM is to improve the quality of a patient's life.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects 25.4 percent employment growth for pharmacists by 2020, with the field adding 69,700 new jobs. Solid employment growth and a high median salary help make pharmacist a top contender on this year's list of Best Jobs.
According to the BLS, the median annual salary for a pharmacist was $113,390 in 2011. The best-paid 10 percent made approximately $144,090 a year, while the lowest-paid made approximately $84,490. The field's best-compensated areas include residential mental health or rehabilitation facilities and consulting services. The highest-paid in the profession work in California near the metropolitan areas of El Centro, Napa, and Santa Cruz-Watsonville.
See Full Salary DataThere's a long learning curve for pharmacists, usually starting with two years of professional study at a college or university before beginning a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) program at a college of pharmacy that generally takes four years to complete. Then, there are several examinations to pass, and often a one- or two-year postgraduate residency program, or fellowships designed to prepare pharmacists for specialized areas like clinical practices or research labs. Some degree plans also include a master's degree in business administration (MBA) or public-health component. All states require a license to practice pharmacy and a specified number of hours worked in a practice setting as well. Some require additional exams covering pharmacy law.
The job hunt should start during school, with internships early in the process. "Exposure to patients and patient care during school will make them more successful," says Papatya Tankut, vice president of pharmacy professional services at CVS Caremark. Also, while technical skills matter, evidence of leadership, communication, and conflict resolution can help set applicants apart from the pack. Business acumen also counts, since pharmacies are often part of larger retail operations. Broadly, pharmacists begin their career dispensing drugs and advice, but can move into supervisory or administrative positions covering multiple pharmacy locations or larger geographic regions. Also, jobs in mail-order or Internet pharmacies or wholesalers are expanding as well. Large pharmacy groups also often maintain administrative, lobbying, marketing, or real-estate arms staffed with trained pharmacists. "Today the options have broadened so much," Tankut says.
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Determining how a computer system can best serve a business or organization's needs is a key role of a computer systems analyst. As such, these professionals must be big-picture oriented and have a clear understanding of how the components within a computer system—hardware, software, and networks—work together. They're charged with analyzing that interaction and making recommendations that will ultimately help a company or organization operate more efficiently. Computer systems analysts juggle a lot of responsibilities, which can include choosing and configuring hardware and software, matching technology to users' needs, monitoring and testing the system in operation, and troubleshooting problems after implementation. Introverts need not apply: Collaboration is a big part of the job, as analysts frequently consult with management and users, as well as convey system requirements to software developers and network architects.
To succeed as a computer systems analyst, it's not necessary to know the nitty-gritty details of specific technologies, says David P. Bieg, chief operating officer for the International Institute for Business Analysis. "You need to understand how systems interact, but you don't really need to understand the core of every technology—it's really about how information and process flows through the system," he says. Although a quarter of analysts work for computer systems design firms, they are also employed in a range of industries, from science to healthcare to banking and finance.
Demand for computer systems analysts should grow at a steady clip this decade, as businesses and organizations increasingly rely on information technology. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 22.1 percent employment growth for computer system analysts between 2010 and 2020, faster than the average of all occupations. During that time period, about 120,400 jobs will need to be filled. The profession's strong growth prospects helped boost computer systems analyst to the No. 4 spot in our ranking of The Best Jobs of 2013.
The Labor Department reports that computer system analysts made a median salary of $78,770 in 2011. The highest-paid 10 percent in the profession earned $120,060 that year, while the lowest-paid earned $49,370. Some of the most highly compensated analyst positions support the mining and oil and gas extraction industries as well as scientific research and development. Two niche industries that pay computer systems analysts particularly well are animal slaughtering and processing and motion picture and video, but job seekers should note that there are relatively few positions available in these fields. Location-wise, the highest-paying jobs can be found in the Northeast region of the country.
