10 jobs that pay $40,000

 

Got a specific salary in mind? These 10 jobs will fit the $40,000 bill.

In a perfect world, we'd all earn more money than we'd know what to do with. But, in such tough economic times, we have to be realistic. The truth is, while earning an abundance of money would be ideal, those earning the average national income or even slightly above it should consider themselves lucky.

It's hard to feel lucky, however, when the national mean average salary is $42,504 per year, according to the National Compensation Survey. That might not seem like much, but these days, it's more than enough -- or at least it has to be.

That's why we've compiled a list of jobs that pay around the average, in the $40,000 range. If you can't find a job earning enough to keep you comfortable for the rest of your life, at least you might find something to keep you comfortable for the time being.

Here are 10 jobs in various trades that earn around or more than the national average, and the industries with the highest levels of employment for each profession -- aka, the places with the most jobs.*

1.Graphic designers design or create graphic layouts for books, magazines, newspapers, Web sites and other commercial or promotional needs.**
Qualifications:A bachelor's or an associate degree
Industries with most job openings:Specialized design services; newspaper, book, periodical and directory publishers; advertising.
Salary:$40,000/year*

2.Precision instrument and equipment repairers fix and maintain watches, cameras, musical instruments, medical equipment and other precision instruments.
Qualifications:A high school diploma; in some cases post-secondary education.
Industries with most job openings:Professional and commercial equipmentand supplies merchant wholesalers; electronic and precision equipment repair and maintenance; electronics and appliance stores.
Salary:$41,498/year

3.Medical and public-health social workersoffer patients and families psychosocial support to help cope with chronic, acute or terminal illnesses. They can also suggest caregivers, and counsel and educate the patient on his or her illness.
Qualifications: A bachelor's degree, sometimes an advanced degree; state license. 
Industries with most job openings:General medical and surgical hospitals, individual and family services, home health-care services. 
Salary:$43,056/year

4.Kindergarten teachers(except special education)teach young children basic science, music, art and literature, and encourage physical, mental and social development.
Qualifications:A bachelor's degree from a teacher education program and a state teaching license.
Industries with most job openings: Elementary and secondary schools; child day-care services; individual and family services.
Salary:$43,394/year

5.Plumbers,pipefittersandsteamfittersput together, install and fix pipelines or pipe systems that carry water, steam, air and other liquids or gases.
Qualifications:Training in career and technical schools and community colleges, apprenticeships and on-the-job training.
Industries with most job openings:Building equipment contractors; nonresidential building construction; utility system construction.
Salary:$44,866/year

6.Dietitiansandnutritionistsplan diet requirements and determine nutritional needs for clients; manage meal programs and oversee meal preparation.
Qualifications: A bachelor's degree and state license, certification or registration.
Industries with most job openings:General medical and surgical hospitals; nursing-care facilities; outpatient care centers.
Salary:$45,001/year

7.Reportersand correspondentsreport and convey facts about newsworthy events to an audience via newspaper, magazine, radio, television or Internet.
Qualifications:A bachelor's degree in journalism or mass communications is preferred, but some other majors are OK; internships are preferred.
Industries with most job openings:Newspaper, periodical, book and directory publishers; radio and television broadcasting; other information services. 
Salary:$45,115/year

8.Bailiffsmaintain the order and security in a courtroom and escort jury members outside the courtroom to prohibit interaction with the public.
Qualifications:They vary by employer, but most require a high school diploma or equivalent, and some also require some college education or full-time work experience.
Industries with most job openings:Local government.
Salary:$47,502/year

9.Respiratory therapistsadminister respiratory care and life support to patients with breathing problems and other cardiopulmonary disorders, under the supervision of a physician.
Qualifications:An associate degree is the minimum educational requirement, but a bachelor's or master's degree may be important for advancement; state license.
Industries with most job openings:General medical and surgical hospitals; specialty hospitals (except mental or substance abuse); nursing-care facilities.
Salary:$48,033/year

10.Architecturalandcivil draftersprepare detailed drawings of architectural and structural features of buildings used in civil engineering projects like highways, bridges and public works. 
Qualifications:Employers prefer applicants who have completed post-secondary school training in drafting, which is offered by technical institutes, community colleges and some four-year colleges and universities.
Industries with most job openings:Architectural, engineering and related

15 jobs that pay $30 an hour

 

Here’s a fact about 30 that will surely get your attention. The following 15 jobs pay around $30 an hour.

Want to know some interesting facts about the number 30?

• There are 30 upright stones forming Stonehenge's sarsen circle.
• There are 30 tracks on the Beatles' White Album.
• A U.S. senator must be 30 years or older in order to serve in the position.

You may also find these facts interesting, the following 15 jobs pay around $30 an hour:

1. Occupational therapy assistants help patients develop, recover, improve, as well as maintain the skills needed for daily living and working.

• Typical entry level education: Associate’s degree
• Average hourly earnings: $28.59

2. Respiratory therapists care for patients who have trouble breathing—for example, from a chronic respiratory disease, such as asthma or emphysema.

• Typical entry level education: Associate’s degree
• Average hourly earnings: $29.72

3. Hearing aid specialists select and fit hearing aids for customers, administer and interpret hearing tests, assess hearing instrument efficacy, take ear impressions and prepare, design and modify ear molds.

• Typical entry level education: High school diploma or equivalent
• Average hourly earnings: $28.33

4. Fundraisers organize events and campaigns to raise money and other kinds of donations for an organization. They also may design promotional materials and increase awareness of an organization’s work, goals, and financial needs.

