Finding a Job Rural America
If you are moving to rural America from a city or even a suburb, it can feel like you are making a huge leap of faith. The “pros” of moving can include cheaper rent or house prices, a lack of traffic, cleaner air, lots of outdoor recreational opportunities, and generally a more relaxed change of pace. The “cons” can include no access to any of the big name supermarkets and a longer drive to get to any other amenities you might find in a city. One thing that might be counted on as a “con” but should be a “pro” is the job situation in rural america. You should not worry about finding a job in rural America, why?
Rural America is full of amazing job opportunities. Not only can you find high-paying jobs there, but many of these jobs come with advantages when you make the move. These advantages can look like the government giving special consideration as you transfer to a job in a rural area to the area itself providing nice benefits.
Despite the job coming with benefits that are not found in cities or suburbs, rural America has great job security as well – partially due to the fact that only 14% of United State Citizens live in the land that is considered rural. The point is that people are needed in rural areas and they want people like you to move in and take a job there as long as you are ready and qualified to work. The question is which jobs are the best in places like these. Here are some jobs you can find in rural America that pay well and might even boost your career.
Registered Nurses and Doctors
The national average for working as a nurse can be $77,460 a year. Though depending on the state, you can easily find positions that pay over $100,000 a year.
Being a registered nurse in rural America comes with benefits not found in the city. Nurses who are struggling with student debt can receive help when they take a hospital job in a rural area. This often looks like receiving help from the National Health Service Corps with any student loans, tuition, and fees in exchange for a promise to work three years in Health Professional Shortage Areas. Certain hospitals may offer to pay tuition and help with housing as well.
Nurses might also find their job more satisfying as they get to know the tight knit community in which they live. Often they have time to get to know their patients which segways into them feeling like they are truly making a difference.
Doctors will often find the same benefits as nurses from the same sources. The only difference for doctors will make more money.
Fence Installers
Choosing to be a Fence Installer is a niche pick for a career, but on average they make a little over $50,000 a year. This is great if you are looking for a trade that pays well and requires a lower level of experience. That being said, you will still need to know your way around construction to earn a job like this.
The clear advantage to becoming a Fence Installer in rural America is the high demand. From farms to ranches to national parks, fences will always be in demand in rural areas and the contracts will often be higher paying than those found in cities.
Carpenters
The average carpenter makes over $50,000 a year in the United States. Carpenters benefit from growing communities in rural America and the need to make homes and buildings for these growing communities. They are always in great demand, and since rural communities lack skilled workers, carpenters can always find a job in rural areas.
Lawyers
Lawyers can make up to $100,000 dollars a year. There is a lack of lawyers in rural America, so much so that in 40% counties across the United States, the ratio of lawyers to people can be one to 1,000 (https://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/administrative/news/2020/07/potlp2020.pdf). Programs, like The Rural Attorney Recruitment Program (https://ujslawhelp.sd.gov/rarprogram.aspx ), were made to give Lawyers more incentive to move to these areas to combat this problem. Though most of these programs are dependent on where you plan to work, Lawyers in rural areas can enjoy a stipend upwards of $10,000 alongside plentiful cases which are found in rural areas.