Top 7 careers in Utah

Top 7 careers in Utah

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Unhappy at your current job? You're not alone. In fact, according to findings of a 2013 Gallup survey reported by [Forbes.com](http://www.forbes.com/sites/susanadams/2013/10/10/unhappy-employees-outnumber-happy-ones-by-two-to-one-worldwide/), just one-third of all workers in the United States feel engaged in or passionate about their work.

Luckily, you're not required to feel unsatisfied by your job. If you're looking for a change or just starting out on your career path, you'll want to consider these top seven Utah careers rated based on a combination of overall surveyed happiness by careerbliss.com, average annual income, opportunities for advancement, job flexibility and quality of workplace environment.

7. Air traffic control specialist

You don't have to have a college degree to get one of the top jobs in Utah. If you've ever dreamed of working with airplanes, you could get your chance as an air traffic control specialist, helping to map out safe flight routes and bringing home millions of airline passengers every year. It's a fast-paced environment with new challenges to face and puzzles to solve every day.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration, air traffic control specialists are required to complete the requirements for their Control Tower Operator Airman certificate before their 31st birthday.

While a college degree is not required, the candidate must have a minimum of three years of "progressively responsible work experience" or "a combination of post-secondary education and work experience that totals three years." Their starting wage is $83,200 a year.

Photo credit: Shutterstock

6. Marketing manager

In the marketing industry, part of what you get paid to do is come up with new ideas. It calls for a great amount of creativity and the ability to determine what it is the customer wants, not what the company's CEO wants the customer to want.

Marketing managers have the opportunity to carve a path for a brand, changing the public's perspective on it and delegating tasks to a team of hard-working people who work together to create viral videos, social media marketing campaigns and the like.

In Utah, marketing managers can expect to earn an average $110,050 a year.

Find marketing manager positions open in your area by clicking here.

5. Human resources manager

Since this job deals with hiring and interviewing of new staff, coordinating administrative functions and providing a communication link between employees and managers, the human resources manager position requires good people skills and constant attention to detail.

Part referee, part advocate and part sociologist, HR management is a widely varied job, thus appealing to those who love socializing, being self-motivated and performing on-the-spot problem-solving.

With an average annual salary of $64,800 in Utah, according to careerbliss.com, HR managers earn almost six percent more than the national average for all working Americans and are rated in the top 10 of happiest employees in the U.S.

Find human resources positions open in your area by clicking here.

Photo credit: Shutterstock

4. Controller

With such a commanding job title, how could the position of controller be anything but rewarding? Perfect for people who love numbers, a controller's main job is to predict, assess and protect against financial risks to a company's assets. Controllers work closely with the accounting department and are in charge of maintaining accurate records and budgets.

Accountingtools.com says the position's basic requirements include at least a bachelor's degree in business administration or accounting or equivalent business experience, with preference being given to candidates who have either a CPA or CMA designation.

Controllers tend to be those who have been successful in the accounting field and have 10 or more years of on-the-job experience. The average salary in the U.S. for controllers is $64,100.

3. Software developer

If you thrive in a creative environment, work well on your own and want the option to work with the latest and greatest technologies on the market, you'll be interested in the position of software developer. You'll be able to work as an individual and as part of a team coming up with new programs and designs to meet the challenges of today's technology-laden society.

Software developers are encouraged to continually educate themselves through research, education and hands-on experience. In Utah, their average salary is $91,190 with over 3,000 people currently employed in this position.

Find software development positions open in your area by clicking here.

2. Pediatrician

People who love children, enjoy learning about the human body and have a thirst for knowledge strong enough to power them through a decade of intense medical training should consider becoming pediatricians.

With the opportunity to care for and improve the quality of life of the state's littlest residents, the career of a pediatrician is endlessly rewarding and provides flexibility in how and where you work, with more regular hours than other areas of medical specialty.

Money isn't everything, but it is worth mentioning that according to usawage.com, the job of pediatrician is the highest paid in the state of Utah with an average annual salary of $180,370.

Photo credit: Shutterstock

1. University professor

Love learning and teaching? Want to be able to determine your schedule and do some of your work from home? The career of university professor might be in your future. Besides allowing employees a lot of flexibility in how much they work and what they teach, university teaching also allows for continued learning, often including a stipend for professors to take credits for free in their spare time.

There are also lots of on-the-job training opportunities, access to university resources and involvement in a fun community atmosphere, all of which is part of what makes being a teacher so rewarding.

In Utah, you have a lot of universities to choose from and pay varies widely, from an average $81,000 to $90,000 (putting it in the top 50 highest paid jobs in the state) depending on your area of expertise, your level of education and the amount of in-the-field experience you have.

To find job openings in these and other exciting careers in Utah, visit KSL Jobs.

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