Best and Worst Cities for New Grads

Now that you`re a college graduate, it`s time to start looking for a job. And in a tough economy, location really matters. The Huffington Post recently created a list of the best and worst cities for new grads to be looking for work in--are you starting your career in the wrong place?

Now that you`re a college graduate, it`s time to start looking for a job. And in a tough economy, location really matters. The Huffington Post recently created a list of the best and worst cities for new grads to be looking for work in--are you starting your career in the wrong place?

The Best Cities

1. Atlanta
With job growth occurring at an average of 3 percent a year, Atlanta is the best city in the U.S. for new grads entering the job market. And with an estimated 2.5 million new jobs projected to be added in the next 20 years (according to Mint.com), Atlanta is not only a great place to move to for a first job, but also a safe place to make a long-term home.

2. Pittsburgh
With booming health care and education sectors, as well as a thriving arts scene, Pittsburgh--the largest inland port in the U.S.--is poised to be a safe bet for employment for the foreseeable future.

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3. Austin
Austin`s pool of tech jobs and Mint.com`s prediction of a 47.8 percent increase in jobs over 20 years are making the capital of Texas hotter than ever. The weather is great, housing costs are competitive--and Austin is home to South by Southwest and other hot music and arts festivals.

4. Denver
According to a Pew Research Center survey, the capital of Colorado is the most desirable place to live in the U.S. Pair that with an expected yearly job-market expansion rate at of 2.54 percent, and it`s no wonder Denver is in the top five.

5. Minneapolis
Minneapolis provides a nurturing environment for green innovations and a warm climate for small businesses--despite subzero temperatures in winter months. Minneapolis is also one of America`s most literate cities, and is home to the third-largest theater district in the country.

The Worst Cities

1. New York City
Job growth is expected to increase by a mere 5 percent over the next 20 years--but that`s only one reason that New York City is among the worst places for a college grad. With the average rent of a studio apartment in Manhattan topping $2,400, the average grad simply cannot afford the NYC life.

2. Detroit
Housing prices are at rock bottom--but the job market is even lower. About a quarter of Detroit has been abandoned, thanks to a 15.5 percent unemployment rate. If you factor in under-employed people and people who`ve given up looking for work, the rate may be as high as 50 percent, making Detroit one of the worst places for a job search.

3. Los Angeles
Even with its glitz and glamour, the City of Angels is not a smart place for college grads seeking employment. With a low job-growth rate, terrible public transportation, and the worst air quality in America (according to the American Lung Association), Los Angeles isn`t the place to be.

4. Cleveland
Why doesn`t Cleveland rock for grads? The city`s unemployment rate rose to 11 percent in March and is unfortunately holding steady. Perhaps because of its high unemployment rate, Cleveland`s population has decreased drastically throughout the past 10 years.

5. St. Louis
The Gateway to the West rounds out the worst cities for new grads. Although 5,000 new jobs were recently added to the St. Louis job pool, thanks to a new casino and a new construction season, the city is quickly losing residents and still suffering with an unemployment rate of 9.5 percent.

Is it time to consider moving to a new city? New grads are likelier than other job seekers to be unencumbered by responsibilities, so if you are willing to relocate for your career, now might be a good time. And although Minneapolis is chilly in the winter months, you`ll probably prefer it to living in your parents` basement..........

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Worst-Paying College Degrees

There`s no denying the value of a college education: According to recent U.S. Census surveys, the median salary for college grads is more than $20,000 higher than that of people with only a high school diploma. And the unemployment rate for people with bachelor`s degrees is almost half the rate for people without.These workplace "frenemies" come in many guises, so be alert to the dangers lurking beneath some warm or appealing demeanors. Many frenemies mean no harm, while others are bullies whose power plays must be checked, according to Donna Flagg, the author of "Surviving Dreaded Conversations: How to Talk Through Any Difficult Situation at Work."

There`s no denying the value of a college education: According to recent U.S. Census surveys, the median salary for college grads is more than $20,000 higher than that of people with only a high school diploma. And the unemployment rate for people with bachelor`s degrees is almost half the rate for people without.

