Top 10 Jobs...And How You Can Get One.

Train for one of the best jobs in America. One pays more than $100,000!

What are the best jobs in America? And, more importantly, how can you get one?

Money and Payscale.com pored through thousands of jobs - analyzing factors such as salary, quality-of-life, and job growth - to come up with their list of America's Best Jobs.

Check out their list of the 10 best jobs in America...Then learn how you can get the training and education you need to join the ranks of “the best.”

Job #1: Systems Engineer
Median Salary: $87,100

The Job: Systems engineers are essentially managers who oversee the engineering aspects of a system or project, often leading a team of lower-level engineers.

Did You Know? No longer confined to just the IT industry, systems engineers work everywhere from NASA to Wall Street and Main Street.

What You Need: As a minimum, you'll need a bachelor's degree in engineering or a related field.

Search for Technology and IT schools now.

Job #2: Physician Assistant
Median Salary: $90,900

The Job: A physician assistant (PA) practices medicine under a doctor's direct supervision, which can include diagnosing diseases, writing prescriptions, and assisting in surgery.

Did You Know? Job opportunities for PAs are growing rapidly in inner cities and rural areas.

What You Need: A bachelor's degree in a health-sciences focused field will get you started, but you'll need a master's degree to advance to the highest income levels. You'll also need to pass a national exam. Many nurses gravitate to this field as a way to advance their health care careers.

Find a top Nursing school near you.

Job #3: College Professor
Median Salary: $70,400

The Job: Teaching, writing scholarly papers and books, and possibly some administrative work. While getting your summers off is great, remember that it will take you a while to get the advanced degree you need to get a top-paying job.

Did You Know? Private universities tend to pay much more than state schools and community colleges.

What You Need: Almost without exception you will need a bachelor's degree. Plan on adding a master's degree and maybe even a PhD in your chosen field.

Search for online Master's degree programs now.

Job #4: Nurse Practitioner
Median Salary: $85,200

The Job: Very similar to a physician assistant (PA), a nurse practitioner (NP) is a registered nurse who has usually received a master's degree in nursing.

Did You Know? Unlike PAs, NPs can work independently and don't have to report directly to an MD.

What You Need: There are many avenues to starting a nursing career. Many people will add a bachelor's degree on top of their initial training. Earning your master's is the next step to becoming a full NP.

Search for Nursing schools and programs now.

Job #5: IT Project Manager
Median Salary: $98,700

The Job: An IT project manager plans, manages, and completes projects while also managing the project cost, quality, and expectations.

Did You Know? One perk of the job is that it can lead to very senior-level positions, like chief technology officer (CTO) and chief information officer (CIO).

What You Need: A bachelor's degree in business, computer science, or engineering, though many project managers also have several years of business experience and an MBA.

Find local and online Technology and Computer Science schools.

Job #6: Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
Median Salary: $74,200

The Job: Accounting is a year-round profession which involves much more than taxes. Many CPAs work for companies planning and managing their finances as well as handling tax and regulation issues.

Did You Know? Jazz musician Kenny G, novelist John Grisham, and Ultimate Fighting champ Chuck Liddell each have an accounting degree. And Nike founder Phil Knight is a licensed CPA.

What You Need: To nab a top-paying job, you'll want to earn your bachelor's degree in accounting, but many people start with an associate's degree in accounting. You'll need to get certification by taking the CPA exam.

Find online and local Accounting degree programs now.

Job #7: Physical Therapist
Median Salary: $74,300

The Job: Physical therapists treat everyone from newborns and athletes to the elderly. It's a job known for its high-satisfaction rate, as well as the ability to work independently.

Did You Know? A Swiss physical therapist is the smarty pants who discovered that the stability ball, which was first created as a toy, could also help treat lower back pain.

What You Need: A bachelor's degree and then a master's from an accredited physical therapy program, which prepares you for any national or state exams you may need to pass.

Job #8: Computer/Network Security Consultant
Median Salary: $99,700

The Job: These guys and gals are on the frontlines of the newest kind of terrorism: cybercrime. Wireless security and computer forensics are two of the hottest jobs right now.

