Note: Information about these careers is based on national statistics, so salaries and opportunities may be different in your town.

Aircraft pilots fly commercial, private, corporate and government airplanes and helicopters. Although most pilots transport passengers and cargo, others are involved in dusting crops, spreading seed for reforestation, testing aircraft, directing firefighting efforts, monitoring traffic, tracking criminals and evacuating injured persons.

Education: Usually at least two years of college, a minimum of 250 hours of flight experience and pass FAA licensing examination.

Salary: One of the 10 highest paying jobs in America. Ranges from $42,000 for co-pilots to $165,000 for senior captains.

Outlook: Very competitive

Flight attendants make sure all their passengers have a safe, comfortable and enjoyable flight on commercial and corporate aircraft.

Education: High school graduation is a minimum; some college preferred.

Salary: Starts around $12,700. Perks include reduced airfares for attendants and their immediate families.

Outlook: Good, especially for those with at least two years of college and experience dealing with the public.

Construction contractors plan, budget and direction construction projects. They often use computers to evaluate various construction methods and to determine the most cost-effective plans. They schedule all required construction site activities into logical steps, direct or monitor compliance with building and safety codes, determine the labor requirements and hire the crews.

Education: Increasingly, entrants into this career have strong academic backgrounds to complement substantial experience in construction as craft workers (carpenters, masons, plumbers, electricians and so forth). Many community colleges offer construction management or construction technology programs.

Salary: Average starting salary is $32,000. Earnings of experienced construction contractors can go into the $100,000s.

Outlook: Very good

Electrical and electronics engineers design, develop, test and supervise the manufacture of electrical and electronic equipment. Electrical and electronic engineers design new products, write performance requirements and develop maintenance schedules. They also test equipment, solve operating problems
and estimate the time and cost of engineering projects.

Education: Many two-year community college programs in engineering technology prepare students for practical design and production work. A bachelor's degree prepares grads for jobs that require more theoretical scientific and mathematical knowledge. A bachelor's degree in engineering is generally accepted for beginning engineers; however, engineering technicians with an associate's degree work under the supervision of an engineer, an association that blends application and theory.

Salary: Engineers average about $30,000 in private industry; those with master's and no experience earn about $35,000 for starters. The median salary is $59,100.

Outlook: Competitive

Electricians install, connect, test and maintain electrical systems for climate control, communications and security.

Education: Four- to five-year apprenticeship plus community college classroom instruction.

Salary: Apprentices generally earn 30-50 percent of the rate paid experienced electricians. Median weekly salary for a full-time electrician is about $575.

Outlook: Excellent

Other jobs for doers: carpenter, heavy equipment operator, bookkeeper, statistician, data entry keyer, legal secretary, brick mason, electrician, drywall installer, plumber, roofer, welder, air conditioning repair person, dental assistant, camera operator, photo developer, cashier, butcher, medical assistant, flight attendant, medical secretary.

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