Careers for Mid-Career Job Changers and Seniors

Welcome to the career and education section of Workforce50.com. Many boomers and seniors reach a time when they consider a career or job change. The reasons people pursue a change at this time in life are numerous and often personal. Our 50+ readers who are thinking about job transition can use the career data and education links here to assist their searches.

Browse the occupation data by general field of interest or specific job title, average salary in the U.S., and the forecasted growth rate of the job.

Careers listed here may be appropriate for those seeking a job change. Click a career name to view our job data for that occupation in major metropolitan areas across the U.S..

Allied Health Careers

Career	Typical Salary 2017	Number of Jobs	10-Year Growth Forecast	Entry Level Education
Cardiovascular Techs	$55,570	55,000	10%	Associate's
Dental Assistants	$36,940	332,000	20%	PS Non Degree
Dental Hygienists	$72,910	208,000	20%	Associate's
Dental Laboratory Technicians	$37,680	38,100	15%	HS Diploma
Dietitians And Nutritionists	$58,920	68,000	14%	Bachelor's
Home Health Aides	$22,600	912,000	47%	HS Diploma
Medical Assistants	$31,540	634,000	29%	PS Non Degree
Medical Lab Technicians	$38,950	164,000	14%	Associate's
Medical Lab Technologists	$61,070	171,000	12%	Bachelor's
Pharmacy Aides	$25,240	37,000	-5%	HS Diploma
Pharmacy Technicians	$30,920	403,000	12%	HS Diploma
Radiation Therapists	$80,160	19,000	12%	Associate's
Radiologic Tech	$57,450	205,000	12%	Associate's
Respiratory Therapists	$58,670	130,000	23%	Associate's
Respiratory Therapy Technicians	$49,780	11,000	-56%	Associate's
Sonographers	$69,650	67,000	23%	Associate's
Surgical Technologists	$45,160	108,000	12%	PS Non Degree

Arts And Entertainment

Career	Typical Salary 2017	Number of Jobs	10-Year Growth Forecast	Entry Level Education
Camera Operators	$53,550	25,100	7%	Bachelor's
Film And Video Editors	$61,180	34200	17%	Bachelor's
Multimedia Artists	$70,530	73,700	8.4%	Bachelor's
Photographers	$32,490	147,300	-5.6%	HS Diploma

Business

Career	Typical Salary 2017	Number of Jobs	10-Year Growth Forecast	Entry Level Education
Accountants And Auditors	$69,350	1,397,700	10%	Bachelor's
Bookkeeping And Accounting Clerks	$39,240	1,730,500	-1.5%	Some College
Budget Analysts	$75,240	58,400	6.5%	Bachelor's
Credit Analysts	$71,290	73,800	8.4%	Bachelor's
Health Services Managers	$98,350	352,200	20.5%	Bachelor's
Human Resources Managers	$110,120	136,100	12.3%	Bachelor's

Community And Social Services

Career	Typical Salary 2017	Number of Jobs	10-Year Growth Forecast	Entry Level Education
Clergy	$47,100	243,900	19.9%	Bachelor's
Human Service Assistants	$33,120	389,800	63.9%	HS Diploma
Mental Health Counselors	$37,690	157,700	23.1%	Master's

Culinary

Career	Typical Salary 2017	Number of Jobs	10-Year Growth Forecast	Entry Level Education
Bakers	$25,690	191,000	7.6%	N/A
Chefs	$45,950	146,500	9.6%	HS Diploma
Restaurant Cooks	$25,180	1,231,900	11%	N/A
Short Order Cooks	$22,740	185,900	-3.3%	N/A

Design

Career	Typical Salary 2017	Number of Jobs	10-Year Growth Forecast	Entry Level Education
Fashion Designers	$67,420	23,800	2.6%	Bachelor's
Floral Designers	$26,350	55,000	-6.4%	HS Diploma
Graphic Designers	$48,700	266,300	4.2%	Bachelor's
Interior Designers	$51,500	66,500	4.4%	Bachelor's
Merchandise Displayers	$27,680	141,400	3.2%	HS Diploma

Education

Career	Typical Salary 2017	Number of Jobs	10-Year Growth Forecast	Entry Level Education
Elementary And Secondary School Administrators	$94,390	251,300	7.9%	Master's
Elementary School Teachers	$57,160	1,410,900	7.4%	Bachelor's
Middle School Special Education Teachers	$59,510	89,300	7.1%	Bachelor's
Middle School Teachers	$57,720	630,300	7.5%	Bachelor's
Middle School Vocational Teachers	$58,630	12,700	7.3%	Bachelor's
Postsecondary Administrators	$92,360	180,100	10.1%	Master's
Preschool Teachers	$28,990	478,500	10.5%	Associate's
Secondary School Special Education Teachers	$60,180	131,900	7.4%	Bachelor's
Secondary School Teachers	$59,170	1,018,700	7.5%	Bachelor's
Secondary School Vocational Teachers	$58,660	78,700	6.4%	Bachelor's
Teacher Assistants	$26,260	1,308,100	8.4%	Some college

Hospitality And Travel

Career	Typical Salary 2017	Number of Jobs	10-Year Growth Forecast	Entry Level Education
Lodging Managers	$51,800	47,800	4%	HS Diploma
Travel Agents	$36,990	81,700	-11.7%	HS Diploma

