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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2009
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10

America's Most Promising Jobs

Systems engineer rated best job, based on pay, growth, quality of life

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(Newser) – Jobs like beer taster and video game tester are nowhere to be seen on CNNMoney's list of the 50 best jobs in America, ranked by pay, job growth, and quality of life. Systems engineer was rated the best overall job, while anesthesiologist—with a median pay of $292,000—topped the high pay list. Telecommunications network engineers can expect the greatest job growth over the next decade, while education/training consultants were judged to have the best quality of life.

Also in the top 5:

  • Physician assistant—These "MD lites" get the job satisfaction that comes with treating patients, minus the paperwork hassles
  • College professor—The starting pay is pretty low, but the freedom is almost unrivaled and there are usually positions available, even during recessions.
  • Nurse practitioner—The growth in clinics and a shortage of doctors means many opportunities for nurse practitioners, who can diagnose and treat many ailments as well as performing nursing tasks.
  • IT project manager—"Just about all companies need tech-savvy people who are great managers," says one Houston recruiter, and the best often become chief technology officers, where salaries can hit  $300,000.
. Click the link below for the full list.

A system engineer checks screens showing a gas pipeline system.
A system engineer checks screens showing a gas pipeline system.   (AP Photo/Bela Szandelszky)
Sequence system engineer Maria Schellpfeffer looks at a landing orientation monitor at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif.
Sequence system engineer Maria Schellpfeffer looks at a landing orientation monitor at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif.   (AP Photo/Lawrence K. Ho/Pool)
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Demand is soaring for systems engineers, as what was once a niche job in the aerospace and defense industries becomes commonplace among a diverse and expanding universe of employers. - CNNMoney

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10 comments
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divetrader
Oct 11, 09 9:00 AM CDT
Now all we need is free education so people can get trained to do these jobs. Reply
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+2
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piyrwq
Oct 11, 09 10:05 AM CDT
Hell, yeah!
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+1
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Sayyiduna
Oct 11, 09 11:19 AM CDT
I'm all for it as long as there isn't a precipitous drop in quality thereof.
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+3
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Unaffiliated
Oct 11, 09 11:47 AM CDT
I hate to sound like a Republican on this, but nothing comes for free. It costs money to operate schools and pay the salaries for teachers and support staff.
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Fondue
Oct 11, 09 12:34 PM CDT
Unaffiliated, understood. It's more about where you want your tax dollars to go. The highest funded military in the world, or education and health for the nation? We will spend $663+ Billion in 2010 on the military, more than twice the EU total. China....a mere $70.3 billion. Iran....a minuscule $6.3 billion in 2005.
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+3
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