4. Library Assistants, Clerical
> Pct. increase in male participation: 53.3%
> Pct. male in 2000: 12.1%
> Pct. male in 2011: 18.6%
> Median hourly income: $11.27

Standard tasks for those who work as clerical library assistants include compiling records and organizing the library’s catalog, as well as issuing and receiving materials. Clerical assistants are likely to be familiar with the use of catalogs, databases, spreadsheets and document management software. While the position as a whole has declined in popularity, the number of men working as clerical assistants in libraries has increased from 15,000 to 21,000.

3. Loan Interviewers and Clerks
> Pct. increase in male participation: 63.9%
> Pct. male in 2000: 10.9%
> Pct. male in 2011: 17.9%
> Median hourly income: $16.74

Most loan interviewer and clerk jobs require interviewing loan applicants, investigating backgrounds, verifying references and preparing loan request forms. Carol Kaplan, media contact for the American Bankers Association, speculates that “traditionally, clerk and teller jobs are part-time positions, which are typically dominated by women who have caretaking responsibilities.” However, from 2000 to 2011, the number of men working in such jobs increased by 63.9%. In 2000, men made up just 10.9% of loan interviewers and clerks. Kaplan suggests that the economic downturn may have forced men into these roles.

2. Word Processors and Typists
> Pct. increase in male participation: 71.2%
> Pct. male in 2000: 6.4%
> Pct. male in 2011: 11%
> Median hourly income: $16.47

Word processors and typists are responsible for typing documents, checking grammar and spelling, as well as other clerical duties. The median annual wage is $34,260, according to the BLS. Word processor and typist professions decreased by almost 65% from 2000 to 2011, the 10th-fastest declining occupation in the United States, also according to the BLS.

Also Read: Eight Things To Do If You Haven’t Planned for Retirement

1. Dental Hygienists
> Pct. increase in male participation: 197.3%
> Pct. male in 2000: 0.9%
> Pct. male in 2011: 2.7%
> Median hourly income: $33.31

As a career option, becoming a dental hygienist is rapidly gaining popularity. The field has strong growth prospects, with the BLS anticipating 38% more job opportunities in 2020 than 2010 — far faster growth than most careers. The appeal of these jobs is evident: the median pay in 2011 was more than $69,000 a year, the hours are highly flexible, and the position requires only an associates degree. In 2000, less than 1% of dental hygienists were men. By 2011, however, male participation had increased to 2.7% of all hygienists, representing a 197.3% rise in the number of men pursuing this career. With almost 150,000 dental hygienists in the U.S., even small increases in the proportion of men in these roles represent significant changes in the number of men employed.

-By Michael B. Sauter, Lisa A. Nelson and Alexander E.M. Hess