One way to get a foot in the door of a desirable employer is to get hired as a temp.
This year, 40 percent of employers plan to hire temporary and contract
workers, compared to 36 percent last year, according to an annual
forecast by CareerBuilder (an AOL Jobs sponsor). Of these companies, 42 percent plan to offer some of their temporary workers permanent, full-time work.
Employers turn to temporary workers
when they need to quickly ramp up operations in response to rising
demand for their services or goods, says Eric Gilpin, president of the
career site's staffing and recruiting group. "For job seekers, it's a
great way to build relationships with employers and expand your resume,
and is often an in-road into permanent placement within firms," he says.
What's more, many temp jobs are well-paying, providing wages that
top $25 an hour (which during the course of year would top $50,000,
based on a 40-hour workweek.) Using data from CareerBuilder, Economic
Modeling Specialists and the Bureau of Labor Statistics,
AOL Jobs has compiled a list of the highest-paying temp jobs, pulled
from more than 90 national and state employment resources. (Note: the
median wages noted for each occupation are those paid to workers
regardless of whether they are permanent or temporary employees.)
Check out the list below, and then let us if these temporary jobs are careers you'd consider in your next job search.
10. Human Resource, Training and Labor Relations Specialists
(recruits, screens, interviews and places workers, and may handle other
HR work, such as employee relations, training, and payroll and
benefits):
- Number of people employed: 59,597.
- Jobs added from 2010 to 2012: 11,893 -- 25 percent growth.
- Median hourly wage: $26.44.
9. Accountant and Auditor (prepares and examines financial records; ensures financial records are accurate, and taxes are paid properly and on time):
- Number of people employed: 10,885.
- Jobs added from 2010 to 2012: 1,689 -- 18 percent growth.
- Median hourly wage: $30.04.
8. Business Operations Specialist, other
(works with various departments to coordinate operations, hires workers
and buys supplies needed to ensure that a company can provide the goods
and services that its customers want):
- Number of people employed: 10,528.
- Jobs added from 2010 to 2012: 1,677 -- 19 percent growth.
- Median hourly wage: $30.82.
7. Registered Nurse (provides care and educates patients about various health conditions):
- Number of people employed: 66,844.
- Jobs added from 2010 to 2012: 8,766 -- 15 percent growth..
- Median hourly wage: $32.10.
6. Computer Programmer
(writes code to create software programs, and turns designs created by
software developers and engineers into instructions that computers can
follow):
- Number of people employed: 11,487.
- Jobs added from 2010 to 2012: 1,821 -- 19 percent growth.
- Median hourly wage: $34.48.
5. Management Analyst
(proposes ways to improve the efficiency of companies, and advises
managers on how to make organizations more profitable through reduced
costs and increased revenues):
- Number of people employed: 9,891.
- Jobs added from 2010 to 2012: 1,492 -- 18 percent growth.
- Median hourly wage: $35.81.
4. Computer Systems Analyst
(studies employers' current computer systems and procedures, and makes
recommendations to management to help the organization operate more
efficiently and effectively):
- Number of people employed: 8,197.
- Jobs added from 2010 to 2012: 1,278 -- 18 percent growth.
- Median hourly wage: $37.62.
3. Software Developer, Applications
(develops applications and operating systems for computers and other
electronic devices that allow workers to perform specific tasks, e.g.,
word processing):
- Number of people employed: 5,266.
- Jobs added from 2010 to 2012: 804 -- 18 percent growth.
- Median hourly wage: $42.92.
2. General and Operations Manager (manages and motivates workers, develops business strategy, and solves organizational problems as well as those of customers):
- Number of people employed: 21,935.
- Jobs added from 2010 to 2012: 2,919 -- 15 percent growth.
- Median hourly wage: $46.39.
1. Software Developer, Systems Software (creates software to help companies operate more efficiently and effectively):
- Number of people employed: 5,795.
- Jobs added from 2010 to 2012: 861 -- 17 percent growth.
- Median hourly wage: $46.69.