Job hunting? This week’s most intriguing offers

Labor Day was fun, but many of us now prefer workdays to days off – especially if we get a few too many extra.

That’s because the US unemployment rate is now creeping uncomfortably close to double-digits. Since we’d like to see that turn around, Monitor staffers search the job listings looking for interesting places to work. The most intriguing jobs we found this week are in Fort Smith, Ark.; Seattle; Long Island, Kan.; Edinburg, Texas; Clinton, Ill.; and Salt Lake City.

Like bugs? Read on.

1. All-purpose cowboy
Employer: Valley Feeds
Wages/salary: Not listed.
Details: Needed for cow/calf work; horses provided, or can bring own. (For more information click here.)
Location: In Long Island, Kan., (pop. 155, median family income $32,321) the library offers children’s books, periodicals, and cake pan rentals.

2. Fish-hatchery technician
Employer: University of Washington
Wages/salary: $11.13 to $14.32 an hour.
Details: Capture and handle adult salmon; prior fish handling experience desired, preferably a student of aquatic and fishery sciences, oceanography, or similar background; must be able to get wet and be covered with fish slime. (For more information click here.)
Location: Seattle (pop. 565,809, median family income $81,355) and Minneapolis were America’s most literate cities in 2008, according to a survey by Central Connecticut State University.

3. Freelance gold designer
Employer: JBSstyle
Wages/salary: $30 to $45 an hour
Details: Bachelor’s degree and minimum of three years of fine jewelry design experience required. (For more information click here.)
Location: N/A

4. Inserter
Employer: Not listed
Wages/salary: Not listed.
Details: Must be able to lift 30 pounds, stand, and bend in loud environment. (For more information click here.)
Location: Fort Smith, Ark., (pop. 85,716, median family income $ 45,466) is the second biggest city in the state.

5. Insect production worker
Employer: USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Wages/salary: $14 to $16 an hour
Details: Place insect food and eggs into larval rearing containers; collect emerging adults from emergence traps; chill and measure desired numbers of insects for culture maintenance and shipment of irradiated adults. (For more information click here.)
Location: Edinburg, Texas (pop. 48,465, median family income $30,634) has 40 acres of wetlands and boasts of some of the best bird-watching in the US.

6. Soy data analyst
Employer: Syngenta
Wages/salary: Not listed
Details: Work under direction of Soybean Data Manager; periods of intense work at critical times of year (planting, pollinating, and harvesting). (For more information click here.)
Location: Clinton, Ill., (pop. 7,485, median family income $48,024) is in DeWitt County and is named for DeWitt Clinton, a 19th century governor of New York.

7. Tire buster
Employer: Not listed.
Wages/salary: $9 to $12 an hour
Details: Bust tires, assist mechanics; must be able to lift 50 pounds; bilingual English and Spanish preferred. (For more information click here.)
Location: Salt Lake City (pop. 181,743, median family income $45,140) was originally “Great Salt Lake City.” It was shortened in 1868.

8. Hog buyer
Employer: Southern Minnesota-based company
Wages/salary: $28,000
Details: Must have hog production experience and know appropriate hog handling. (For more information click here.)
Location: Not listed.