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Home > Competitive Skills Scholarship > Occupations List

List of High Wage, In Demand Occupations

The Competitive Skills Scholarship covers training in approved occupations identified as being high-wage, in demand jobs.

The Maine Department of Labor selected the occupations based Center for Workforce Research and Information, 2006-2016 Occupational Employment Projections, and 2006 Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates for Maine.

Jobs by Education Level (click to jump to a section or scroll down to see all occupations)

Download list of high-wage, in demand jobs:

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High School Diploma or Less

The occupations listed in the following table may require work experience in a related occupation, or some amount of on the job training.

Occupation 2006 Employment Growth Rate to 2016 Annual Openings Median Wage Education/Training
Advertising Sales Agents 756 15.5% 25 $16.60 Moderate-term on-the-job training
Bill and Account Collectors 1,596 10.8% 41 $14.31 Short-term on-the-job training
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks 8,118 6.1% 177 $14.35 Moderate-term on-the-job training
Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters 903 -30.6% 27 $14.33 Long-term on-the-job training
Carpenters 11,492 -1.6% 156 $15.73 Long-term on-the-job training
Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators 1,575 2.5% 44 $23.73 Long-term on-the-job training
Correctional Officers and Jailers 1,263 15.4% 49 $15.06 Moderate-term on-the-job training
Dental Assistants 1,066 20.6% 41 $15.57 Moderate-term on-the-job training
Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance 798 -1.1% 20 $15.13 Moderate-term on-the-job training
Electricians 3,304 1.1% 89 $20.99 Long-term on-the-job training
Executive Secretaries and Administrative Assistants 3,533 5.7% 76 $18.67 Work experience in a related occupation
Fire Fighters 1,339 11.0% 64 $17.16 Long-term on-the-job training
First-Line Supervisors/Managers of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers 4,627 2.6% 77 $22.42 Work experience in a related occupation
First-Line Supervisors/Managers of Helpers, Laborers, and Material Movers, Hand 1,153 10.8% 37 $16.61 Work experience in a related occupation
First-Line Supervisors/Managers of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers 2,530 0.2% 60 $22.50 Work experience in a related occupation
First-Line Supervisors/Managers of Office and Administrative Support Workers 7,720 3.4% 185 $18.47 Work experience in a related occupation
First-Line Supervisors/Managers of Production and Operating Workers 3,893 -3.8% 65 $21.88 Work experience in a related occupation
First-Line Supervisors/Managers of Retail Sales Workers 10,067 0.5% 216 $15.25 Work experience in a related occupation
First-Line Supervisors/Managers of Transportation and Material-Moving Machine and Vehicle Operators 908 6.2% 25 $23.41 Work experience in a related occupation
Food Service Managers 1,744 2.1% 45 $20.91 Work experience in a related occupation
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers 1,951 7.8% 49 $17.77 Long-term on-the-job training
Industrial Machinery Mechanics 1,021 7.3% 25 $18.93 Long-term on-the-job training
Industrial Production Managers 695 -11.7% 24 $34.88 Work experience in a related occupation
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers 1,720 -14.4% 26 $14.28 Moderate-term on-the-job training
Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks 1,849 -8.1% 22 $15.09 Moderate-term on-the-job training
Lodging Managers 1,606 16.7% 62 $20.84 Work experience in a related occupation
Machinists 1,832 4.0% 35 $19.98 Long-term on-the-job training
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General 5,391 3.4% 31 $14.91 Moderate-term on-the-job training
Managers, All Other 1,447 0.5% 30 $32.85 Work experience in a related occupation
Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines 886 5.3% 22 $17.79 Long-term on-the-job training
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators 2,039 6.1% 53 $15.38 Moderate-term on-the-job training
Painters, Construction and Maintenance 2,969 2.0% 59 $16.22 Moderate-term on-the-job training
Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders 951 -26.4% 23 $18.38 Moderate-term on-the-job training
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters 2,905 2.3% 67 $20.40 Long-term on-the-job training
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers 2,277 10.9% 86 $18.36 Long-term on-the-job training
Police, Fire, and Ambulance Dispatchers 648 13.1% 25 $15.71 Moderate-term on-the-job training
Postal Service Mail Carriers 1,713 -3.0% 50 $20.76 Short-term on-the-job training
Power Plant Operators 457 10.3% 21 $24.15 Long-term on-the-job training
Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks 1,287 -0.6% 35 $18.50 Moderate-term on-the-job training
Purchasing Agents, Except Wholesale, Retail, and Farm Products 995 -2.1% 21 $21.74 Long-term on-the-job training
Real Estate Brokers 1,344 -0.7% 22 $29.47 Work experience in a related occupation
Sales Representatives, Services, All Other 1,254 27.7% 65 $21.78 Work experience in a related occupation
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products 6,214 12.0% 212 $22.61 Work experience in a related occupation
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products 775 3.6% 20 $27.50 Work experience in a related occupation
Self-Enrichment Education Teachers 1,119 15.6% 30 $14.68 Work experience in a related occupation
Sheet Metal Workers 1,267 7.2% 40 $17.14 Long-term on-the-job training
Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers 701 5.0% 25 $29.94 Work experience in a related occupation
Truck Drivers, Heavy and Tractor-Trailer 11,827 3.0% 246 $14.97 Moderate-term on-the-job training

