The Fastest Growing Jobs With or Without a Degree
Here are the fastest growing jobs according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) of the U.S. Department of Labor. The BLS has compiled lists of occupations that they project will have the highest level of growth through 2018. These occupations have diverse educational requirements. Some require that one has a bachelor's degree in order to enter that particular field, while others require a master's degree or a doctoral degree. Others require on-the-job training only.
Potential growth is one thing you should consider when choosing an occupation. It is not the only thing however. While it is important that the career you plan to enter has a promising future, it is also important to choose something you will enjoy doing. Doing a thorough self assessment will help you make a better career choice.
The Top 40 Fastest Growing Jobs
- Fastest Growing Jobs With a Bachelor's Degree
- Fastest Growing Jobs With a Master's Degree or Doctoral Degree
- Fastest Growing Occupations With a High School Diploma or a GED
- Fastest Growing Occupations With Post-Secondary Training or an Associate Degree
Top 10 Fastest Growing Jobs With a Bachelor's Degree
1. Biomedical Engineers
Biomedical engineers design, develop and evaluate devices, for example artificial organs, prostheses and instrumentation, and procedures, such as medical information systems and health management and care delivery systems. Employment in this field is expected to grow by 72% through 2018. Biomedical engineers earned a median salary of $77,400 in 2008.
2. Network Systems and Data Communications Analysts
Network systems and data communications analysts design and evaluate network systems, for example, local area networks (LANs), Wide Area Networks (WANs), and Internet systems. Employment of network systems and data communications analysts is projected to grow by 53% through 2018. Median annual earnings were $71,100 in 2008.
3. Financial Examiners
Financial examiners ensure that banks and financial institutions comply with the laws and regulations that govern them. They also make certain financial and real estate transactions are in compliance with laws and regulations. Financial examiners are expected to see a 41% growth in employment through 2018. They earned a median annual salary of $70,930 in 2008.
4. Athletic Trainers
Athletic trainers treat injured athletes and other individuals. They also teach people how to prevent injuries. Employment of athletic trainers is projected to grow by 37% through 2018. People working in this field earned a median annual salary of $39,640 in 2008.
5. Computer Applications Software Engineers
Computer applications software engineers use different programming languages to design, construct and maintain software and specialized utility programs. They analyze users' needs in order to do this. There is expected to be a 34% growth in employment of computer applications software engineers through 2018. Those working in this field earned a median annual salary of $79,780 in 2008.
6. Environmental Engineers
Environmental engineers use engineering principles to solve environmental problems such as pollution. Employment of environmental engineers is projected to grow by 31% through 2018. Environmental engineers earned a median annual salary of $74,020 in 2008.
7. Computer Systems Software Engineers
Computer systems software engineers build and maintain companies' computer systems and plan their future growth. We can expect to see a 30% increase in the employment in this field through 2018. Computer systems software engineers earned a median annual salary of $92,430 in 2008.
8. Survey Researchers
Survey researchers design or conduct surveys about people and their opinions. Employment in this field is expected to increase by 30% through 2018. Survey researchers earned a median annual salary of $36,220 in 2008.
9. Personal Financial Advisors
Personal financial advisors help people make investment decisions. There is expected to be a 30% increase in employment in this field through 2018. Financial advisors earned a median salary of $69,050 in 2008.
10. Market Research Analysts
Market research analysts conduct research and analyze data in order to help companies determine what products and services to sell, how much to charge for them and where and how to sell them. Employment in this field is expected to grow by 28% through 2018. Market research analysts earned a median salary of $61,070 in 2008.
Top 10 Fastest Growing Jobs With a Master's Degree or Higher
1. Medical Scientists (except epidemiologists)
Medical scientists research human diseases and conditions with an eye toward improving human health. Employment of mental health counselors is expected to grow by 40% through 2018. To work in this occupation you must have a Ph.D. Medical scientists earned a median annual salary of $72,590 in 2008.
