Best jobs in America named by CNNMoney.com on clarkhoward.com

The unemployment rate continues to be just plain ugly across the country. The U6 level of unemployment is now at 17 percent.

U6 is a broad-gauge measurement that takes into account those who are involuntarily working part-time because they can't find full-time work and those who have given up looking for work out of sheer frustration.

The New York Times recently ran an article titled $13 an Hour? 500 Sign Up, 1 Wins a Job.

The upshot of the story is that a trucking company in Burns Harbor, Ind., posted an opening for an administrative assistant to do data entry and make photocopies.

Between 300 and 500 applications poured in overnight. The applicants included a a former I.B.M. business analyst with 18 years experience; a former director of human resources; and a master's degree holder with a dozen years on the job at accounting firm Deloitte & Touche.

We've all heard similar horror stories. It's been a brutal time out there in the job market. If you are unemployed, it feels like it will never get better. But don't start having doubts about yourself as a potential hire. There are opportunities right now.

CNNMoney.com reports the Best Jobs in America are the following:

1. Systems engineer

2. Physician assistant

3. College professor

4. Nurse practitioner

5. Information technology project manager

Jobs like these may all require more education on your part. As the economy flexes, you must flex too and obtain new skills, new training, a new trade, different certifications or a new profession.

It is very rare that the job training and skills you enter the workforce with will carry you through an entire lifetime. The typical person now has four distinct careers over a working lifetime. We're not talking about jobs, of which most people have 15; we're talking about four different careers per person!

Clark himself is on his third career. He began as a social worker, then started a travel agency chain and now works in the broadcast industry. So he has one more in front of him. What might that be?

What others are saying

Good education=good job
I still find it amusing how little Americans think of higher education. We need to get past this 50's and 60's ideal that anyone with a high-school education is somehow entitled to a middle-class life.
A higher education isn't important? Hmmm, I wonder why an engineering field is the first on the list? People who think that college isn't important should reconsider next time they cross a bridge, sit on an airplane, go see a doctor, etc.
America's days of having everyone live well from unskilled labor are done, and done by a couple of decades. The developing world can do our unskilled labor at a fraction of the price--get used to it. America has to proceed towards producing higher-end goods and services that the developing world can't provide, and in order to do that we're going to have to become much better educated.
To those, like Another Old Guy, who think that a college education is worthless, try not wasting your time in college on Underwater Basket Weaving. As an example, I have an engineering degree, and am an expert in my field. I was awarded a 15% raise this year because no less than four of our customers offered me a higher-paying job.
Get a degree in something useful, and you will be rewarded. Think globally and think recession proof: Medical services, green technology, energy.
By Lee @ 11/18/09 02:03:03 PMreport abuse
Clark's fourth career.
Run for Congress!Please.
By Robert @ 11/17/09 09:59:30 PMreport abuse
Administrative Assistant
Two recent applications I submitted had 300 and over 500 people applying for ONE job. I am grateful for the temporary jobs I am able to get, even though it is inconsistent and I don't always bring in enough to pay all my expenses. I am just hoping that networking with those folks will land me a job somewhere. This is a different job market than I have ever seen and sometimes it is hard to stay optimistic. I have over 20 years experience. Used to be people thought I was over qualified. Now it seems employers want a college education and someone to wear ALL the hats, including accounting for not a lot of money.
By BJS in Portland OR @ 11/17/09 12:22:03 PMreport abuse
College Professor
As a community college professor, I can vouch that it's a good job (could be better in terms of salary, but the time off and schedule is amazing).

