Key Takeaways

• The median salary of a commercial pilot is $99,640.

• The median salary of a subway and street car operator is $81,180.
• The median salary of athletes and sports competitors is $$77,300.

Introduction

Commercial Pilot

• Median Salary: $99,640 
• Job Description: Commercial pilots engage in unscheduled flight activities that include charter flights, and aerial tours.
• Job Qualifications: Typical education required for entry is a high school diploma or equivalent.
• Job Availability: From 2020 to 2030, there will be 4,900 job openings annually for commercial pilots.

 

Source

 

Subway and Street Car Operator

• Median Salary: $81,180 

• Job Description: Subway and streetcar operators operate subway or elevated suburban trains.
• Job Qualifications: Typical education required for entry is a high school diploma or equivalent.
• Job Availability: From 2020 to 2030, there will be 1,100 job openings annually for subway and streetcar operators.

Athletes and Sports Competitors

• Median Salary: $77,300
• Job Description: Athletes and sports competitors engage in organized and officiated sporting events to entertain spectators.
• Job Qualifications: This career has no formal education requirements.
• Job Availability: From 2020 to 2030, there will be 3,400 job openings annually for athletes and sports competitors.

Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians

• Median Salary: $65,380
• Job Description: Aircraft mechanics and service technicians repair and undertake scheduled maintenance on aircraft.
• Job Qualifications: Typical education required for entry is a post-secondary non-degree award.
• Job Availability: From 2020 to 2030, there will be 12,700 job openings annually for aircraft mechanics and service technicians.

Commercial Divers

• Median Salary: $60,360
• Job Description: Commercial divers work underwater using scuba equipment "to inspect, repair, remove, or install equipment and structures."
• Job Qualifications: Typical education required for entry is a post-secondary non-degree award.
• Job Availability: From 2020 to 2030, there will be 500 job openings annually for commercial divers.

Millwrights

• Median Salary: $60,330
• Job Description: Millwrights install, repair, maintain, and disassemble industrial machines.
• Job Qualifications: Typical education required for entry is a high school diploma or equivalent.
• Job Availability: From 2020 to 2030, there will be 4,400 job openings annually for millwrights.

 

Source

 

Industrial Machinery Mechanics

• Median Salary: $59,840
• Job Description: Industrial machinery mechanics maintain and repair factory and industrial machinery.
• Job Qualifications: Typical education required for entry is a high school diploma or equivalent.
• Job Availability: From 2020 to 2030, there will be 45,100 job openings annually for industrial machinery mechanics.

Research Strategy

Key Takeaways

• According to a Gallup poll, 16% of parents want their child to pursue "non-degree skills training programs," including vocational training, apprenticeships, or blended options that provide both in-class education and on-the-job training.

• Graduates of coding bootcamps make approximately $69,079 per year as web developers.
• Mass Open Online Classes (MOOCs) are "free online courses available for anyone to enroll in." Having emerged in 2022, they are considered innovative college alternatives, offered through online platforms like Coursera, EdX, Thinkful, and Udemy.

Introduction

Apprenticeships and Other Training Programs

• According to a Gallup poll, 16% of parents want their child to pursue "non-degree skills training programs," including vocational training, apprenticeships, or blended options that provide both in-class education and on-the-job training.
• Apprenticeships are "paid, full-time career training programs that teach skills through a combination of on-the-job experience and classroom instruction."
• Most sponsors stipulate that applicants for such programs must be at least 18 years old. The length of such training varies based on the program and can be anything from one to six years. Apprentices are expected to attend at least 144 hours of technical training and work for 2000 hours a year as part of the on-job training.
• One benefit of apprenticeships is that they help students enter the job market sooner than college would. Furthermore, research indicates that 49% of employers prefer "candidates to have experience from an apprenticeship more than having a university degree."
• Apprentices begin their training with a starting wage of at least $15 per hour. However, when their skills advance, so does their base wage. Additionally, they are usually set up for success since they "do not struggle to find full-time employment" once they complete their program.
• However, those who choose this option restrict their prospects by concentrating on a particular industry. One cannot compare the diversity of college education, which offers a much broader set of skills and knowledge.
• The earning potential of apprentices differs from industry to industry. For example, an average apprentice plumber's salary is ​$37,604, while that of a boiler maker is $50,580. However, all apprentices will earn at least the minimum wage required by law.
• The salary after completing the training or apprenticeship also depends on the field. However, some of them may pay even above $80,000. The average earnings are around $50,000.

 

Source

 

Coding Bootcamps

• A coding bootcamp is an intensive, short-term training program offered both online and offline, focusing on technology and programming. It teaches different tech skills covering a thorough curriculum in a short time. It usually takes 8 to 15 weeks to complete it.
• In 2020, the number of coding bootcamp graduates in the US and Canada was forecast to reach 24,975, while gross revenues were supposed to rise to $349 million, representing a 39% growth from 2019.
• These programs allow students to learn everything associated with computer systems and technologies, including "full-stack web development to digital marketing, data science, UX/UI design, and JavaScript."
• Coding bootcamps have the advantage of providing specialized courses that teach the pupils a particular set of skills. An example is a front-end web development program that will employ a rigorous curriculum to teach "HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and other languages."
• Due to the smaller class size, bootcamps also facilitate effective learning.
• Furthermore, coding bootcamps are less costly than traditional college degrees. The average tuition is $13,500, which is thousands of dollars less than the same ($65,000) for a computer science college degree.
• However, because they lack educational accreditation, students are not eligible for federal financial aid.
• Additionally, due to the narrow scope of the bootcamp curriculum, students are usually prepared for jobs in one specific area of computer science. In contrast, a college degree program prepares students for a variety of jobs.
• A study by Course Report found that coding bootcamp graduates make an average of $69,079 per year as web developers.
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Mass Open Online Classes (MOOCs)

• Mass Open Online Classes (MOOCs) are "free online courses available for anyone to enroll in." Having emerged in 2022, they are considered innovative college alternatives, offered through online platforms like Coursera, EdX, Thinkful, and Udemy.
• In 2021, they had around 220 million users globally, including 40 million that started using them that year. In 2017, the last year for which the data is available, around 36% of the learners were from the US.
• Enrollment requirements are the least stringent of all options since one only requires a working computer and internet access. Furthermore, they are free. However, some platforms may charge a small fee to grant students certification or college credit.
• The benefits received by students who enroll in MOOCs include "getting a promotion, finding a new job, and even starting a business." They also allow three access to courses from major universities. Examples of institutions that offer MOOCs are Harvard and MIT.
• The majority of learning is self-motivated. Thus, students must have the self-discipline to complete their assignments. Another drawback of MOOCs is that the student does not gain a recognized qualification that they can present to their prospective employers.
• Data on the job prospects after completing MOOCs as a college alternative is not available in the public domain. There is some research that suggests they may help with addressing the post-graduation skills gap, but the effectiveness as a standalone post-secondary education option has yet to be measured.

Research Strategy