Published: April 13, 2008 12:36 am      

Healthcare, education professionals among best-paid in state

For decades there has been one given in the state of Indiana — the best-paying, and most available, jobs are in the manufacturing industry.

While manufacturing is still the top industry in Southern Indiana — and accounts for 20 percent of the state’s jobs — today’s high school students would do better to prepare for jobs in the health care or teaching professions, according to data from the Indiana Department of Workforce Development.

Both are among the fastest growing, top paying professions in the region, which includes Floyd, Clark, Harrison, Scott and Washington counties, according to the group’s Occupational & Starting Wages Report. The 2008 report, released this month, is based on information received from area businesses from April 2007 to March 31, 2008.

Health-care related jobs also make up eight of the group’s 20 “Hot Jobs” list for 2008, while teaching jobs take four positions on the list. The list estimates expected job growth from 2004-2014.

The No. 1 hot job is Registered Nursing, with an average wage of $53,000 locally; No. 2 is elementary and kindergarten teachers, who earn an average of $48,000 in Floyd and Clark counties. Those are also professions expected to grow significantly. With an estimated 30 percent growth, there should be another 400 RN positions available, while an additional 350 elementary teaching positions are expected.

So what exactly does it take to be designated a hot job?

“These rankings are based on the projected rate of employment growth, the total number of job openings and average wages,” according to Rachel Justis, an analyst with the Indiana Business Research Center. “Jobs qualifying as a hot job have both high growth factors … as well as high wages.”

Rounding out the list, in order, are truck drivers, loan officers, college level teachers, medical assistants, general managers, plumbers and pipefitters, high school teachers, pharmacists, dental hygienists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, computer software analysts, management analysts, computer software engineers, physical therapists, middle school teachers, accountants and auditors, and medical and health services managers.

Of those, the highest paying jobs are pharamacists, $94,000; general and operational managers, $77,000; and, physical therapists, $66,000.

That’s pretty good pay compared to the average wage of local employees, which is about $31,500.

While the news about high gas prices, decreasing home values and manufacturing job losses is expected to continue throughout 2008, the local area should still see a moderate growth in jobs, according to Uric Dufrene, dean of IU Southeast school of business.

“Growth in employment for 2008 will continue, but at a slower pace than in recent years,” Dufrene predicted in the “Outlook for 2008” report produced annually by Indiana University’s business school analysts. “Overall, the outlook for the Southern Indiana area is neutral to positive.”



GOVERNMENT PAY

Here are the highest-paid employees of Clark County as well as the largest cities and towns. Except where noted, pay can include overtime, holiday pay or other compensation. All records are public record and have been provided by local government clerks.



CLARK COUNTY SALARIES (2007)

1. Daniel Rodden, sheriff $93,353.33

2. Jeffrey Stonebraker, public defender $91,109.90

3. John Kahafer, sheriff’s department $59,450.25

4. John M. Meyer, Health Department director $58,301.00

5. Brad Meixell,

Office of Emergency Communications $56,115.30

6. John Shelton, sheriff’s department $55,112.08

7. Dennis Sumler, probation department $54,158.62

8. Harold Goodlett, sheriff’s department $52,983.61

9. Donald Bowyer Jr., sheriff’s department $52,752.91

10. John Hawkins, sheriff’s department $52,544.24

11. Terry Hublar, sheriff’s department $52,067.59

12. Racheal Lee, sheriff’s department $51,588.50

13. Charles Adams, sheriff’s department $51,280.37

14. Hyun Lee, highway department director $50,289.07

15. James McCartney, sheriff’s department $49,936.74

16. Pamela Salerno, probation department $49,863.87

17. Bobby Brashear, sheriff’s department $49,063.34

18. Brian Meyer, sheriff’s department $48,877.14

19. Shelly Marble, deputy prosecutor $48,822.99

20. James Hayden, probation department $48,794.51



CITY OF JEFFERSONVILLE SALARIES (2007)

1. James Carter, firefighter $158,332

2. Charles M. Smith, firefighter $158,358

3. James Dyson, firefighter $152,133

4. Leslie Kavanaugh Jr., police $76,707

5. Kevin Morlan, police $75,992

6. John Monihon, police $75,959

7. James Craig, police $72,175

8. Clark Miles, fire $70,547

9. Les Merkley, city attorney $67,542

10. Robert Waiz, mayor $67,399

11. John Buery, police $67,242

12. Irvin Kircher, firefighter $66,054

13. Charles Thompson, police $66,048

14. Anthony Decker, firefighter $65,242

15. Bruce Wilkerson, firefighter $65,118

16. Kevin Lindsey, firefighter $63,495

17. Phillip Lovan, firefighter $63,404

18. Joseph Hubbard, police $63,054

19. Mark Lovan, police $62,582

20. Michael McCutcheon, firefighter $62,508



CITY OF CLARKSVILLE SALARIES (2007)

1. Noble McCutcheon, police $77,912.85

2. Dwight Ingle, police chief $72,884

3. Bob Hansford, firefighter $71,065

4. David Ross, police $66,523

5. Darrell Rayborn, police $65,413

6. James Henderson, police $65,052

7. Thomas Keith Leake, fire $64,886

8. Charles Skaggs, firefighter $64,445

9. Lawrence Noon, firefighter $64,256

10. David Merchant, police $63,302

11. Dale Hennessey, police $63,184

12. Joseph Craig, police $62,459

13. Donnie Hansford, street superintendent $62,350

14. Norman Abell, police $61,391

15. Robert Kaluzny, parks superintendent $61,191

16. Brian Lewis, fire $61,178

17. Shirley Makowsky, police $61,152

18. Mark Palmer, police $60,560

19. William Theriac, firefighter $59,864

20. Barry Ross, police $59,157



GOVERNMENT PAY

Here are the highest-paid employees of Floyd County as well as New Albany. Except where noted, pay can include overtime, holiday pay or other compensation. All records are public record and have been provided by the City Clerk and Floyd County Auditor.



