By Carol Tice

If you're in the market for a new job, why not go the creative route?

There are plenty of jobs where creativity and fresh ideas can make you stand out – and many of them are still in demand despite the recession. The following list provides a mix of in-demand gigs and (hopefully) soon-to-bounce back options for you.

Here's a look at some of the best-paying jobs that require a creative mind:

By Michelle Goodman

Between the clever quips, the incessant cleavage, and the convenient storeroom sex, this year's fall TV lineup makes a day at the office look nothing short of a college frat party. But anyone who's worked as a nurse, publishing assistant, or criminal investigator will tell you that the TV version of their job is far racier than the reality.

To set the record straight, we asked workers in the trenches what TV's hottest prime time shows get wrong about their jobs. We also dug up what these positions actually pay (hint: often less than their fictional counterparts) and how stiff the competition is, especially in today's tricky job market.

Most residents like Sally Delk love the clean power and high paying jobs of nuclear power. But some fear the potential dangers are being ignored.

By Steve Hargreaves

BAY CITY, Texas (CNNMoney.com) -- Minimum wage to $20 an hour.

That's what 28-year old mother-of-three Sally Delk hopes to do with a job at the local nuclear power plant.

Delk is currently enrolled in night classes at the community college here in town. In two years, she hopes to get a degree in nuclear technology, and turn a $7.25-an-hour job flipping burgers into a position at the plant making $15 to $20 an hour.

"I have three kids I have to support, and it's a very good job," Delk said, lingering after class on a recent evening. "I don't really know all the different jobs at the plant, but I know you can work your way up."

By Bridget Quigg

Ah, childhood dreams. Ride a unicorn. Fly on a magic carpet. Perform an aortic valve replacement through a median sternotomy incision.

Okay, the last one probably wasn't on your list when you were little, but growing up to be a doctor may have been. From pilots to zookeepers, chefs to police officers, kids tend to have high hopes for their futures and funny ways of describing them.

Below is a list of what eight children at an afterschool program in Seattle, Wash. answered when asked what they want to be when they grow up. We've also included their guess at what they will earn and real salary data about the jobs.

Do you remember what you wanted to be?

by Tisa Silver

Who says hard work doesn't pay? These 10 blue-collar jobs show that the color of your collar doesn't necessarily dictate the level of your income.

What Does it Mean to be a Blue-Collar Worker?

Blue-collar jobs are typically classified as involving manual labor and compensation by an hourly wage. Some fields that fall into this category include construction, manufacturing, maintenance and mining.

What it Does Not Mean

Do not mistake blue-collar jobs for easy to land, easy to keep or low-paying ones. Although some blue-collar jobs do not require a four-year degree, many of them require additional education by way of specialized training, a certification or an apprenticeship.

There are several blue-collar jobs that offer competitive packages, relative to their white-collar counterparts.