10 of the fastest growing jobs right now
When you’re thinking about starting your career or switching careers to change things up, there are a number of important factors: skills and qualifications, the education you’ll need to get started (or move up), and—perhaps the biggest concern of all for many of us—the salary. But while you’re considering all of these very important elements, don’t forget about the future. A growth career is one that will work for you 5, 10, or 15 years down the line. If you choose a path that’s…shall we say…dwindling, then your options down the line may not be as great as if you pick a field that’s continuing to grow and evolve.
Let’s look at some of the fastest growing fields and jobs, all which are anticipated to grow faster than average over the next decade.
1. Interpreter/Translator
Business is increasingly global these days, and as companies embrace this small-world trend, people who can help them navigate these international waters will be in hot demand. It’s also a career that has good flexibility—you may work in person directly translating what people are saying, but it could also include translating written documents.
What you’ll need: Fluency in multiple languages, strong written and verbal communication skills, and a bachelor’s degree.
What it pays: $46,120 per year median salary, or $22.17 per hour, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Growth potential: 29% by 2024, per the BLS.
2. Cost Estimator
If you’re really good at those Price is Right games and have a mind for the big picture, then becoming a cost estimator might be a good option for your career. Cost estimators, well, estimate costs for goods or services in the most basic sense, but also use their skills to analyze data and determine the overall investment of time, money, and resources on a project. They serve an essential role in project planning. Cost estimators typically specialize in a particular industry, like manufacturing or construction.
What you’ll need: Math/financial skills, research skills, analytical skills, and a bachelor’s degree in a field like math, management, or engineering.
What it pays: $61,790 per year median salary, or $29.71 per hour, per the BLS.
Growth potential: 9% by 2024, per the BLS.
3. Audiologist
If you’ve ever seen one of those amazing videos of people hearing sounds for the first time ever after receiving cochlear implants, you know that audiologists serve a crucial purpose in helping people with hearing issues. These allied health professionals work with patients to test hearing and develop treatment plans to overcome varying types and severities of hearing loss. That work can include diagnosing issues, fitting patients with hearing equipment, and developing communication and comprehension skills.
What you’ll need: A doctoral degree in audiology, plus a state license (check your state for specific licensing requirements).
What it pays: $75,980 per year median salary, or $36.53 per hour, per the BLS.
Growth potential: 29% by 2024, per the BLS.
4. Pharmacy Technician
Of all the growth fields over the next 10 years, perhaps none are moving as fast or exploding quite as much as healthcare. There are lots of reasons for this—aging Baby Boomers, more attention to health and wellness in general, a decline in overall health—but the upshot is that if you find a healthcare career path that works for you, it’s a safe bet for your future. Pharmacy technicians operate on the back end of healthcare, working with pharmacists to provide medication exactly as prescribed by doctors and with patients to ensure that they’re taking the medications correctly and safely.
What you’ll need: Organizational skills, general science knowledge, extreme attention to detail, and a high school diploma or completion of a pharmacy technician program. Some states also require additional licensing or certification, so be sure to check your own state’s requirements.
What it pays: $30,920 per year median salary, or $14.86 per hour, per the BLS.
Growth potential: 9% by 2024, per the BLS.
5. Recruiter
If you were the person who could hype any party to get the right people in the door or have a knack for matchmaking (in general, not necessarily in love), then you might be a great recruiter. These human resources professionals are scouts for talent, working on behalf of companies looking to fill positions. They may work independently as a contractor, or as a full-time employee as part of a Human Resources department.
What you’ll need: Organizational skills, people skills, communication skills, and a bachelor’s degree.
What it pays: $59,180 per year median salary, or $28.45 per hour, per the BLS.
Growth potential: 5% by 2024, per the BLS.
6. Dental Hygienist
Did we mention that healthcare jobs are hot? Don’t forget about the dental field, which is expected to grow alongside more traditional medical fields. Dental hygienists are allied health professionals who work alongside dentists in dental offices or other medical facilities. They are the ones who can see right through your insistence that you’ve been flossing regularly, and are responsible for examining patients, evaluating for signs of disease, cleaning teeth, performing other dental health procedures, assisting with oral surgery, and educating patients on good dental health/follow-up care.
What you’ll need: A good bedside manner, and an associate’s degree from an accredited dental hygiene program.
What it pays: $72,910 per year median salary, or $35.05 per hour, per the BLS.
Growth potential: 19% by 2024, per the BLS.
7. Market Research Analyst
Data is king. So people who can wrangle data and help turn it into sales or marketing strategies are definitely on the royal court. With companies looking to take the ever-increasing amounts of customer and market data and turn it into better products or more sales leads, market research analysts are the professionals who can make that happen. They take information about a consumer base or sales and turn that into a snapshot of what people want, what people will buy, and how much it should cost.
What you’ll need: Math/financial skills, strong analytical skills, and a bachelor’s degree (though advanced positions may require a master’s degree).
What it pays: $62,560 per year median salary, or $30.08 per hour, per the BLS.
Growth potential: 19% by 2024, per the BLS.
8. Biomedical Engineer
Biomedical engineers actually combine two hot careers (tech and health) into one. These engineers design and create the tools, equipment, devices, computer systems, and software that are used in healthcare. They can work in academic research settings, the private sector, or government settings.
What you’ll need: A strong background in both engineering and the biological sciences, tech skills, and a bachelor’s or master’s degree in biomedical engineering or bioengineering.
What it pays: $85,620 per year median salary, or $41.16 per hour, per the BLS.
Growth potential: 23% by 2024, per the BLS.
9. Sonographer
When you think “sonogram,” you might think of parents-to-be wielding those black and white photos that make babies look like peanuts, aliens, or any number of open-to-interpretation shapes. In reality, sonographers (the person behind the ultrasound/sonogram) use that imaging equipment for a variety of medical diagnostic purposes. These medical professionals work with physicians and surgeons to diagnose and assess internal medical issues.
What you’ll need: Medical science knowledge, plus a certification or associate’s degree from an accredited allied health program.
What it pays: $64,280 per year median salary, or $30.90 per hour, per the BLS.
Growth potential: 24% by 2024, per the BLS.
10. Event Planner
Do you have a passion for making sure every detail of a project is executed on time, with everyone in place who should be in place? Do you sleep better at night if your detailed spreadsheets and binders are nearby? If so, you might want to think about becoming an event planner. These professionals work for specific companies, like a hospitality company or a convention center, organizing and executing project plans for large gatherings like big meetings, conferences, social events, etc.
What you’ll need: Extremely good organizational skills, communication skills, and a bachelor’s degree.
What it pays: $47,350 per year median salary, or $22.76 per hour, per the BLS.
Growth potential: 10% by 2024, per the BLS.
So what do you think? Is one of these fast-growing careers the right choice for you?
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