Home to numerous theme parks and a robust tourism industry, Orlando, Florida is one of the most visited destinations in the entire country. Not surprisingly, the city is home to an impressive number of technical and vocational schools that cater to travel, hospitality, dining, and recreation. Whether you want to become a gourmet chef, travel agent, hotel manager, or event planner, Orlando has trade schools equipped with the courses and degree training necessary for success.

But tourism represents only a fraction of Orlando's incredibly diverse economy. Defense, technology, aeronautics, and science are also major staples of this city of 230K residents. As such, you might consider exploring vocational and technical schools with programs in engineering, mechanics, engine repair, transportation, information technology, and computer science. In software alone, over 1,000 companies add $1 billion plus to Orlando, Florida's thriving high-tech economy. And over 500 biotechnology firms generate $3.6 billion in medicine, research, clinical trials, and agriculture.

Orlando Economy Supports Tourism, Technology, Education, and Health Careers

Technology and tourism represent opposite ends of the spectrum, but Orlando has numerous other career opportunities and vocational schools in between to suit your needs. Education and health, for example, are two industries that have actually continued to flourish as the larger metropolitan area experiences 10% unemployment. Unlike travel and high-tech manufacturing, both of which tend to fluctuate with the economy, medicine and education are a little more immune to major downturns. With a degree or certificate in nursing, teaching, EMT, or medical billing from one of Orlando's many trade schools, you might enjoy greater job security. Equally enticing, you stand a better chance of exceeding the city's current median salary of $44K a year.