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Featured Job from November 11, 2010 Physical Therapy with Previous featured jobs

Physical Therapy -

Physical therapy services are part of health care that is delivered by people working in three occupations: Physical Therapists, Physical Therapist Assistants and Physical Therapist Aides. The three and their Standard Occupational Classification codes are defined below.

29-1123 Physical Therapists
Assess, plan, organize, and participate in rehabilitative programs that improve mobility, relieve pain, increase strength, and decrease or prevent deformity of patients suffering from disease or injury.

31-2021 Physical Therapist Assistants
Assist physical therapists in providing physical therapy treatments and procedures. May, in accordance with State laws, assist in the development of treatment plans, carry out routine functions, document the progress of treatment, and modify specific treatments in accordance with patient status and within the scope of treatment plans established by a physical therapist. Generally requires formal training.

31-2022 Physical Therapist Aides
Under close supervision of a physical therapist or physical therapy assistant, perform only delegated, selected, or routine tasks in specific situations. These duties include preparing the patient and the treatment area.

Physical therapists need a license that usually requires a master's degree for entry. Around 85 percent work in health care, 5 percent in education and a few try to work as self employed. Physical therapy assistants and aides are tied to working for, or with, physical therapists. Physical therapy assistants do not have specific educational requirements and only about 20 percent have a BA degree or above in any field.

Physical therapy services are like many services in and out of health care in that the occupational definition and work of physical therapist establishes that physical therapists can do all of the work of physical therapy assistants and physical therapy aides. Physical therapy assistants can do all the work of physical therapy aides. Employers have the financial incentive to limit the work of physical therapists to that part of physical therapy that requires the training and license of a physical therapist. By splitting the work into more specialized parts they can hire much cheaper assistants and aides to do the other work and limit the number of jobs they must have for the higher paid work. That goes on in millions of America's jobs.

National employment as physical therapists reached 174,490 as of 2009, which the Bureau of Labor Statistics classifies as a job needing at least BA degree skills. Jobs are up by an average of 6,009 a year since 2000 with a growth rate far below the national average. Physical therapy assistants had 63,250 jobs in 2009 with jobs up an average of 2,181 a year since 2000 and a growth rate above the national average. Physical therapy aides had 44,160 jobs with jobs up an average of 1,606 a year and growth above the national average.

In general physical therapy degree training is either BA, or usually MA, but any degree training for an assistant might be an associates degree in some allied health program. Expect though that no one wants to do physical therapy degree training to be a physical therapy assistant. There is no AA degree in physical therapy as such, but various exercise and health degrees. Therefore, much of the work of the assistant is on the job training. The physical therapy aide job is dead end work by itself.

Job growth is not the only measure of new hiring. Job openings equal job growth and the number of net replacements. Net replacements are people who permanently leave an occupation for another occupation or retirement and must be replaced before there can be any job growth. Job openings for physical therapists have been averaging around 7,860 per year in recent years; openings for physical therapy assistants are expected to average 3,050 a year; for physical therapy aides 2,340 a year.

Averages are not used much in wage data. A few high wages pull up the average and make it unrepresentative. Instead a distribution range of wages is published with the 10th, 25th, median, 75th, and 90th percentiles of wages. A 10th percentile wage means 10 percent working in this job have wages equal to or less than the 10th percentile wage and so on. Annual wages are converted to hourly wages by dividing annual by 2,080.

The entry wage in the 10th percentile for physical therapists is reported as $52,170 in 2009. The median wage is $74,480, and the 90th percentile wage is $105,900. Yearly reported wage increases barely keep up with inflation especially in the higher range of salary. Buying power is about the same or a little less over the last 7 to 8 years.

The entry wage in the 10th percentile for physical therapy assistants is reported as $30,400 in 2009. The median wage is $48,290, and the 90th percentile wage is $66,460. Yearly reported wage have been keeping up with inflation. Buying power is up moderately over the last 7 to 8 years.