Did You Know? The total number of known computer viruses, worms and Trojan horses surpassed one million in 2008.

What You Need: Just about any IT course or certificate program can help you get ahead, though a bachelor's in a technology-focused field is a great place to start.

Find Technology and Computer Science degree programs.

Job #9: Intelligence Analyst
Median Salary: $82,500

The Job: Does sitting at a desk analyzing data - some of which may be top-secret - sound exciting? That's what many intelligence analysts do, whether they work for a defense contractor or government agency.

Did You Know? Language skills are a hot commodity in this field. The FBI lists 14 priority languages for potential intelligence analysts.

What You Need: A bachelor's degree. Beyond that, experience is the key, whether you're fluent in several languages, familiar with international policy, or a military veteran.

Search for online and local degree programs now.

Job #10: Sales Director
Median Salary: $140,000

The Job: A sales director oversees a sales staff, sets goals, and helps move product. Do this well, and you can write your own ticket, whether it means moving into senior management or earning performance-based bonuses.

Did You Know? In Arthur Miller's play Death of a Salesman, it is never disclosed what the main character, Willy Loman, actually sells.

What You Need: Leadership skills and a bachelor's degree. Studying marketing or business will give you a strong background and earning an MBA will give you management skills and boost you into the upper levels of earning potential.

Find online Business schools now.

All salary information is from Payscale.com. Median salaries are based on at least two to seven years of experience on the job.

Top 10 Careers for Ultimate Job Security

Who doesn't want job security? These last few years of recession, layoffs, and unemployment have proved just how fickle the job market can be. As a result, more and more people are opting for career training or degree programs that lead to positions with greater job security. Though of course there are no guarantees in a shaky job market, some professions are much more stable than others. These ten jobs are as recession-proof as you can get.

1. Teacher: The demand for secondary school teachers is always strong, especially in the public school system. Teachers with a strong background in mathematics, bilingual education, and science will be in highest demand. Public school teachers must complete a bachelor's degree program, as well as an approved teaching program, before becoming licensed (median salary: $52,200).

2. Accountant: Working for a government agency offers job security for people with a degree in accounting. Government accountants start out with a bachelor's degree in accounting or a related discipline, and might hold a master's degree or higher (median salary: $60,340).

3. Registered nurse: Over the past decade, a nursing shortage has placed a great deal of strain on the health care industry. As a result, registered nurses are always in demand. There are three paths to becoming a registered nurse--earning an associate's degree, a bachelor's degree, or a diploma from an approved nursing program (median salary: $63,750).

4. College professor: Becoming a professor can lead to a long-term position with a college or university, and that can lead to tenure, which is one of the ultimate sorts of job security you can have. To ride the tenure track, most colleges require a doctorate in your chosen field of study (median salary: $58,830, though the salary can vary widely by field).

5. Federal judge: Most federal judges were attorneys before they made it to the bench. A bachelor's degree comes first, then three years of law school. Becoming a federal judge requires a firm grasp of the law, extensive legal experience, and a bit of political maneuvering thrown in for good measure (median salary: $112,830).

6. Environmental engineer: The push for green technology and a kinder approach to the natural world will put environmental engineers on the fast-track to success. Get your foot in the door with a bachelor's degree in environmental science or a related field (median salary: $77,040).

7. Pharmacist: As the world of health care continues to change rapidly, pharmacists will be needed to keep up with patient demand. Pharmacists must complete at least two years of undergraduate study before applying to a Pharm.D. program. Licensing is a must (median salary: $109,180).

8. Truck driver: With over 3.2 million truckers on the road, it's safe to say that becoming a truck driver is a popular career path. It is also a stable career, as there is no shortage of work for people who carry goods up and down the interstate. Career training for truck drivers begins with earning a commercial driver's license through a trade or vocational school (median salary: $37,730).

