Median pay: $115,000
Top pay: $160,000
10-year job growth: 7%
Total jobs: 30,000
The job:
You'll manage a project or contract, and your duties will include developing timelines and supervising staff and budgets. You'll report to senior management. Your military training transfers well to the aviation or the aerospace arena, but you're in demand anywhere in defense because employers are looking for hires who already have security clearance.
How to switch:
While getting certified helps -- you can do so through the Project Management Institute (pmi.org) -- it's not necessary, particularly if you have previous project management experience.
Quality of life ratings:
| Personal satisfaction |
Benefit to society |
Low stress |
Flexibility |
| B |
B |
D |
A |
By Anne C. Lee and Heather Muse
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