The term vocational career is not particularly highly looked upon, but you might be surprised at how much a 2 year degree can help you build yourself a very successful career. Vocational careers have become increasingly popular over the past years for a series of reasons: most of them only require completing a two year college course, the pay is often times better than expected, and many more industries are increasing their demand for vocational workers, meaning that there are numerous opportunities for growth.
Following, we would like to present you with a list we have compiled of the top 5 best vocational careers. We used several indicators in ranking the following careers, from hourly pay and course requirements to growth opportunities and industry demand.
4 out of our top 5 best vocational careers are in the health care industry. This is no surprise, as this sector has been booming for the past 2 years and it will continue to grow exponentially until 2020, according to the US Bureau of Labor. But the good news is that it’s not only doctors who can make good money in medicine, as there are quite a few vocational careers with decent salaries. The biggest bread makers are dental hygienists. They emerged as number one in our countdown not only because of the higher salaries, but also due to the increasingly higher demand for such professionals. In addition, this career holds numerous job opportunities, from working in pediatric offices to family dentistry. There are several ways of obtaining your certification as a dental hygienist, but all options take two years for completion.
The only non-medical vocational career in our countdown is represented by auditing, accounting, and bookkeeping clerks. These professionals require an Associate’s degree in either business or accounting, and can make anywhere between $12.31 and $17.40 according to national averages. Numerous employment opportunities exist for vocational workers in this field, from tax services and real estate to construction and auto dealerships.
Looking for career opportunities? Check the list we have compiled for you; you never know what might spark up your interest. Let’s take a look at the countdown.
No. 5: Medical Assistants
Hourly salary rates (national average): $11.04 – $14.52
Course options: Associate’s degree of Applied Science, Associate’s degree of Science, Medical Assistant Certificate, or Certificate of Completion of a Medical Assistant program
Top industries to work in: family medicine, medical offices, health care, health clinics, internal medicine services
No. 4: Auditing, Accounting, or Bookkeeping Clerks
Hourly salary rates (national average): $12.31 – $17.40
Course options: Associate’s degree in Accounting or Business or Business
Top industries to work in: accounting, auditing, and tax services; real estate property management; construction; manufacturing and distribution; auto dealerships
No. 3: Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) or Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN)
Hourly salary rates (national average): $16.23 – $21.62
Course options: LVN or LPN certification program, nursing diploma, Associate’s degree in Nursing, or Vocational certification in nursing
Top industries to work in: health care, long term care or rehabilitation, hospital settings, home health care, nursing homes
No. 2: Medical Sonographer
Hourly salary rates (national average): $22.52 – $31.96
Course options: Associate’s degree of Science or Associate’s degree of Applied Science
Top industries to work in: health care, hospital settings, obstetrics and gynecology, diagnostic imaging, ambulatory medical services
No. 1: Dental Hygienist
Hourly salary rates (national average): $24.68 – $36.09
Course options: Associate’s degree in science, degree in Dental Hygiene, Associate’s degree in Applied Science, dental hygienist certification program
Top industries to work in: family dentistry, dental prosthetic services, health care, pediatric offices, and health clinics