The entry wage in the 10th percentile for physical therapy aides is reported as $17,330 in 2009. The median wage is $28,890, and the 90th percentile wage is $34,100. Yearly reported wage increases are not keeping up with inflation. Buying power is about the same or a little lower over the last 7 to 8 years.

New BA, MA and doctorate degrees in Physical Therapy are part of 11 different Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professional degree specialties and those 11 are part of 164 degree programs in health professions and related clinical sciences. BA degrees in physical therapy programs totaled 584 for the year ending 2008. The total is down from the recent high of 778 degrees in 2005. However, the MA degree and Doctorate degree are more important than a BA degree in physical therapy. The MA degree had 1,924 graduates in the year ending June 2008, but that was down from 4,687 in 2002. The doctorate degree had 5,707 degrees in the year ending June 2008, but that was up from 966 in 2001. Therefore the doctorate degree is replacing other physical therapy degrees as the education level for physical therapy.

Physical therapist is just one of hundreds of jobs using college degree skills. For other degrees and other jobs see the College Jobs Review.

Previous Featured Jobs

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Computer Software Engineers, Applications - May 5, 2010

America employs Computer Software Engineers to develop, create, and modify general computer applications software or specialized utility programs. Analyze user needs and develop software solutions. Design software or customize software for client use with the aim of optimizing operational efficiency. May analyze and design databases within an application area, working individually or coordinating database development as part of a team. May work on both Research and Development software as well as non R & D software. Computer Software Engineers, Applications are one of the Bureau of Labor Statistics Standard Occupational Classifications, 15-1031, but they are also known as applications developer, programmer analyst, or software designer. They are different jobs from Computer Software Engineers, System Software, and also different from Computer Hardware Engineers.

Computer Software Engineers for Applications have at least a few hundred jobs in nearly every sector of the economy so anyone with these skills should expect to work in every sector of the economy. Job concentrations occur in Computer systems design, one of the professional service industries, with a third of the jobs, finance and insurance with 10 percent of jobs, and software publishers with a little under 8 percent. Manufacturing firms employ 10 percent of Computer Software Engineers for Applications but spread among all manufacturing sub sectors.

There are 494 thousand working as Computer Software Engineers for Applications in 2008, which the Bureau of Labor Statistics classifies as a job needing a minimum of BA degree skills. The total does not include college faculty, which is considered a separate occupation titled, computer science teachers, post secondary. Around 32.5 thousand teach college Computer Science and a master degree is most likely a necessary requirement here.

Jobs are up but only an average of 14,940 a year since 2000 with a growth rate far above the national average. Job growth is expected to be 17.5 thousand a year for the next 5 to 10 years.

Job growth is not the only measure of new hiring. Job openings equal job growth and the number of net replacements. Net replacements are people who permanently leave an occupation for another occupation or retirement and must be replaced before there can be any job growth. Job openings for computer software engineers for applications have been averaging around 26.6 thousand per year in recent years, but they are projected to be around 21.8 thousand per year over the next 5 to 10 years.

The entry wage for Computer Software Engineers for Applications is reported as $53,720 in 2008, which is also the 10th percentile wage. The median wage is $85,340, and the 90th percentile wage is $128,870. Yearly reported wage increases kept up with inflation with real wages up modestly in the median range through 2004, but falling a percent or two up to 2008. Buying power crept up more at the lower 10th and 25th percentiles, but not at all at the 90th percentile. The 90th percentile wage is 2.4 times the entry level wage, or 10th percentile wage, which implies there is opportunity for advancement.

New BA degrees in computing are part of 10 different Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services specialties and those 10 are part of 22 degree programs in Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services. BA degrees in Computer Science programs totaled 42,170 for the year ending 2007. The latest total is down from 47,299 degrees in 2001 and also down from 59,488 in 2004. The biggest share of these degrees are general survey courses in information systems and computer science and not specifically for computer software engineers for applications. There were also 16,232 masters degrees and 1,595 doctorates in the computer science programs.