Post-Secondary Education - Less Than Bachelor's Degree

The occupations listed in the following table require either an Associate Degree or postsecondary vocational training.

Occupation 2006 Employment Growth Rate to 2016 Annual Openings Median Wage Education/Training
Architectural and Civil Drafters 719 1.7% 22 $18.77 Postsecondary vocational training
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics 5,392 4.6% 133 $14.44 Postsecondary vocational training
Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists 1,241 5.6% 34 $16.45 Postsecondary vocational training
Computer Support Specialists 1,690 5.2% 61 $19.33 Associate degree
Dental Hygienists 977 20.3% 39 $28.18 Associate degree
Legal Secretaries 1,349 5.2% 29 $16.04 Associate degree
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses 1,824 5.9% 61 $17.91 Postsecondary vocational training
Mechanical Drafters 742 1.6% 22 $22.42 Postsecondary vocational training
Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians 756 18.5% 25 $16.17 Associate degree
Paralegals and Legal Assistants 1,053 15.5% 30 $19.35 Associate degree
Radiologic Technologists and Technicians 1,106 20.0% 37 $23.86 Associate degree
Registered Nurses 14,048 21.3% 532 $27.13 Associate degree
Surgical Technologists 443 26.6% 26 $16.89 Postsecondary vocational training
Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers 744 13.8% 28 $20.02 Postsecondary vocational training
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers 1,691 7.4% 49 $18.28 Postsecondary vocational training

Bachelor's Degree or Higher

The occupations listed in the following table require at least a Bachelor's Degree.

