Top 20 Fastest Growing Jobs In The US
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The makeup of the U.S. labor force is constantly changing. As recently as 30 years ago, occupations such as application software developers and solar panel installers were in their infancy. Now, those occupations employ thousands of Americans and are among the fastest growing professions in the country.
Using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Employment Projections program, 24/7 Wall St. identified America’s 25 fastest growing jobs. Occupations are ranked on the percentage change in employment from 2018 to 2028. Only occupations at the finest level of detail in the Standard Occupational Classification System were considered. Supplemental data on total employment, educational attainment, and typical education required by occupation are also from the BLS EP. Data on median annual wage in 2019 is from the BLS Occupational Employment Statistics program.
The jobs on this list span sectors, from academia and IT to the service industry and equipment installation and repair. However, the largest share of jobs on this list is by far in the health care sector.
List of top 20 fastest growing jobs in the US
20. Animal Caretakers
19. Restaurant Cooks
18. Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists
17. Behavioral Disorder, Substance Abuse, and Mental Health Counselors
16. Operations Research Analysts
15. Speech-Language Pathologists
14. Roustabouts
13. Mathematicians
12. Genetic counselors
11. Physical therapist assistants
10. Derrick Operators
9. Nurse practitioners
8. Statisticians
7. Data Scientists
6. Information security analysts
5. Occupational therapy assistants
4. Personal care aides
3. Home health aides
2. Solar Photovoltaic Installers
1. Wind turbine service technicians
Detailed information of top 20 fastest growing jobs in the US
20. Animal Caretakers
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| Photo: My Next Move |
If you’re passionate about working with pets and nonfarm animals, animal caretaking may be the career for you. As an animal caretaker, you’re tasked with feeding, grooming, and exercising animals, and you don’t need a formal education or any experience to perform this job. The number of animal companions continues to grow, and animal caretaking positions are expected to increase to fulfill new demand.
Projected Growth Rate: 23%
Median Salary: $26,080
Education: High school diploma or equivalent
Years of Experience Required: None
High Employment Locations: California, Texas, Florida, New York, and Illinois
19. Restaurant Cooks
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| Photo: My Next Move |
Aspiring restaurant cooks have many options for achieving this occupation. You don’t need formal education to become a restaurant cook, and on-the-job training on food safety and handling will teach you what you need to know. With that being said, many do choose to pursue culinary training through a professional institution, vocational program, or apprenticeship. Although this isn’t the fastest growing job on this list, with nearly 1.8 million positions projected in 2029, it’s definitely an occupation full of opportunity.
Projected Growth Rate: 23%
Median Salary: $28,800
Education: No formal education
Years of Experience Required: None
High Employment Locations: California, Texas, Florida, New York, and Pennsylvania
18. Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists
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| Photo: My Next Move |
As forest fires become more common in the U.S., especially along the West Coast, the need for those who enforce fire regulations, inspect forests for hazards, and try to prevent blazes will increase significantly. Of all the jobs growing the fastest, the forest fire inspector and prevention specialist career field is projected to employ the fewest Americans in the next decade. Even after a projected 24.1% increase in this sector, there will only be 2,800 forest fire inspectors in the U.S. in 2028.
• Projected Growth Rate: 24%
• Median Salary: $42,150
• Education: High school diploma or equivalent
• Years of Experience Required: Less than 5
• High Employment Locations: Florida, California, Georgia, Mississippi, and Arkansas
17. Behavioral Disorder, Substance Abuse, and Mental Health Counselors
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| Photo: Betterteam |
Counselors for substance abuse, behavioral disorders, and mental health offer treatment for individuals who suffer from mental or behavioral problems that interfere with their everyday life. They evaluate and assess problems such as addiction or alcoholism and provide treatment and education for recovery. Typically, a bachelor’s degree and clinical license are necessary to become a counselor, but requirements may vary from a certification to a master’s degree depending on the state. As more people continue to seek out mental health services, opportunities in this career will continue to grow.