The number of annual graduates in computer science across the 22 degree programs is more than the number of job openings for computer software engineers for applications, but it is only one of 9 computer occupations with employment of 100 thousand or more. The total of computer graduates lags behind the number of job openings for the 8 computer occupations defined in the Standard Occupational Classification that use BA degree skills, and another occupation, computer support specialist. To the extent that computer degree holders can find computing jobs from a variety of degree programs, there are more openings than degree holders.

Computer Software Engineer for Application is just one of 114 entry level jobs using BA degree skills. For other degrees and other jobs see the College Jobs Review.

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Chemists - March 1, 2010

America employs chemists to conduct qualitative and quantitative chemical analyses or chemical experiments in laboratories for quality or process control or to develop new products or knowledge. Chemists are one of the Bureau of Labor Statistics Standard Occupational Classifications, 19-2031, but they are also known as inorganic chemists or chemical analyst. Chemist is a separate occupation from other occupations that use a chemistry skills such as Chemical engineer, 17-2041 and biochemists, 19-1021.

Almost all manufacturing firms hire a few chemists and 41.8 percent of those employed as chemists work in manufacturing. The Chemical manufacturing industry employs the highest share of chemists, at 34.4 percent, leaving only 7.4 percent of chemists working in manufacturing to be working in other manufacturing. Over half of chemists working in chemical manufacturing work for Pharmaceutical firms or firms manufacturing medicine, around 19 percent actually.

Just over 11 percent of chemists work for engineering firms and another 17 percent are employed in scientific research and development. About 7 percent work at federal, state, and local governments. The remainder are quite scattered with nearly one percent working in waste management and remediation.

There are 84.3 thousand working as chemists in 2008, which the Bureau of Labor Statistics classifies as a job needing a minimum of BA degree skills. The total does not include college faculty, which is considered a separate occupation titled, chemistry teachers, post secondary. Around 19.9 thousand teach college chemistry and a PhD is most likely a necessary requirement here.

Jobs are up but only an average of 95 a year since 2000 with a growth rate far below the national average. Job growth is expected to be only 210 a year for the next 5 to 10 years.

Job growth is not the only measure of new hiring. Job openings equal job growth and the number of net replacements. Net replacements are people who permanently leave an occupation for another occupation or retirement and must be replaced before there can be any job growth. Job openings for chemists have been averaging around 3,500 per year in recent years, but they are projected to be around 3,000 thousand per year over the next 5 to 10 years.

The entry wage for chemists is reported as $37,840 in 2008, which is also the 10th percentile wage. The median wage is $66,230, and the 90th percentile wage is $113,080. Yearly reported wage increases keep up with inflation and real wages rise modestly in the median range. Buying power has creeped up slightly the last 7 to 8 years. The 90th percentile wage is 2.4 times the entry level wage, or 10th percentile wage, which implies there is opportunity for advancement.

New BA degrees in chemistry are part of 8 different chemistry specialties and those 8 are part of 33 degree programs in physical science specialties. BA degrees in chemistry programs totaled 10,994 for the year ending 2007. The total is up from 9,006 degrees in 2001.

New jobs using BA degree skills in chemistry are small compared to the number of annual graduates. There were also 5,811 masters degrees and 4,844 doctorates in the chemistry programs. Some of the doctoral degree holders will enter college teaching, but BA degree candidates may find themselves applying for the same jobs as the advanced degree holders. Even though chemistry graduates out number job openings a BA degree in chemistry qualifies for secondary school teaching and other related speciaities in environmental science, food science and pre-medicine. Any mismatch of degree holders and job openings and career goals are probably small at this time.

Chemist is just one of 114 entry level jobs using BA degree skills. For other degrees and other jobs see the College Jobs Review.

