Fastest-Growing Jobs That Do Not Require A College Degree in 2011

While times are still hard and employment is still low, college may be out of the picture for many people. Just because you do not have a college degree doesn't mean you don't deserve a high-paying job... If you are not planning to attend college but still want a good career, this article is perfect for you!! 

Home Health Aide

Current Employment (2010): 464,849

Expected Growth (2018): 1,382,495

Percentage of Growth (2010-2018): +47%

Salary (2010) $10.18

Tasks

- Provide health care services in the homes of the elderly or people with long-term illnesses or disabilities.

- Cook, give clients baths and massages, change bandages if needed, etc.

- Help clients to dress, exercise, get in and out of bed, etc.

- Maybe some light laundry, cleaning, or other household chores.

- Grocery and other shopping for their clients.

Education

- High school diploma or G.E.D. and short-term on-the-job training.

Personal Care Aide

Current Employment (2010): 821,173

Expected Growth (2018): 1,193,184

Percentage of Growth (2010-2018): +43%

Salary (2010) $10.73

Tasks

- Perform health-care related tasks, such as medication and monitoring vital signs.

- Administer bedside and personal care.

- Perform housekeeping duties, such as cooking, cleaning, washing clothes, etc.

- Instruct and advise clients on issues such as household cleanliness, utilities, hygiene, nutrition, etc.

- Transport clients to locations outside the home, such as to physicians' offices.

Education

- High school diploma and short-term on-the-job training

Physical Therapist Aide

Current Employment (2010): 48,391

Expected Growth (2018): 63,816

Percentage of Growth (2010-2018): +34%

Salary (2010) $10.88

Tasks

- Clean and organize work area and disinfect equipment after treatment.

- Instruct, motivate, safeguard and assist patients practicing exercises and functional activities, under direction of medical staff.

- Transport patients to and from treatment areas, using wheelchairs or providing standing support.

- Secure patients into or onto therapy equipment.

- Administer active and passive manual therapeutic exercises, therapeutic massage, and various types of treatments.

- Assist patients to dress, undress, and put on and remove supportive devices, such as braces, splints, and slings.

- Train patients to use orthopedic braces, prostheses and supportive devices.

Education

- High school diploma and short-term on-the-job training

Dental Assistant

Current Employment (2010): 298,274

Expected Growth (2018): 401,683

Percentage of Growth (2010-2018): +33%

Salary (2010) $15.92

Tasks

- Schedule appointments, keep records, receive payments from patients, order supplies, etc.

- Locate patients’ medical records for the dentist's use.

- Prepare patients for the dentist's examination.

- Operate the suction hose to keep the patient's mouth dry.

- Operate X-ray machines, develop X-rays, make impressions of a patients' mouth or teeth, sterilize instruments, etc.

Education

- High school diploma and reasonable amount of on-the-job training

Medical Assistant

Current Employment (2010): 485,651

Expected Growth (2018): 648,257

Percentage of Growth (2010-2018): +32%

Salary (2010) $12.67

Tasks

- Perform administrative duties and handling basic clinical tasks.

- Handle medical records, bookkeeping, and answering phones.

- Check the height, weight, temperature, and blood pressure of each patient.

- Write down patients' medical histories and run simple laboratory tests.
- Give injections, apply bandages, and take X-rays.

Education

- High school diploma and reasonable amount of on-the-job training.

Pharmacy Technician

Current Employment (2010): 327,839

Expected Growth (2018): 426,673

Percentage of Growth (2010-2018): +29%

Salary (2010) $10.93

Tasks

- Receive and fill prescription requests (from nurses, hospitals, and patients).

- Prepare, price, and file prescriptions for the pharmacist to check.

- Prepare insurance claim forms.

- Answer phones.

- Maintain inventory for over the counter medication.

- Maintain patient profiles.

- Handle money/cashier duties.

Education

- High school diploma, work-related experience, and reasonable amount of on-the-job training

Construction Laborer

Current Employment (2010): 1,385,238

Expected Growth (2018): 1,505,128

Percentage of Growth (2010-2018): +20%

Salary (2010) $14.28

Tasks

- Load and unload equipment, put up and take down scaffoldings, clear work areas, and carry materials to other workers, etc.

- Assist bricklayers and plasterers by mixing materials and setting up scaffolding.
- Set up forms into which concrete is poured, and spread and spade the concrete.

- Perform any and every small to medium size job on the work site.

Education

- Reasonable amount of on-the-job training, high school diploma is not required.