There are several subspecialties for telecommunications equipment technicians.  Central office technicians keep the hubs for communications systems operating, the offices where switching and routing gear manage the traffic for voice, data or video transmission, or all three.  Much of this equipment is fiber optic today, requiring workers that are thoroughly knowledgeable on the technology.

Phone system or PBX installers install the sophisticated communications systems that are standard in many businesses today.  For some of these systems there are elaborate internal networking functions as well as the standard switchboard/private line arrangement.   Many times the systems require software installation with a computerized central distribution point.

Home Installers provide the installation and repair services for residential service and for small businesses.  This usually means bringing a connection into the building at one or more points from the telephone pole on the street, or through an underground trench containing conduit.  These services can be for phone services, for data transmission, for television service or for all three functions from one vendor.

Education

About half of all telecommunications technicians have completed some post-secondary education or an associate’s degree.  Depending on the job, there may be a certification requirement from vendors who train installers for their equipment.  Telecommunications equipment technicians that have responsibility for a complex network may have a bachelor’s degree in electronics or a related field.

Employment

There were almost 200,000 professionals working in this field in 2006, according to federal statistics.

Job Outlook

Job growth is expected to be slow in the profession as equipment becomes more reliable, more standardized and easier to install.  The wireless industry is also having an impact on land-line services.  There should be good opportunity for phone system installers however, as businesses continue to upgrade their communications systems.

Salary

10^th Percentile           $31,330

Median Salary             $59,600

90^th Percentile           $69,470

Source: U.S. Department of Labor

Solar photovoltaic (PV) systems convert energy from the sun’s rays into electricity.  Most are identifiable by the large panels (usually 3×5 feet) that look something like a skylight when mounted on a pitched residential roof.  But solar cells are also manufactured as flexible panels, roof tiles, and shingles. Other cells may be integrated with building materials, such as siding or windows.

Solar system installers mount those panels on roofs or on racks positioned to maximize exposure to the sun, connect them together and then patch them into an inverter, which converts the DC solar power to AC.  The final step is connecting the PV power source to the building’s electrical circuit and to the main electrical grid.

Education

At this stage of the industry, many solar installers are people who came to the business from one of the construction trades.  Some states currently require that the electrical work for a system be performed by an electrician, and so people who are seeking careers in the business should obtain certification or an associate’s degree in electrical design or a related field.

Employment

The U.S. Labor Department estimates that there are 7,000 solar PV installers working currently, half in California. There may be many others, however, who are currently electricians or employed by electrical contractors.  The increasing number of industrial installations are probably done by electrical firms.

Job Outlook

Increasing energy costs combined with the tax breaks that many states are offering for alternative energy installations will cause a steep increase in the job opportunities for this field.  The entire “green” industry field is seen as a high-growth sector, and home solar installations are the beginning for multifaceted solar power usage.  Job prospects are excellent.

Salary Range           Hourly

Entry Level                                     $15/hr

Crew Manager                               $25/hr

Electrical Professional              $35+/hr

Source: U.S. Department of Labor

This profession is divided into two categories.  Property and real estate managers oversee the performance of investment properties: income-producing commercial or residential properties that need supervision in order to maximize revenue.  Community association property managers supervise the maintenance of condominium projects that have common open space and common heating, lighting or water systems.

The careers in property management are with commercial and residential investment properties.  These can range from managing a couple of apartment buildings to oversight of a major high rise.  Property managers usually handle the finances on a property: collecting rent, paying bills and making sure that taxes and insurance are paid.  They also maintain a maintenance schedule, providing oversight for the individuals or contracted firm that keeps the building clean.

Education

Firms that own or manage commercial property are increasingly seeking out property managers with bachelor’s degrees in accounting, business, real estate or finance.  Community property managers are generally individuals with experience in building maintenance.  In large property management firms new hires may start out as assistants, learning how to assemble a budget for a building’s maintenance and any capital costs that may be necessary, as well as studying how to market a building to potential tenants.

Employment

There were 329,000 professionals working in property management in 2006, according to the Department of Labor.  Many worked for real estate firms and property management companies.  Others were employed by corporations with large real estate holdings; however over half were self employed.

Job Outlook

The profession is expected to grow by 15% over the next several years, faster than the projected growth for jobs overall.  Continued construction of residential and commercial properties that rent or lease space will require additional managers.

Salary

10^th Percentile           $21,860

Median Salary             $46,130

90^th Percentile           $102,250

Source: U.S. Department of Labor

 Home sales can become a challenge, especially in a real estate market that is unsettled at best.  Realtors and homeowners who want to maximize the attractive features of a property turn to home stagers, people who can make an assessment of  a property and recommend changes in décor, room layout and exterior details.

 Some realtors do this work themselves and some realtors become home stagers.  Most are self employed; most will consult on home alterations for showing purposes and then make those changes themselves, for a fee, if the owner prefers.  They will also fill a vacant house with rented furniture in order to make it appealing to prospective buyers.  Their work is called interior redesign.