I hope Clark goes into national politics. I'm a lefty-independent, but I trust Clark and would gladly vote for him as a VP or President (I'm not a Georgian, so I can't vote him into Congress or the Senate :) )
By Justin @ 11/17/09 09:46:59 AMreport abuse
Wow
My husband and I BOTH were just laid off in the last week, and I know that we will both have new and higher paying jobs very soon. Success is all about your attitude and that you value what you bring to the table - not making excuses for everything!
By anonymous @ 11/17/09 12:07:48 AMreport abuse
further degrees
It's not self-pity or ignorant to "say that education is over-rated". Over-rated doesn't mean it doesn't have potential value, just that it's not a cure-all for every situation. I thought a JD would be a great investment and provide me with limitless potential. Six years after attending a top school I still have only gotten intermittent work as a temp. Tens of thousands of lawyers are being added every year on top of those just dumped by the major firms.

Taking my student loan payments out of a normal 40 hour week I am making slightly less than when I was a janitor.

Now people are telling me to go back to school for four years to get another degree that will cost tens of thousands more so that MAYBE that field will have openings when I graduate.
People we can't keep borrowing without realizing that the money will have to be payed back eventually.
By Breandan @ 11/16/09 11:24:45 PMreport abuse
Clark's New Career Will Be A:
Pimp with the fur coat, gold rings & felt hat.
By Randall @ 11/16/09 10:11:13 PMreport abuse
Clark's next job....
....will be a minister.
By Steve @ 11/16/09 07:53:48 PMreport abuse
Job Loss' whos problem?
Yes we as a country are in trouble with our job market. But we can only blame ourselves. We elected a government that “we” allowed to overspend and “save” failing companies. In a true free Market without Government intervention this big “cannot afford to fail” companies would have failed and we would have lost 10% of the current job losses. In a free market investment will always prevail and ensure continued and new financial growth. By using taxpayer money you effectively stopped the free market. AIG, GM and the others should have been allowed to fail, where the private sector would jump in (profit is always a great motivator) and these companies (or what would be left of them) would be flourishing. That means the job losses would have been few and quick. Not drawn out and over 10% but a spike to 7-8 % and back down. It is basic Economics 101. You can only blame ourselves.
By Thinking Man @ 11/16/09 01:23:29 PMreport abuse
Clarks 4th Career
Politician; Senate, House or Governorship, Go Clark we Need you!
By BT L @ 11/16/09 01:10:59 PMreport abuse
Salary plays a big part
Being unemployed and applying for probably 30 jobs a week (companies will not see applicants in person, do not even have applications in office, must apply online), I have to be careful what I enter for salary requirements, cannot go too low and cannot afford to work and pay bills, but if go too high, knocked out before even have any chance of an interview. I have seen positions requiring college degrees paying $9.00 an hour! I am more than willing to go back to school, but like others who have posted, cannot afford it. I am on the waiting list for state funded training, but do not even have my initial orientation until January 10, 2010. I wonder if some people who have posted here have been laid off and fully understand what some Americans are going through.
By Maryann @ 11/07/09 01:39:06 PMreport abuse
MBA
So much self pity here...

I am 5 weeks from finishing my MBA and 2 classes before finishing the degree, I switched companies (same field) and increased my pay by 77%.

To say education is over-rated is ignorant.
By Christian @ 11/06/09 09:35:04 AMreport abuse
wow
All I see here on the comment board is a whole lot of whining about how hard it is to do this and that and it's not fair and blah blah blah. No one forced you to work in your current fields, so you have no one to blame but yourself if you are unhappy with the income it produces. Constant change is here to stay.
By nic @ 11/05/09 05:13:15 PMreport abuse
Not realistic
Re-training is fine idea, but as someone else mentioned, these particular jobs are not realistic options for the vast majority of mid-career people. These are not certificate or part time night school classes. They require significant education (or experience) that takes years - at best - full time to obtain.

I've already looked into a few myself. Nurse practitioner or physician's assistant? Takes almost as many years as becoming a doctor, limited universities offer the programs, they are full-time only, and the competition for entry is high. I don't know anyone that can afford to just quit working for several years in midlife while also paying for the school expense itself at $30-40K per year.

