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Presidents Day

Presidents jobs prior to entering the White House

Presidents Day is celebrated every year on the third Monday of February. Presidents Day was originally called “Washington’s Birthday” and it will be celebrated on February 16th in 2009, the date of George Washington’s actual birthday is February 22nd. The holiday later became known as “Presidents Day” when it was moved to the third Monday of February in order to commemorate the birthdays of both George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. According to federal law, the Presidents Day holiday is still officially called “Washington’s Birthday.” This Presidents Day, it might be fun to remember the past presidents “before they were famous” by taking a look at their early careers. Here are some of the jobs held by past presidents before they were elected as President of the United States of America:

• Architect
  • When creating and designing buildings, some of the many things architects must consider are aesthetics, functionality and safety. Employment for architects is expected to grow faster than average between 2006 and 2016. Architects today earn an average salary of $73,650.
  • Notable President:
    • Thomas Jefferson, 3rd U.S. president, 1801-1809
• Engineer
  • There are many different kinds of engineering jobs, such as mechanical engineers, electrical engineers, civil engineers, software engineers and environmental engineers. Engineering salaries vary based the field, and the median salaries range from $66,030 for agricultural engineers to $98,380 for petroleum engineers.
  • Notable President:
    • Herbert Hoover, 31st U.S. president, 1929-1933
• Lawyer
  • Lawyers represent parties in court and provide legal counseling and advisory. The specific tasks of an attorney varies greatly depending on the field law; for example, there is corporate law, criminal law, environmental law and government law. The average salary for lawyers is $118,280.
  • Twenty-Three U.S. presidents were lawyers, including:
    • John Quincy Adams, 6th U.S. president, 1825-1829
    • Abraham Lincoln, 16th U.S. president, 1861-1865
    • Franklin D. Roosevelt, 32nd U.S. president, 1933-1945
    • Gerald R. Ford, 38th U.S. president, 1974-1977
    • Bill Clinton, 42nd U.S. president, 1993-2001
• Newspaper Editor
  • In the media, journalism and newspaper industry, the job of an editor is to review and edit the work of writers, as well as oversee the production of publications and overall operations. Editors may work for publishing companies, magazines or newspapers. Newspaper editors make an average salary of $54,930.
  • Notable President:
    • Warren Harding, 29th U.S. president, 1921-1923
• Sheriff
  • Typically, a sheriff holds the highest position in law enforcement in the county. Many individuals begin their career as a police officer and work up the ranks to become elected as a sheriff. The average salary for police and sheriffs is $50,670.
  • Notable President:
    • Grover Cleveland, 22nd and 24th U.S. president, 1885-1889 and 1893-1897
• Surveyor
  • Surveyors measure and map the terrain of the Earth’s surface and create boundaries. The job outlook in this field is expected to grow at a rate of 24 percent between 2006 and 2016, which is much faster than average. Surveyors today earn an average salary of $54,450.
  • Notable President:
    • George Washington, 1st U.S. president, 1789-1797
• Teacher
  • From elementary school to postsecondary education, teachers and professors play a huge role in shaping the future of our country. Elementary, middle school and high school teachers earn an average of between $50,040 and $52,450. The average salary for college professors is $98,974.
  • Six U.S. Presidents had earlier careers in education, including:
    • Chester Arthur, 21st U.S. president, 1881-1885
    • Woodrow Wilson, 28th U.S. president, 1913-1921
    • Lyndon B. Johnson, 36th U.S. president, 1963-1969

Presidents Day Resources:

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• The Presidents of the United States
• U.S. Presidents on Biography.com
• Presidents Day resources
• 2009 Federal Holidays, including Presidents Day
• “It’s Still George Washington’s Birthday (Not Presidents Day)”