2. Physician Assistants
Physician assistants are medical practitioners who work under the supervision of doctors. Their training, a master's degree, allows physician assistants to provide diagnostic, therapeutic, and preventive healthcare services. Employment in this field is expected to grow by 39% through 2018. Physician assistants earned a median annual salary of $81,230 in 2008.
3. Biochemists and Biophysicists
Biochemists and biophysicists study living organisms and their relationship to the environment. We can expect to see a 37% growth in employment through 2018. One must usually earn a Ph.D. to work as a biochemist or biophysicist, but those who want to work in applied research, product development, management or inspection may be able find employment with only a bachelor's degree. Biochemists and biophysicists earned a median annual salary of $82,840 in 2008.
4. Veterinarians
Veterinarians provide healthcare for pets, livestock, and zoo, sporting, and laboratory animals. Employment in this field is expected to grow by 33% through 2018. To work as a veterinarian one must earn a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. In 2008, the median annual salary for this job was $75,230.
5. Physical Therapists
Physical therapists (PTs) provide services that restore patients' functions, improve mobility, relieve pain, and prevent or limit permanent physical disabilities. Employment in this field is expected grow by 30% through 2018. Physical therapists have either a master's or a doctoral degree. Median annual earnings were $72,790 in 2008.
6. Anthropologists and Archaeologists
Anthropologists study the ways of life, languages, archaeological remains and physical characteristics of people in various parts of the world. Archaeologists learn about earlier civilizations by examining material evidence. Employment of both anthropologists and archaeologists is expected to grow by 28% through 2018. To become an anthropologist or archaeologist one must earn at least a master's degree, but those who want to work in a college or university must earn a Ph.D. Anthropologists and archaeologists earned a median annual salary of $53,910 in 2008.
7. Environmental Scientists and Specialists
Environmental scientists and specialists, through their research, help to protect the environment. They identify, abate, and eliminate hazards to people and wildlife. Environmental scientists and specialists are expected to see a 28% increase in employment through 2018. Those who want to work in this field must earn, at the minimum, a master's degree. Environmental scientists and specialists earned a median annual salary of $59,750 in 2008.
8. Prosthodontists
A prosthodontist is a dentist who specializes in replacing and restoring teeth. There is expected to be a 28% growth in employment between 2008 and 2018. To work as a prosthodontist one must earn a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree or a Doctor of Dental Medicine Degree (DMD) from a dental school. The median annual salary of those working in this area of dentistry was approximately $166,400 in 2008 (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
9. Industrial-Organizational Psychologists
"Industrial-organizational psychologists apply psychological principles and research methods to the workplace in the interest of improving productivity and the quality of worklife," according to the Occupational Outlook Handbook. Employment in this field is expected to grow by 26% through 2018. Median annual earnings of industrial-organizational psychologists were $77,010 in 2008. One can work in this field with a master's degree in psychology.
10. Geographers
Geographers study the land, features, inhabitants and phenomena of a specific region or area of the earth. This field should see a 26% growth in employment through 2018. To work as a geographers one generally needs a minimum of a master's degree, but a Ph.D. is required if one wants to teach in a college or university. Median earnings in this field were $66,600 in 2008.
Top 10 Fastest Growing Jobs With a High School Diploma or GED
1. Home Health Aides
Home health aides provide basic care for people with disabilities, chronic illnesses, cognitive impairments or who have age-related problems. Employment of home health aides is projected to grow by 50% through 2018. Home health aides earned a median annual salary of $20,460 and a median hourly wage of $9.84 in 2008.
2. Home Care Aides
Home care aides, sometimes called personal care aides or companions, help elderly or disabled clients with activities of daily living, including personal hygiene, meal preparation, laundry and housekeeping. We can expect to see a 46% increase in the employment of home care aides through 2018. Home care aides earned a median annual salary of $19,180 and median hourly wages of $9.22 in 2008.
