Best Vocational & Trade Careers

Dental hygienists assist dentists with important dental treatment tasks such as cleaning teeth and examining patients for signs of cavities, gingivitis and other tooth and gum diseases. They also provide patients with education and guidance about proper oral hygiene and operate dental x-ray equipment. State regulations determine the level of day-to-day supervision required by a licensed dentist.

These tech pros are responsible for the look, feel and function of websites and apps that connect to the internet. They sometimes also create and publish content for the sites and apps they design. Some Web pros, called front-end Web developers, specialize in creating the look of a product, while others, called back-end Web developers, specialize in building the behind-the-scenes technical framework.

Diagnostic medical sonographers help physicians and other health care personnel diagnose medical conditions. They use special high-frequency sound equipment to create images of organs, tissues and other matter inside the body that doctors and nurses can then examine. Some sonographers have a specialty, like cardiac, pediatric or obstetric/gynecological sonography, while others may work in multiple settings.

Breathing is one of the most important functions of the human body, and respiratory therapists work hard to help people manage or overcome diseases and other conditions that make it hard to breathe. They work often with chronic respiratory conditions like asthma and emphysema, but they may also provide acute care to patients who have suffered traumas like near-drowning or cardiac arrest.

Also called network technical support specialists, computer network support specialists work to ensure that private and public computer networks run as smoothly as they can. Some network support specialists work directly with network users, either at their homes or in a workplace setting, and some provide hands-on support to physical computer networks when they break down or need updating.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technologists use special high-tech scanners to capture detailed images of the organs and tissues in a patient's body. Patients are first injected with non-toxic dyes to make the images more visible to doctors and nurses. They often conduct screening interviews with patients, and those with enough training may troubleshoot technical issues with the scanning equipment.

Radiologic technologists are medical imaging workers who use x-rays, computed tomography (CT) scans and other means to produce images of the body for diagnostic purposes. Since they work with radiation, which can be dangerous in inappropriate doses, safety procedures are a big part of the job. They may train on multiple imaging methods or specialize in a particular radiologic modality.

These vital first responders work to ensure that teams of firefighters can operate smoothly in the high-pressure environment of a structure fire or other emergency. Supervisory positions aren't typically available to candidates without several years of experience in the fire service, but it's possible to land these jobs by completing a firefighting training program and building a strong work history in the department.

Shipping tends to take place behind the scenes, but the workers who help carry goods across the oceans and waterways are an extremely important part of the everyday life we take for granted. Captains, mates and pilots of water vessels each perform slightly different duties, with the captain being the most senior officer with the greatest responsibility for the ship. If you're a retired Navy servicemember, you may not even need additional training for this career.

They say that the difference between poison and medicine is the dose, and radiation therapy careers take this idea to heart. Radiation therapists treat cancer and other diseases in patients by using machines such as linear accelerators to deliver carefully calculated amounts of radiation to an affected area of the body. Radiation therapists are often part of oncology teams and may work alongside nurses and physicians with special cancer training.

Also known as PTAs, physical therapist assistants work under the supervision of licensed physical therapists to assist with therapeutic activities such as exercise, massage and balance training. They are also responsible for observing patients before, during and after therapy and recording their findings in a report. Adaptability is valuable in this career, since you're likely to see a wide variety of illnesses and injuries.

Occupational therapy assistants work under the supervision of licensed occupational therapists to help patients develop, improve or recover a range of necessary life skills. Job duties vary from case to case and can include such specific tasks as teaching a disabled patient the right way to maneuver from a bed into a wheelchair or helping injured workers get back into the job market by learning how to work around lost motor skills.

Funeral service managers are essential to the operation of a funeral home. They typically handle the administrative side of the business, which includes tasks such as supervising staff, conducting marketing campaigns and managing cash flow and other company resources. These management jobs aren't typically available at the entry level, but the right training and a few years of experience can get you there.

Paralegals and legal assistants support lawyers and law firms by performing clerical, administrative and research tasks. They may organize information, research relevant facts and statutes, draft legal correspondences and file exhibits, briefs and appeals with the court or opposing legal team, among other responsibilities. A great deal of research and filing is done electronically, so tech literacy can be a big plus in this career.

The preparation and use of radioactive drugs requires great care and good training. Nuclear medicine technologists learn how to work with the sensitive materials of their profession and provide support to physicians and other health care personnel when nuclear medicine becomes a part of a treatment plan. They may also act as emergency responders in the aftermath of power plant disruptions and other nuclear disasters.

Inspecting, maintaining and repairing aircraft systems can allow you to stimulate your mind while working with your hands. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians diagnose problems in wings, brakes, engines, electrical systems and other components of commercial and private aircraft. They repair or replace defective components using a combination of hand tools and power tools, essentially like an auto mechanic for the sky.

Technicians are needed in all forms of engineering, from the highly common mechanical and electrical disciplines to the less conventional aerospace, manufacturing and industrial engineering fields. Those who fall into the "other" category are generally engineering technicians who work in the less conventional engineering disciplines, but they may also be generally skilled technicians who move from one type of engineering to another.

Often called HVAC/R technicians, these essential technical workers use their expertise to set up and maintain the systems that manage our indoor climates. Aside from installing and repairing climate control systems, HVAC/R technicians sometimes sell service contracts to their clients and clean or maintain the systems over time. Proper storage, use, conservation and recycling of controlled refrigerants is essential in this career.

Whether it's theater on Broadway, a Hollywood feature film, a Halloween creepshow or your everyday local news, makeup artists are a big part of the production. The range of productions and performances that a makeup artist might work on is vast, and the detailed skill it takes to choose the right approach and create the right look can come at a high premium in the industry.

The oil and gas industry is surging in the U.S., and geological and petroleum technicians provide valuable support to the scientists, engineers and executives searching for more natural resources to exploit. Some of these technicians specialize in field work, such as gathering samples and installing outdoor equipment, while others focus on conducting tests, recording data, making maps and other tasks performed in a lab.

Air traffic controllers might be the best example of high paying careers with little schooling. The mean annual wage reported by the BLS is more than double the national average. These vital professionals manage the flow of aircraft into and out of the airspace around an airport and serve as pilots' eyes in the sky during takeoff and landing procedures, among other duties. Many specialize in one type of air traffic control, such as approach and departure.

Cardiovascular technologists and technicians are medical imaging personnel who specialize in imaging the heart and lungs. They may work in non-invasive modalities like electrocardiogram (EKG) testing or focus on assisting physicians and surgeons during certain invasive cardiac procedures. High-tech equipment is often used in cardiovascular imaging procedures, so students who are comfortable with technology should take well to the training.

These technicians help electrical and electronics engineers with the complex tasks of developing new computers, medical devices, communications equipment and more. Product evaluation and testing are often their primary duties. Training for these careers includes considerable education in electricity and electronics, and technicians may be called upon to build, calibrate or repair the instruments they use in the testing lab.

Contrary to popular belief, massage therapists don't just help people relax. Through the use of pressure and their knowledge of anatomy, massage therapists can relieve pain, improve circulation, help heal injuries and promote general wellness throughout the body. There are numerous massage modalities that a therapist may practice, and most working therapists learn the key techniques of several of them while in school.

Firefighters are named for one of the most important jobs they do, but fire is far from the only thing that keeps them busy. Most firefighters are also emergency medical technician (EMT) certified and respond to calls for help from sick or injured people at least as often as they're called to fight a structure fire. Many firefighter shifts last for 24 on-call hours, followed by 48 hours of rest.