Top 25 Jobs for 2006

Kate Lorenz, CareerBuilder.com Editor

What's in store for the millions of professionals -- new and old -- who will be putting on their job searching hats in 2006? Will unemployment rates remain around the current 5 percent range? Will employment numbers continue to trend upward, as they did for most of 2005?

Many sources note the job market landscape will continue to improve in a number of areas. Coming in at No. 1 is retail salesperson -- which is projected to increase by 736,000 jobs from now through 2014, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

These 25 occupations account for 8 million new jobs and about 40 percent of total job growth over the next decade. They are from a broad range of industries requiring varying degrees of training and salaries. Here are the top 25 jobs for 2006, as reported by the BLS:

1. Retail Salesperson
What it pays: $22,880
Minimum training needed: Short-term on-the-job training
New jobs by 2014: 736,000

2. Registered Nurse
What it pays: $55,680
Minimum training needed: Associate degree
New jobs by 2014: 703,000

3. Postsecondary Teacher
What it pays: $62,032
Minimum training needed: Doctoral degree
New jobs by 2014: 524,000

4. Customer Service Rep
What it pays: $29,350
Minimum training needed: Moderate-term on-the-job training
New jobs by 2014: 471,000

5. Janitor or Cleaner (except maids and housekeeping cleaners)
What it pays: $20,800
Minimum training needed: Short-term on-the-job training
New jobs by 2014: 440,000

6. Waiter/Waitress
What it pays: $15,980
Minimum training needed: Short-term on-the-job training
New jobs by 2014: 376,000

7. Combination Food Preparation and Serving Worker
What it pays: $17,850
Minimum training needed: Short-term on-the-job training
New jobs by 2014: 367,000

8. Home Health Aide
What it pays: $19,200
Minimum training needed: Short-term on-the-job training
New jobs by 2014: 350,000

9. Nursing Aid, Orderly, Attendant
What it pays: $21,890
Minimum training needed: Postsecondary vocational award
New jobs by 2014: 325,000

10. General and Operations Manager
What it pays: $93,580
Minimum training needed: Bachelor's degree plus work
New jobs by 2014: 308,000

11. Personal and Home Care Aide
What it pays: $17,560
Minimum training needed: Short-term on-the-job training
New jobs by 2014: 287,000

12. Elementary School Teacher
What it pays: $46,350
Minimum training needed: Bachelor's degree
New jobs by 2014: 265,000

13. Accountant and Auditor
What it pays: $57,160
Minimum training needed: Bachelor's degree
New jobs by 2014: 264,000

14. Office Clerk
What it pays: $24,440
Minimum training needed: Short-term on-the-job training
New jobs by 2014: 263,000

15. Hand Laborer and freight, stock and material mover
What it pays: $22,190
Minimum training needed: Short-term on-the-job training
New jobs by 2014: 248,000

16. Receptionist and Information Clerk
What it pays: $22,900
Minimum training needed: Short-term on-the-job training
New jobs by 2014: 246,000

17. Landscaping and Groundskeeping Worker
What it pays: $22,260
Minimum training needed: Short-term on-the-job training
New jobs by 2014: 230,000

18. Truck Driver, Heavy and Tractor Trailer
What it pays: $34,920
Minimum training needed: Moderate-term on-the-job training
New jobs by 2014: 223,000

19. Computer Applications Software Engineer
What it pays: $78,570
Minimum training needed: Bachelor's degree
New jobs by 2014: 222,000

20. Maintenance and Repair Worker
What it pays: $32,290
Minimum training needed: Moderate-term on-the-job training
New jobs by 2014: 202,000

21. Medical Assistant
What it pays: $25,860
Minimum training needed: Moderate-term on-the-job training
New jobs by 2014: 202,000

22. Executive Secretary and Administrative Assistant
What it pays: $37,350
Minimum training needed: Moderate-term on-the-job training
New jobs by 2014: 192,000

23. Sales Representative, Wholesale and Manufacturing
What it pays: $54,500
Minimum training needed: Moderate-term on-the-job training
New jobs by 2014: 187,000

24. Carpenter
What it pays: $38,250
Minimum training needed: Long-term on-the-job training
New jobs by 2014: 186,000

25. Teacher Assistant
What it pays: $20,750
Minimum training needed: Short-term on-the-job training
New jobs by 2014: 183,000

*All earnings are averages from November 2005 BLS information


Kate Lorenz is the article and advice editor for CareerBuilder.com. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues.