7 Lucrative Jobs from Obama's Stimulus Plan

From Joe's Story | June 25, 2009

President
Barack Obama's plan to get the U.S. economy going has a strong focus on
creating jobs. Two of the bills he's recently signed, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and the Making Home Affordable program, provide funding that will create a wide variety of job opportunities
with good salaries. Better yet, many of these jobs don't require a
four-year degree, so job-seekers may be able to move into these careers
pretty quickly.

Here's a selection of some of the best-paying stimulus jobs:

Computer Security Specialist

A
big chunk of the ARRA money is dedicated to health-care
information-technology initiatives -- digitizing medical records so
they're easier to transmit and share between doctors, hospitals and
pharmacists. Computer-security experts who can help keep electronic medical records
locked away from computer hackers and other unauthorized users will be
in high demand as the health-care sector modernizes, says Laurence
Shatkin, author of "Great Jobs in the President's Stimulus Plan."

Other
specialists will be needed to train workers on how to keep the data
safe. A brief certificate program may suffice to get you started in
this field, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) says. "There's going to be a special role here of how to keep prying eyes away," Shatkin says.
Median annual salary: $78,376

Cost Estimator

For
each of the major infrastructure projects that receive stimulus
funding, an estimator must determine the likely cost of material plus
labor so that accurate job bids can be submitted and budgets properly
prepared. Shatkin says laid-off workers with a background in
construction, who are familiar with the industry's labor and materials
costs, should find opportunities here, though many estimators have a
four-year degree.
Median annual salary: $58,868

Civil Engineer

For
each of these big federally backed construction projects, Shatkin
points out, civil engineers must make sure structures are properly
designed to withstand the elements. Engineers also make sure
construction projects are executed correctly. You'll need at least a
college degree, usually in engineering. But the BLS notes a degree in science or mathematics might work to get you started here, too.
Median annual salary: $66,638

Insulation Installer

The ARRA is focused on making federal facilities more energy efficient,
starting with simple methods such as weatherizing buildings with more
insulation to save energy. Projects are happening all over the country,
Shatkin notes, at science labs, military installations, and other
federal buildings. High-school graduates often can receive on-the-job
training, the BLS says.
Median annual salary: $44,460

Solar Panel Installer

President Obama has made cleaner, greener energy use a top administration
priority. The ARRA includes funding for the installation of solar
panels to cut energy use at many federal buildings ... and that means
someone with an understanding of electric, water and heating systems
will need to climb up on the rooftops and put up these systems.
Training programs may be as short as six months, Shatkin notes.
Median annual salary: $44,460

Physical Therapist Assistants

The
ARRA included an extension of medical benefits for workers laid off in
the recent downturn, Shatkin points out. That will keep business brisk
for medical professionals, including physical therapist assistants.
Assistants must have a two-year degree to assist patients who need
exercises or must use crutches or other devices, according to the BLS.
In addition, some states require licensing for physical therapist assistants.
Median annual salary: $48,999

Loan Officer

Just
signed into law in May, legislation entitled Making Home Affordable
provides federal incentives for banks to help up to 9 million
distressed homeowners renegotiate their loans. Because each mortgage
agreement and piece of property is unique, the work is time-consuming
-- a loan officer must sit down with each homeowner individually.

This
initiative is creating a sudden need for more mortgage loan specialists
who can renegotiate with homeowners, says Joseph Burkhart, director of
recovery-related business development at recruiting
firm The Mergis Group in McLean, Va. Burkhart says the majority of the
nation's loan-renegotiation work traditionally took place in the Dallas
market, but that the huge volume of loan workouts planned means banks
will be hiring all across the country.

"The mortgage
industry in January only did 100,000 refis," he says. "Now they're
projecting that millions of them will take place every month."

Because
of high demand, Burkhart says employers are looking at applicants with
a variety of past work experience -- former bank loan officers and
others who understand contracts. One background that's of interest,
Burkhart says: call-center workers who've made contract offers over the
phone.
Median annual salary: $43,070

Source: All
salary data is from PayScale.com. The salaries listed are median,
annual salaries for full-time workers with 5-8 years of experience and
include any bonuses, commissions or profit sharing.

Note from Joe: Trying
to stay positive with the news here. This plan and prediction is
positive news and is designed to "prime" the pump. Many other parallel
initiatives will need to be implemented to overcome the momentum and
reality of our situation. The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics,
said that the US economy shed 345,000 jobs in total in May, leaving
132.2 million people employed in the country and giving the US an
unemployment rate of 9.4 percent.