Real Salaries of 2011: What to Expect in 2012

  • 1 min read

Considering a new career? Before you jump into a new industry or profession, read this. From personal chefs to commercial pilots, corrections officers and celebrity realtors, here’s what they actually made last year.

Personal chefs to plastic surgeons

Allison, a PA-based personal chef, $55,000
Angela, Social Media Manager, $42,000
AnneMarie, Newspaper Reporter, $26,000
Cindy, Elementary School Secretary, $17,500
Chad, Beverly Hills Celebrity Realtor, $1 Million+
Bill, Corrections Officer, $44,000
Bryan, FedEx Pilot, $148,000
Frank, Plastic Surgeon, $1 Million
Helen, Registered Dietician, $72,000
Jeanine, Library Director, $38,000
Julie, Food Truck Owner, $43,000
Sandi, Emergency Room Registered Nurse, $50,000

A look ahead

With the U.S. economy teetering daily like the teeter-totter on a children’s playground, it’s smart to focus your career on skills that you know well. If you’re considered an expert, employers will pay. If you’re thinking “now’s the time to go out on my own”, check your savings account for 12 months of living expenses and ensure it’s and industry the economy is backing.

Salaries will stay at their current rates for 2012 and those receiving job offers will have room to negotiate for their fair market value. Engage salary tools (e.g. payscale.com, salary.com and glassdoor.com) to determine your fair market value when engaging in salary negotiations.

285,000 jobs a month for 5 years

While the Economic Policy Institute predicts it would take 285,000 new jobs per month for the next 5 years for our economy to return to pre-recession unemployment levels, all it takes for you to return to that state is one new job. Focus on that one and it’s a far more attainable goal.

3 Hot Industries in 2012

The hot industries remain consistent in 2012: Healthcare, Digital/Social Media and Green Energy. If you’re already in these industries, great for you. If you’re looking to break into one of these, focus on skills that transfer easily (e.g. project management, client relations, team management, accounting). Most importantly, connect the dots for the hiring manager in your personal brand, on your resume, LinkedIn profile and during the interview.

Picture of Adriana Llames

Adriana Llames

Adriana Llames is a veteran career coach and acclaimed author of Career Sudoku: 9 Ways to Win the Job Search Game. She is creator of “HR In-A-Box,” a Human Resources software product helping small businesses across America and a professional keynote speaker motivating and inspiring audiences with her focused programs on “9 Ways to Win the Job Search Game”, “Confessions of a Career Coach” and “Nice Girls End Up on Welfare."

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