9. Paralegals and Legal Assistants
> Pct. increase in male participation: 32.3%
> Pct. male in 2000: 11.8%
> Pct. male in 2011: 15.6%
> Median hourly income: $22.47

From 2000 to 2011, there was a 32.3% proportional increase in male participation in paralegal and legal assistant jobs. The median hourly income for paralegal and legal assistants of $22.47 annually is well above the national average of $16.57. Over the past decade, the number of positions has increased by about 44%. These job options are great for people interested in law and who want to enter the field with just an associate’s degree rather than becoming a lawyer, which requires at least a doctoral or professional degree.

8. Receptionists and Information Clerks
> Pct. increase in male participation: 32.8%
> Pct. male in 2000: 6%
> Pct. male in 2011: 7.9%
> Median hourly income: $12.35

Receptionists perform a variety of administrative tasks, such as handling phone calls and documenting and recording maintenance. Unlike many jobs, for which new positions are scarce, the BLS projects a 24% increase in the number of receptionist and information clerk hires between 2010 and 2020. According to Emily Allen, Manager of Communications and Publications for the International Association of Administrative Professionals, the nearly one-third increase in men taking up this position has much to do with economic necessity. She also explains that gender roles appear to be changing: “Men with college degrees are filling these roles by choice, finding challenge in a profession that has changed significantly in recent years.”

7. Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks
> Pct. increase in male participation: 36%
> Pct. male in 2000: 12.6%
> Pct. male in 2011: 17.1%
> Median hourly income: $16.93

Insurance claims and policy processing clerks handle new insurance policies and make modifications to existing policies and claim forms. In 2000, only 12.6% of these positions were held by men. More than a decade later, this proportion has increased to 17.1%. Insurance claims clerks have median annual salary of $35,210, and the highest educational degree typically required is a high school diploma. According to the BLS, the number of such clerks is expected to grow 9% between 2010 and 2020.

6. Personal Care Aides
> Pct. increase in male participation: 39.9%
> Pct. male in 2000: 10.3%
> Pct. male in 2011: 14.5%
> Median hourly income: $9.49

Personal caretakers have a median annual income of just under $20,000, and they assist the elderly and persons with disabilities in their daily lives at home or in a facility. The job requires less than a high school education, which means more people looking for work are eligible. Demand for these jobs is increasing, as the population requiring such services continues to grow. The high turnover rate in caretaking jobs creates many opportunities for men to enter the profession.

5. Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses
> Pct. increase in male participation: 48.4%
> Pct. male in 2000: 6.5%
> Pct. male in 2011: 9.6%
> Median hourly income: $19.79

Licensed nurses provide basic nursing care and take direction from both registered nurses and doctors. Their duties include checking blood pressure, changing bandages and maintaining patient health records. The BLS projects a 22% increase in the number of licensed practical and vocational nurses from 2010 through 2020. The median hourly wage of $19.79 is more than $3 higher than the national median, and the median annual wage is $41,150. In 2000, just 6.5% of licensed nurses were men. From 2010 to 2011, the number of licensed nurses fell by around 13,000, while the number of men working in the position rose by about 5,000.

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