Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/725997
September, 2016 l Working World l WorkingWorld.com 17 7. SURGICAL TECHNOLOGIST This healthcare occupation is great for people who are fascinated by medical surgeries and the instruments and procedures involved in making them a success. As somebody who helps prepare operating rooms or assists surgeons, you could feel the pride of knowing you make a tangible difference every day. • Average wage—$22.09 per hour / $45,940 yearly • Top-end pay—over $30.48 / $63,410 yearly • Job growth—15 percent 8. PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR Does the thought of helping people locate lost relatives or solve other kinds of mysteries intrigue you? This field lets you put your powers of research and surveillance to the test as you find answers for people who are often overjoyed when you succeed. • Average wage—$25.41 per hour / $52,840 yearly • Top-end pay—over $40.96 per hour / $85,190 yearly 9. PARALEGAL OR LEGAL ASSISTANT For people who are intrigued by the thought of working in a law office and helping attorneys achieve justice for deserving clients, this type of career can really satisfy. Plus, it's an option that frequently comes with a lot of engaging job tasks. • Average wage—$25.19 per hour / $52,390 yearly • Top-end pay—over $37.99 per hour / $79,010 yearly 10. ENGINEERING TECHNICIAN Help design and build the next phase of our modern world. Engineers of every variety rely on the skills of technicians who have a strong interest in being part of innovative leaps forward in areas like electronics, industrial machinery, large- scale construction, and many others. • Average wage—$30.20 per hour / $62,820 yearly • Top-end pay—over $45.24 per hour / $94,100 yearly 11. AIRCRAFT MECHANIC Get up close to the advanced flying machines you're inspired by, and help repair or maintain their engines or other important systems. The aviation industry is full of opportunities for skilled helicopter and airplane mechanics. • Average wage—$28.92 per hour / $60,160 yearly • Top-end pay—over $42.81 per hour / $89,050 yearly 12. AVIONICS TECHNICIAN Aviation electronics is another fascinating area of the aircraft service sector that requires people with specialized skills. Much of the field involves installing, testing, maintaining, and fixing the advanced cockpit technologies used by pilots for things like navigation and weather tracking. • Average wage—$28.94 per hour / $60,200 yearly • Top-end pay—over $42.10 per hour / $87,570 yearly 13. COMMERCIAL DIVER Here's one for the more adventurous types. Why not work in a trade that lets you go under water day in and day out. With advanced scuba gear, you'll get to dive into oceans, lakes, or rivers to help install, build, or fix different kinds of large structures and underwater equipment. • Average wage—$26.27 per hour / $54,640 yearly • Top-end pay—over $42.53 per hour / $88,470 yearly • Job growth—37 percent 14. PLUMBER This trade has a long history of providing people with satisfying, lucrative, and stable careers. After all, the pipes and equipment that give us access to clean water or other liquids (or gases) are fundamental to our way of life. When they break, who else are you going to call? • Average wage—$26.49 per hour / $55,100 yearly • Top-end pay—over $43.13 per hour / $89,720 yearly • Job growth—12 percent 15. ELECTRICIAN As the need for reliable electricity continues to grow, so does the need for qualified tradespeople with the ability to ensure we all have safe access to it. But that's just one reason why a lot of electricians absolutely love what they do. • Average wage—$26.73 per hour / $55,590 yearly • Top-end pay—over $42.37 per hour / $88,130 yearly • Job growth—14 percent 16. WIND TURBINE TECHNICIAN Skilled tradespeople in the renewable energy sector are at the real leading edge of human progress. And working on wind turbines, in particular, is a fun and active way to contribute toward building a cleaner and more sustainable world. • Average wage—$25.50 per hour / $53,030 yearly • Top-end pay—over $34.53 per hour / $71,820 yearly • Job growth—108 percent 17. INDUSTRIAL MACHINERY MECHANIC With the growing use of complex or automated equipment in factories and other industrial settings, highly skilled mechanics are needed more than ever. Plus, this trade can be very enjoyable since it keeps you active as well as mentally engaged. • Average wage—$24.75 per hour / $51,470 yearly • Top-end pay—over $36.22 per hour / $75,340 yearly 18. HEAVY EQUIPMENT MECHANIC The large mobile machines used in sectors like construction and mining don't take care of themselves. So that gives you the opportunity to become someone who gets to work up close with impressive heavy equipment like bulldozers, cranes, conveyors, and graders. • Average wage—$24.08 per hour / $50,080 yearly • Top-end pay—over $34.41 per hour / $71,570 yearly 19. HVAC MECHANIC This hands-on trade is known for opportunities that involve plenty of interesting work. After all, the heating and cooling of today's indoor spaces is achieved by the use of an increasing variety of different technologies. And they all require qualified technicians to install them and keep them operating efficiently. • Average wage—$22.78 per hour / $47,380 yearly • Top-end pay—over $34.47 per hour / $71,690 yearly • Job growth—14 percent 20. CARPENTER New buildings always need to be constructed somewhere. And renovations to older homes and businesses are becoming more and more popular. As a result, skilled carpenters are often able to enjoy active and engaging work in a fun variety of different locations. • Average wage—$22.49 per hour / $46,780 yearly • Top-end pay—over $36.90 per hour / $76,750 yearly • Job growth—6.4 percent