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But some degrees are worth more than others, as PayScale.com shows in its 2010 report on the earning power of bachelor`s degrees.

No surprise, engineering degrees continue to be top earners--and (also no big shocker) you have to go pretty far down the list before you see the liberal arts well represented.

But there`s more to choosing a major than comparing dollar amounts. We salute and congratulate the graduates whose interests (and hard work) have led them to the following degrees--the lowest-earning degrees on PayScale`s list.

10. Drama (starting annual salary: $35,600; mid-career annual salary: $56,600)
Some mega-millionaire movie stars with drama degrees (Denzel Washington and Meryl Streep, for instance) may be skewing these numbers upward--for every Denzel and Meryl, there are thousands of thespians struggling to make ends meet. But you don`t study drama because you want to get rich--you study drama because you love the theater. (And an ability to act comes in handy in many professions.)

9. Fine arts (starting annual salary: $35,800; mid-career annual salary: $56,300)
Well, it takes an artist to make a thrift-store wardrobe look like a million bucks.

8. Hospitality and tourism (starting annual salary: $37,000; mid-career annual salary: $54,300)
Jobs that include tips may be skewing these numbers downward--and this is an industry that looks to be on the rebound as the economy improves. Plus, the perks associated with jobs in hospitality and tourism may compensate for the comparatively low salaries--many jobs in the industry allow extensive travel (or provide considerable travel discounts).

7. Education (starting annual salary: $36,200; mid-career annual salary: $54,100)
For the right people, teaching is an immensely rewarding career--and it`s truly a noble one. The good news is, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the employment opportunities for primary, secondary, and special education teachers are expected to grow by 14 percent in the coming decade. And there will be plenty of new opportunities in continuing education for adults, as professional skill requirements change ever more rapidly.

6. Horticulture (starting annual salary: $37,200; mid-career annual salary: $53,400)
It seems that a green thumb doesn`t necessarily bring in the greenbacks. But when you work among flowers and plants in a nursery or garden, who needs `em?

5. Spanish (starting annual salary: $35,600; mid-career annual salary: $52,600)
As an old proverb puts it, when you learn a new language, you "gain a new soul." Who could put a price on that? And certainly, knowing Spanish--the language with the second-highest number of native speakers (after Mandarin)--in addition to English opens up a world of job opportunities beyond Spanish teacher or translator (as a plus, you can better enjoy a world of fantastic Spanish-language music, movies, and literature).

4. Music (starting annual salary: $34,000; mid-career annual salary: $52,000)
Hey, if being a musician were easy, everyone would do it. Some of us are guitar heroes; most of us just play the video game.

3. Theology (starting annual salary: $34,800; mid-career annual salary: $51,500)
This is the perfect example of a degree earned by someone who`s "not in it for the money": people who choose to study theology often feel they`re pursuing a higher calling (and often feel a strong desire to do good in the world, no matter the cost).

2. Elementary education (starting annual salary: $33,000; mid-career annual salary: $42,400)
Specializing in elementary education means a lower median salary than an education degree (number 7).

1. Social work (starting annual salary: $33,400; mid-career annual salary: $41,600)
They say that crime doesn`t pay. As this list seems to point out, neither does helping people. So it`s a good thing that many college students seem to believe that helping others is its own reward--social workers are an indispensable safety net for people who`ve fallen on difficult times. And the BLS reports that the outlook for opportunities in this field are favorable--particularly for social workers who work in rural areas or with senior citizens.

(Source: PayScale salary survey. Methodology: Annual pay is for bachelor`s graduates without higher degrees. Typical starting salaries are for graduates with two years of experience; mid-career salaries are for graduates with 15 years of experience. PayScale also provides salary information by college; for more information, check out PayScale`s Best Colleges Report.)