Occupation 2006 Employment Growth Rate to 2016 Annual Openings Median Wage Education/Training
Accountants and Auditors 3,967 10.8% 113 $23.13 Bachelor's degree
Administrative Services Managers 1,097 4.9% 34 $27.23 Bachelor's or higher degree, plus work experience
Appraisers and Assessors of Real Estate 716 8.1% 20 $20.12 Bachelor's degree
Biological Technicians 560 16.1% 29 $17.43 Bachelor's degree
Business Operations Specialists, All Other 3,654 14.6% 92 $24.73 Bachelor's degree
Chief Executives 903 -5.6% 25 $49.18 Bachelor's or higher degree, plus work experience
Child, Family, and School Social Workers 2,132 9.3% 65 $18.61 Bachelor's degree
Civil Engineers 792 6.2% 26 $29.08 Bachelor's degree
Clergy 2,245 0.3% 31 $21.96 Master's degree
Clinical, Counseling, and School Psychologists 790 11.0% 21 $29.44 Doctoral degree
Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists 805 7.6% 23 $21.11 Bachelor's degree
Computer and Information Systems Managers 873 7.7% 21 $39.97 Bachelor's or higher degree, plus work experience
Computer Software Engineers, Applications 1,045 30.1% 47 $30.65 Bachelor's degree
Computer Systems Analysts 1,688 19.6% 78 $33.34 Bachelor's degree
Construction Managers 1,825 3.7% 35 $34.77 Bachelor's degree
Cost Estimators 751 13.6% 25 $21.63 Bachelor's degree
Education Administrators, Elementary and Secondary School 1,464 -2.1% 41 $66,870 Bachelor's or higher degree, plus work experience
Education Administrators, Postsecondary 593 7.4% 21 $27.93 Bachelor's or higher degree, plus work experience
Educational, Vocational, and School Counselors 1,097 -1.0% 22 $21.29 Master's degree
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education 6,419 2.9% 159 $44,740 Bachelor's degree
Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health 689 8.9% 24 $22.54 Master's degree
Family and General Practitioners 781 7.3% 20 $66.61 First professional degree
Financial Managers 2,692 7.0% 58 $32.53 Bachelor's or higher degree, plus work experience
General and Operations Managers 8,671 -4.7% 209 $37.04 Bachelor's or higher degree, plus work experience
Graphic Designers 957 5.2% 30 $16.39 Bachelor's degree
Industrial Engineers 630 11.3% 22 $32.86 Bachelor's degree
Insurance Sales Agents 3,122 3.8% 80 $20.81 Bachelor's degree
Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education 890 5.3% 20 $43,740 Bachelor's degree
Lawyers 2,944 5.7% 73 $38.52 First professional degree
Librarians 870 1.7% 26 $20.62 Master's degree
Loan Officers 1,511 8.9% 29 $23.74 Bachelor's degree
Management Analysts 2,193 3.1% 44 $29.73 Bachelor's or higher degree, plus work experience
Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists 887 25.1% 35 $22.87 Bachelor's degree
Medical and Health Services Managers 1,607 15.3% 55 $33.77 Bachelor's or higher degree, plus work experience
Medical and Public Health Social Workers 765 20.7% 32 $17.67 Bachelor's degree
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers 1,753 19.3% 71 $19.54 Master's degree
Mental Health Counselors 468 25.6% 21 $19.29 Master's degree
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Vocational Education 3,241 0.7% 73 $44,340 Bachelor's degree
Network and Computer Systems Administrators 1,077 17.6% 44 $27.74 Bachelor's degree
Network Systems and Data Communications Analysts 798 47.1% 54 $28.74 Bachelor's degree
Pharmacists 1,169 22.4% 46 $54.11 First professional degree
Physical Therapists 985 23.4% 35 $28.43 Master's degree
Physician Assistants 594 22.6% 21 $37.99 Master's degree
Physicians and Surgeons, All Other 1,435 11.5% 43 $70.00 First professional degree
Rehabilitation Counselors 677 10.2% 20 $17.14 Master's degree
Sales Managers 1,263 3.2% 32 $34.96 Bachelor's or higher degree, plus work experience
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Vocational Education 5,335 -3.9% 159 $42,850 Bachelor's degree
Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents 1,054 5.2% 33 $31.36 Bachelor's degree
Social and Community Service Managers 1,054 12.0% 33 $22.96 Bachelor's degree
Special Education Teachers, Preschool, Kindergarten, and Elementary School 1,652 8.2% 51 $43,490 Bachelor's degree
Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors 658 37.1% 37 $18.92 Bachelor's degree
Training and Development Specialists 913 10.5% 30 $19.82 Bachelor's or higher degree, plus work experience
Veterinarians 472 24.6% 21 $35.77 First professional degree
Vocational Education Teachers, Postsecondary 296 51.0% 20 $22.86 Bachelor's or higher degree, plus work experience

 
Maine Competitive Skills Scholarship