FLOYD COUNTY SALARIES (2007)

1. Susan Orth, Superior Court Judge $126,692.21*

2. Terrance Cody, Circuit Court Judge $126,692.21*

3. GlenN Hancock, Floyd County Court $126,692.21*

4. Keith Henderson, Floyd County Prosecutor, $126,692.20*

5. John P. Biggs, Floyd County public defender $103,950

6. Dan Burke, Floyd County Magistrate $101,896.87**

7. Steve Owen, Floyd County Deputy Prosecutor $96,948.04*

8. Darrell W. Mills, sheriff $94,000

9. Timothy L. Gray, deputy prosecutor $60,500

10. Gary Collins, probation officer $58,243

11. Virgil Seay, chief juvenile probation officer $58,243

12. Richard Applegate, adult probation officer $55,743

13. Jennifer M. Elmore, nurse $54,814

14. Ted Heavrin, police chief $53,695

15. Donald Lopp, county planner $52,500

16. Jeff Topping, police detective $47,857

17. Donald Harshey,

director of Community Corrections $46.907

18. Gordon Martin, county engineer $45,524

19. Leah Pezzarossi, executive director,

Floyd County Youth Services $45,091

20. Frank Loop, police $44,3762

* (Floyd County pays $5,000, rest of salary comes from state)

** (Floyd County pays $4,000, rest comes from state)



City of New Albany salaries (2007)

1. Mike Mills, police $127,898.41

2. Chris Wiseman, firefighter $106,450.06

3. Ronald Toran, firefighter $99,999.12

4. Scott Carpenter, firefighter $97,225.36

5. Dexter Parker, firefighter $93,670.21

6. Daniel Downs, firefighter $92,287.28

7. Russell Witt, police $91,384.71

8. Allen Swarens, firefighter $90,350.04

9. Merle HaRl, police $90,134.40

10. Albert Higdon, police $85,056.39

11. Maurice Stubbins, firefighter $84,797.48

12. Arthur Byrd, firefighter $83,651.57

13. Richard Denny, police $83,005.37

14. Timothy Kron, firefighter $82,649.34

15. Thomas Williams, firefighter $81,744.08

16. Christopher Rainbolt, firefighter $81,381.85

17. Charles Miller, police $80,036.73

18. Keith Whitlow, police $79,603.11

19. Brian Gadd, firefighter $78,719.61

20. Todd Caufield, firefighter $78,497.97



PAYING THE FIELD

Average starting hourly wages for Floyd, Clark, Harrison, Scott and Washington counties, 2007-08

HEALTH CARE

• Dental hygienist, $30

• Nursing directors, $24.04

• Registered Nurse, $21.09

• Licensed Practical Nurse, $18.07

• Dietician/nutritionist, $16.50

• Medical records clerk, $13.09

• Emergency Medical Technician, $8

• Nurses aide and orderly, $9.78

TEACHING

• Foreign language teacher, $18.45

• Special education teacher, $15.61

• Art/drama teacher, $15.62

• Math teacher, $15.61

• Elementary teacher, $15.44

• High school teacher, $13.81

• Kindergarten teacher, $10.22

• Teacher’s aid, $9.21

MANUFACTURING

• 1st line supervisor, production: $17.70

• Machinery maintenance mechanic, $14.66

• Welder and cutter, $12.70

• Metal fabricator, $12.41

• Machine operator, $11.29

• Forklift operator, $10.91

• Assemblers, $9.27

• Bindery machine operator, $8

GENERAL:

• Real estate broker, $44.62

• Electrical engineer, $39.40

• Insurance agent, $33.75

• Occupational safety inspector, $33.07

• Human resources manager, $25.03

• Aircraft mechanic, $17

• Police detective, $15.38

• Building inspector, $15.38

• Mechanical drafter, $15

• Hairstylist, $14.57

• Pest controller, $13.50

• Roofer, $13.40

• School bus driver, $13.21

• Social worker, $12.73

• Photographer, $11.54

• Garbage collector, $11.40

• Auto body repairer, $11.25

• Welfare eligibility interviewer, $10.59

• Utility customer service representative/repairer, $10.42

• Bank teller, $9.93

• Jailer, $9.68

• Casino cage cashier, $9

• Landscaper/laborer, $8.95

• Farm worker, $8.66

• Retail salesperson, $8.16

• Bartender, $7.33

• Fast food cook, $7.19

• Waiter/waitress, $4.68 (excluding tips)

• Child care worker, $6.63

SOURCE: Indiana Department of Workforce Development