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Stay Fit WhileYou Earn: 5 Well-Paid, Physically Demanding Jobs

If you`re tired of desk jobs that leave you no time to work out, consider switching to a career where you buff up on the job instead of gaining "cubicle weight." While labor-saving devices have made many jobs easier, there are still plenty of jobs that require physical fitness. Some of them pay quite well, particularly jobs that also expose workers to physical danger, notes career expert Laurence Shatkin, the author of "175 Best Jobs Not Behind a Desk."

If you`re tired of desk jobs that leave you no time to work out, consider switching to a career where you buff up on the job instead of gaining "cubicle weight." While labor-saving devices have made many jobs easier, there are still plenty of jobs that require physical fitness. Some of them pay quite well, particularly jobs that also expose workers to physical danger, notes career expert Laurence Shatkin, the author of "175 Best Jobs Not Behind a Desk."

Because so many Americans are out of shape, physically fit people have an edge when applying for physically demanding jobs, says Brian Sharkey, a coauthor of the 2008 book "Hard Work." You must be in shape to qualify for many tough jobs, and some jobs, such as firefighter, require passing an annual fitness exam.

Sharkey recommends that if you`re out of shape and want a shot at a physically hard job, you allow several months to get in shape. Prospective employers can provide information on the physical requirements for their jobs and in some cases can offer training recommendations. Many people need to build up their strength or work on the aerobic conditioning needed for many tough jobs.

"You need to have endurance to do something like fighting a wildfire all day long," Sharkey says.

Here are some of the best-paying jobs that demand--and help you maintain--physical fitness:

1. Sheet-metal worker
It`s sweaty, dangerous work: fabricating all the metal pieces needed in buildings, from downspouts and siding to air-conditioning ducts. Apprentices usually do four or more years of classroom and on-the-job training, and demand is expected to grow by 6 percent in the next decade, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports. Median annual salary: $52,829


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2. Police and sheriff`s patrol officer
They may have a patrol-cars-and-doughnuts image, but in reality law officers may need to sprint after suspects or wrestle them to the ground. The BLS reports that future demand for officers is expected to grow 8.7 percent. Median annual salary: $50,190

3. Electrician
Working around potentially dangerous electrical wires all day, electricians need strength to bend conduit, climb ladders, and lift heavy objects. They may also need to stoop or kneel for long periods as they wrestle wires into place. As we head into economic recovery, demand for electricians is forecast to soar nearly 12 percent, the BLS says. Apprenticeship programs usually last four years. Shatkin says demand may be better than initially forecast due to the electrical component in booming green technology--electricians are needed to wire solar panels. Median annual salary: $45,524

4. Firefighter
Blazing heat, blinding smoke, irregular hours--what`s not to love? Firefighting attracts people who thrive on danger and who can go with the flow. Most firefighters work for local governments. Population growth in coming years will see this occupation grow more than 18 percent. Median annual salary: $44,795

5. Brickmason or blockmason
Bricklaying is one task that`s still done by hand--lifting heavy materials into place and stooping or kneeling are common workday activities. Apprentices train for up to four years. The BLS foresees more than 11 percent growth in the field, with particular opportunity for workers with restoration skills. Median annual salary: $40,656

Business reporter Carol Tice contributes to several national and regional business publications.

Source: All salary data is from PayScale.com. The salaries listed are median, annual salaries for full-time workers with five to eight years of experience and include any bonuses, commissions, or profit sharing.

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Future Careers: What`s Hot, What`s Not

Preparing for a career is a serious business, and the wrong choice can be costly. You don`t want to graduate after several years` work only to find that your industry has relocated to China. Technology has affected labor markets in two ways: First, companies jumped on labor-saving devices and processes that allowed them to increase productivity while decreasing labor requirements--that`s why the only typesetters and telephone operators you see these days are in the movies. Second, unskilled jobs that were more difficult to automate have been moved overseas.

Preparing for a career is a serious business, and the wrong choice can be costly. You don`t want to graduate after several years` work only to find that your industry has relocated to China. Technology has affected labor markets in two ways: First, companies jumped on labor-saving devices and processes that allowed them to increase productivity while decreasing labor requirements--that`s why the only typesetters and telephone operators you see these days are in the movies. Second, unskilled jobs that were more difficult to automate have been moved overseas.

