15 jobs that pay $50,000 -- and might be hiring

Receiving a paycheck is always nice. Even if you don't love your job or you think you deserve more money, making a deposit in your checking account feels good.

You can pay bills, buy food and even splurge on the occasional luxury. The chance to find a higher paying job with a bright future is always appealing, but in this gloomy economy, it's even more attractive than usual.

To help you figure out what your options are, we've come up with a list of 15 jobs that earn in the $50,000 range and are expected to increase in demand between now and 2016.

With the annual median salary for full-time workers in the U.S. at $33,634, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, these careers will help you earn well above the average salary.

They also require various levels of experience and education, so workers from all walks of life can find opportunities.

Here are 15 jobs that pay between $50,000 and $59,999:

Accountants and auditors
Annual median income: $57,060*
Projected employment in 2016: 1.5 million
Increase between 2006 and 2016: 18 percent

Audiologists
Annual median income: $57,779**
Projected employment in 2016: 13,000
Increase between 2006 and 2016: 10 percent

Compensation, benefits and job analysis specialists
Annual median income: $52,180*
Projected employment in 2016: 130,000
Increase between 2006 and 2016: 18 percent

Conservation scientists
Annual median income: $56,150*
Projected employment in 2016: 21,000
Increase between 2006 and 2016: 5 percent

Detectives and criminal investigators
Annual median income: $59,930*
Projected employment in 2016: 125,000
Increase between 2006 and 2016: 17 percent

Environmental scientists and specialists, including health
Annual median income: $58,380*
Projected employment in 2016: 104,000
Increase between 2006 and 2016: 25 percent

Insurance appraisers, auto damage
Annual median income: $51,500*
Projected employment in 2016: 15,000
Increase between 2006 and 2016: 13 percent

Insurance underwriters
Annual median income: $51,264**
Projected employment in 2016: 111,000
Increase between 2006 and 2016: 6 percent

Landscape architects
Annual median income: $50,843**
Projected employment in 2016: 32,000
Increase between 2006 and 2016: 16 percent

Librarians
Annual median income: $50,970*
Projected employment in 2016: 164,000
Increase between 2006 and 2016: 4 percent

Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing (excluding technical and scientific products)
Annual median income: $50,750*
Projected employment in 2016: 1.69 million
Increase between 2006 and 2016: 8 percent

Subway and streetcar operators
Annual median income: $50,520*
Projected employment in 2016: 7,800
Increase between 2006 and 2016: 12 percent

Surveyors
Annual median income: $51,630*
Projected employment in 2016: 74,000
Increase between 2006 and 2016: 24 percent

Teachers, postsecondary
Annual median income: $56,120*
Projected employment in 2016: 2.05 million
Increase between 2006 and 2016: 23 percent

Urban and regional planners
Annual median income: $53,967**
Projected employment in 2016: 39,000
Increase between 2006 and 2016: 15 percent

*Salary and employment figures based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

**Salary data from CBSalary.com.

Copyright CareerBuilder.com 2009. All rights reserved. The information contained in this article may not be published, broadcast or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority

All About Jobs and Labor