Read “Where the Recession Proof Jobs Are”.
The best recession-proof jobs are those that are least sensitive to economic downturn, and which have the highest combined scores for pay, projected workforce growth, and number of openings.
See pictures of office cubicles around the world.
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Job Category
Earnings 1
Growth 2
Openings 1
1 Computer Systems Analysts $69,760 29.00% 63,166
2 Network Systems $64,600 53.40% 35,086
and Data Communications Analysts
3 Network and Computer Systems Administrators $62,130 27.00% 37,010
4 Registered Nurses $57,280 23.50% 233,499
5 Teachers, Postsecondary $57,770 22.90% 237,478
6 Physical Therapists $66,200 27.10% 12,072
7 Physicians and Surgeons > $145,600 14.20% 38,027
8 Dental Hygienists $62,800 30.10% 10,433
9 Pharmacists $94,520 21.70% 16,358
10 Medical and Health Services Managers $73,340 16.40% 31,877
11 Physician Assistants $74,980 27.00% 7,147
12 Veterinarians $71,990 35.00% 5,301
13 Database Administrators $64,670 28.60% 8,258
14 Social and Community Service Managers $52,070 24.70% 23,788
15 Instructional Coordinators $52,790 22.50% 21,294
16 Environmental Engineers $69,940 25.40% 5,003
17 Education Administrators, Postsecondary $73,990 14.20% 17,121
18 Occupational Therapists $60,470 23.10% 8,338
19 Public Relations Specialists $47,350 17.60% 51,216
20 Environmental Scientists $56,100 25.10% 6,961
and Specialists, Including Health
21 Detectives and Criminal Investigators $58,260 17.30% 14,746
22 Actuaries $82,800 23.70% 3,245
23 Medical Assistants $26,290 35.40% 92,977
24 Mental Health Counselors $34,380 30.00% 24,103
25 Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors $34,040 34.30% 20,821
26 Social and Human Service Assistants $25,580 33.60% 80,142
27 Educational, Vocational, and School Counselors $47,530 12.60% 54,025
28 Health Educators $41,330 26.20% 13,707
29 Clinical, Counseling, and School Psychologists $59,440 15.80% 8,309
30 Medical and Public Health Social Workers $43,040 24.20% 16,429
31 Education Administrators, Elementary and Secondary School $77,740 7.60% 27,143
32 Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers $35,410 29.90% 17,289
33 Self-Enrichment Education Teachers $33,440 23.10% 64,449
34 Pharmacy Technicians $25,630 32.00% 54,453
35 Clergy $39,680 18.90% 35,092
36 Dental Assistants $30,220 29.20% 29,482
37 Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers $72,660 21.90% 2,471
38 Child, Family, and School Social Workers $37,480 19.10% 35,402
39 Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Ed. $43,580 16.30% 27,603
40 Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Vocational Education $46,300 11.20% 75,270
41 Correctional Officers and Jailers $35,760 16.90% 56,579
42 Radiologic Technologists and Technicians $48,170 15.10% 12,836
43 Marriage and Family Therapists $43,210 29.80% 5,953
44 Physical Therapist Assistants $41,360 32.40% 5,957
45 Radiation Therapists $66,170 24.80% 1,461
46 Preschool Teachers, Except Special Ed. $22,680 26.30% 78,172
47 Surgical Technologists $36,080 24.50% 15,365
48 Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers $47,460 10.80% 37,842
49 Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses $36,550 14.00% 70,610
50 Special Education Teachers, Middle School $47,650 15.80% 8,846
51 Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics $33,780 14.30% 97,350
52 Respiratory Therapists $47,420 22.60% 5,563
53 Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Vocational Education $47,740 5.60% 93,166
54 Speech-Language Pathologists $57,710 10.60% 11,160
55 Diagnostic Medical Sonographers $57,160 19.10% 3,211
56 First-Line Supervisors/Managers $69,310 9.20% 9,373
of Police and Detectives
57 Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists $49,700 12.40% 11,457
58 Veterinary Technologists and Technicians $26,780 41.00% 14,674
59 Hydrologists $66,260 24.30% 687
60 Adult Literacy, Remedial Education, $43,910 14.20% 17,340
and GED Teachers and Instructors
61 Rehabilitation Counselors $29,200 23.00% 32,081
62 Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators $50,660 8.90% 22,024
63 Education Administrators, Preschool and Child Care Center/Program $37,740 23.50% 8,113
64 Chiropractors $65,220 14.40% 3,179
65 Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians $42,300 25.50% 3,550
66 Nursing Aides, Orderlies, and Attendants $22,180 18.20% 321,036
67 Medical Records and Health Information Technicians $28,030 17.80% 39,048
68 Court Reporters $45,610 24.50% 2,620
69 Industrial-Organizational Psychologists $86,420 21.30% 118
70 Interpreters and Translators $35,560 23.60% 6,630
71 First-Line Supervisors/Managers of Fire Fighting and Prevention Workers $62,900 11.50% 3,771