Installation And Repair

Career	Typical Salary 2017	Number of Jobs	10-Year Growth Forecast	Entry Level Education
HVAC Mechanics And Installers	$47,800	332,900	14.7%	PS non degree
Home Appliance Repairers	$38,160	46,600	-4.2%	HS Diploma
Industrial Electrical Repair	$57,190	68,300	2.4%	PS non degree
Locksmiths and Safe Repairers	$40,680	28,700	-3.3%	HS Diploma

Legal

Career	Typical Salary 2017	Number of Jobs	10-Year Growth Forecast	Entry Level Education
Court Reporters	$55,120	19,600	3.4%	PS non degree
Legal Secretaries	$44,730	194,700	-19.1%	HS Diploma
Paralegals And Legal Assistants	$50,410	285,600	14.6%	Associate's

Massage And Physical Therapy

Career	Typical Salary 2017	Number of Jobs	10-Year Growth Forecast	Entry Level Education
Massage Therapists	$39,990	160,300	26.3%	PS non degree
Physical Therapist Aides	$25,730	52,000	29.4%	HS Diploma
Physical Therapist Assistants	$57,430	88,300	31%	Associate's
Physical Therapists	$86,850	239,800	28%	Doctoral/Prof

Mechanic

Career	Typical Salary 2017	Number of Jobs	10-Year Growth Forecast	Entry Level Education
Aircraft Mechanics	$61,020	132,000	4.9%	PS non degree
Automotive Body Repairers	$41,970	160,400	8.5%	HS Diploma
Automotive Mechanics	$39,550	749,900	6.1%	PS non degree
Bus And Truck Mechanics	$46,360	278,800	9.2%	HS Diploma
Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics	$50,860	127,400	8.3%	HS Diploma
Motorboat Mechanics	$38,960	23,400	-.5%	HS Diploma
Motorcycle Mechanics	$35,680	18,300	.3%	PS non degree
Small Engine Mechanics	$34,370	37,600	10.3%	HS Diploma

Medical Office

Career	Typical Salary 2017	Number of Jobs	10-Year Growth Forecast	Entry Level Education
Medical Records And Health Information Technicians	$39,180	206,300	13.5%	PS non degree
Medical Secretaries	$34,610	574,200	22.5%	HS Diploma
Medical Transcriptionists	$35,250	57,400	-3.4%	PS non degree

Nursing

Career	Typical Salary 2017	Number of Jobs	10-Year Growth Forecast	Entry Level Education
Licensed Practical And Licensed Vocational Nurses	$45,030	724,500	12.3%	PS non degree
Nursing Aides And Attendants	$27,520	1,510,300	11.5%	PS non degree
Registered Nurses	$70,000	2,955,200	14.8%	Bachelor's

Office Support

Career	Typical Salary 2017	Number of Jobs	10-Year Growth Forecast	Entry Level Education
Executive Secretaries And Administrative Assistants	$57,410	685,300	-17.4%	HS Diploma
Insurance Claims and Processing Clerks	$38,790	308,500	11.1%	HS Diploma
Office Clerks	$31,500	3,117,700	-1%	HS Diploma
Secretaries	$35,590	2,536,200	-6.5%	HS Diploma

Personal Care

Career	Typical Salary 2017	Number of Jobs	10-Year Growth Forecast	Entry Level Education
Barbers	$25,650	56,400	13.4%	PS non degree
Hairdressers And Cosmetologists	$24,850	617,300	13%	PS non degree
Manicurists And Pedicurists	$23,230	126,300	13.2%	PS non degree

Production

Career	Typical Salary 2017	Number of Jobs	10-Year Growth Forecast	Entry Level Education
Welders	$40,240	404,800	5.6%	HS Diploma
Welding Machine Operators	$37,190	49,200	-10.2%	HS Diploma

Protective Service

Career	Typical Salary 2017	Number of Jobs	10-Year Growth Forecast	Entry Level Education
Correctional Officers And Jailers	$43,540	450,000	-7.7%	HS Diploma
Detectives And Criminal Investigators	$79,970	110,900	4.5%	HS Diploma

Sales

Career	Typical Salary 2017	Number of Jobs	10-Year Growth Forecast	Entry Level Education
Insurance Sales Jobs	$49,710	501,400	9.9%	HS Diploma
Real Estate Brokers	$56,730	95,300	4.9%	HS Diploma
Real Estate Sales Agents	$45,990	369,000	5.8%	HS Diploma

Science

Career	Typical Salary 2017	Number of Jobs	10-Year Growth Forecast	Entry Level Education
Foresters	$60,120	12,300	5%	Bachelor's

Technician

Career	Typical Salary 2017	Number of Jobs	10-Year Growth Forecast	Entry Level Education
Electrical And Electronics Drafters	$59,690	27,400	6.8%	Associate's
Forest And Conservation Technicians	$36,130	33,200	3.8%	Associate's
Mechanical Drafters	$55,130	64,800	5.2%	Associate's
Technical Writers	$70,930	52,400	11%	Bachelor's

Transportation

Career	Typical Salary 2017	Number of Jobs	10-Year Growth Forecast	Entry Level Education
Delivery Truck Drivers	$31,450	953,500	6.5%	HS Diploma

Veterinary

Career	Typical Salary 2017	Number of Jobs	10-Year Growth Forecast	Entry Level Education
Vet Techs	$33,400	71,000	41%	Associate's
Veterinary Assistants And Laboratory Animal Caretakers	$26,140	83,800	19.4%	HS Diploma