There’s a common belief that to succeed in the health care field you need more than an undergraduate degree. High profile positions like doctor, dentist, veterinarian, and physical therapist require doctorate degrees. It usually takes many years of college to qualify for these positions.

Fortunately, if you don’t want to spend a lot of time in school, there are health care jobs that pay a decent wage and do not require a graduate degree. Here are the top 10 paying jobs in health care that you can qualify for with a bachelor’s degree.

1. Radiation Therapist

Median Salary in 2010: $74,980 ($36.05/hour)

Radiation therapists deliver radiation therapy to cancer patients. They are specially trained to use a machine called a linear accelerator to direct radiation towards the area of the body that needs it, as prescribed by a radiation oncologist and radiation physicist. They operate the linear accelerator in a separate room to avoid radiation exposure. They can still interact with the patient during the procedure through an intercom system.

Radiation therapists also interact with patients, answering any questions or concerns they have, and are responsible for keeping accurate records of treatment sessions. They must have people skills and be able to handle stress since they interact with patients dealing with cancer. They must also have math and science skills and be detail-oriented to keep accurate treatment records. They should have the physical ability to help patients on and off the treatment table.

Some states require radiation therapists to be licensed or certified to be employed in the field, and they may be required to take continuing medical education courses or exams to maintain employment. Most radiation therapists work in radiation treatment centers or hospitals.

Job opportunities for radiation therapists are expected to grow by 27% between 2008 and 2018. As the population ages, there will be a greater demand for these workers so job prospects look favorable. The median annual salary for radiation therapists in 2010 was $74,980, or $36.05 an hour. In addition, many radiation therapists get reimbursements for continuing medical education.
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Appliance repair is a great career for people who are mechanically inclined, who enjoy disassembling and reassembling mechanics, and for those skilled at working with tools and appliances. Appliance repairmen install and repair home appliances, like refrigerators, dishwashers, washers and dryers, ranges, microwave ovens, and window air conditioning units. Most appliance repairmen, commonly referred to as home appliance repairers or home appliance repair technicians, work on site within a client’s home or business. A number of home appliance repairers service portable small appliances, like vacuums, kitchen appliances, and microwaves, within a centralized repair shop or store rather than within a client’s home.

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Automotive mechanics or automotive service technicians source, repair, and resolve problems with cars and light trucks. Auto mechanics repair mechanical issues and work with various electronic systems, computers, and other forms of technology to fix vehicles which have broken down. As automobile technologies have grown increasingly complex, automotive mechanics must learn how all parts and systems within a vehicle work together to ensure proper function. Auto mechanics inspect, maintain, and repair cars and light trucks which run on gasoline, electricity, or alternative fuels. Automotive mechanics use a variety of power and hand tools, manuals, and computerized machines to improve performance of cars or trucks.

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A wedding is considered one of the most important events in a person’s lifetime. Weddings are part of a booming $42 billion dollar industry within the United States, with over 2.5 million ceremonies taking place every day. The role of a bridal consultant is often key to executing every couple’s fairy tale wedding to provide long lasting memories for everyone in attendance. A bridal consultant offers and assists brides regarding major decisions regarding a couple’s wedding day. As each wedding is as unique and creative as every couple, bridal consultants arrange all of the essential aspects of a wedding. Bridal consultants assist couples in the decision making process regarding style, budget, vendor referrals, etiquette, and any other recommendations. Bridal consultants work closely with the engaged couple to ensure every aspect of a couple’s wedding day is precisely how the bride and groom want it to be. Bridal consultants act as liaisons for their clients, working closely with caterers, florists, photographers, entertainers, and other staff. Bridal consultants also guide brides through all major wedding decisions regarding venue, theme, location, setting, attire, officiant, flowers, foods, beverages, guest lists, invitations, music, honeymoon planning, photographers, vendors, serving staff, and marriage licensing.

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Generically, engineering is a profession that either involves applying certain very specific scientific principles to the design and construction of things like engines, machines and buildings, or changing the genetic structure of cells and various materials. When it is linked to particular areas of interest, engineering takes on completely different aspects in a variety of fields ranging from chemistry to aerodynamics and nuclear physics.

Broadly speaking there are five major academic fields of interest: civil engineering, chemical and electrical engineering, as well as industrial and mechanical engineering. Then there are a host of additional specialties ranging from biomedical engineering to computer engineering.

Career options are vast and varied and offer opportunities for every possible type of job in different environments including offices, laboratories and the great outdoors.

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If you are planning to follow a career in some sort of science, you’ll be interested in the degrees that lead to the highest paying jobs. Specific majors range from various engineering degrees, to physics and chemistry, several biology-related degrees, and even geology and physics. Starting median or average pay can be as high as $64,800 a year, rising to anything from $72,600 to $108,000 annually and even more with increasing experience. Of course your personal interests and strengths will both impact the bachelor degree you choose, although many people have strengths in more than one field.

This list of the 10 best paying undergraduate degrees in science has been designed to help you choose the most appropriate and ultimately financially rewarding degree for you to study.

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A bad economy can mean less jobs for everyone but it can provide you with a unique opportunity if you choose the right field to work in. There are industries that are don’t experience a downturn during a recession. In fact, some of them continue to grow.

To ensure that your next position is one with long term potential, you can earn a degree in recession proof field. Here are seven degrees that do well even in a bad economy.

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If you want to earn a good salary without committing many years to college, you may have more options than you realize. Some occupations that pay a decent salary don’t require a four year or graduate degree. In two years, you can earn an associate’s degree from an online school, technical institute, or community college and become qualified for these jobs.

Here are 10 occupations that pay well and only require an associate’s degree.

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When online programs started, many were skeptical. How in the world could anyone obtain the knowledge needed for a degree by sitting in front of a computer (in their pajamas, no less) and reading? Doesn’t someone seeking a degree need to attend face-to-face classes at a college campus to get an adequate learning experience?

The answer to that is a resounding “no”. Online education has come so far in recent years. Courses do not consist merely of reams of papers, articles, and textbook chapters for the learner to read. They are interactive, with course discussions, collaborative group work, video clips, interactive media pieces, and social networking. These all provide for a positive learning experience and meet the needs of online students everywhere.

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Landscape designers plan public spaces, like parks, gardens, golf courses, and residential communities. Landscape designers work as landscape contractors who combine art and science to blend natural and man made elements to beautify outdoor surroundings. Landscape designers combine knowledge of horticulture and gardening to help parks bloom in cities, design green space for suburban areas, restore wetlands, or combine architecture with trees, flowers, or structures to accent buildings. Future landscape designers must enjoy working with their hands, possess strong analytical skills, have artistic talent, and possess strong oral and written communication skills. Landscape designers must also be technologically savvy to use computer software like CAD, word processing, desktop publishing, and spreadsheets to develop presentations, proposals, reports, and land impact studies for clients, colleagues, and superiors.

[Click here to receive free information about online degree programs in landscape design]

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