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Colorado College Guide
Colorado Labor and High Growth Occupations

Attending a college or university isn't for everyone and many jobs can be secured with a high school diploma and/or limited on-the-job training. Still, numerous studies document that a completion of an undergraduate certificate or degree has a significant effect on earnings over the course of one's work life. According to a study released by the National Center for Education Statistics in 1998 college graduates earned from 56 to 100 percent more than those who completed only a high school education. In contrast, adults, ages 25 - 34 who dropped out of high school earned 30 percent less than their peers who received a high school diploma. You should also keep in mind that, as you enter the world of work in Colorado, you will be competing in one of the most highly educated labor forces in the United States. Nearly 40% of Colorado's adults who are 25 years of age or older have a baccalaureate degree.

The Colorado high growth occupations table lists many of the occupations in Colorado that are and will continue to be in high demand through 2006, including education/training requirements, annual demand, and average earnings. As you glance through this information from the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, you will see the relationship of education and earnings.

High Growth Occupations in Colorado
(in order of required education/training/work experience)

Employment Title	Education/Training Requirements	Annual Growth Rate	Annual Openings	Average Annual Wage
Physicians	First Professional	2.6%	362	$96,610
Lawyers	First Professional	2.2%	356	$72,820
Social Workers, Medical & Psychiatric	Master's Degree	4.4%	213	$33,800
General Managers & Top Executives	Baccalaureate Degree or Higher Plus Work Experience	3.4%	3,031	$65,610
Engineer, Math, Natural Science Managers	Baccalaureate Degree or Higher Plus Work Experience	8.1%	808	$71,870
Market/Advertising/ Public Relations Managers	Baccalaureate Degree or Higher Plus Work Experience	5.7%	541	$58,240
Financial Managers	Baccalaureate Degree or Higher Plus Work Experience	3.4%	525	$60,370
Artists/Commercial Artists	Baccalaureate Degree or Higher Plus Work Experience	4.9%	263	$31,700
Management Analysts	Baccalaureate Degree or Higher Plus Work Experience	4.0%	186	$52,640
System Analysts	Baccalaureate Degree	13.4%	1,280	$53,750
Computer Engineers	Baccalaureate Degree	12.2%	1,122	$60,260
Computer Programmers	Baccalaureate Degree	5.4%	1,052	$51,110
Teachers, Secondary Schools	Baccalaureate Degree	2.3%	923	$34,540
Accountants and Auditors	Baccalaureate Degree	2.8%	831	$41,260
Electrical & Electronic Engineer	Baccalaureate Degree	5.1%	644	$58,540
Teachers, Elementary	Baccalaureate Degree	1.4%	640	$34,870
Securities/Financial, Sales	Baccalaureate Degree	6.9%	392	$55,690
Teachers, Preschool/Kindergarten	Baccalaureate Degree	6.5%	327	**
Recreation Workers	Baccalaureate Degree	3.8%	308	$20,010
Personnel/Train/Labor Relations Specialists	Baccalaureate Degree	3.4%	299	$38,960
Designers, Exterior/Interior	Baccalaureate Degree	4.9%	287	$28,700
Teachers, Special Education	Baccalaureate Degree	6.0%	257	$37,070
Insurance Sales Workers	Baccalaureate Degree	2.4%	248	$44,240
Social Workers, Executive Medical, Psychiatric	Baccalaureate Degree	4.1%	246	$35,720
Civil Engineers, including Traffic	Baccalaureate Degree	3.2%	245	$51,240
Loan Officers & Counselors	Baccalaureate Degree	4.6%	235	$43,070
Property and Real Estate Managers	Baccalaureate Degree	3.3%	232	$32,690
Residential Counselors	Baccalaureate Degree	6.5%	224	$19,670
Computer Support Specialists	Baccalaureate Degree	9.8%	213	$37,470
Physical Therapists	Baccalaureate Degree	8.1%	203	$48,310
Registered Nurses	Associate Degree	2.6%	1,028	$40,270
Electrical & Electronic Technicians	Associate Degree	3.0%	413	$36,640
Teachers Aides, Para-professional	Associate Degree	4.2%	392	$16,270
Secretaries, Executive Legal or Medical	Postsecondary Vocational Training	0.9%	1,083	$23,791
Automotive Mechanics	Postsecondary Vocational Training	3.5%	874	$31,500
Licensed Practical Nurses	Postsecondary Vocational Training	2.9%	306	$26,410
Central Office/PBX Installers/Repair	Postsecondary Vocational Training	6.4%	208	$39,530
Civil Engineers, including Traffic	Baccalaureate Degree	3.2%	245	$51,240
Marketing/Sales Supervisors	Experience in Related Occupation	3.0%	1,960	$33,540
Clerical Supervisors	Experience in Related Occupation	3.7%	1,688	$32,280
Food Service & Lodgin Managers	Experience in Related Occupation	4.7%	976	$28,630
Salespersons, Retail	Short-Term On-the-Job Training	3.0%	4,875	$18,710
Waiters, Waitresses	Short-Term On-the-Job Training	2.7%	3,244	$12,250
Cashiers	Short-Term On-the-Job Training	3.4%	3,000	$16,640
Combination Food Prep/Service Workers	Short-Term On-the-Job Training	2.9%	2,368	$13,420
General Office Clerks	Short-Term On-the-Job Training	2.0%	2,289	$20,770
Reception/Information Clerks	Short-Term On-the-Job Training	4.7%	1,376	$18,230
Truck Drivers, Light	Short-Term On-the-Job Training	3.9%	1,282	$21,360
Child Care Workers	Short-Term On-the-Job Training	5.5%	1,195	$14,280
Truck Drivers, Heavy	Short-Term On-the-Job Training	3.2%	992	$31,000
Cooks, Fast Food	Short-Term On-the-Job Training	4.1%	649	$12,810
Nursing Aides & Orderlies	Short-Term On-the-Job Training	3.4%	604	$16,640
Electricians	Long-Term On-the-Job Training	2.3%	461	$33,490
Carpenters	Long-Term On-the-Job Training	1.3%	443	$30,260
Correction Officers	Long-Term On-the-Job Training	6.0%	432	$31,330
Police Patrol Officers	Long-Term On-the-Job Training	3.6%	286	$38,480

The information in the College Guide is provided and updated by third parties including the respective colleges and universities. While the colleges and universities are able to update the College Guide information at any time and this section, thereby, has the potential to offer the most accurate and up-to-date information available, the information is not independently validated, and no party associated with this website can accept responsibility for its accuracy.

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