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Accountants and Auditors - January 4, 2010

America employs accountants and auditors to examine, analyze, and interpret accounting records for the purpose of giving advice or preparing statements. They set up accounting systems or advise on systems of recording costs or other financial and budgetary data. Accountants and auditors are a Bureau of Labor Statistics(BLS) Standard Occupational Classification, 13-2011, but they are also known as Certified Public Accountant, Bursars, and Tax Accountants. T

Every business sector of the economy hires accountants, but almost a quarter work for accounting firms or accounting and tax preparation firms. Other sectors that hire large numbers of accountants are in finance and insurance, health care and non profit associations. Finance and insurance hires a little over 8 percent of accountants.

There are 1.29 million working as accountants and auditors including the self employed. BLS classifies accountants and auditors as a job needing BA degree skills, but those pursuing a career in accounting also need to pass accounting exams to become certified public accountants.

Jobs are up by an average of 33,793 a year since 2000 with a growth rate at 3.46 percent compounded annually, far above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics is forecasting annual growth at almost 28 thousand jobs a year through 2018.

Job growth is not the only measure of new hiring. Job openings equal job growth and the number of net replacements. Net replacements are people who permanently leave an occupation for another occupation or retirement and must be replaced before there can be any job growth. Job openings for accountants and auditors have been averaging around 43 to 45 thousand per year in recent years, but they are projected to be around 49.7 thousand a year over the next 5 to 10 years.

The entry wage for Accountants is reported as $36,720 in 2008, which is also the 10th percentile wage. The median wage is $59,430, and the 90th percentile wage is $102,380. Yearly reported wage increases are keeping up with inflation. Buying power is above that of earlier years going back to 2000. The 90th percentile wage is 1.7 times the entry level wage, or 10th percentile wage, which implies reasonable opportunity for advancement.

New BA degrees in accounting are part of 6 different accounting specialties and those 6 are part of 86 degree programs in business administration. BA degrees in accounting programs totaled 43,812 for the year ending 2007. The total the BA in accounting is up from nearly 32,460 degrees in 2001.

New jobs using BA degree skills in accounting are not far apart from the number of annual graduates. However, there were also 10,415 masters degrees and 35 doctorates in the accounting programs. Some of these degree holders may enter teaching, but BA degree candidates may find themselves applying for the same jobs as the advanced degree holders.

Accounting is just one of 114 entry level jobs using BA degree skills. For other degrees and jobs see the College Jobs Review.

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Forester - September 15, 2009

American employs Foresters to manage forested lands for economic, recreational, and conservation uses. They assess the type, amount, and location of standing timber, appraise its value, negotiate its purchase, and write contracts for procurement. They maybe employed to conserve wildlife habitats, creek beds, water quality, and soil stability, and comply with environmental regulations. They maybe employed to plant and grow new trees, monitor growth, determine the time for harvesting and manage forests for public and privately-owned forested lands. Foresters are one of the Bureau of Labor Statistics Standard Occupational Classifications, 19-1032, but they are also known as Ecologists and Timber Managers.

State governments are the biggest employers of foresters with 26 percent of the total but the combined total of federal, state, and local government employment comes to 53 percent. Otherwise 10 percent are part of the Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting industry, primarily in logging. Wood products manufacturing including sawmills employ another 11 percent with small percentages in teaching, scientific consulting, and wholesale trade.

Just over 10,100 work as foresters as of 2008, which the Bureau of Labor Statistics classifies as a job needing BA degree skills. Jobs are up but only an average of 34 a year since 2000 with a growth rate far below the national average.

Job growth is not the only measure of new hiring. Job openings equal job growth and the number of net replacements. Net replacements are people who permanently leave an occupation for another occupation or retirement and must be replaced before there can be any job growth. Job openings for foresters have been averaging around 427 per year in recent years, but they are projected to be around 5 thousand over the next 5 to 10 years.

The entry wage for foresters is reported as $34,710 in 2008, which is also the 10th percentile wage. The median wage is $53,750, and the 90th percentile wage is $78,350. Yearly reported wage increases barely keep up with inflation. Buying power is about the same over the last 7 to 8 years. The 90th percentile wage is 2.25 times the entry level wage, or 10th percentile wage, which implies there is opportunity for advancement.

