The World At Our Feet

Everyone growing up wanted to be a fireman, policeman, astronaut, ballerina, actor, actress, race car driver and famous singer. Then...we turn 18.

Well hopefully during your last couple years of High School you have been looking at what you wanted to be when you grew up? "Would you like Fries with that Burger" shouldn't have made your list.

These are the top professions that you should be looking at when you start deciding on a career. They present the most job opportunities, growth and solid salaries. They are the most secure and marketable careers.

Education: The noble field of education. Even though salaries aren't where they should be, it is starting to be realized that you must pay your important fields if you want people to work in them.

The National Educational Association says that over the next decade, more than 2 million new teachers will be needed to educate the increasing student populations. Want to pick the state you want to live and work in? Then get a degree in special education, math or science. If you are bilingual, they will hunt you down for a job!

Nursing : According to (Health Affairs) the U.S. nursing shortage is projected to grow to 260,000 registered nurses by 2025. Nursing is one of the best educational investments out there. It requires only an associate degree to get into the field, though a bachelor's will open your doors much more quickly.

According to the NACE (National Association of Colleges and Employers) the average starting salary -- is over $52,000, plus health care and retirement. In addition you can bank on the American government as well health institutions to step up and cover your tuition reimbursement and student-loan forgiveness.

Engineering: Engineers earn an average salary topping $56,000 per year, not including health care, signing bonuses and company-sponsored retirement plans in the areas of computer and project engineering.

Economics:Even though our economy is the worse since the great depression, students who know their way around all sides of a stock market, have the opportunity over other grads of getting a well paying job. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, some of the top 20 fastest growing job opportunities are in this field. It is estimated that financial advisers will grow over 40% over this next decade.

Computer/information science: Computer science grads is the number one fastest growing profession in the country. With starting salaries around $60,000, it is expected to explode as a field over the next decade.

These are the top paying degrees with salaries ranging from $83,000 to $54,000.

1. Petroleum Engineer
2. Chemical Engineer
3. Mining Engineer
4. Computer Engineer
5. Computer Science
6. Electrical Engineer
7. Mechanical Engineer
8. Industrial Engineer
9. Engineer Technology
10. Actuarial Science
11. Aeronautical Engineer
12. Systems Engineer
13. Agricultural Engineer
14. Biomedical Engineer
15. Construction Managment

* From the National Association of College and Employers