Career changes have to make sense by building on on something you already have some experience or training in - things that just require tweaking, not completely starting over.
By Sydney @ 11/05/09 02:30:35 PMreport abuse
It's a Bunch of Bolshevik
I don't see Clark's job on the list. That's his way of keeping the competition away. Don't forget he knows lots of people at CNN.
By Senor Marx @ 11/05/09 02:08:10 PMreport abuse
Sigh
University Nebraska Omaha had an opening for a non-technical professor in one of the liberal arts positions.

With a horde of well-qualified USA citizens clamoring for such an opening I wonder what made the university hire a Canadian citizen?

And for the USA's working-poor in areas where "undocumented entrants" abound the supply/demand equation has been irreperably altered against the citizenry.

I fear few people higher up the socio-economic pyramid truly realize what has and is happening in the USA.
By Obbop @ 11/05/09 12:22:27 PMreport abuse
$60-30 per hour!
This is why the pay rate for this position has DROPPED from an average of $ 60 per hour to below $ 35...do a drug test!
By Unfortunate IT PM
Right you are. I've been a small contractor for all my life. Now 59. I've been able to charge up to $60.00 per hour and during the summer of 2007 started dropping my price and soon found out that even at $40.00 I couldn't land a small contract. (lots of kids will work for $10-20 per hour) However there is no work here in the foothills. Was at the local Mini Mart yesterday at noon and there were no contractor trucks in the large parking lot. Just a cranked out woman, a man with an old dog, and a few people getting gas. Used to be packed at noon and you just waited in line. Gone for now and hope the work returns.
By Mark Hillyard @ 11/05/09 11:42:36 AMreport abuse
Give me a break!
I find it amusing that companies immediately eliminate well-educated applicants. I recall puzzling over all of the rejections after I took an undergrad degree --why, oh WHY would an employer eshew obvious intelligent, hard working individuals, choosing a high-school dropout instead????? I was always under the impression that employers sought out the brightest and best???

I finally stopped listing any college at all on applications and resumes, and was hired on almost immediately.

Whoever tells you that the key to getting a great job is education is full of bologna!!! This validates what I've thought all along: a college degree handicaps those hard-working individuals who just want an even shot at work.
By Another Old Guy @ 11/05/09 08:13:53 AMreport abuse
education and training
So I guess we will need 4 degrees and
over 200,000 in loans to obtain these
degrees. That's right stay in debt and
keep going to school---That's the ticket
to being homeless. We need jobs---not
career training for no jobs.
By Tim @ 11/05/09 12:03:42 AMreport abuse
Misleading Opportunities
Okay, how likely is it for a car salesman to become a physician's assistant? Or for a construction worker or the small business man to become a college professor? It may not be impossible, but reality is that most average people aren't going to find employment in these professions. Jobs for the average person are gone. The college professors I work with all have doctorates. Could a 50 y/o construction worker go back to school and get his Ph.D.? He'd be perhaps 57 or so when he was done. Who would hire him? Best jobs for whom?
By Laura @ 11/04/09 11:58:39 PMreport abuse
Jobs in America
Clark I have been in the auto industry and the housing industry and am in my late 30s so I have 2 more to go from what you have said. I am guesing your next job will be politician. Maybe mayor?
By Dave @ 11/04/09 05:05:55 PMreport abuse
AGREE Not Even Right!
Dh lost his "I.T. Project Manager" position in the last dot.com bust and is now an elementary ed teacher at a third of that salary.
By Arubalisa @ 11/04/09 04:43:45 PMreport abuse
College Professor
With tenure a perk I can see why.
By John Burns @ 11/04/09 04:31:11 PMreport abuse
Not even right
Information Technology Project Manager is #5 ???!??!?!?! Are they crazy - I am in this field now for over 11 years and work with groups of PM's. Right now the industry unemployment is at almost 30% and climbing right now! What is happening is that these jobs are going offshore by HUGE numbers from IBM and HP/EDS and others. Especially now that the corporate taxes, employment taxes and other things are costing more that employers are doing contractors only almost and the #'s are huge for H1B's for these positions whereas someone like me who has two degrees in Project Mgt and Comp Sciences have been on over 100 interviews and can't get a job, I'm not the only one - have been hearing this so much from many others. This is why the pay rate for this position has DROPPED from an average of $ 60 per hour to below $ 35 and just had someone from an Indian contracting firm trying to hire me at $ 24 a hour for a job here on site. Please have the person who wrote this do a drug test!
By Unfortunate IT PM @ 11/04/09 04:19:14 PMreport abuse
Clark's 4th career
I'm thinking: Founder of a school or university. Hmmm: Clark Howard University has a nice ring.
By Andrea Reynolds @ 11/04/09 04:17:19 PMreport abuse

