While furthering your education can have a positive effect on your paycheck, you don’t have to put yourself through 4 years or more of higher education in order to bring home a decent salary. Following, we would like to present you with a list we have compiled of the top 8 best vocational careers, ranked according to their median annual salary. The median salary refers to the amount at which half the people in the respective workforce earn more and half earn less. The figures used in the making of the countdown were taken from the statistics issued earlier this year by the US Bureau of Labor.
Most of the jobs listed in our countdown only require an Associate’s degree (2 years of study) or a degree from a technical school. Curious to see which the highest paid vocational jobs are? Let’s take a look at the countdown.
No. 8: Electrical and Electronics Repairman
Median annual salary: $57,400
Required education: training at a vocational or technical school or an Associate’s degree
Job description: Electrical and electronics repairmen are in charge with maintaining and repairing electrical equipment used by household or companies.
No. 7: Commercial Pilot
Median annual salary: $57,700
Required education: training completed at an FAA certified flying school with or without an Associate’s degree
Job description: It takes a lot of hard work and training to become a commercial pilot, but the paycheck and benefits are certainly worth it. Commercial pilots are in charge with piloting aircrafts destined for transporting passengers or cargo.
No. 6: Nuclear Medicine Technologist
Median annual salary: $62,300
Required education: a certificate or Associate’s degree in nuclear medicine
Job description: Nuclear medicine technologist work alongside radiologists or physicians and they handle, prepare, or administer a variety of radioactive materials.
No. 5: Fashion Designer
Median annual salary: $62,600
Required education: training with a specialized school or an Associate’s degree
Job description: Fashion designers can either work alongside experts in the field or venture into the world of fashion on their own. The only job task at hand is creating original clothing and accessories.
No. 4: Dental Hygienist
Median annual salary: $62,800
Required education: completing a dental hygiene program or an Associate’s degree
Job description: Dental hygienists work alongside dentists. They perform X-rays and dental exams, but they also conduct certain preventive treatments, such as fluoride treatments or teeth cleaning. In addition, a dental hygienist is also usually in charge with education patients on oral hygiene.
No. 3: Nuclear Technician
Median annual salary: $65,500
Required education: Associate’s degree in applied sciences
Job description: Nuclear technicians are required to manage and operate equipment used for various tests and researches in the nuclear field. In addition, they often assist nuclear engineers or physicists with their work. Sometimes, their job responsibilities involve measuring radiation levels.
No. 2: Radiation Therapist
Median annual salary: $66,200
Required education: undergoing a certification program or an Associate’s degree in radiation therapy
Job description: A radiation therapist is in charge with conducting treatments prescribed by oncologist or radiologist, usually for patients with cancer. Apart from administering the treatment, a radiation therapist is also required to prepare radiation doses and handle medical equipment.
No. 1: Computer Specialist
Median annual salary: $68,570
Required education: specialized training at a technical school or an Associate’s degree
Job description: Computer specialists manage computer hardware, software, and systems. Their exact job description varies from one company to another and may entail anything from technical support and Web design to managing network security or computer databases.
