What follows is a list of the top ten career fields for women.
1: Healthcare
One of the top ten career fields for women is the healthcare industry. This industry employs a huge percentage of working women. Of course, the specifics of healthcare jobs vary widely since there are so many types of healthcare jobs.
Wages
Depending upon the type of healthcare position you are looking for (most women go into nursing), the pay rate can vary a lot. A management position in nursing starts at around $60,000 to $64,000 per year.
Education and Licensing
This also depends upon the type of nursing you choose. Normally, a two-year degree is required for most nursing positions. These are obtainable through community colleges, but if you decide to go for a more specialized field, more education will be required.
2: Employment Services
Employment services is another of the top ten fields for women. Women make up 57.4% of the worker in this field. This is up from 45% in previous years. The increase works out to approximately 1,579,900 more women in this field than ever before.
Wages
A starting wage in this field is typically $21,320; however, the amount increases with more experience and depending upon where the position is located.
Education and Licensing
Although the main jobs in this field require only graduation from high school or a GED, there are management positions within the field that will require a bachelor’s degree or even something more advanced.
3: Education
69% of educational service workers are women. As industries go, educational services are the second largest employers of both men and women. About 13.3 million jobs exist in the educational field.
Wages
Wages can range from $20,000 per year for a teacher’s assistant to $77,000 or more per year for secondary school teachers. As above, this can depend on what area of the country in which the position is located.
Education and Licensing
A teaching position requires at least a bachelor’s degree and also may require a master’s degree or doctorate.
4: Social Assistance
The fourth spot in the top ten career fields for women goes to the social assistance field. The number of female employees in this field is 73.8%. This category includes services that help the general population with the needs they have on a daily and ongoing basis.
Wages
Wages in this field typically run from $16.00 per hour to $20.00 per hour. This is a field in which the wages depend largely on what type of social assistance you are performing.
Education and Licensing
The training required for this type of work will vary. The occupation you choose and the state you reside in will determine whether it is a higher paying job or not. The education required may be as simple as graduating from high school, but for more advanced positions, you may need a bachelor’s or master’s degree.
Pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing is another in the top ten career fields for women. Women account for about 46% of the employees in this field. Most of these jobs are in the medicine manufacturing sector, although a significant percentage of the jobs is in office work, and another significant percentage is in sales. This occupation includes low- and high-skilled people.
Wages
The hourly wages for positions in this field can range from $11 per hour to almost $40 per hour, depending upon the sector in which you are employed.
Education and Licensing
There are various requirements for positions in this field, ranging from nothing more than a few hours of training while learning your position to earning a bachelor’s, master’s, or a PhD.
6: Advertising and Public Relations
52.3% of the workers in advertising and public relations are women. The design of advertising promotions is one aspect of this business.
Wages
Advertising is definitely a high paying field. The hourly rate can range from $9 to $54 per hour, depending on the position.
Education and Licensing
Positions are more than likely going to require a bachelor’s degree. When beginning, the media department is a starting point. Assistant account manager positions, which are entry-level positions, require a bachelor’s degree in marketing.
7: Child Care
A huge percentage of child care workers are female.
Wages
From $16,000 to $35,000 is the salary range you can expect for jobs in this field. The top end is normally for those involved in education, pre-school, and day care services.
Education and Licensing
Family care providers are not normally required to be licensed if the number of children they care for is under a certain number. Teaching positions, however, do typically require a college degree.
8: Insurance
About 60.9% of workers in the insurance field are women. The field covers all aspects of insurance, from adjusters to claims writers to salespeople.
Wages
Workers in this field earn from $11.58 to $53.02 per hour, with general and operational managers being at the high end of this scale.
Education and Licensing
Most aspects of insurance require no more than a high school diploma, but if you are going into management, usually a master’s degree in business administration is desired.
9: Hospitality
About 57% of hospitality workers are women.
Wages
Approximately $353 weekly is the expected wage for workers in this field.
Education and Licensing
No license is required, and the education necessary is minimal. The management may have some experience in this type of work.
10: Advocacy
About 66.9% of workers involved in advocacy, grant making, and civic organizations are women. The work required for these professions can amount to just about anything a non-profit organization would handle, from soliciting donations to applying for grants.
Wages
From $232 to $620 per week is the wage you can expect for jobs in this field.
Education and Licensing
No formal education is required to work in this field; however, it is appreciated.