Good education=good job

I still find it amusing how little Americans think of higher education. We need to get past this 50's and 60's ideal that anyone with a high-school education is somehow entitled to a middle-class life.
A higher education isn't important? Hmmm, I wonder why an engineering field is the first on the list? People who think that college isn't important should reconsider next time they cross a bridge, sit on an airplane, go see a doctor, etc.
America's days of having everyone live well from unskilled labor are done, and done by a couple of decades. The developing world can do our unskilled labor at a fraction of the price--get used to it. America has to proceed towards producing higher-end goods and services that the developing world can't provide, and in order to do that we're going to have to become much better educated.
To those, like Another Old Guy, who think that a college education is worthless, try not wasting your time in college on Underwater Basket Weaving. As an example, I have an engineering degree, and am an expert in my field. I was awarded a 15% raise this year because no less than four of our customers offered me a higher-paying job.
Get a degree in something useful, and you will be rewarded. Think globally and think recession proof: Medical services, green technology, energy.

By Lee @ 11/18/09 02:03:03 PMreport abuse

Clark's fourth career.

Run for Congress!Please.

By Robert @ 11/17/09 09:59:30 PMreport abuse

Administrative Assistant

Two recent applications I submitted had 300 and over 500 people applying for ONE job. I am grateful for the temporary jobs I am able to get, even though it is inconsistent and I don't always bring in enough to pay all my expenses. I am just hoping that networking with those folks will land me a job somewhere. This is a different job market than I have ever seen and sometimes it is hard to stay optimistic. I have over 20 years experience. Used to be people thought I was over qualified. Now it seems employers want a college education and someone to wear ALL the hats, including accounting for not a lot of money.

By BJS in Portland OR @ 11/17/09 12:22:03 PMreport abuse

College Professor

As a community college professor, I can vouch that it's a good job (could be better in terms of salary, but the time off and schedule is amazing).

I hope Clark goes into national politics. I'm a lefty-independent, but I trust Clark and would gladly vote for him as a VP or President (I'm not a Georgian, so I can't vote him into Congress or the Senate :) )

By Justin @ 11/17/09 09:46:59 AMreport abuse

Wow

My husband and I BOTH were just laid off in the last week, and I know that we will both have new and higher paying jobs very soon. Success is all about your attitude and that you value what you bring to the table - not making excuses for everything!

By anonymous @ 11/17/09 12:07:48 AMreport abuse

further degrees

It's not self-pity or ignorant to "say that education is over-rated". Over-rated doesn't mean it doesn't have potential value, just that it's not a cure-all for every situation. I thought a JD would be a great investment and provide me with limitless potential. Six years after attending a top school I still have only gotten intermittent work as a temp. Tens of thousands of lawyers are being added every year on top of those just dumped by the major firms.

Taking my student loan payments out of a normal 40 hour week I am making slightly less than when I was a janitor.

Now people are telling me to go back to school for four years to get another degree that will cost tens of thousands more so that MAYBE that field will have openings when I graduate.
People we can't keep borrowing without realizing that the money will have to be payed back eventually.

By Breandan @ 11/16/09 11:24:45 PMreport abuse

Clark's New Career Will Be A:

Pimp with the fur coat, gold rings & felt hat.