Projected Growth Rate: 25%
Median Salary: $47,660
Education: Bachelor’s degree
Years of Experience Required: None
High Employment Locations: California, Pennsylvania, New York, Florida, Massachusetts
16. Operations Research Analysts
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| Photo: US News Money |
Operations research analysts are high-level problem-solvers who use advanced techniques, such as optimization, data mining, statistical analysis and mathematical modeling, to develop solutions that help businesses and organizations operate more efficiently and cost-effectively. For example, UPS uses operations research to chart the flow of packages, provide real-time route guidance to drivers and help plan and manage distribution. In the health care field, the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York used operations research to design a radiation treatment plan for prostate patients using sophisticated modeling and computation techniques.
Projected Growth Rate: 25%
Median Salary: $86,200
Education: Bachelor’s degree
Years of Experience Required: None
High Employment Locations: California, Texas, Virginia, New York, and Florida
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15. Speech-Language Pathologists
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| Photo: UChicago Medicine |
Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) work to prevent, assess, diagnose, and treat speech, language, social communication, cognitive-communication, and swallowing disorders in children and adults.
Speech disorders occur when a person has difficulty producing speech sounds correctly or fluently (e.g., stuttering is a form of disfluency) or has problems with his or her voice or resonance.
Language disorders occur when a person has trouble understanding others (receptive language), or sharing thoughts, ideas, and feelings (expressive language). Language disorders may be spoken or written and may involve the form (phonology, morphology, syntax), content (semantics), and/or use (pragmatics) of language in functional and socially appropriate ways.
Social communication disorders occur when a person has trouble with the social use of verbal and nonverbal communication. These disorders may include problems (a) communicating for social purposes (e.g., greeting, commenting, asking questions), (b) talking in different ways to suit the listener and setting, and (c) following rules for conversation and story-telling. All individuals with autism spectrum disorder have social communication problems. Social communication disorders are also found individuals with other conditions, such as traumatic brain injury.
Cognitive-communication disorders include problems organizing thoughts, paying attention, remembering, planning, and/or problem-solving. These disorders usually happen as a result of a stroke, traumatic brain injury, or dementia, although they can be congenital.
Swallowing disorders (dysphagia) are feeding and swallowing difficulties, which may follow an illness, surgery, stroke, or injury.
Projected Growth Rate: 25%
Median Salary: $80,480
Education: Master’s degree
Years of Experience Required: None
High Employment Locations: California, Texas, New York, Florida, and Illinois
14. Roustabouts
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| Photo: OwlGuru |
Roustabout positions are also growing fast in the mining, oil and gas, and construction industries. This role is necessary for the setup and repair of oil field equipment, and it only requires moderate on-the-job training with no formal education. Other job titles for this occupation include floor hand, rig hand, and galley hand.
Projected Growth Rate: 25%
Median Salary: $39,420
Education: No formal education
Years of Experience Required: None
High Employment Locations: Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, North Dakota, and Colorado
13. Mathematicians
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| Photo: WeUseMath |
2018-2028 projected employment change: +26.0% (2,900 to 3,600)
Typical education needed for entry: Master’s degree
Median annual wage: $105,030
Employment for mathematicians is projected to climb by 26.0% from 2018 to 2028. Growing demand will be driven by the growing amount of electronic data, which will need to be analyzed and sorted to help businesses improve processes and products.
12. Genetic counselors
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| Photo: US News Money |
Genetic counseling gives you information about how genetic conditions might affect you or your family. The genetic counselor or other healthcare professional will collect your personal and family health history. They can use this information to determine how likely it is that you or your family member has a genetic condition. Based on this information, the genetic counselor can help you decide whether a genetic test might be right for you or your relative.
> 2018-2028 projected employment change: +27% (3,000 to 3,800)
> Typical education needed for entry: Master’s degree
> Median annual wage: $81,880
11. Physical therapist assistants
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| Photo: Delta College |
> 2018-2028 projected employment change: +27.1% (98,400 to 125,000)
> Typical education needed for entry: Associate’s degree
> Median annual wage: $58,790
Physical therapist assistants, unlike aides who generally do not assist in patient treatment, work under the supervision of physical therapists and are directly involved in patient care — either in improving mobility or reducing pain.