Education

It helps to know the real estate market when working with properties for sale, and many home stagers have passed one of the real estate exams.  But the best education for this work is a degree in interior design, where great attention is given to the use of space and light.  There are many organizations that offer seminars in interior redesign, some of which pass out certification documents to participants.  There are no current licensing or certification requirements for the profession.

Employment

There are no official estimates on the number of interior redesign professionals working today, but consider the fact that there are over half a million real estate agents in the country.  Some percentage of that number engage in staging properties on a regular basis. 

Job Outlook

Home staging should be a growth profession over the next several years as there is currently an enormous backlog of existing homes that owners wish to sell and cannot.  Once the real estate market is thriving again, sales of existing properties will remain competitive with new homes on the market.

Salary

Most home staging professionals are self employed and charge for their services on a contract basis.  A simple walkthrough on a small home may cost the homeowner $75, while the fee for redesigning and decorating may be up to $500.  Any costs for furniture rental or labor goes to the homeowner as well.  With a network of real estate agents for referrals, this profession is an excellent home-base business.

Construction superintendents, sometimes called construction managers, are responsible for overseeing the planning and execution of large construction projects.  Construction supervisors, who manage the crews, report to the construction manager.  The construction superintendent may oversee the selection of a general contractor or various subcontractors. It is his or her job to keep a construction project on time and within budget.  Projected costs are the reason a construction superintendent is involved in the planning process.

 Professionals in this position may be responsible for ordering materials, making sure that proper equipment is on site, and that construction supervisors are following blueprint designs and building codes.   On big projects like a major high rise or a public works project such as a sewer plant, construction superintendents may handle one of several components to the project. They must be able to track budgets, use critical path charts and deal with setbacks such as inclement weather.

Education

 Most people moving into the career today will need a bachelor’s degree in construction science, building science or civil engineering.  Prior experience in the construction field is a plus.  The job requires familiarity with computer programs that manage inventory, schedules and personnel.

Employment

There were about 487,000 construction superintendents working in the U.S. in 2006.  Over half were self employed, meaning that they ran businesses providing specialty construction services.  Others worked for contractors or for architects.

Job Outlook

The profession is expected to grow faster than the projected growth of jobs overall in the next decade.  Sophistication of the job requirements will also grow, as energy efficiency becomes both a construction goal and a code issue, environmental protection remains a potent issue and construction materials increasingly become composite products.

Salary

10^th Percentile             $47,000

Median Salary             $79,680

90^th Percentile             $145,920

Source: U.S. Department of Labor

 The role of building inspector is usually affiliated with local government.  Over 40% of all building inspectors work for municipal or county governments.  Their primary job is to ensure that building plans submitted for a construction permit meet code requirements, and to periodically inspect a construction job once it is underway.

 They must be thoroughly knowledgeable with code requirements, which are often detailed and cover all manner of construction issues.  Meeting fire safety codes is one of the priority code issues.  Some building inspectors specialize in electrical systems and some in plumbing, especially in the bigger cities.  There are also some specialists in structural issues such as foundations and steel framing.

Education

Some inspectors come to the job with extensive construction experience.  More often today, applicants have at least an associate’s degree with courses in building inspection, construction technology, home inspection and mathematics.  Inspectors must know how to read a blueprint and how to keep records on a construction job as it moves through various permitting and inspection phases.  In 2006, over two thirds of all building and home inspectors had some college experience.  Certification or licensing may be required by the state or local government.

Employment

 According to Labor Department statistics there were 110,000 construction and building inspectors working in the United States in 2006.

Job Outlook

Jobs in this sector are expected to grow by 18% over the decade 2006 – 2016, which is considerably faster than the projected growth rate of jobs overall.  These projections were made prior to the collapse of the housing market however, and so may be somewhat optimistic.

 Salary

 10^th Percentile           $31,270

Median Salary             $50,180

90^th Percentile           $78,070

 Source: U.S. Department of Labor

Line installers connect the communications company’s central office to buildings. They install poles and terminals, and place wires and cables that lead to a homes and residential buildings; often they install the internal wiring as well.  They are also responsible for operating the construction equipment that allows them to dig holes, set and secure telephone poles.  They also work in bucket trucks connecting or repairing lines at the pole. Some line installers specialize in splicing cables where they cannot be connected with a normal junction device.

Education

 There may be no formal educational requirements for a line installer, but some post-secondary education in electronics would be valuable.  Many who end up as line install and repair professionals start out as untrained assistants cutting tree limbs and working as laborers on pole installations.  Some companies run formal apprentice programs in conjunction with a labor union, usually the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW).