9. Telecommunications expert: As the virtual world grows larger and more complex, telecommunications experts will be needed to handle its intricate connections. Most jobs require a high school diploma, some offer on-the-job career training, and others require at least an associate's degree (median salary: $53,976).

10. Customer service representative: Good customer service is required in virtually every industry. A customer service representative might work from home, make connections through a call bank, or work for a small business that requires face-to-face assistance for customers. A high school diploma is required, and career training often takes place on the job. Earning a degree can lead to managerial and supervisory positions (median salary: $30,290).

Career training for job security
For the best job security, start with the best preparation. An accredited degree program can give you the edge you need in the competitive job market. Ongoing career training is the best way to stay on top of your game and move forward in your promising new career.

Five Ways to $70k Careers You Can Fetch with a Bachelor's Degree

News reports recently highlighted a government communications job that pays $70,000 per year for a professional to post to Facebook and Twitter. Unfortunately, that's a very rare and unusual position, and it requires moving to Oregon. For the rest of us, earning over $70,000 per year requires crafting a rare skill set, usually combining knowledge from more than one discipline. Moving past the $34 per hour mark also requires leveraging experience from a previous job. Accredited online degree programs can help you prepare for one of the following exciting careers:

Environmental Engineer

With government agencies requiring builders and businesses to ensure compliance with environmental regulations, more companies are looking for assistance from environmental engineers. Department of Labor statistics show the median annual salary in 2008 for environmental engineers was over $70,000. In addition, labor analysts expect job openings for environmental engineers with advanced degrees to increase faster than for other specialized engineering professionals. Online degree programs can help engineering graduates develop careers in this crucial niche.

College Professor

During economic downturns, career counselors often suggest searching for recession-proof careers. Looking to the ivory tower for a job might seem strange, especially for professionals with little advanced academic training. However, soaring college and university enrollments have forced schools to replace retiring faculty while hunting for talented instructors. In many states, a bachelor's degree can qualify many subject matter experts for jobs as adjunct professors. Completing an advanced degree can boost your earning potential even more. Although professors' salaries can vary wildly by region and specialty, a leading industry 2006-07 survey estimates that most post-secondary instructors earn annual salaries above $73,000.

Physician Assistant

America's need for high quality health care has created numerous job opportunities over the past few years. To bridge the gap between emergency room visits and regular examinations, insurance companies, drugstores, and private businesses have expanded the number of health clinics across the country. Physician assistants handle most of the routine diagnoses in these clinics, as well as in a growing number of private medical practices where doctors have become overwhelmed with their caseloads. Online undergraduate degree programs can help nurses and other health care workers prepare for certifications necessary to earn jobs that often pay more than $74,000 per year.

Interior Designer

It's easy to absorb the wisdom of home makeover shows and call yourself an interior decorator. However, to become a licensed interior designer, you must combine formal design and engineering training with the real world experience gained from apprenticeships and entry-level jobs in established design studios. Online degree programs allow aspiring interior designers to condense the time it takes to prepare for industry certification and state licensure. Government statistics indicate that one in four interior designers are self-employed, with the top 10 percent of professionals earning over $78,000.

Software Developer

Hackers and hobbyists often point out that in the past, little formal training is necessary to become a software developer. Earning an IT bachelor's degree online helps prospective software developers learn the discipline and the industry conventions required for lucrative corporate assignments as the market becomes more competitive. Likewise, an experienced software developer who earns a business degree can better understand how to market his or her creations. According to government data, many developers working as independent publishers earn over $79,000 per year. Privately employed developers may earn slightly less, but can also benefit from company perks and stock options not tracked by salary surveys.

While you can earn some bachelor's degrees entirely online, some programs require occasional project work in a lab or seminar setting. Making time to build some real-time networking into an online degree program can help develop the kinds of connections that lead to real world job leads. The very best bachelor's degree programs provide internships, job placement assistance, and other career counseling that leverages the quality of their alumni networks. By combining your personal passion, your life experience, and the structured learning of a degree program, you can put yourself on the path to an interesting career and a strong salary within the next four years.