Looking to change career

I posted a post a couple days ago but now I am curious about the following:

I work with MR/DD population and I'm not really happy but happy to make a constant paycheck. I live on the North Shore of Long Island and work five minutes from home. Nassau County. Moving further east in a year and a half and I'm looking for a Long Island based job that pays more than what I make $12.50 that is in demand with stability and benefits. I make extra money doing a night job from 9-1. I am curious if anyone can help me figure out a job or profession where I can break out of the mid 20k salary range. I have a BFA in Film/Video from the mid 2000s and I understand it's tough to get a Film/Video career so I am doing that on the side on the weekends.

I work as a DSP for an organization and work with individuals with MR/DD. I would gladly leave and change careers and to find something else.

Problem is I am buying a house in 2016 (June or so) and I am looking to potentially change careers and would be willing to take a few courses or get certified in something to make good money. I have a year and a half to do so.

I feel that with my current job, although I make an amount that is somewhat okay, I want to break to the next level.

Should it be with LIJ or a hospital setting of sorts or is health care going to get worse? I don't mind doing what I do and working up but the company I am with is always about politics. Also other companies start you off at higher pay. The best benefit is that it's five minutes from my house and so I get home before 4pm every day and don't stress about gas money or being in traffic.

I know that won't be the case in a year or so when I live further east.

So I am sort of at a cross roads. Money needs to be made and I want to step it up.

Thoughts? Ideas? Opinions? Thanks, feel free to private message me.

Re: Looking to change career

If you want to make $ i would get out of the social service field. Pay is lower compared to the business field but the positions that have a "decent' salary are requiring that their workers be licensed by 2016.

What skills do you have and what are your interests? Are you open to going into the city? that's where you'll make more $.

Re: Looking to change career

If you stay in field you can move up assistant manager and up, human resources, .. all my directors started as dsps