Best Part-Time Jobs for 2009

By Rachel Zupek, CareerBuilder.com writer

The new year is often tantamount with resolutions, goals and hope for a good year, personally and professionally. One way to make those hopes a reality is to improve your financial situation.

But how can that happen when so many people are getting laid off and companies are cutting budgets, bonuses and salary increases?

One way to boost your bank account is to take on a part-time job, which is defined as a position that requires working fewer than 35 hours per week, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. There are currently 25.5 million part-time workers, according to the BLS. In November 2008, the number of people who worked part time for economic reasons, meaning that they would like to work full time but couldn't because their hours had been cut back or because they were unable to, rose to 7.3 million.

b growth or have a large number of available job openings.

As workers everywhere feel the effects of the slowing economy, more and more workers are turning to part-time work for help. The number of people looking for part-time labor in the first quarter of the year through the third quarter of the year increased from 1.3 to 1.5 million, respectively.

If you're looking for a way to boost your income, either by working part time in addition to your full-time job or as your only source of earnings, here are 10 part-time jobs that earn great wages, will experience job growth or have a large number of available job openings, according to the BLS.

Keep in mind, these jobs won't come easy -- you'll still have to earn any necessary credentials or training to obtain these positions. But, we guarantee your work will be worth the extra money.

1. Massage therapist

Part-time projection facts*:

• Almost 42 percent of all massage therapists worked part time in 2006.
• Employment for massage therapists is expected to increase 20 percent from 2006 to 2016.
• Job growth for massage therapists is expected to be faster than average with very good job prospects, particularly for those seeking part-time work.

Salary: $19.39/hour**

2. Fitness worker

Part-time projection facts:

• Many fitness jobs, such as trainers or exercise instructors, are part time.
• Fitness workers should have good opportunities due to rapid job growth in health clubs, fitness facilities and other settings where fitness workers are concentrated.
• Fitness worker employment is expected to increase 27 percent over the 2006-2016 decade.

Salary: 15.86/hour

3. Bill and account collector

Part-time projection facts:

• Many collectors work part time or on flexible work schedules.
• Employment of these workers is expected to grow by 23 percent through 2016.
• As cash flow becomes more important in business, companies are placing greater emphasis on collecting unpaid debts sooner, making job prospects favorable.

Salary: $15.21/hour

4. Librarian

Part-time projection facts:

• More than 20 percent of librarians work part time.
• Despite slow economic growth, many librarians are expected to retire in the next decade, creating a large number of job openings.

Salary: $25.41

5. Nursing aide

Part-time projection facts:

• Nursing aides held approximately 1.4 million jobs in 2006.
• Employment of nursing aides is expected to grow faster than average in the next decade.
• In 2006, 23 percent of aides worked part time compared with 15 percent of all workers.

Salary: $11.50/hour

6. Receptionist and information clerk

Part-time projection facts:

• More than three of every 10 receptionists and information clerks work part time.
• More than 200,000 new jobs will arise for these workers over the 2006-16 period.
• Receptionists and information clerks are expected to increase by 17 percent from 2006 to 2016.

Salary: $11.82

7. Dental assistant

Part-time projection facts:

• About 35 percent of dental assistants worked part time in 2006.
• Employment is expected to grow 29 percent from 2006 to 2016.
• Dental assistants are estimated to be one of the fastest-growing occupations over the 2006-16 projection period.

Salary: $15.52/hour

8. Teacher assistant

Part-time projection facts:

• Teacher assistant employment is expected to grow by 10 percent between 2006 and 2016.
• Approximately four in 10 teacher assistants work part time.
• Teacher assistants held 1.3 million jobs in 2006.

Salary: $21,580/year

9. Cashier

Part-time projection facts:

• About 46 percent of all cashiers work part time.
• Opportunities for full-time and part-time cashier jobs should be good because to replace the many workers who transfer to other occupations or leave the labor force.

Salary: $8.84/hour

10. Bank teller

Part-time projection facts:

• One in four tellers worked part time in 2006.
• Employment should grow by 13 percent between 2006 and 2016.

Salary: $11.36/hour

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*Projections according to the BLS.
**Mean hourly wage, according to the BLS.

Rachel Zupek is a writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues.