The Best Professions

12 Jobs That Will Never Disappear

By Candace Corner, CareerBuilder.com writer

While we haven't quite reached the age of flying cars, we've certainly made significant strides in civilization. Gone are the heydays of goldsmiths and wheelwrights, but an element of those jobs live on in one form or another. With advancements in technology and science, so come changes in jobs working with them.

And while there are certainly more than 12 occupations that will stand the test of time -- like artist and politician -- check out this list of jobs that have staying power:

1. Doctor
Why it's everlasting: While humans pride themselves on being the most intelligent of species, we still have a mortality rate, and we still get bumped, bruised and diseased along the way. We will always need people to investigate and treat our medical conditions.
What it pays: The median annual salary is $120,000.

2. Teacher
Why it's everlasting: There will always be a need for education, and there will always be a need for people to do the educating.
What it pays: The median annual earnings of kindergarten, elementary, middle, and secondary school teachers ranged from $41,400 to $45,920.

3. Mortician
Why it's everlasting: Unless a solution for mortality is found and available to everyone, there will always be a need for someone to care after the deceased.
What it pays: The median annual salary is $37,000.

4. Waste Disposal Manager
Why it's everlasting: Humans create a lot of waste, biologically and otherwise. We'll always need people to maintain and relocate our messes.
What it pays: The median annual salary is $35,000.

5. Scientist
Why it's everlasting: Humans will always ponder our surroundings and how it all works. We need people to dedicate their lives to the cause and effects of ourselves and our environments to deal with changes.
What it pays: The median salary for a research scientist (biotechnology) is $70,000. The median annual salary for a environmental scientist is $42,000.

6. Tax Collector
Why it's everlasting: As the old saying goes, "In this world nothing is certain but death and taxes." For all reported income, there will always be a form of collection to aid government programs.
What it pays: The median annual salary is $38,000.

7. Barber
Why it's everlasting: People will always need to have their hair cut and groomed.
What it pays: The median annual salary is $21,200.

8. Soldier
Why it's everlasting: Even if world peace were a reality, there would still be a fear of future wars based on history.
What it pays: The basic pay for enlisted personnel is an annual income of $14,137. The position also includes paid housing, food allowances, healthcare at little to no cost for the soldier and their family, extended vacation/leave, education stipends and additional incentives.

9. Religious Leader
Why it's everlasting: As people continue to ponder the meaning of their own existence, a majority find a need for people to assist them with a form of spiritual guidance.
What it pays: The median annual salary is $34,000.

10. Law Enforcement Officer
Why it's everlasting: If we are dependant upon a system that governs, we will also be dependant upon people to enforce the rules of that system.
What it pays: The median annual earnings at government state and local levels are $38,236. The median annual earnings for companies are $62,700.

11. Farmer
Why it's everlasting: One of the basic human needs is food and, even though farming is increasingly consolidated, there will still be a need for someone to grow it.
What it pays: The average net cash farm business income is last reported at $15,603. Government subsidies and additional incomes or cost reductions are not included in this figure. Incomes for ranchers and farmers vary with the weather, price of farm equipment and factors that involve the quality and quantity of the product.

12. Construction Worker
Why it's everlasting: In the same way we'll always need food, we'll always need a form of shelter to protect us from the elements. We will always need construction workers to build and repair our buildings.
What it pays: The median annual salary is $35,000.


* Salary sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Payscale.com, the Department of Defense, GoArmy.com and About.com.




Candace Corner is a writer for CareerBuilder.com.