College or University professor.  Get good pay, job security, in a position at a small to mid-sized college or university teaching any or all of the specdialties you mentioned in your post.  Or go for a big university, but its a little harder to get those positions.

I hear Waterhead-Mart is hiring for door greeters Al. But I'm fairly certain that the salary will not gross you that, you won't get a company car, the hours will probably flucuate (spell check that please), I'm not certain about stock options there, no company car, I think they have some bennies, only 2 weeks of vacations but if you stand way over in the corner by the buggies you can have that corner office! :p

LOL....it's going to be like that movie "Fun with *** and Jane" where they all get fired from their job and they are all competing for the same job at the next company.  Everyone is racing to get to the interview first and beating each other with their brief cases.

Hey...things could be worse!

http://americanangst.com/dingfries.html

Al, I ask myself the same thing from time to time ... I have a BA in Applied Economics (don't ask me what that is :-) with emphasis on European Union studies (perks of being born and going to school in Europe) ... then here in the US I got MBA with emphasis on Decision Science (I sure learnt to emphasize every single decision of mine!) ... got out of school, skipped the whole "corporate world" MBA grad future ... and went directly into real estate, first property management and shortly got my broker's license and went into real estate sales. My experience is limited to only 6 years but feel like I've been doing this forever ... probably because I never did anything else aside from teaching and research as a grad assistant. If I'm lucky, I'll stay in real estate till the rest of my life because it's something I really like to do and it's not just a career but has become my hobby as well. ... But sometimes I do ask myself that question ... What would I do if I had to leave real estate? I never thought I'd say this, but I sure could use the "freedom" of a 9 to 5 schedule, with vacation time, health insurance, company perks, FREE WEEKENDS and a stable income flow. So when you find that perfect 150K job, let me know ... it helps to have a backup in case things don't work out the way we want them to :-)

Uh, Hello!!!! WHAT OTHER JOB COULD YOU WANT????? You have flexibility, get to meet all kinds of people, you are not stock behind a desk in a stuffy cubicle all day, you get to be outside in the nice fresh air as much as you desire,(WHO NEEDS A CORNER OFFICE?), YOU ARE IN CHARGE OF HOW MUCH YOU MAKE, AND...

AS LONG AS THERE ARE PEOPLE ON EARTH, THERE IS A NEED FOR HOUSING. YOU PROVIDE A SERVICE TO FILL THAT NEED. JOB SECURITY.PERIOD.

As the market has slowed, I have become Mr. Mom and my wife had had to step up and become the primary bread winner.   Fortunately, I married a professional (veterinarian) I can't come close in a 9 to 5 job to make what she can make.  

On the plus side I am enjoying the time with my three children under age 4,  my wife has now retained me as her realtor as we search for a site for a new animal hospital.  Once we get the hosptial going I will probably be  a very part time realtor until the kids go to school....unless we homeschool.

I came to real estate from the IT (Information Technology) world and would probably go back to it if things didn't work out.  Of course I would work for a firm that caters to our industry...

Natalie -

You shouted:  AS LONG AS THERE ARE PEOPLE ON EARTH, THERE IS A NEED FOR HOUSING.

Tell that to all the people here in Michigan that lost their job and are losing their home.  Tell that to the people that would like to buy a home but don't know if they will have a job tomorrow.

There is no JOB SECURITY here for anyone, realtor or not.

Do you know anything about the sad state of affairs in Michigan?  

I don't blame Al one bit for considering the possibilities (it crosses my mind too, more often than not).  

If I had to sit back and say "If I had to do it again" or "Where can I go from here" I would be a side agent for a national new home builder.  No kidding!

My wife worked her hiney off for 8 years in general real estate and never cracked the $100K/year mark.  Of course she lived on Amelia Island, FL where there are more agents per capita than anywhere else in the world (my opinoin)!

She went to work for a major builder in the area 5 years ago and has never made less than 6 figures.  She gets vacation, health insurance, disability insurance, etc.  It's a corporate environment, but boy... can you make a good living!!  

If I hadn't already put in my 30 years in the "corporate world" I'd be working for a builder right now myself.

I have a regular job.  I'm a Realtor.