Career Recommendation

[George Anderson]

I am looking for input on a career choice for my wife. Before we had a family she worked in the insurance industry and made pretty good money. She quit her job to raise our kids and she since has inquired about getting a job back in the insurance industry. Unfortunately the very best job she can get is $13 an hr which is a far cry from what she used to make. She is considering getting into the medical field but is not at all enthusiastic about going back to school especially with 2 young children. My question is can anyone recommend a decent paying profession (around $40,000 or so) with a minimal amount of schooling required most likely in the medical field?

[medford]

My advice, if she loves the insurance industry, is to take the $13/hour job (if you can afford it, not sure if that will offset the cost of potential day care) Work it for a year, and see if she can't parlay it to something closer to what she used to make.

If she's not in love with it, or financially its just not feasible, I don't have any good recs. Could be tough in this job market.

[Eric_the_Red]

I'd recommend Surgical Technology. 2 year degree, medical field, and depending on where she works, $40,000 is doable.

[TRF]

Sonography, or x-ray technician can both get that amount within a few years, and the courses aren't long, sometimes only 9 months

[The Operator]

I would agree that a technician type job in the medical industry would be the best way to go.

The pay is generally good, and you can become certified through most community colleges and/or career schools - and those types of degrees usually offer class schedules that work around a working adult's schedule.

[Caveat Emperor]

Originally Posted by George Anderson

I am looking for input on a career choice for my wife. Before we had a family she worked in the insurance industry and made pretty good money. She quit her job to raise our kids and she since has inquired about getting a job back in the insurance industry. Unfortunately the very best job she can get is $13 an hr which is a far cry from what she used to make. She is considering getting into the medical field but is not at all enthusiastic about going back to school especially with 2 young children. My question is can anyone recommend a decent paying profession (around $40,000 or so) with a minimal amount of schooling required most likely in the medical field?

Can you afford to pay for any schooling out of pocket, or would you be taking on debt in order for your wife to go back to school? I ask, because it's important to factor in the cost of re-education (both in actual dollar amounts and lost time that could be spent working in a different field) into this decision. It's not always the case that schooling "pays for itself" in these types of situations -- especially when you're going back late and don't have the full working lifetime to earn the investment back. Plus, any educational debt is nondischargeable in bankruptcy -- which means you're saddled with it no matter what else happens in your life.

[George Anderson]

Originally Posted by Caveat Emperor

Can you afford to pay for any schooling out of pocket, or would you be taking on debt in order for your wife to go back to school? I ask, because it's important to factor in the cost of re-education (both in actual dollar amounts and lost time that could be spent working in a different field) into this decision. It's not always the case that schooling "pays for itself" in these types of situations -- especially when you're going back late and don't have the full working lifetime to earn the investment back. Plus, any educational debt is nondischargeable in bankruptcy -- which means you're saddled with it no matter what else happens in your life.

She is currently employed at Fed Ex as a night time handler. We know Fed Ex does pay for schooling as long as it is for like 4 year schools and not some of these other schools that seem to be kinda "fly by night". Ivy Tech is in Indiana and I believe it is a 4 year school, but if the Technician program is less than 4 years I would assume Ivy Tech would still pay for it. This is something we need to check into.

Thanks for the input everyone. She seems somewhat interested in the XRay technician program.

[PedroBourbon]

Originally Posted by TRF

Sonography, or x-ray technician can both get that amount within a few years, and the courses aren't long, sometimes only 9 months

I agree. Good jobs, reasonable class schedule and length of courses. Job market a little tough right now but that is VERY regional and may not apply in your area.

[Hoosier Red]

Originally Posted by George Anderson

She is currently employed at Fed Ex as a night time handler. We know Fed Ex does pay for schooling as long as it is for like 4 year schools and not some of these other schools that seem to be kinda "fly by night". Ivy Tech is in Indiana and I believe it is a 4 year school, but if the Technician program is less than 4 years I would assume Ivy Tech would still pay for it. This is something we need to check into.

Thanks for the input everyone. She seems somewhat interested in the XRay technician program.

Just to be sure, I'm pretty sure Ivy Tech is a 2 year college. I don't think they offer any bachelor degrees but they are a state school, so I'd be surprised if FedEx wouldn't pay.