I too have been following this thread.
I’m in the middle of “what do I want to do with my life and why” after changing my major 5 times and moving to a different state to finish school.
All these ideas are fun.
http://www.bls.gov/ooh/home.htm
Go to the link above and you can research many jobs through there with how much they make on average, degree needed (or not), and job growth.
Can always count on COTH for great info!
I will look more into commercial (not residential) real estate. I also never knew Geologists earned so much! Anyone know anything about landscape architecture, advertising/marketing, or other more “creative” fields and balancing horses? (I understand if you work your way up in any career, it has potential depending on individual circumstances/companies, but I am just looking for your general input.)
I said non-medical/lawyer because of the extra school requirements - right now I cannot afford more student loans. Period. I have no problem with hard work or blood/guts (was considering pre-vet for a long time, not anymore). That is why I’m researching more of a business job or other/certificate that only requires undergrad for now, but maybe I will go back to school if that becomes necessary and realistic for me financially in the future.
Funny you said landscape architecture!
A woman I used to hunt with was a landscape architect. She got to do all the fun things with us on weekends and lessons, and she lived in a very wonderful part of town. Not to mention had quite a bit of dough. She told me how much she loved it, because she got to do everything she loved outside.
**SIDE NOTE, though she was in a great career, she was also married. So there was combined income, but she often told me she made quite a bit.
I’m in Texas, so I’ve been sneaking peaks about renewable energy majors and geology majors. Not to mention marketing… They are all growing jobs right now.
[QUOTE=Mango20;7369960]
How about something with the federal government or intelligence? Good pay, good benefits, fairly flexible schedule, and usually, you can’t take any work home with you.[/QUOTE]
My experience with the federal types is that (at some agencies) they work a LOT of hours with little flexibilty (because you can’t work home). If the OP is going that route, she should choose her agency very, very carefully. 
All of which is moot, of course, with hiring freezes and the difficulty of getting a foot in the door.
[QUOTE=equestrian13;7371407]
Can always count on COTH for great info!
I said non-medical/lawyer because of the extra school requirements - right now I cannot afford more student loans. Period. I have no problem with hard work or blood/guts (was considering pre-vet for a long time, not anymore). That is why I’m researching more of a business job or other/certificate that only requires undergrad for now, but maybe I will go back to school if that becomes necessary and realistic for me financially in the future.[/QUOTE]
I definitely understand the desire to avoid taking on more loans. You may want to look into working for a large corporation that would have the ability to pay for some/all of your schooling. The hospital I work for offers wonderful benefits for education - discounts on a specific school’s tuition, money back for taking classes at other schools, and programs that sponsor you to earn degrees in certain fields. There are definitely options out there for getting more education without spending more money or taking out more ridiculous loans.
Some grad programs are fully funded, meaning that tuition is free and they pay you a salary. My daughter’s engineering grad program funded all of their PhD students.
I’m currently in my junior year with a major in Accounting, and [currently] I would not change my decision. I do plan on staying in school 1 extra year to earn my Master, which I don’t think is that heavy of a load.
Within the business school I attend there are different segments: management, marketing, supply-chain, and finance among others. I would seriously consider, though, the job market you are looking at. While there are definitely well paying marketing jobs, those are usually for the elite and often aren’t the design a tv commercial stereotype.
I am obviously very biased towards my choice of major, which has a strong job market. Furthermore, I’ve gained knowledge and been aided in the process of establishing my own training business while in school! (See below link) I would have been lost on how to manage my books, understand financial statements, and run a company of my own.
For the wrong person, it might sound miserable. I eat up numbers, matching up accounts, and understanding how costs bring about revenues!
OP I was pretty much in your position, had no idea what I wanted to do when I grew up as a result I worked to live. I ended up as a medical secretary, then as an executive assistant in commercial real estate, and now work for a non-profit. There are plenty of medical/health care related fields which don’t require years of schooling and loans - jobs like xray/radiology tech- pays well and the more certification/specialty like mammography, ultrasound, CT/MRI/PET scan, respiratory therapist, speech/physical/occupational therapist, hospital administration. A girl I used to ride w/ is an xray tech, she did not graduate from a 4 year college but enrolled in radiology tech program which I think was maybe a 2 year program, another option is nutritionist or dietician (with increase in diabetes,obesity this is big field now). Drug/pharmacy/medical sales reps(like pacemaker) are also great jobs.