Employment

 There were about 168,000 line installers and repairers working in 2006, according to the U.S. Department of Labor

Job Outlook

Federal statisticians predict slow growth for this profession, as wired networks are upgraded with more reliable equipment that requires less maintenance.  The wireless industry is also having a major impact on traditional communications companies.  One of the roles that won’t change is the massive service and repair operations that result from winter storms, but increasingly system operators are subcontracting that work.

Salary

10^th Percentile             $25,790

Median Wage                  $48,090

90^th Percentile             $67,990

 Source:  U.S. Department of Labor

Real estate appraisers are licensed professionals who provide formal estimates of a property’s worth for mortgage purposes, to set a good sales price, for tax purposes and for estate management. 

An appraiser begins with an assessment of the neighborhood in which the property sits, and its proximity to any factors relating to property value, such as the presence of a major highway nearby.  The heart of a real estate appraisal is a detailed inspection that includes the condition of the foundation, roof, appliances, the overall condition of the house and any repairs that may be necessary.  The appraiser will also survey recent sales in the area of comparable properties in order to provide a context for the property’s value.

Education

All appraisers and assessors are now required to have a bachelor’s degree of some sort, although it need not be in a related field.  There are specific training courses required as part of the licensing process, which are usually available at community colleges, vocational or online schools.

All states require licensure of appraisers.  Obtaining a license will include passing a state exam approved by the Appraisal Qualifications Board of the Appraisal Foundation, as well as going through the educational requirements teaching the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice, also established by the Appraisal Foundation.   As of 2008, there are specific college hours requirements as well as the requirement of 2,000 hours of on the job training.

Employment

The Department of Labor estimated that there were 101,000 real estate appraisers and assessors working in the U.S. in 2006.  One third of them were self employed, working on a consulting basis with real estate firms and investment firms.  Twenty five percent of them worked for municipalities, assessing property values in order to establish tax rates.

Job Outlook

The overall projection for job growth in this field is 17% over the next several years, according to the Department of Labor.  That estimate was made in 2006, however, before the real estate market imploded.  Much of that growth was estimated to be coming from financial firms, however, seeking independent appraisals of properties prior to issuing mortgages; that portion of the job market will remain healthy.

Salary Range

10th Percentile  $25,900

Median Salary  $47,370

90th Percentile  $88,680

A claims examiner has a little different role than that of an adjuster, who looks into the facts of an insurance claim.  The examiner is responsible for making sure that all relevant guidelines, legal requirements and regulatory demands are met.  Most insurance examiners work for health insurance or life insurance companies.

In the case of a health care claim, the examiner will determine whether the cost of the claim is reasonable for the diagnosis.  In order to get a fix on this issue, an examiner uses tables that provide average costs for medical procedures, expected procedures for specific diagnoses, average hospital stays for certain procedures, etc.  Examiners are the individuals that authorize treatments – or refer the request to an investigator for a closer look.  In life insurance, an examiner investigates the cause of death, or may be called on to look into the health of a new life insurance applicant.

Education

There are no formal education requirements for an insurance claims examiner, but over half of the professionals in the field today hold a bachelor’s or associate’s degree.  Employers are increasingly looking for applicants with post secondary education in order to handle the increasingly complex nature of medical care in general and the treatment options that continue to expand.

Employment

There were 319,000 insurance adjusters, examiners, investigators and appraisers working in 2006, according to the Department of Labor. 

Job Outlook

The job opportunities in this field are expected to grow about as fast as average; in the range of 11% to 14% over the next several years.  Competition in the field is fairly steep because it draws applicants from law enforcement and the military.

Salary Range

10th Percentile  $34,140

Median Salary  $55,760

20th Percentile  $84,260

Source: U.S. Department of Lab

Insurance appraisers are assigned to inspect insured property that has been damaged and develop an estimate of the costs for repair or replacement.  A large number of  appraisers work in the auto insurance field.  They will inspect a damaged vehicle that their insurer covers, and then provide a damage report and estimate to the insurance adjuster.  Appraisers play a valuable role in the auto insurance business because they are a source for an unbiased estimate.  The alternative to the insurance company would be a body shop, which may or may not provide a fair estimate.

Education

There is no formal education requirement for insurance appraisers.  Over half have either a bachelor’s or associate’s degree, while another 17% have some college experience.  Employers are inclined to hire appraisers with some post-secondary education due to the amount of paperwork involved as well as the personal skills involved in developing a quality estimate by talking with repair professionals.

Employment

There were 319,000 people employed in the insurance appraisal, adjuster, examiner and investigator positions in 2006.  Appraisers held a relatively small percentage of these jobs; about 5% of them were auto appraiser jobs.

Job Outlook

The job opportunities for appraisers will grow at a little faster pace than those for other professionals in the insurance settlement business.  Appraisals on damaged property cannot be easily automated, and appraisers also act as the insurance company’s first line of defense in discussing the particulars of a pending insurance claim.

Salary Range

10th Percentile  $36,500

Median Salary  $53,440

90th Percentile  $73,210

Source: U.S. Department of Labor