New BA degrees in Forestry are part of 8 different forestry specialties and those 8 are part of 21 degree programs in natural resources and conservation. BA degrees in forestry programs totaled 999 for the year ending 2007. The total is down from nearly 1,300 degrees in 2001. Natural Resource programs including forestry had 8,660 BA degrees in the same period and these are off slightly as well.

New jobs using BA degree skills in forestry are not far apart from the number of annual graduates. However, there were also 456 masters degrees and 146 doctorates in the forestry programs. Some of these degree holders may enter teaching, but BA degree candidates may find themselves applying for the same jobs as the advanced degree holders. Biology programs include ecology and conservation programs so these add to potential graduates competing for the same work.

foresters is just one of 114 entry level jobs using BA degree skills. For other degrees and other jobs see the College Jobs Review.

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Biology Technicians - June 3, 2009

America employs Biology Technicians to assist biological and medical scientists in laboratories. Work includes setting up, operating and maintaining laboratory instruments and equipment, monitoring experiments, making observations, and calculating and recording results. They may analyze organic substances, like blood, food, and drugs. Biology Technicians are a Bureau of Labor Statistics(BLS) Standard Occupational Classification, 19-4021, but they are also known as Biotechnologist, Wildlife Technician and Specimen Technician.

Biology Technicians primarily work in laboratories. Universities employ 30 percent of Biology Technicians to assist in their research laboratories and medical schools. A little over 37 percent work for firms doing research and development including testing laboratories and pharmaceutical companies. Another 20 percent work in government. Health care employs a little over 5 percent of them, but health care has many types of technician work.

Almost all Biology Technicians work under the supervision of someone with a doctorate or medical degree, or both. Medical scientists, epidemiologists, microbiologists and biological scientist jobs can be filled with biologists, but these jobs require a doctorate in biology.

Just over 72,200 work as Biology Technicians as of 2008, which BLS classifies as a job needing BA degree skills. Biology Technicians have been growing much faster than the rate for all jobs with jobs up an average of a little over 3,818 a year since 2000. But jobs as Biology Technicians jumped from almost 60 thousand in 2004 to 69 thousand in 2006 before leveling off.

Job growth is not the only measure of new hiring. Job openings equal job growth and the number of net replacements. Net replacements are people who permanently leave an occupation for another occupation or retirement and must be replaced before there can be any job growth. Job openings for biology technicians have been averaging around 2,474 a year in recent years, but they are projected to be around 4 thousand in next few years.

The entry wage for Biology Technicians is reported as $24,530 in 2008, which is also the 10th percentile wage. The median wage is $38,400, and the 90th percentile wage is $62,260. Yearly reported wage increases barely keep up with inflation. Buying power is about the same over the last 7 to 8 years. The 90th percentile wage is 2.5 times the entry level wage, or 10th percentile wage, which implies there is opportunity for advancement for those who do well.

New BA degrees are in the biological and biomedical sciences with 75,151 degrees granted in the year ending June 2007, which is up from 60,256 in 2002. BA degrees in biology are in 78 specialized programs, although 70 percent of degrees are in one major, general biology. Biology degrees continue to be a growing percentage of annual BA degrees, which is now up to 4.9 percent of all BA degrees for the year ending 2007.

Jobs using BA degree skills in biology are small relative to the number of annual graduates. At the current level of openings and new graduates, those with biology skills should be ready to teach, which means biology majors should also fulfill their state's teaching certification requirements. Otherwise graduate work or patience is the best advice for those who want to work in jobs using biology.

Biology Technicians is just one of 114 entry level jobs using BA degree skills. For other degrees and other jobs see the College Jobs Review.

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Graphic Design - March 24, 2009

America employs Graphic Designers to design or create graphics to meet specific commercial or promotional needs, such as packaging, displays, or logos. May use a variety of mediums to achieve artistic or decorative effects. Graphic designers are a Bureau of Labor Statistics(BLS) Standard Occupational Classification, 27-1024, but they are also known as graphic artists, layout artists, and categlog illustrators. Just over 201 thousand work as graphic designers, which BLS classifies as a job needing BA degree skills.