72 Occupational Therapist Assistants $42,060 25.40% 2,634
73 Automotive Body and Related Repairers $35,180 11.60% 37,469
74 Optometrists $91,040 11.30% 1,789
75 Fire Fighters $41,190 12.10% 18,887
76 First-Line Supervisors/Managers $52,580 12.50% 4,180
of Correctional Officers
77 Coaches and Scouts $26,950 14.60% 51,100
78 Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists $42,500 10.90% 18,335
79 Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics $27,070 19.20% 19,513
80 Massage Therapists $33,400 20.30% 9,193
81 Athletes and Sports Competitors $41,060 19.20% 4,293
82 Audio and Video Equipment Technicians $34,840 24.20% 4,681
83 Environmental Engineering Technicians $40,560 24.80% 2,162
84 Funeral Directors $49,620 12.50% 3,939
85 Librarians $49,060 3.60% 18,945
86 Maintenance and Repair Workers, General $31,910 10.10% 165,502
87 Nuclear Medicine Technologists $62,300 14.80% 1,290
88 Budget Analysts $61,430 7.10% 6,423
89 Special Education Teachers, Secondary School $48,330 8.50% 10,601
90 Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity $32,090 12.50% 27,100
91 Curators $46,300 23.30% 1,416
92 Private Detectives and Investigators $33,750 18.20% 7,329
93 Air Traffic Controllers $117,240 10.20% 1,213
94 Statisticians $65,720 8.50% 3,433
95 Water and Liquid Waste Treatment Plant and System Operators $36,070 13.80% 9,575
96 Editors $46,990 2.30% 20,193
97 Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians $32,840 15.00% 10,866
98 Insurance Underwriters $52,350 6.30% 6,880
99 Police, Fire, and Ambulance Dispatchers $31,470 13.60% 17,628
100 Athletic Trainers $36,560 24.30% 1,669
101 Film and Video Editors $46,670 12.70% 2,707
102 Gaming Surveillance Officers $27,130 33.60% 2,124
and Gaming Investigators
103 Podiatrists $108,220 9.50% 648
104 Teacher Assistants $20,740 10.40% 193,986
105 Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates $101,690 5.10% 1,567
106 Mathematicians $86,930 10.20% 473
107 Economists $77,010 7.50% 1,555
108 Taxi Drivers and Chauffeurs $20,350 13.00% 35,954
109 Interviewers, Except Eligibility and Loan $26,290 9.50% 54,060
110 Postal Service Mail Carriers $44,350 1.00% 16,710
111 Anthropologists and Archeologists $49,930 15.00% 446
112 Dietitians and Nutritionists $46,980 8.60% 4,996
113 Bus Drivers, School $24,820 9.30% 59,809
114 Computer, Automated Teller, $36,480 3.00% 22,330
and Office Machine Repairers
115 Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment $45,180 6.80% 6,607
116 Insurance Appraisers, Auto Damage $49,180 12.50% 1,030
117 Nuclear Power Reactor Operators $69,370 10.60% 233
118 Vocational Education Teachers, $48,690 [nd]4.6% 7,639
Secondary School
119 Automotive Glass Installers and Repairers $30,720 18.70% 3,457
120 Physical Therapist Aides $22,060 24.40% 4,092
121 Pest Control Workers $27,880 15.50% 6,006
122 Medical Equipment Preparers $25,950 14.20% 8,363
123 Library Technicians $26,560 8.50% 29,075
124 Audiologists $57,120 9.80% 980
125 Political Scientists $90,140 5.30% 318
126 Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, $29,420 [nd]7.0% 75,361
Samplers, and Weighers
127 Embalmers $37,840 14.30% 1,660
128 Sociologists $60,290 10.00% 403
129 Food Scientists and Technologists $53,810 10.30% 663
130 Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians $20,370 21.70% 3,703
131 Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators $49,490 10.60% 546
132 Power Plant Operators $55,000 2.70% 1,796
133 Tax Examiners, Collectors, and Revenue Agents $45,620 2.10% 4,465
134 Soil and Plant Scientists $56,080 8.40% 850
135 Fire Inspectors and Investigators $48,050 11.00% 644
136 Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, $72,600 0.10% 794
and Hearing Officers
137 Archivists $40,730 14.40% 795
138 Museum Technicians and Conservators $34,340 15.90% 1,341
139 Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators $43,900 [nd]8.4% 6,855
140 Dietetic Technicians $24,040 14.80% 4,062
141 Funeral Attendants $20,350 14.30% 6,034
142 Postal Service Clerks $44,800 1.20% 3,703
143 Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay $57,400 [nd]4.7% 1,591
144 Hazardous Materials Removal Workers $35,450 11.20% 1,933
145 Postmasters and Mail Superintendents $55,790 [nd]0.8% 1,627
146 Bailiffs $34,210 11.20% 2,223
147 Library Assistants, Clerical $21,640 7.90% 18,961
148 Animal Control Workers $27,910 12.50% 3,377
149 Broadcast Technicians $30,690 12.10% 2,955
150 Animal Scientists $47,800 9.80% 299
1 Annually
2 Projected cumulative growth in job openings, 2006-2016
Get the book: 150 Best Recession-Proof Jobs by Laurence Shatkin
See the best business deals of 2008. Read “How to Know When the Economy Is Turning Up.”
