Working is a key way students finance their college education today. Since the average annual cost of attending a public university in the United States is $10,000 to $15,000, students are seeking part-time employment in record numbers, says Pat Gutierrez, director of the UC Davis Student Employment Center. More than 10,000 students come looking for jobs -- both on and off campus -- when they arrive for school, says Gutierrez. The competition is fierce because there are jobs for about 6,000 students. These range from fast-food attendants to blackjack dealers at the casinos in Lake Tahoe to truck drivers. Casinos hire about 100 UC Davis students who work during the holiday season. "At the casinos blackjack dealers are by far and away the most popular jobs among the students because of the potential for good tips," says Gutierrez. On-campus jobs that are popular include computer programmers, bus drivers, bookstore cashiers and the various job opportunities at Recreation Hall. Hourly wages range from a minimum $4.75 to more than $12 for jobs off campus.