Best career field?

[lmyers1]

Anything with a public safety retirement...(i.e. peace officer, firefighter, city or state employee etc). Those jobs have strong unions, benifits that are better than most private sector jobs and you can retire at 50 for up to 90% of your salary and you don't need 7 yrs of college to do it. Lot of police officer spots in Sac and the Bay Area will start you at about 80K your first year and you top out in 6 figures. Just my 2 cents.

[M-Ten]

80K for being a police officer? Seriously?

Also what are the benefits that you guys keep talking about?

[FSANE]

have you seen a cost of living in SF?

Btw its not 90% its 50% of your last three year salary. And you dont think everyone else is trying to get that job, which I highly doubt that starts @ 80K. 60k sounds more resonable.

[02cetransam]

Some pharmacists do still compound prescriptions but it's not as common any longer, all pharmacists are tained on how to do it. They also provide basic consults relating to drug interactions and some other subject areas. They can also provide some very basic medical services, such as providing flu shots.

There are different options for pharmacists including working in insurance, retail, hospital setting and pharmaceutical companies. It can be more interesting then it sounds but definately not for every one.

I have to agree, hospital and retail pharmacy are night and day different!

[M-Ten]

How does the pension work? Is it 50% or 90%?

[Spaz]

have you seen a cost of living in SF?

Btw its not 90% its 50% of your last three year salary. And you dont think everyone else is trying to get that job, which I highly doubt that starts @ 80K. 60k sounds more resonable.

i am friends with many of the officers in my area... township officers start off around 30k... staties start around 45 -60k.... it all depends on the shift as well...

[FSANE]

How does the pension work? Is it 50% or 90%?

Here is a quick example of how 50% pention works

Its 20 years of service to retire. (Some states have 25 years)

On your 18th year, you make $80,000
On your 19th year, you make $100,000
On your 20th year, you make $95,000

with Simple Math to find out the Median.

80,000 + 100,000 + 95,000 = 275,000

So in the last three years you made $275,000

Now Divide by 3 for three years

275,000 / 3 = 91,666

So now take 50% out of $91,666

91,666 / 2 = 45,833

So now after you retire, the city will pay you $45,833 a year for life.

[Tonik]

Engineering is an excellent field if you're really not quite sure where you want to go...

Civil engineers
Mechanical engineers
Industrial engineers
Electrical engineers
Electronics engineers
Aerospace engineers
Computer hardware engineers
Environmental engineers
Chemical engineers
Health and safety engineers
Materials engineers
Petroleum engineers
Nuclear engineers
Biomedical engineers
Marine engineers and naval architects
Mining and geological engineers
Agricultural engineers

It's a good career in case your chosen field goes to a downturn. Say, you major in Chemical Engineering but the industry slows down or you get bored. The jump to petroleum engineering is not too drastic and may not require more school. Personally I am planned for Aeronautical Engineering due to my fascination with airplanes but if it turns out to be not for me, I have many other choices.

I really just want to say "Rocket Scientist" if anyone asks me what I do for a living.

[02cetransam]

at the end of the day, you have to do what you like or else going to work will be a real chore.

[Hot Black Trans-Am]

I get paid to post so what can top that?

[jad628]

80K for being a police officer? Seriously?

Also what are the benefits that you guys keep talking about?

401K- agency puts in 5% of your salary, you can put in more.
457- all you though.
Health/dental/vision- You only pay a small portion, the agency's government pays the rest. I pay about $80 a week to cover a family of four.

State retirement- Ours is based on years of service (30 is the norm for full retirement, but there are other ways too). Years of service creates a multiplier for the calculation. Full retirement here greatly exceeds 50% of your salary. More like 65%. Plus until you get paid back the amount you paid into the State system, it's state tax-free.

Good life insurance. If I'm killed in the line-of-duty, my family is taken care of. That's a BIG comfort.

Civil service board (not everyone has this, especially not Sheriff's). Basically, even if you are cited for termination by the chain of command, if the civil service board doesn't agree, you are still employed.

Other voluntary retirement funds. I'm in a plan where every cop enrolled (you can only join when you are going through the Academy) pays every retiring cop $10. For a big agency, say 1600 or more officers, than can be a nice little check.

Benefit time - as I write this, I have 52 vacation days and over 255 sick days accrued. This means I have over a YEAR of sick time (you accrue more days as you burn them). i can use up to a year of sick time to retire that much earlier.

In NC, we have a supplemental retirement from the State. Basically it is equal to waht you would draw in SS, and if you leave with a FULL retirement, you get the supplemental until you turn 62. That's important because I will retire before I'm 50. My SS benefit is way over $2000 a month and still increasing. That's $24K a year for over twelve years, JUST in the supplement.

I can buy my military time to count towards my retirement (only first enlistment is eligible).

You keep the ability to CCW.

Lots more I could add, but I have to get back to training.

