Youth prepare for workforce

Salary survey helps students select a future career path

Today's young people have plenty of career options but with gasoline, utilities and housing prices steadily climbing, the paycheck is a major consideration.

When it comes to wages, the information keeps changing. A chart on the walls of Cimarron-Memorial High School puts numbers to careers. Though only a couple of years old, it is already out of step with the changing economy. It says a bank teller can expect to make $20,000 a year (now at $23,480) and a teacher's assistant, $19,000 (now $20,750).

The Spring 2005 Salary Survey, done by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, shows a rosy outlook for salaries. The survey lists annual income bachelor's degree holders can expect for various careers: software design and development, $53,729; consulting, $49,781; design/construction engineering, $47,058; financial/treasury analysis, $45,596; accounting (private), $44,564; accounting (public), $41,039; registered nurse, $38,775; sales, $37,130; management trainee, $35,811; teaching, $29,733.

Chris Zedaker, 18, graduated from Cimarron-Memorial last year. He is attending UNLV with the goal of attaining a business degree. After that, he plans to attend a vocational school.

Why the extra training? His goal is to own a shop and design custom cars. His school counselor helped him choose electives, like computer design, to reach that goal. There also was input from his parents.

"My father told me, 'Find something you love to do, something you'd do for free because you enjoy it so much, then make a career of it and you'll make money.' "

When pressed, Zedaker cautiously said he hoped to make $500,000 a year. But he's also a realist.

"I'll need the business degree to run my shop successfully," he said. "If the car thing doesn't work out, then I'll have my degree to fall back on."

There should be no shortage of jobs. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, total employment is projected to increase by 18.9 million jobs over the 20042014 period, reaching 164.5 million.

Erik Guiremand, 17, a senior at Palo Verde High School, has already cemented his plans. He is in the ROTC program there and expects to get a degree in law, including his master's, before serving his obligation as a military attorney.

"With the Navy, I have job security," he said.

But that's not enough for Guiremand. He is already planning a second career in politics, eyeing a seat in the U.S. Senate.

The Spring 2005 Salary Survey also showed that liberal arts majors, notoriously the lowest-paid workers, will see a 4.2 percent pay hike, bringing them up to $30,337.

Kelsey Kreiling, 18, a senior at Palo Verde High School, will be pursuing a liberal arts degree in college. Her goal is to work in a relief capacity in Africa and possibly have a say in foreign policy development.

Like Zedaker, her father told her to do what she loves and the money will follow. Given the scenario of getting two job offers -- one her dream job but for little money, the other a so-so job that would earn big bucks -- Kreiling said she would opt for the dream job even though it paid less.

"You have to go with what will make you happiest," she said. "No amount of money will make up for being miserable."

Skyrocketing housing prices is a distant concern for the senior, one she suspects will straighten itself out when it's time for her to put down roots.

"It's frightening to think that when I'm, like, 25, to get a comfortable home, I'll have to spend more on it than most people make in several years," she said. "It seems unfair."

John Surj, a junior at Cimarron-Memorial, is already focussed on a career as a doctor, probably a cardiologist.

"I went to Valley Hospital and spoke with doctors there," he said. "I'm not sure of my specialty, but I expect to earn between $120,000 and $200,00 a year."

Want to know what your superiors earn? According to the Department of Labor, 2004 numbers average managerial annual salaries for major occupational jobs include: management $85,530; computer and information systems managers $98,260; natural sciences managers $95,800; social and community service $50,740; medical and health services $75,140; and engineering $102,600.

There was even a hint of the Las Vegas factor in the national numbers. Gaming managers can expect to make $66,090.