Veterinarians should love animals and be able to get along with their owners.

Graduation from an accredited college of veterinary medicine and a State license are required; admission to veterinary school is competitive.

Job opportunities should be excellent.

About 80 percent of veterinarians work in private practice.

Educational requirements vary; the ability to communicate effectively and persuasively is important for entry-level candidates.

Performance-based pay, including bonuses and commissions, can make up a large portion of an advertising sales agent’s earnings.

Pressure to meet monthly sales quotas can be stressful.

Faster than average growth is expected as agricultural and food scientists develop new products using biotechnology and work to limit the negative environmental impact of agriculture.

A bachelor's degree in agricultural science is sufficient for most jobs in product development; a master's or Ph.D. degree is generally required for research positions.

Opportunities are expected to be good.

About 68 percent of conservation scientists and foresters work for Federal, State, or local governments.

Most jobs require a bachelor's degree; research and teaching positions usually require a graduate degree.

Foresters and conservation scientists should enjoy working outdoors, be able to tolerate extensive walking and other types of physical exertion, and be willing to relocate to find work.

In addition to job openings from growth, many openings are expected as today's conservation scientists and foresters retire.

Federal, State, and local governments employ 44 percent of all environmental scientists and specialists.

A bachelor’s degree in any life or physical science is generally sufficient for most entry-level positions, although many employers prefer a master’s degree.

Job prospects are expected to be favorable, particularly for environmental health workers in State and local government.

Fire fighting involves hazardous conditions and long, irregular hours.

About 9 out of 10 fire fighters were employed by local governments.

Applicants generally must pass written, physical, and medical examinations, and candidates with some postsecondary education are increasingly preferred.

Keen competition for jobs is expected because this occupation attracts many qualified candidates.

This occupation is characterized by strenuous work, long hours, seasonal employment, and some of the most hazardous conditions in the workforce.

About 56 percent of all workers are self-employed, among the highest proportions in the workforce.

Fishers usually begin as deckhands and acquire their occupational skills on the job.

Employment is projected to decline moderately.

    •    Nature of the Work
    •    Training, Other Qualifications, and Advancement
    •    Employment
    •    Job Outlook
    •    Projections
    •    Earnings
    •    Wages
    •    Related Occupations
    •    Sources of Additional Information

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About 21 percent of landscape architects are self-employed—almost 3 times the proportion for all occupations.

Almost all States require landscape architects to be licensed, which generally requires a degree in landscape architecture from an accredited school, work experience, and a passing score on the Landscape Architect Registration Exam.

Good job opportunities are expected, but new graduates may face competition for jobs in the largest and most prestigious firms.

About 26 percent of lawyers are self-employed, either as partners in law firms or in solo practices.

Formal requirements to become a lawyer usually include a 4-year college degree, 3 years of law school, and passing a written bar examination; however, some requirements may vary by State.

Competition for admission to most law schools is intense.

Competition for job openings should be keen because of the large number of students graduating from law school each year.

Nearly 9 out of 10 loan officers work for commercial banks, savings institutions, credit unions, and related financial institutions.

Educational requirements range from a high school diploma for many loan officers to a bachelor’s degree for commercial loan officers; previous banking, lending, or sales experience is highly valued.

Good job opportunities are expected for mortgage and consumer loan officers and excellent opportunities are expected for commercial loan officers.

Earnings often fluctuate with the number of loans generated, rising substantially when the economy is strong and interest rates are low.

Excellent job opportunities are expected.

Earnings are relatively high, but some pharmacists are required to work nights, weekends, and holidays.

Pharmacists are becoming more involved in counseling patients and planning drug therapy programs.

Pharmacists must graduate from an accredited college of pharmacy and pass a series of examinations to be licensed.