See Full Salary DataMost employers prefer applicants with bachelor's degrees in a relevant field, such as computer science. For technically complex jobs, a master's degree may be preferred, and some employers seek applicants who hold a master's degree in business administration with a concentration in information systems. This is also a field that values technical skills, so people who have degrees in other areas may be able to snag a computer systems analyst job if they have courses in business systems analysis or related subjects under their belt. Practical experience also helps. "Someone may not think they qualify in this area, but depending on the curriculum taken, that may, in fact, qualify them," says Bieg.
Whether you're pursuing a bachelor's or master's degree, Bieg recommends taking courses that specifically pertain to business systems analysis. "[Students] need to learn about business systems analysis in order to determine if this is the type of thing they want to do, and also recognize the opportunities being offered," he says. Think of these classes as a gateway to the profession. "There's this gap that exists where students want to understand how to get into a career [as a computer systems analyst] and corporations want to identify students who want to be in that career ... and there's nobody bringing them together to make that happen," says Bieg.
Advice From Real Computer Systems AnalystsSimilar jobs you might be interested in... A trip to the dentist can be a harrowing experience. The prospect of sharp instruments poking our gums or prodding our teeth can wreak havoc on the psyche. That’s why Dr. Maria Lopez Howell, D.D.S., urges her fellow dentists to stay attuned to patients’ needs and concerns. Howell has worked as a practicing dentist for 29 years and also serves as consumer advisor spokeswoman for the American Dental Association. According to her, this is the best way to gain a patient’s trust: “Always ask them what matters most to them, so you can make their appointments comfortable and less stressful,” she says. “At the end of the day, that’s what we want. We want our patients to be happy.”
You might find a dentist at an outpatient care center or hospital, but you’re most likely to visit one at a private office or clinical setting. Dentists work alongside dental assistants, who help with record-keeping, sterilizing instruments, and teeth-cleaning. And like a dental hygienist, a dentist might also clean teeth and educate patients on proper dental care. Their other duties could also include extracting teeth, fitting dentures, and filling cavities. Some choose to specialize in areas that range from treating serious oral problems and diseases to straightening teeth and performing oral surgery.
The need for professionals to examine our teeth, fill and (in some cases) refill our cavities isn’t fading. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts employment growth of about 21 percent between 2010 and 2020, above the average for all occupations. Work opportunities are especially plentiful for those who work in traditional dentist offices and other health practitioner offices. There should be more than 25,000 new openings in this profession in the next eight years.
According to the BLS, dentists earned $142,740 in 2011, or approximately $68.62 per hour. The best-paid earned more than $187,999, while the lowest-paid earned less than $74,490. Dentists who work in private offices are paid particularly well, but so are those who work alongside other health practitioners. Certain cities also compensate well—specifically, the metro areas of Manchester, N.H., Tyler, Texas, and Rocky Mount, N.C.
See Full Salary DataThose interested in becoming a dentists should start their journey in high school, focusing on courses in chemistry, physics, biology, anatomy, and mathematics. Then, in their junior year of college, they must take and pass the Dental Acceptance Test (DAT). Also while pursing a bachelor’s degree, aspiring dentists should take courses in mathematics, chemistry, and biology. “It’s incredibly helpful to do as well as you can in those requirements when applying to dental school because it’s heavily based in science,” Howell says. Dental students take an eclectic mix of classes like local anesthesia, anatomy, periodontology (study of oral disease and health), and radiology. The training doesn’t stop there: Dentists interested in full-time teaching and research must acquire an additional two to five years of training. And specialty training involves a one- to two-year residency in a program linked to their chosen niche.
Contacting a local dental school can be the first, crucial step in gaining a foothold in dentistry. For those with minimal prior training, taking a job as a dental assistant can also be a good way to break into the profession. “I would go to ADA.org [the American Dental Association’s website],” Howell says. “There’s so much information about what you need to do.” She also suggests visiting a dental school to ask what the requirements are for being accepted. “If you really want to do it, you’ll find a way.”
Advice From Real DentistsSimilar jobs you might be interested in...
