The Bureau of Labor Statistics tells us that Software Publishes do the best amongst their colleagues, earning an average $126,000 per annum. That’s higher than many medical professionals!

Computer system designers do slightly less well, although at an average slightly over $118,000 I doubt they’re complaining. Other high earners in the field are those in management of companies/enterprises at $115,000, the cheerful-sounding depository creditor intermediaries at $113,000, followed up by insurance carriers at $109,000.

Another less obvious option in this field is self employment. If you are good at programming or building websites, why not set up a service of your own online? This gives workers the opportunity to build a reputation for themselves and charge according to demand for their services. Many IT professionals are making an excellent living doing just that, and of course working mostly online has the added benefit of being able to do it anywhere in the world with an internet connection.

Yes, despite the workforce being swamped with undereducated hopefuls with cheap 1-6 month qualifications, there is still a place for highly skilled individuals in the I.T. industry and they can make an excellent salary.

1. The ultrasound technician salary is extremely competitive. The average wage in 2008 was over $61,000, with the potential to go much higher depending on geographic location and employer type. This gives students who may not have the grades for medicine a chance to get into healthcare and still earn a decent wage.

2. Qualification is required, but it’s far less demanding than that of a doctor or nurse, let alone surgeon. A three-year bachelor degree should be enough to get you into a job.

3. It’s a growing field with plenty of job opportunities and stability. In this troubled economy, non-essential service providers such as plastic surgeons may find their work drying up. The good news for ultrasound techs is that their service is now being used more than ever before, as an attractive safer option to x-ray procedures. This means excellent job security going forward.