By Randall @ 11/16/09 10:11:13 PMreport abuse

Clark's next job....

....will be a minister.

By Steve @ 11/16/09 07:53:48 PMreport abuse

Job Loss' whos problem?

Yes we as a country are in trouble with our job market. But we can only blame ourselves. We elected a government that “we” allowed to overspend and “save” failing companies. In a true free Market without Government intervention this big “cannot afford to fail” companies would have failed and we would have lost 10% of the current job losses. In a free market investment will always prevail and ensure continued and new financial growth. By using taxpayer money you effectively stopped the free market. AIG, GM and the others should have been allowed to fail, where the private sector would jump in (profit is always a great motivator) and these companies (or what would be left of them) would be flourishing. That means the job losses would have been few and quick. Not drawn out and over 10% but a spike to 7-8 % and back down. It is basic Economics 101. You can only blame ourselves.

By Thinking Man @ 11/16/09 01:23:29 PMreport abuse

Clarks 4th Career

Politician; Senate, House or Governorship, Go Clark we Need you!

By BT L @ 11/16/09 01:10:59 PMreport abuse

Salary plays a big part

Being unemployed and applying for probably 30 jobs a week (companies will not see applicants in person, do not even have applications in office, must apply online), I have to be careful what I enter for salary requirements, cannot go too low and cannot afford to work and pay bills, but if go too high, knocked out before even have any chance of an interview. I have seen positions requiring college degrees paying $9.00 an hour! I am more than willing to go back to school, but like others who have posted, cannot afford it. I am on the waiting list for state funded training, but do not even have my initial orientation until January 10, 2010. I wonder if some people who have posted here have been laid off and fully understand what some Americans are going through.

By Maryann @ 11/07/09 01:39:06 PMreport abuse

MBA

So much self pity here...

I am 5 weeks from finishing my MBA and 2 classes before finishing the degree, I switched companies (same field) and increased my pay by 77%.

To say education is over-rated is ignorant.

By Christian @ 11/06/09 09:35:04 AMreport abuse

wow

All I see here on the comment board is a whole lot of whining about how hard it is to do this and that and it's not fair and blah blah blah. No one forced you to work in your current fields, so you have no one to blame but yourself if you are unhappy with the income it produces. Constant change is here to stay.

By nic @ 11/05/09 05:13:15 PMreport abuse

Not realistic

Re-training is fine idea, but as someone else mentioned, these particular jobs are not realistic options for the vast majority of mid-career people. These are not certificate or part time night school classes. They require significant education (or experience) that takes years - at best - full time to obtain.

I've already looked into a few myself. Nurse practitioner or physician's assistant? Takes almost as many years as becoming a doctor, limited universities offer the programs, they are full-time only, and the competition for entry is high. I don't know anyone that can afford to just quit working for several years in midlife while also paying for the school expense itself at $30-40K per year.

Career changes have to make sense by building on on something you already have some experience or training in - things that just require tweaking, not completely starting over.

By Sydney @ 11/05/09 02:30:35 PMreport abuse

It's a Bunch of Bolshevik

I don't see Clark's job on the list. That's his way of keeping the competition away. Don't forget he knows lots of people at CNN.

By Senor Marx @ 11/05/09 02:08:10 PMreport abuse

Sigh

University Nebraska Omaha had an opening for a non-technical professor in one of the liberal arts positions.

With a horde of well-qualified USA citizens clamoring for such an opening I wonder what made the university hire a Canadian citizen?

And for the USA's working-poor in areas where "undocumented entrants" abound the supply/demand equation has been irreperably altered against the citizenry.

I fear few people higher up the socio-economic pyramid truly realize what has and is happening in the USA.

By Obbop @ 11/05/09 12:22:27 PMreport abuse

$60-30 per hour!