Demand for physical therapists and their assistants is projected to climb as the baby boom generation ages and will need physical therapy services to remain active. Additionally, the rising prevalence of chronic conditions like diabetes in obesity in the general population will also drive up demand for physical therapy services as many Americans with these conditions need assistance to remain mobile.
10. Derrick Operators
Oil and gas derrick operators rig and operate derrick equipment, which is used to dig oil wells and push drills into the ground. Derrick operators are also involved in a variety of activities that maintain, monitor, and control oil derricks. No formal education or experience is necessary to become a derrick operator, and training is offered on the job. The industries where this occupation is needed most are the mining, oil and gas extraction, and construction industries.
Projected Growth Rate: 31%
Median Salary: $47,920
Education: No formal education
Years of Experience Required: None
High Employment Locations: Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, North Dakota, and California
9. Nurse practitioners
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| Photo: Ohio University |
> 2018-2028 projected employment change: +28.2% (189,100 to 242,400)
> Typical education needed for entry: Master’s degree
> Median annual wage: $109,820
Nurse practitioners is one of the fastest growing occupations in the United States. Demand for medical services is projected to surge in the coming years, and that demand will likely not be fully met by available doctors and surgeons. As a result, health care models are shifting to rely more on physicians assistants and nurse practitioners. By 2028, there will likely be about 242,400 nurse practitioners in the U.S., up from 189,100 in 2018.
8. Statisticians
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| Photo: US News Money |
> 2018-2028 projected employment change: +30.7% (44,400 to 58,000)
> Typical education needed for entry: Master’s degree
> Median annual wage: $91,160
As more companies move more of their business online and collect increasing amounts of data, demand for statisticians is increasing. Statisticians use math to collect and organize the data, often to help businesses improve practices, including design and development. According to BLS projections, there will be over 30% more statisticians in 2028 than there were in 2018 to analyze this data.
Most statisticians earn over $91,000 per year — well more than double the median annual wage of $39,810 for all jobs.
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7. Data Scientists
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| Photo: Getty Images |
Using data software and programming, data scientists’ careers revolve around transforming raw data into interpretable information. Data scientists analyze, visualize, and report their findings, as well as consult on analytical techniques used to solve problems. Top industries for data science opportunities include science, finance, and insurance. A bachelor’s degree is necessary to enter this field, but a graduate degree may be preferable to employers.
Projected Growth Rate: 31%
Median Salary: $98,230
Education: Bachelor’s degree
Years of Experience Required: None
High Employment Locations: California, Texas, New York, Illinois, and Washington
6. Information security analysts
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| Photo: Northeasten University |
> 2018-2028 projected employment change: +31.6% (112,300 to 147,700)
> Typical education needed for entry: Bachelor’s degree
> Median annual wage: $99,730
As computer systems become more integral to business functions and everyday life, hackers and scammers pose an increasing threat. Demand for information security analysts, who keep computer networks secure, is projected to grow in the U.S. throughout the next decade, and the number of such analysts is projected to grow by 35,400 workers from 2018 to 2028.
Information security analysts have a median annual wage of just under $100,000 — about 2.5 times more than the median wage across all jobs.
5. Occupational therapy assistants
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| Photo: St. Catherine University |
At a projected growth rate of 35 percent, occupational therapy assistants help address the demand for patients who need help recovering and maintaining the skills necessary to go about daily life. Under the guidance of occupational therapists, assistants in this profession lead therapeutic activities for developmental disabilities, socialization, and mobility. To become an occupational therapy assistant, you’ll need an associate degree in a health-related field and at least 16 weeks of hands-on fieldwork.