[superchargedblackgto]

401K- agency puts in 5% of your salary, you can put in more.
457- all you though.
Health/dental/vision- You only pay a small portion, the agency's government pays the rest. I pay about $80 a week to cover a family of four.

State retirement- Ours is based on years of service (30 is the norm for full retirement, but there are other ways too). Years of service creates a multiplier for the calculation. Full retirement here greatly exceeds 50% of your salary. More like 65%. Plus until you get paid back the amount you paid into the State system, it's state tax-free.

Good life insurance. If I'm killed in the line-of-duty, my family is taken care of. That's a BIG comfort.

Civil service board (not everyone has this, especially not Sheriff's). Basically, even if you are cited for termination by the chain of command, if the civil service board doesn't agree, you are still employed.

Other voluntary retirement funds. I'm in a plan where every cop enrolled (you can only join when you are going through the Academy) pays every retiring cop $10. For a big agency, say 1600 or more officers, than can be a nice little check.

Benefit time - as I write this, I have 52 vacation days and over 255 sick days accrued. This means I have over a YEAR of sick time (you accrue more days as you burn them). i can use up to a year of sick time to retire that much earlier.

In NC, we have a supplemental retirement from the State. Basically it is equal to waht you would draw in SS, and if you leave with a FULL retirement, you get the supplemental until you turn 62. That's important because I will retire before I'm 50. My SS benefit is way over $2000 a month and still increasing. That's $24K a year for over twelve years, JUST in the supplement.

I can buy my military time to count towards my retirement (only first enlistment is eligible).

You keep the ability to CCW.

Lots more I could add, but I have to get back to training.

I have thought about being an Officer, and been asked by a few of my friends to @ least be a Reserve on The City or Sheriffs Dept.......I am still thinking about it, As far as a full time job......I can't afford the Pay cut....but I'm sure it'd be rewarding and fun...
I would have to vote Color Specialist if I were you guys looking for a career(j/k)....Thats what I do, and the pay and benefits are A++++ however in my field I am lucky and most companies dont pay what mine does.
Brad

[superchargedblackgto]

Salary Survey Report for Job: Color Correction Specialist



My salary is above average

[lmyers1]

http://www.porac.org/[email protected]

This above website gives you info on how much you can retire at and the formula to use. As you can see its better than stated in previous posts. Granted this is in California so it may be different in other states- and here it's determined by your highest year's salary not an average or mean.

[Nhra Firebird]

I work in the glazing field and our guys make out pretty good. Our guys at work make around 30 dollars a hour on average. We will be starting a job this summer and they will be making 54 a hour on the job. The highest we had to pay out was 90 dollars a hour in NYC, but average pay is 30-35 dollars a hour.

[NJ 666]

its such a shame how many (young) people i hear saying that. I wouldnt suggest automotive repair to anyone, not how miserable i see the guys are at 40 years old who have been doing it for 20 years.

best field... hhmm i think this is a great thread because im trying to decide which field id like to go and get educated in...to start a career.

i dont think id be a good pharma. because ive never been good with chemicals and E=blah blah blah

what about accounting?/buisness administrative? i was thinking along those lines...

Most younger guys trying to get into the automotive field get frustated, and I see why. They see all these shows like Rides and American Hot Rod and think that's how most shops are. Or you get the "tuner" guys that only want to install exhaust systems and lower cars. And they see the Wyo-Tech and UTI infomercials that distort the real workings of a shop. Pay $20+ for school then they're told they need $50k+ in tools, and hear "We'll start you off at $12.50 an hour". I do agree that most shops are cut throat. I'm pretty lucky. I work for a great dealership around $100k a year, plus I have my own shop. It can be rewarding If you are talented and get lucky finding a good place to work.

[RealLiveMD]

Choose something that you enjoy doing because you spend most of your time at work. That being said. Plastic Surgery is great but requires too many years.
Pharmacists actually require 4 years post bac. Some do 1 yr residencies.
Dentistry is booming. Soon though, rates will be cut for dentist as they have been for primary care physicians.
NP's only take 6 total years and make between 80 and 150K.
Vets do well especially with their own practice. My friend brings in over 20k a month.
Who know where health care is going to be after the election so....
Lastly, lawyers have infinite salaries but then you are a Lawyer, Liar.

[02cetransam]

this tread has become intense

[jad628]

Might as well add this, the "uniform" interest does exist, it ain't just an urban legend.

That's good news for you single guys if you don't let it get out-of-hand.

Married guys well..............caveat emptor.

[bmcallister]

Anything with a public safety retirement...(i.e. peace officer, firefighter, city or state employee etc). Those jobs have strong unions, benifits that are better than most private sector jobs and you can retire at 50 for up to 90% of your salary and you don't need 7 yrs of college to do it. Lot of police officer spots in Sac and the Bay Area will start you at about 80K your first year and you top out in 6 figures. Just my 2 cents.

I agree, there is not a day that goes by that I dread going to work. I'm lovin it. Sometimes I cant believe that I get paid to have this much fun.