What Are Some of the Fastest Growing Careers in Illinois?

Preschool Teacher
Percentage of Growth: 28%
Number of jobs in IL (2004): 18,520
Number of jobs expected in 2014: 23,690

A Preschool teacher will oversee the educational activities within the day care classroom. Structures the curriculum and monitors students' progress to ensure activities are meeting the children's needs. Holds conferences with parents to discuss child's progress as well as any issues that arise. May require a state license. Familiar with standard concepts, practices, and procedures within the field. Relies on limited experience and judgment to plan and accomplish goals. Performs a variety of tasks. Works under general supervision. A certain degree of creativity and latitude is required. Typically reports to a supervisor or manager.

Paralegal
Percentage of Growth: 24%
Number of jobs in IL (2004): 6,120
Number of jobs expected in 2014: 7,610

Assist lawyers by researching legal precedent, investigating facts, or preparing legal documents. Conduct research to support a legal proceeding, to formulate a defense, or to initiate legal action.

Surgical Technologist
Percentage of Growth: 19%
Number of jobs in IL (2004): 3,610
Number of jobs expected in 2014: 4,300

Surgical technologists prepare and maintain medical equipment for surgical procedures. They are required to follow hospital regulations and industry procedures to tend to patients during pre-operation procedures and perform pre-operation preparations to the patient's skin, body, and medical equipment. They may also be required to transport patient to and from the operating room. Surgical Technologists must be a graduate of an accredited surgical technologist program and must be certified to perform CPR. In the workplace, they typically report to a Registered Nurse.

Computer Support Specialist
Percentage of Growth: 18%
Number of jobs in IL (2004): 21,670
Number of jobs expected in 2014: 25,600

Provide technical assistance to computer system users. Answer questions or resolve computer problems for clients in person, via telephone or from remote location. May provide assistance concerning the use of computer hardware and software, including printing, installation, word processing, electronic mail, and operating systems. Excludes Network and Computer Systems Administrators.

Health Information Technician
Percentage of Growth: 17%
Number of jobs in IL (2004): 8,590
Number of jobs expected in 2014: 10,050

As a HIT, you will abstract clinical information from a variety of medical records and assign appropriate ICD 9 CM and/or CPT codes to patient records according to established procedures, and you will analyze, enter and manipulate databases and confirm appropriate DRG assignments. Knowledge in ICD-9 and CPT-4 coding is required. You must be familiar with standard concepts, practices, and procedures within a particular field. As a HIT, you will rely on limited experience and judgment to plan and accomplish goals, perform a variety of tasks, and work under general supervision. A certain degree of creativity and latitude is required. HITs typically report to a supervisor or manager.

Medical Laboratory Technician
Percentage of Growth: 14%
Number of jobs in IL (2004): 6,790
Number of jobs expected in 2014: 7,770

Perform manual and automated routine blood tests. Prepares specimens for microscope examination. Operates laboratory equipment including centrifuges, dry bath incubators, and blood bank refrigerators. Requires graduation from an accredited MLT program and passing a national exam given by the Board of Registry of the American Society for Clinical Pathology. Familiar with standard concepts, practices, and procedures within a particular field. Relies on experience and judgment to plan and accomplish goals. Performs a variety of tasks. Typically reports to supervisor or manager.

Medical Transcriptionist
Percentage of Growth: 13%
Number of jobs in IL (2004): 3,330
Number of jobs expected in 2014: 3,760

With a career in Medical Transcription, you will transcribe medical dictation by physicians and other medical practitioners pertaining to patients assessment, diagnostics, therapy, and other medical reports. You will be familiar with the standard concepts, practices, and procedures within the health care field. Medical Transcriptionists rely on limited experience and judgment to plan and accomplish goals. They perform a variety of tasks and typically report to a supervisor/manager.

Massage Therapist
Percentage of Growth: 11%
Number of jobs in IL (2004): 4,190
Number of jobs expected in 2014: 4,630

As a Massage Therapist you will have a number of different tasks when it comes to meeting your client's needs. Common responsibilities for a massage therapist include applying fingers and hand pressure to specific points of the body, assess clients' soft tissue condition, discuss medical histories and any problems with stress or pain with their clients, maintain treatment records, prepare and blend oils, and treat clients in the work setting you are in.

Career outlook and job description taken from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2008-09 Edition. http://www.bls.gov

 
 
 

†An internal employment survey of 1,226 Rasmussen College graduates from 12/01/2007-11/30/2008, showed that 97.7% of the graduates surveyed were currently employed as of July, 2009.
‡Career outlook and salary (25th percentile) information taken from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2008-09 Edition. http://www.bls.gov/oco.