You can make ridiculous money in commercial real estate and I worked for some 20-somethings who were making over $200K however, it is HARD work and while you might have a flexible schedule the more flexible it is the less you are making - it is commission driven so the harder you work the more money you can make. It’s not easy, it can be cut-throat but if you are successful - whew boy the payoff can be huge. Many of the brokers in my old office started off as researchers, got their license and then because of the contacts in the office were taken in by senior brokers so the commission share got them started making good moola fairly soon. But I will tell you, if you want to make money you will be working looong hours - your evenings and weekends could be spent putting out fires. It was not unusual for me to get emails from my boss at 1:00AM and on the weekends. While I was only an executive assistant - I enjoyed the work/job and people I worked with but I had 0 work/life balance.
Also in real estate /construction would be project management or property management, Kitchen/bath room designer
Whoever posted about government jobs - is right even state/county or city government jobs - but those can be difficult to get hired and the hiring process takes forever.
then there are jobs in non-profits - this is another field that can be hard to break into but there are grant managers, fundraising, marketing.
If you are interested in law but don’t want to go to law school - look into becoming a paralegal.
A huge asset for anyone entering the job market is being bi-lingual.
I think you need to think about what interests you, what type of work you enjoy, are you compassionate do you like helping people? One of the reasons why I liked my years as a medical secretary is I loved helping our patients and that was something I missed when I went into commercial RE. I thankfully landed a job w/a great nonprofit so I am involved in giving back to the community - my work day is shorter, I have flexibility to work from home, and excellent benefits - though the money is not quite as good I now have time to see my horse, where before I was making more money but always working.
I recently graduated college (last may)… relocated and am no longer living with my parents, I owned 5 horses, and had finally made the decision I did not want to pursue a business of my own or start a career as a barn manager etc making pennies for long hard hours and make it difficult to enjoy my own horses, so I began looking for a job. I didn’t want to just push papers somewhere, needed good healthcare/benefits as I would be dropped off my parents soon, and something that would be around long enough for me to have a career and retire without moving or job searching. I eventually found jobs as a 911 dispatcher… its not for everyone, but if you can do it and enjoy it… it is so rewarding. I make pretty close to your “goal” and i’ve been in this job since April last year… and have options for advancement over it all. I have great benefits… and can retire when im 48 if I want! If you’re at all interested in it look into it. If you have any questions feel free to ask me!
My father has a degree in landscape architecture and 30 years of experience with some of the best firms on the west coast. He has been unemployed for 6 years. The firm he worked for before the crash went from 400+ people in four offices to 40 in one in approximately two years. Landscape architecture can be very boom or bust and unless you are very, very good, the pay is not mind boggling. The hours are the standard 40 hour work week, unless you are very good - in which case you may be bringing work home with you. Many landscape architects do not/cannot truly retire due to the nature of the business.
This is just my experience, but growing up around landscape architects and land planners - I would NOT recommend it.
I do litigation technology support for an international law firm. No college degree, but you do have to have some basic technology and analytical skills. Starting pay is usually around $65K and its a growing field.
There is some overtime involved, depending on case load, but there are other related careers, like sales reps, trainers, etc., that pay well and require only a basic understanding of business specific technology and marketing.
My advise is to get a basic business degree with emphasis on on something like technology management. Its an in demand skillset in almost every industry, and the positions are almost always full time, well paying, secure, and with good benefits.
I’m currently going to school for Computer Engineering (and toying around with the idea of also majoring in Bio, and getting a masters in a bio-related field if I go that route). I don’t like all of the math that is required, but I love the computer side of things. You can get a pretty decent job with just a BS in any kind of computer-related field. That’s a big thing right now.
I would NOT do anything culinary-related. I do not know a single person who went to culinary school who actually works in that field. They all work jobs that they do not need a degree for.
I know someone who does landscape design and he makes decent money, but he also works in a NICE part of SoCal. I think he likes it though.
Insurance broker…they will normally pay for you to be licensed and further your education.
