Boldly Go...Top Five "Star Trek" Careers

by Amelia Gray
Boldly Go...Top Five

Are you ready for a futuristic career that challenges your mind and offers daily rewards? Send your career into warp drive with a focused career training program. You could be boldly stepping into the future sooner than you think.

If you're looking for a more exciting work day, a healthier paycheck or a more promising career ladder, a degree program can take you there. Find out what "Star Trek" character suits you best, and how an online career training program can send your future into a whole new world.

You boldly command your fleet

James T. Kirk, Commanding Officer

Your presence in a room commands attention. Others see you as a natural leader, and you're picked first for dodgeball and workplace projects alike. Your strong leadership skills can get you in trouble when you lock horns with higher-ups; truly, your place is in the big chair.

Get an education that matches your ability with a bachelor's degree in business administration. If you already have the four-year degree, upgrade to an M.B.A. and see why hiring managers hail the degree as a gold standard of business education. Salaries vary by industry; a survey by PayScale found IT project managers with the M.B.A. degree earning over $88,000 on average, while CFOs earned over $123,100.

You boldly consider logic over all

Spock, Science Officer

Who needs sentimentality? You're more comfortable in the machine world, where logical processes trump pesky human emotions every time. You might find yourself occasionally blindsided by a pretty face, but algorithms are your one true love. When you're given the opportunity, you use your highly developed intellect to invent and create.

Indulge your passion for order with an associate or bachelor's degree in programming. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that job prospects for programmers are expected to be best for those with a bachelor's degree and some experience in a range of programming tools and languages. Mean annual wages for computer programmers was $73,470 in 2008, making this a career that allows you to live long and prosper.

You boldly live to heal and rehabilitate

Leonard "Bones" McCoy, Chief Medical Officer

Your interest is in making people feel better, whether they're suffering from a skinned knee or a terminal disease. Family and friends come to you for help and advice, and you're already known as a healer by many. Your Uncle Jim even consults you on his dating problems, and you've always wished you could tell him, "I'm a doctor, Jim, not a miracle worker!"

What if you could enter the health care profession without committing to years in medical school? It's possible when you train to become a physical therapist assistant. A brief associate degree could be all you need to help others walk, move and function normally again. The BLS notes that physical therapist assistants earned $46,300 in 2008. Uncle Jim would be proud.

You boldly communicate well with others

Nyota Uhura, Chief Communications Officer

You're no wallflower. Unlike certain straight-laced computer types, you're happier to mingle in a crowd. A typical Friday night could find you dancing the night away, and you're just as comfortable interacting with Klingons as you are with the grocer down the street. Your forward nature can get you in trouble when you're not allowed to speak your mind.

Any large company can benefit from a bevy of human resources specialists. With training in communications or human resources, you could find yourself in a position that rewards you for your friendliness. Human resources assistants earned mean annual wages of $29,170 in 2008, the BLS reports. Complete more education and you might find yourself as a specialist earning $58,230 a year.

You boldly engineer the future

Montgomery "Scotty" Scott, Chief Engineer

Creating new worlds is your passion. Whether you're dreaming up new cities or illuminating existing ones, your love of technology meets real-life applications. Your intelligence might make you seem like a bit of an oddball at times, but you're a true visionary when it comes to your chosen field.

Training to become an engineer means earning a bachelor's degree in one of the most lucrative entry level fields around. Electrical engineers earned mean annual wages of $85,350 in 2008, according to the BLS. Beam yourself up to a better career by training in the field you love.

You boldly navigate the skies

Pavel Chekov, Navigator

From your tidy home to your color-coded files, you feel better when everything is in its proper place. Your mathematical brain and love of order makes you the perfect choice to navigate any road trip. With a stack of maps and extra cell-phone batteries, you're prepared for anything.

Put your precision skills to good use in the air traffic control field. A recent demand for new controllers could mean big hiring bonuses and other incentives. Formal educational experience stands in for some work experience, meaning you can log hours as an air traffic controller before you even step into the tower. The BLS notes that air traffic controllers saw mean annual wages of $108,090 in 2008.

Career training for the future

While no degree or certificate program can guarantee a particular career or salary, hiring managers in the fields above typically prefer or require prior training among applicants. A career training program prepares "Star Trek" fans to boldly go where only the finest job applicants have gone before.