Projected Growth Rate: 35%
Median Salary: $62,940
Education: Associate degree
Years of Experience Required: None
High Employment Locations: Ohio, Texas, Florida, New York, and Illinois
4. Personal care aides
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| Photo: FCP Live-in |
> 2018-2028 projected employment change: +36.4% (2.4 million to 3.3 million)
> Typical education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent
> Median annual wage: N/A
Personal care aides can work in a variety of settings, including private homes and nursing care facilities. Their work is typically non-medical and includes cooking, cleaning, and companionship. Demand for personal care aides services will likely grow in the coming years as the population ages and such workers are a relatively inexpensive care option. The number of personal care aides is projected to grow from 2.4 million in 2018 to 3.3 million in 2028.
3. Home health aides
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| Photo: Careers in Healthcare |
As the population of adults age 65 and older grows rapidly, trends toward aging in place create a large demand for home health care services. Home health aides help people with chronic illness or disabilities and any others who need assistance going about daily life. In addition to assisting with daily activities, they also administer basic health care such as monitoring vital signs. To be a home health aide, you’ll need at least a high school diploma or equivalent and training from a program or on the job.
Projected Growth Rate: 34%
Median Salary: $27,080
Education: High school diploma or equivalent
Years of Experience Required: None
High Employment Locations: California, New York, Texas, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts
2. Solar Photovoltaic Installers
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| Photo: CleanTechnics |
In addition to wind power, solar is another fast-growing source of energy and jobs. Solar photovoltaic (PV) installers are responsible for assembling and maintaining all types of solar energy systems. Although job growth is strong, there is competition for limited positions. Entry-level positions generally require a high school diploma, but candidates with technical schooling, community college credit, or apprenticeship experience have a more promising job outlook.
Projected Growth Rate: 51%
Median Salary: $46,470
Education: High school diploma or equivalent
Years of Experience Required: None
High Employment Locations: California, New Jersey, North Carolina, New York, and Virginia
1. Wind turbine service technicians
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| Photo: Freepik |
Increasing at a rate 15 times that of other occupations, wind turbine service technicians or windtechs, are projected to be the fastest growing job in the next decade. A windtech’s main responsibilities involve the installation, maintenance, and repair of wind turbines. Their work requires them to travel to turbine sites and involves dangers such as climbing and rappelling at great heights. Despite this job’s dangerous drawbacks, aspiring windtechs can find opportunities around the nation and a decent salary without a four-year degree. Wind power is also the largest renewable energy source in the U.S., and jobs in this sector are expected to increase with energy demand.
Projected Growth Rate: 61%
Median Salary: $56,230
Education: Associate degree or technical school certificate, plus 12 months of training
Years of Experience Required: None
High Employment Locations: Midwest, Great Plains, coastal areas
| The coronavirus crisis hammered the already-weakening jobs market in the U.S. and abroad. Estimates show that close to 10 million people have lost their jobs in the U.S. alone amid the coronavirus impact. Now, even as the pandemic seems to be receding and certain public places are re-opening they are seeing a shortage of staff as people being laid off during the pandemic do not want to return to work under the existing conditions (low hourly pay and little to no security). The restaurant industry has been the most affected by staff shortages following the pandemic. As most countries went into lockdowns, restaurants had to either close doors or cut their operations. As a result tens of thousands of restaurant workers were laid off, many remaining without any security and facing eviction from their homes. Now, as the economy is re-opening, companies like McDonald’s Corp (NYSE:MCD), Dunkin’ Donuts, and Subway are looking forward to making up the lost revenue, but are unable to do so due to labor shortages. As a result they have to cut hours and keep dining rooms closed. McDonald’s Corp (NYSE:MCD) has recently announced plans to hire 20,000 people across the UK and Ireland. In the US, McDonald’s Corp (NYSE:MCD) also said it would raise wages for company-owned restaurants by an average of 10%, although it might not be enough to attract people. As to McDonald’s Corp (NYSE:MCD)’s franchised locations, they are also offering incentives. For example, one location in Illinois has recently made the headlines after promising free iPhones to new hires after 6 months of employment. |
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