So what will tomorrow`s in-demand jobs be--and which jobs are on their way out?

Not hot: data entry, customer service, and collections
As companies look for ways to save on labor costs, more of them are off-shoring entry-level "knowledge worker" jobs such as customer service, collections, and data entry. Many of these jobs can be handled remotely from countries like India, where English is widely spoken and the educational system is good. The trend is for English-speaking countries with low labor costs to pull these formerly lucrative jobs out of North America.


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Hot: avoid off-shoring with these careers
A wise bet is to nail down a career that requires your actual presence--jobs that can`t be done from overseas, no matter how inexpensive or brilliant the workers are: for example, doctors, hair stylists, teachers, nurses, auto-repair specialists, and physical therapists. Alternatively, careers that require a high degree of creativity are good choices--for instance, writing, marketing, and advertising. Cultural differences and language barriers will likely prevent most of these industries from moving offshore.

Prepare for top careers
The top careers of the future are not entry-level positions. They require career training in the form of an on-campus or online degree to get started. Here are five careers that are most likely to offer interesting work, loads of opportunity, nice paychecks, and job security.

1. Physical therapy
Physical therapists are health professionals who help people restore physical function and movement, often in consultation with doctors. The education requirements are extensive: in addition to a bachelor`s degree, you need to graduate from an accredited master`s or doctoral physical therapy program. Job prospects are expected to grow by 30 percent from 2008 to 2018, much faster than average. If you like the idea of making people function and feel better, you may like this career a lot. You`ll probably like the pay, too: according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) those at the top earn six-figure incomes.

2. Automotive specialties
Auto specialists do things like mechanical work, collision repair, artistic auto painting, and antique-vehicle restoration; some even work on high-performance race cars. Pay varies widely, but according to the BLS, the best (and most fun!) opportunities go to people with formal career training, which can range from two-year associate`s degree programs to bachelor`s degrees in mechanical engineering. Top auto-repair specialists earn over $50,000 a year, and those who add mechanical engineering degrees can earn nearly $80,000.

3. Writing
Most working writers have bachelor`s degrees in English, journalism, or communications, but other degrees are acceptable in many industries if applicants demonstrate good writing skills. Many work on marketing, instructional, and technical materials; online journalism is popular, too. (Only a few writers pen bestsellers and award-winning screenplays.) Many writers work as freelancers, so business courses can come in handy as well. In-demand professional writers and editors can earn six-figure incomes. There are many opportunities, but competition is keen because many people want to enjoy this career.

4. Legal careers
Legal careers can allow you to work in any area that interests you, including environmental law, estate planning, personal injury, and politics. And there is a career for every education level--from legal-assistant certificate programs to bachelor`s degrees in paralegal studies to Juris Doctor (JD) degrees for attorneys. Despite excellent growth in these professions, the BLS states that competition will be tough, and you`ll need formal training to grab the best jobs. Earning potential for top-level pros ranges from about $60,000 for legal secretaries and assistants to about $75,000 for paralegals, to hefty six-figure salaries for lawyers.

5. Advertising
Advertising is a sexy profession and a "highly coveted" one, according to the BLS. So of course there`s a lot of competition. Advertising, marketing, public-relations, and sales managers are responsible for their companies` market research; marketing strategies; public image; print, online, and TV ads; and more. This job allows a lot of creativity but also brings pressure, long hours, and frequently a lot of travel. Most employers prefer candidates with a bachelor`s degree in business, an MBA, or a degree in communications, public relations, or journalism. If you can take the heat, you can pull in a cool salary--top dogs earn over $120,000 a year.

Choosing a career
When you`re considering a profession, take a look at trends that drive opportunity. In addition to technology and labor economics, there are social trends to consider--for example, the growing demand for green industry and the aging of the U.S. population. These are just a couple of the factors that can make a career hot--or not.

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