• Typical entry level education: Bachelor’s degree
• Average hourly earnings: $29.27

5. Forensic science technicians aid criminal investigations by collecting and analyzing evidence. Many technicians specialize in various types of laboratory analysis.

• Typical entry level education: Bachelor’s degree
• Average hourly earnings: $29.46

6. Health educators teach people about behaviors that promote wellness. They develop and implement strategies to improve the health of individuals and communities.

• Typical entry level education: Bachelor’s degree
• Average hourly earnings: $28.44

7. Dietitians and nutritionists are experts in the use of food and nutrition to promote health and manage disease. They advise people on what to eat in order to lead a healthy lifestyle or achieve a specific health-related goal.

• Typical entry level education: Bachelor’s degree
• Average hourly earnings: $29.36

8. Radiologic technologists perform diagnostic imaging examinations, such as x rays, on patients. MRI technologists operate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners to create diagnostic images.

• Typical entry level education: Associate’s degree
• Average hourly earnings: $29.21

9. Training and development specialists help plan, conduct, and administer programs that train employees and improve their skills and knowledge.

• Typical entry level education: Bachelor’s degree
• Average hourly earnings: $31.11

10. Boilermakers assemble, install, maintain, and repair boilers, closed vats, and other large vessels or containers that hold liquids and gases.

• Typical entry level education: High school diploma or equivalent
• Average hourly earnings: $30.30

11. Makeup artists, theatrical and performance apply makeup to performers to reflect period, setting, and situation of their role.

• Typical entry level education: Postsecondary non-degree award
• Average hourly earnings: $31.21

12. Surveyors make precise measurements to determine property boundaries. They provide data relevant to the shape and contour of the Earth’s surface for engineering, mapmaking, and construction projects.

• Typical entry level education: Bachelor’s degree
• Average hourly earnings: $31.17

13. Geological and petroleum techniciansprovide support to scientists and engineers in exploring and extracting natural resources, such as minerals, oil, and natural gas.

• Typical entry level education: Associate’s degree
• Average hourly earnings: $30.50

14. Construction and building inspectors ensure that construction meets local and national building codes and ordinances, zoning regulations, and contract specifications.

• Typical entry level education: High school diploma or equivalent
• Average hourly earnings: $29.23

15. Multimedia artists and animators create animation and visual effects for television, movies, video games, and other forms of media.

• Typical entry level education: Bachelor’s degree
• Average hourly earnings: $28.27

*Job descriptions from Bureau of Labor Statistics.

When – and how – to bring up salary during an interview

 

Should you even bring up the topic of salary at all or wait for the employer to take the lead? And if you do raise the subject, how and when should you do it?

Some topics are just awkward to bring up in a conversation – like a messy breakup or whether those lips are real or enhanced.

Another awkward subject? Discussing salary during an interview. You don't want to come across as money hungry, but you also don't want to be blindsided by a less-than-desirable offer.

So, do you even bring it up at all or wait for the employer to take the lead? And if you do raise the subject, how and when should you do it?

While every situation is different, and the answer may vary slightly depending on your circumstances (the type of company, the level you're at, etc.), here are some general rules.

Time it right
The problem with bringing up the salary topic too early in the hiring process is that it can take the focus away from the case you're trying to build for why you should be hired.

"The goal in an interview is to convince the company that you are the best person for the job," says Susan Peppercorn, a Boston-based career coach and CEO of career coaching firm Positive Workplace Partners. "By bringing up salary before this happens, the job seeker runs the risk of making money the focal point of the conversation rather than their fit for the job."

That's why most career experts will tell you to wait until you have an offer, or at least have strong signs of an offer, before broaching the subject. To that end, Peppercorn says that not until you hear questions like "When are you ready to start?" or "Can you provide references?" is it appropriate to ask about money.

"The best way to ask the question is to say something like, 'I'm very interested and excited about the opening in your company, and I'm sure that I will be able to meet your marketing challenges. Can you explain the compensation for this position?'" Peppercorn says.

Let the employer do the asking
If you're unsure about when or how to ask about money, it's often best to let the employer take the lead. However, as Certified Career Coach Cheryl Palmer points out, this doesn't mean that you should be totally passive on the topic.

"The job hunter needs to be prepared for the conversation about salary because the employer may bring it up before actually making the offer," Palmer says. "It is fairly common for recruiters to call candidates for a phone screen and ask them what their salary requirements are. This is a way of screening out candidates whose requirements are not in line with what the company is willing to pay."

Even before a phone screener, you'll likely get a question or two on the job application about your current salary and desired range. So, the employer will already know whether or not you're in their ballpark going into the interview.

Have a range in mind
When the topic does arise, answer questions about desired salary by providing a range. That way, you don't back yourself into a corner by throwing out a specific number that's either too high for them to consider or lower than what they had in mind. You can determine that range by doing research on average pay for the occupation via sites such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics or Salaries by CareerBuilder.

Know your worth
Regardless of who brings up salary, or when it happens, you should know what you're worth so you can be prepared to defend your desired salary going into negotiations. "Understanding your value will help you enter negotiations with a realistic outlook," says Frank Gentile, a director at Professional Staffing Group.

Another way to prove your value without even bringing up salary is to monetize your skills when discussing them during your interview. "Where it's appropriate, frame your work in terms that show real monetary value," Gentile suggests. "For example, customer support skills can be framed in terms of how much time or money was saved by resolving issues faster."

So, the next time you're struggling with the salary conversation, avoid a situation like these awkward interviews, and come prepared, time it right and take cues from the employer.