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Mechanical engineer Do you enjoy tinkering with malfunctioning machinery?

You could turn that knack into a well-paid career developing or repairing everything from steam turbines to internal combustion engines. With electronics increasingly part of machines, from electric generators to air-conditioners, this field has even better-paying opportunities for specialists who can combine mechanical skills with an aptitude for electronics, says John Gaal, a vice president at the Association for Career and Technical Education. According to the U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistic (BLS) most, but not all, mechanical engineers have four-year degrees. Elevator mechanic Most of the work with elevators is on the repair side right now, as building owners keep older elevators running to avoid making new purchases, according to Gaal. But look for installation work to pick up when the economy improves. Most workers enter the field through a four-year apprenticeship program. Power-plant operator Though there aren't a lot of new electric power plants being built, the BLS reports that many workers are nearing retirement age, so the job outlook is still good. Workers repair and operate boilers, turbines, generators, and other plant equipment. Some enter the field straight out of high school, according to the BLS, but most applicants have a two-year vocational degree. Several years of on-the-job training are required to become fully qualified. Pipefitter Usually better paid than plumbers, pipefitters wrestle with high-pressure pipe systems such as those used in large buildings' heating and cooling systems. Apprenticeship is the most common route into the job, says Gaal. Sheet-metal worker Gaal says there's work for sheet-metal workers because of the need for metalwork in clean-energy power-generation machines such as wind turbines. Federal stimulus funding is keeping these projects going straight through the economic downturn. Job descriptions in fields including sheet-metal work, carpentry, electrical work, and plumbing are being redefined as new products and techniques are developed to meet demand for more energy efficient buildings. “Trades in green building are where the higher-paying jobs are now, and where the work is,” Gaal says. Wind-turbine technician Speaking of the green revolution, there are many opportunities in manufacturing, installing, and maintaining clean-energy devices such as towering wind turbines. Two-year vocational degrees in the field are being offered by a growing number of institutions. “Wind energy is big, especially if you're in California,” says Amit Singh, director of operations at the national temporary-labor placement chain Labor Finders.

Auto painting Add a little specialized skill to the painting trade, and you get a job that can be creative and fun, especially if you like cars, says Singh. For many people, this occupation has been elevated to a well-respected art form in recent years thanks to reality show “Pimp My Ride. ” Vocational training gets workers into the field, and that's usually followed by two years of work experience leading to certification by the National Institute of Automotive Service Excellence7 Great Jobs For Working With

Your Hands .

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