Median pay: $78,600
Top pay: $153,000
10-year job growth: 23%
Total jobs: 20,000
The job:
With your observations and expertise, you help companies implement training, education and development programs. You also help employees acquire the tools and skills that allow them to do their best work. "The longer-term relationships I build can lead to real deep transformation,” says Claire Laughlin, an independent training consultant in Santa Cruz, Calif. As organizations face hiring freezes, more are investing in developing the workers they've got. "Every employee is being asked to rethink and redesign their job, and employers have really responded by trying to help them acquire new skills so they can thrive," Laughlin says.
How to switch:
Use the expertise you've gained in your previous industry and take self-study courses in educational design. A background in human resources or communication can help, too. Get more info from the American Society for Training and Development at astd.org.
Quality of life ratings:
| Personal satisfaction |
Benefit to society |
Low stress |
Flexibility |
| A |
B |
C |
B |
By Donna Rosato and Grace Wong
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