The Best Paid Jobs in the Most Secure Industry

Unemployment in the US has reached 14% in some states such as Nevada, with 9.2% being the national average. Protect your income by switching to the safest, best paying and most future-proof work sector. Here are the best jobs in terms of both security, high pay and long-term prospects.

According to the US Labor Department, the Top Ten Highest Paying Jobs are:

1. Surgeon
2. Anesthesiologist
3. Obstetrician/Gynecologist
4. Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon (surgeon specializing in mouth, jaws, face and neck areas)
5. Internist (a doctor of internal medicine)
6. Prosthodontist (a dentist specializing in the replacement of missing teeth and restoration of natural teeth)
7. Orthodontist (a dentist specializing in preventing or correcting misaligned teeth and jaws)
8. Psychiatrist
9. Chief Executive Officer
10. Engineering Manager

Spot any trends there? Did you notice that eight out of ten of the best paying careers are in the health care sector? Now, becoming a medical specialist such as an anesthesiologist might take years and a whacking great medical school bill; you're looking at four years of college, four years of medical school and then four years of residency, but there are other jobs in the healthcare sector that take far less time, brains and money. If you are looking to make a career switch into a secure, well paid job in health care, here are our recommended options:

NUTRITIONIST
Nutritionists and dietitians plan food and nutrition programs, meal preparation and serving, promote healthy eating habits and recommend dietary habits.

Average wage: $50,590
Qualifications required: a bachelor's degree as a minimum. Certification or registration vary by State.

NURSING AND PSYCHIATRIC AIDES
Nursing and psychiatric aides help care for the physically or mentally ill. Most jobs are in hospitals and residential care facilities.

Average wage: $11.46 per hour
Qualifications required: a high school diploma as a minimum. Specific qualifications vary by occupation, State requirements and other factors.

MEDICAL AND CLINICAL LABORATORY TECHNOLOGIST
Medical and clinical laboratory technologists perform tests for diagnosis, treatment and/or prevention of disease.

Average wage in general medical and surgical hospitals: $56,400
Qualifications required: A certificate or associate degree is typically required for clinical laboratory technicians, with a bachelor's degree in life sciences or medical technology is often required for clinical laboratory technologists.

PHLEBOTOMIST

A phlebotomist is a qualified technician trained to draw blood.

Average wage: $28,527
Qualifications: A phlebotomy certificate which takes two to four months on average to obtain. In some countries, no specific qualification is required as training is given on the job.

X RAY TECHNICIAN
X-Ray technicians (also known as radiology technicians) explain x-ray procedure to patients and help prepare them for x-rays. They also operate the testing equipment.

Average wage: $52,210
Qualifications: a certificate or associate degree. Certificate programs usually take 21-24 months to obtain.

These are just a few of the best jobs in health care. Others include physical therapist, occupational therapist, physician's therapist, medical coder and more.

Jobs in the health care industry are among the most secure, best paying and fastest growing. Just remember:

1. The population is aging
2. Health care is difficult to outsource abroad or online: you can't draw someone's blood via the internet (yet!)
3. Health care is an essential no matter how bad the economy. You might skip on cable fees, fine dining, vacations and car upgrades but you are hardly going to skip on your health when a physical ailment comes up.

Gemma Swansburg is a writer/researcher who had a midlife career shift. Read her latest article, a series of Luminess Tan reviews all about the at-home self tanning system featured in Allure Magazine. For best prices, special offers and great before/after images for the Luminess airbrush makeup system and other airbrush make up equipment, visit her site at airbrushmakeupfoundation.com