MOSES LAKE - A new computer application will help people learn more about potential careers and rates of pay in central Washington. The "Career Coach" application can be found on the Big Bend Community College website, www.bigbend.edu.

"The information on Career Coach is customized to BBCC's geographic region and includes detailed wage estimates and current job postings associated with careers," Doug Sly, the college's public information officer, said. "The service lists jobs locally and as far away as Tri-Cities and Wenatchee." A search of the website indicated it lists some jobs in Spokane County also.

Career Coach allows job seekers to check the local market in the field they're interested in, salaries for those jobs, and how many people might be retiring from those occupations in the next few years, Sly said. Career Coach also includes local salary ranges for the jobs and education and training requirements.

"Sometimes you will notice a little more education or training can lead to better pay," Sly said.

The website has graphs showing salary ranges for each career, projected growth for that career in the area, and a demographic breakdown of people currently employed. (As an example, in the case of acute care nurses, the market is expected to grow by about 5 percent in the next four years, and 22 percent of people currently employed are older than age 55.)

The website also lists careers that require similar training and salary ranges for those jobs. It lists related degrees and training that can be obtained locally, and courses that can be transferred for advance degrees.