Graphic designers have significant employment in four industries. Design service firms like art and graphic design or interior design and industrial design make up about 11 percent of Graphic Design jobs. Advertising firms hire another 8 to 9 percent. The printing industry, which are considered manufacturing, employs another 7 percent. Almost all manufacturing firms have some jobs for graphic designers. Publishing, especially newspapers and periodical publishers have another 10 to 11 percent of jobs in this field. Graphic design is also a skill where many work independently as self employed contractors.

Graphic Designers have been growing much faster than the rate for all jobs with jobs up an average of a little over 9,000 a year since 2000. Job growth is not as good a measure of new hiring as job openings. Job openings are job growth and the number of net replacements. Net replacements are people who permanently leave an occupation for another occupation or retirement and must be replaced before there can be any job growth.

Job openings have been averaging around 12,350 a year in recent years. The recent past has seen large numbers of openings, but these totals are expected to decline some to 9 or 10 thousand openings a year for the next several years.

Relevant BA degree programs are in Design and Applied Arts (50.04) where there were 18,198 BA degree graduates in 9 programs for the year ending June 2006, the latest full year available. The 9 programs include 3,714 BA degrees specifically in a degree titled Graphic Design (50.0409). Also there were 3,572 BA degrees in Design and Visual Communications, General (50.0401) with other relevant, but somewhat less computer oriented, degrees in art, design, and illustration.

The entry wage for Grapic Designers has been $25,090, which is also the 10th percentile wage. The median wage is $41,280, and the 90th percentile wage is $72,230. Wage increases for Grapic Designers have been rising, but no faster than inflation. Buying power just keeps up, but no more. The 90th percentile wage is nearly 3 times the entry level wage, or 10th percentile wage, which implies there is opportunity for advancement for those who do well.

Graphic Design is just one of 114 entry level jobs using BA degree skills. For other degrees and other jobs see the College Jobs Review.

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Technical Writing - February 15, 2009

America employs Technical Writers to write technical materials, such as equipment manuals, appendices, or operating and maintenance instructions. Many assist in layout work. Nearly 46,400 work as technical writers using BA degree skills. Technical writing is one of the Bureau of Labor Statistics Standard Occupational Classification# 27-3042.

Jobs in the computer and software industries make up about 16 percent of technical writing jobs with another 16 percent work for manufacturing firms that need documentation material and professional manuals. Publishing employs another 16 percent across many industries. The rest are scattered around many industries because finance, health care and so many industries need to explain technical material. A small percentage are self employed.

Technical writers have not been growing since 2000 with job totals from 44,000 to 47,000 in the years since 2000. Job growth is not as good a measure of new hiring as job openings. Job openings are job growth and the number of net replacements. Net replacements are people who permanently leave an occupation for another occupation or retirement and must be replaced before there can be any job growth.

Job openings are averaging around 2,200 a year in recent years. Relevant BA degree programs include Technical and Business Writing (23.11), English Language and Literature, General (23.01) and also Journalism (9.04) degrees that teach writing as a career. For those interested in technical writing it is wise to find a college that offers the Technical and Business Writing specialty in that only a few actually specialize in technical writing.

There were 454 Technical and Business Writing (23.11) degrees for the last full year of data reported by the Department of Education. There were 42,034 BA degrees in English Language and Literature, General (23.01), and 13,955 BA degrees in journalism.

The entry wage for Technical Writers has been $36,490. The median wage is $60,390, and the 90th percentile wage is $94,550. Wage increases for Technical Writers have been rising as fast as inflation so buying power is keeping up. Notice too the much higher 90th percentile wage over the entry level, or 10th percentile wage. Good work and steady services brings higher wages and advancement.

Technical Writing is just one of 114 entry level jobs using BA degree skills. For other degrees and other jobs see the College Jobs Review..