Best Overall Jobs for Baby Boomers
Aug 26, 2009![baby-boomer](https://kajabi-storefronts-production.kajabi-cdn.com/kajabi-storefronts-production/blogs/2147493809/images/CpKPANY7Ru2wfXlkwEca_baby-boomer-442252_1920.jpg)
by Mark Gleason
photo by Rudy Anderson
Michael Farr and Laurence Shatkin have researched and written more than 20 books on career topics, including 225 Best Jobs for Baby Boomers, a compendium of dozens of lists of desirable and growing fields for baby boomers. The list below ranks careers that employ a high percentage of baby boomers on a combination of three criteria: earnings, projected growth and number of openings.
Job | Annual Earnings | Percent Growth | Annual Openings |
Management Analysts | $64,560 | 30.4% | 78,000 |
Teachers, Postsecondary | $54,406 | 38.1% | 216,000 |
Logisticians | $59,460 | 27.5% | 162,000 |
General and Operations Managers | $79,300 | 18.4% | 260,000 |
Registered Nurses | $53,640 | 27.3% | 215,000 |
Anesthesiologists | $145,600 | 19.5% | 38,000 |
Internists, General | $145,600 | 19.5% | 38,000 |
Obstetricians and Gynecologists | $145,600 | 19.5% | 38,000 |
Psychiatrists | $145,600 | 19.5% | 38,000 |
Surgeons | $145,600 | 19.5% | 38,000 |
Family and General Practitioners | $136,170 | 19.5% | 38,000 |
Pediatricians, General | $135,450 | 19.5% | 38,000 |
Medical and Health Services Managers | $68,320 | 29.3% | 33,000 |
Financial Managers, Branch or Department | $83,780 | 18.3% | 71,000 |
Treasurers, Controllers and Chief Financial Officers | $83,780 | 18.3% | 71,000 |
Chief Executives | $141,820 | 16.7% | 63,000 |
Government Service Executives | $141,820 | 16.7% | 63,000 |
Private Sector Executives | $141,820 | 16.7% | 63,000 |
Pharmacists | $87,160 | 30.1% | 23,000 |
Lawyers | $97,420 | 17.0% | 53,000 |
Education Administrators, Elementary and Secondary School | $74,610 | 20.7% | 31,000 |
Administration Services Managers | $62,300 | 19.8% | 40,000 |
Sales Representatives, Agricultural | $59,390 | 19.3% | 44,000 |
Sales Representatives, Chemical and Pharmaceutical | $59,390 | 19.3% | 44,000 |
Sales Representatives, Electrical/Electronic | $59,390 | 19.3% | 44,000 |
Sales Representatives, Instruments | $59,390 | 19.3% | 44,000 |
Sales Representatives, Mechanical Equipment and Supplies | $59,390 | 19.3% | 44,000 |
Sales Representatives, Medical | $59,390 | 19.3% | 44,000 |
Personal Financial Advisors | $62,450 | 34.6% | 18,000 |
Special Education Teachers, Secondary School | $46,300 | 30.0% | 59,000 |
Special Education Teachers, Middle School | $45,000 | 30.0% | 59,000 |
Training and Development Managers | $70,430 | 19.4% | 21,000 |
Special Education Teachers, Preschool, Kindergarten, and Elementary School | $44,330 | 30.0% | 59,000 |
Compensation and Benefits Managers | $67,040 | 19.4% | 21,000 |
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products | $46,090 | 19.1% | 160,000 |
Construction Managers | $70,770 | 12.0% | 47,000 |
Public Relations Managers | $73,960 | 23.4% | 10,000 |
Clinical Psychologists | $56,360 | 24.4% | 17,000 |
Counseling Psychologists | $56,360 | 24.4% | 17,000 |
School Psychologists | $56,360 | 24.4% | 17,000 |
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Vocational Education | $46,120 | 18.2% | 118,000 |
Training and Development Specialists | $45,370 | 27.9% | 35,000 |
Storage and Distribution Managers | $67,300 | 19.7% | 13,000 |
Transportation Managers | $67,300 | 19.7% | 13,000 |
First-Line Supervisors and Manager/Supervisors—Construction Trades Workers | $50,980 | 14.1% | 67,000 |
First-Line Supervisors and Manager/Supervisors—Extractive Workers | $50,980 | 14.1% | 67,000 |
Instructional Coordinators | $50,060 | 25.4% | 18,000 |
Social and Community Service Managers | $48,330 | 27.7% | 19,000 |
First-Line Supervisors/Managers of Mechanics, Installers and Repairers | $51,000 | 15.4% | 42,000 |
Cost Estimators | $50,920 | 18.6% | 25,000 |
Republished with permission from 225 Best Jobs for Baby Boomers, by Michael Farr and Laurence Shatkin, Ph.D., 2006, © JIST Publishing.