19. Mental health counselors

Projected increase in 2016: 30 percent
Number employed in 2006: 100,000
Median pay in 2006: $37,840
Education/training: Requirements vary, but a master's degree is usually necessary to be licensed as a counselor.
Job outlook: The outlook for mental health counselors has gotten a boost from insurance companies, which are increasingly covering counselors' costs because they're cheaper than psychologists or psychiatrists. Also, more will be needed as states build networks to improve service for children and adolescents.
• More on mental health counselors
• Job openings in New England for mental health counselors