Military.
No one mentioned teaching? I’m at the barn by 3:00 pm and can be home by 5:00, when most people are getting off work. Starting pay depends on state/district, but all the teachers I know who ride were able to when they started teaching. It does take a four year degree and at least two years for the credential; some states are requiring a Master’s.
I admit teaching is pretty much going downhill, but for the right person it’s still a good job. The most secure teaching job is special education, and some districts pay a bonus.
1 Like
[QUOTE=Malda;7373475]
No one mentioned teaching? I’m at the barn by 3:00 pm and can be home by 5:00, when most people are getting off work. Starting pay depends on state/district, but all the teachers I know who ride were able to when they started teaching. It does take a four year degree and at least two years for the credential; some states are requiring a Master’s.
I admit teaching is pretty much going downhill, but for the right person it’s still a good job. The most secure teaching job is special education, and some districts pay a bonus.[/QUOTE]
I was going to mention teaching, too, but the OP didn’t sound like she wanted a career where she’d have to continue her education…
I’m teaching for the 2nd time around in my career. The 1st time around was thankless (lousy school) and I quit for several years. Now I’m at a great school, and I have to admit that it’s pretty cushy. I can be home by 3:30 if need be, which gives me time to ride or schedule farrier/vet appointments within business hours. And the time off is hard to beat!
In some parts of the country, teacher pay has become quite competitive. When I was in Austin, first year teacher salaries started in the low to mid $40Ks range. (I wish salaries looked like that around here! It takes you a masters and 10 years experience to catch up to the rest of the country in my district!)
Military. If you go the officer route you’ll be making $50,000 to start and easily up to $70 or 80 within about 5 years. The day to day hours aren’t exactly flexible but reasonable and you’d get plenty of 4 day weekends and holidays to ride, plus the opportunity to see the world. The healthcare is excellent (very useful for a life with horses lol). There are so many career opportunities within the military… logistics, communication, law enforcement, you name it. And if you ultimately decide the military isn’t for you, even just a few years in will get you far ahead of the game. Employers are looking for people who can lead and manage. My brother spent 5 years in and is now the Global Account Manager of an energy company and is making bank (He’s only been with the company for a year). As far as horses go, it really is possible to keep riding. A lot of posts have horse stables and I have many friends who have kept riding competitively (eventing through Advanced) while active duty. If you’re looking for a fulfilling career with tons of opportunities and still able to have have horses in your life, I would say the military is a great way to go. PM me if you have any questions. My DH and I are going through the process of joining now and I can tell you lots about how to get things started if it sounds like something you’re interested in.
Those who have an interest in science and medicine [human or animal], may consider Pharmaceutical sales.
A 4 year degree, not necessarily in science, and a bend towards being creative with presentations, and the ability to think on your feet is what’s generally required.
The field is far more regulated and less ‘fun’ than when I did it, but it was an awesome job that I really loved and offered me the income I needed to support myself and my pets [incl the horse].
Noone has mentioned the emergency services profession. No 4 year degree needed, but if you already have one (in whatever), it makes getting hired easier. Hours can be great (DH usually works 4 days per week with weekends off, or 24 hours on, 48 hours off), and the demand is there. Departments in major metro areas (we’re close to DC) pay quite well.
And they’ll pay for you to be trained and certified. If you’re interested, talk to a local fire and rescue squad about volunteering. Its a great way to launch into the field with little investment other than your time and learning. And they need firefirghters, EMTs and paramedics EVERYWHERE.
And if you want more info about the field, let me know. DH is a paramedic/firefighter and is now quite well paid as a lieutenant in a large department with room still to grow in his career. He loves it, and it can be a great job for the right person.
OP - I know you mentioned construction in your first post, but you might want to seriously look into the building trades. Where I am, the unions are actively recruiting and training women and minorities. My BF is a union electrician, makes good money, great benefits, and works 7-3 six days a week. I also know a woman who recently became an apprentice pipefitter.
I know you said no more school - but just throwing the lawyer thing out again LOL. I do real estate/ land use/ environmental law, I work for myself. Its challenging and fun. Because I’m my own boss, I have some flexibility in my schedule.
Best of luck to you 