This is why the pay rate for this position has DROPPED from an average of $ 60 per hour to below $ 35...do a drug test!
By Unfortunate IT PM
Right you are. I've been a small contractor for all my life. Now 59. I've been able to charge up to $60.00 per hour and during the summer of 2007 started dropping my price and soon found out that even at $40.00 I couldn't land a small contract. (lots of kids will work for $10-20 per hour) However there is no work here in the foothills. Was at the local Mini Mart yesterday at noon and there were no contractor trucks in the large parking lot. Just a cranked out woman, a man with an old dog, and a few people getting gas. Used to be packed at noon and you just waited in line. Gone for now and hope the work returns.

By Mark Hillyard @ 11/05/09 11:42:36 AMreport abuse

Give me a break!

I find it amusing that companies immediately eliminate well-educated applicants. I recall puzzling over all of the rejections after I took an undergrad degree --why, oh WHY would an employer eshew obvious intelligent, hard working individuals, choosing a high-school dropout instead????? I was always under the impression that employers sought out the brightest and best???

I finally stopped listing any college at all on applications and resumes, and was hired on almost immediately.

Whoever tells you that the key to getting a great job is education is full of bologna!!! This validates what I've thought all along: a college degree handicaps those hard-working individuals who just want an even shot at work.

By Another Old Guy @ 11/05/09 08:13:53 AMreport abuse

education and training

So I guess we will need 4 degrees and
over 200,000 in loans to obtain these
degrees. That's right stay in debt and
keep going to school---That's the ticket
to being homeless. We need jobs---not
career training for no jobs.

By Tim @ 11/05/09 12:03:42 AMreport abuse

Misleading Opportunities

Okay, how likely is it for a car salesman to become a physician's assistant? Or for a construction worker or the small business man to become a college professor? It may not be impossible, but reality is that most average people aren't going to find employment in these professions. Jobs for the average person are gone. The college professors I work with all have doctorates. Could a 50 y/o construction worker go back to school and get his Ph.D.? He'd be perhaps 57 or so when he was done. Who would hire him? Best jobs for whom?

By Laura @ 11/04/09 11:58:39 PMreport abuse

Jobs in America

Clark I have been in the auto industry and the housing industry and am in my late 30s so I have 2 more to go from what you have said. I am guesing your next job will be politician. Maybe mayor?

By Dave @ 11/04/09 05:05:55 PMreport abuse

AGREE Not Even Right!

Dh lost his "I.T. Project Manager" position in the last dot.com bust and is now an elementary ed teacher at a third of that salary.

By Arubalisa @ 11/04/09 04:43:45 PMreport abuse

With tenure a perk I can see why.

By John Burns @ 11/04/09 04:31:11 PMreport abuse

Not even right

Information Technology Project Manager is #5 ???!??!?!?! Are they crazy - I am in this field now for over 11 years and work with groups of PM's. Right now the industry unemployment is at almost 30% and climbing right now! What is happening is that these jobs are going offshore by HUGE numbers from IBM and HP/EDS and others. Especially now that the corporate taxes, employment taxes and other things are costing more that employers are doing contractors only almost and the #'s are huge for H1B's for these positions whereas someone like me who has two degrees in Project Mgt and Comp Sciences have been on over 100 interviews and can't get a job, I'm not the only one - have been hearing this so much from many others. This is why the pay rate for this position has DROPPED from an average of $ 60 per hour to below $ 35 and just had someone from an Indian contracting firm trying to hire me at $ 24 a hour for a job here on site. Please have the person who wrote this do a drug test!

By Unfortunate IT PM @ 11/04/09 04:19:14 PMreport abuse

Clark's 4th career

I'm thinking: Founder of a school or university. Hmmm: Clark Howard University has a nice ring.

By Andrea Reynolds @ 11/04/09 04:17:19 PMreport abuse

Listen Live:

Clark On Demand:

Clark's Advice:

Consumer Action Center:

Quick Links:

Clark Media:

Call The Show:

Nov 04, 2009 -- Best jobs in America named by CNNMoney.com

What others are saying