Careers to count on
PAY AND PERKS: Average salary, $50,000; nearly 30 percent earn between $50,000 and $100,000. School psychologists take summers off.
TRAINING: Most states require a master's degree and on-the-job training. Others require a Ph.D. in education or psychology. -Anna Mulrine
AUTOMOBILE TECHNICIAN
GREASE MONKEYS ARE GETTING TECHY
Scott Brown, owner of Connie & Dick's Service Center in Claremont, Calif., knows why skilled automobile technicians are hard to find. Inevitably, says Brown, the "nonacademic" kids in high school get pushed into industrial arts, the talent pool for potential mechanics. But the work these days at his garage, Brown says, isn't "industrial arts as much as it is computer science and computer programming." Most major systems in modern autos have an electronic component, so talented technicians tend to be more than just self-taught "car nuts." Nearly 2 of 3 auto mechanics now have an Internet connection at work.
Brown took two months to fill a recent opening for a mechanic at his shop, despite the poor economy. One tip about the job: Some auto technicians find that toiling at an independent shop--with its diverse variety of cars--is more challenging than the comparatively repetitive work at a dealership.
PAY AND PERKS: $25,000 to $30,000 to start; master mechanics at luxury auto shops can earn up to $100,000. Half of employers provide a retirement plan, and three quarters pay all or a portion of health insurance premiums.
TRAINING: Technical school or community college followed by apprenticeship at a shop; most employers look for certification from the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence. -James M. Pethokoukis
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