3. Physical Therapist Aides
Physical therapist aides, sometimes called physical therapy aides, help make therapy sessions productive. Employment of phyical therapist aides is expected to increase by 36% through 2018. Physical therapist aides earned a median annual salary of $23,760 and median hourly wages of $11.42.
4. Dental Assistants
Dental assistants perform duties that may include patient care, laboratory work and office work. There is expected to be a 36% growth in employment of dental assistants through 2018. Dental assistants earned a median hourly wage of $15.57 and a median annual salary of $32,380 in 2008.
5. Medical Assistants
Medical assistants perform administrative duties in physicians' offices. They may also perform some clinical duties as allowed by individual state laws. Employment in this field is expected to grow by 34% through 2018. Medical assistants earned median hourly wages of $13.60 and a median annual salary of $28,300 in 2008.
6. Self-Enrichment Teachers
Self-enrichment teachers instruct students in a variety of subjects that generally aren't part of a required curriculum. Students who take self-enrichment classes are interested in learning about these subjects for self-improvement or for fun. Employment in this field is expected to grow by 32% through 2018. Self-enrichment teachers earned median hourly wages of $17.17 and a median annual salary of $35,720 in 2008.
7. Compliance Officers
A compliance officer's job is to make sure an entity is conforming with, or eligible for, contractual obligations, government regulations, laws, or licenses and permits. There is expected to be a 31% increase in the employment of compliance officers through 2018. Compliance officers earned median hourly wages of $23.50 and a median annual salary of $48,890 in 2008.
8. Occupational Therapist Aides
Occupational therapist aides prepare materials and equipment used during patients' occupational therapy sessions. They also perform clerical duties. Employment in this field is expected to grow by 31% through 2018. Occupational therapist aides' median annual earnings were $26,960 and their median hourly wages were $12.96 in 2008.
9. Pharmacy Technician
Pharmacy technicians assist pharmacists with the preparation of prescription medications for customers. They perform tasks that range from receiving written prescriptions to counting pills and labeling bottles. We can expect to see a 31% growth in employment in this field through 2018. Pharmacy technicians earned median hourly wages of $13.32 and a median annual salary of $27,710 in 2008.
10. Medical Secretaries
Medical secretaries perform clerical duties in medical offices, utilizing their knowledge of medical terminology, insurance rules and medical billing procedures. Employment in this field is expected to grow by 27% through 2018. Medical secretaries earned median hourly wages of $14.27 and a median annual salary of $29,680 in 2008.
Top 10 Fastest Growing Jobs With Post-Secondary Training or an Associate Degree
1. Skin Care Specialists
Skin care specialists treat their clients' skin by giving facials, full body treatments and head and neck massages. Employment of skin care specialists is projected to grow by 38% through 2018. Skin care specialists earned a median annual salary of $28,730 and a median hourly wage of $13.81 in 2008.
2. Dental Hygienists
Dental hygienists provide preventative dental care and teach patients how to maintain good oral health. We can expect to see a 36% increase in the employment of dental hygienists through 2018. Dental hygienists earned a median annual salary of $66,570 and median hourly wages of $32.00 in 2008.
3. Veterinary Technologists and Technicians
Veterinary technologists and technicians assist veterinarians by conducting clinical and laboratory procedures in private clinics and animal hospitals. Some veterinary technicians and technologists work in research facilities. Employment of veterinary technologists and technicians is expected to increase by 36% through 2018. Veterinary technologists and technicians earned a median annual salary of $28,900 and median hourly wages of $13.89.
4. Physical Therapist Assistants
Physical therapist assistants (PTAs) perform a variety of tasks under the direction and supervision of physical therapists. These tasks include helping patients perform exercises, giving massages and administering electric stimulation. There is expected to be a 33% growth in employment of physical therapist assistants through 2018. Physical therapist assistants earned a median hourly wage of $22.18 and a median annual salary of $46,140 in 2008.
5. Environmental Engineering Technicians
Environmental engineering technicians assist environmental engineers in solving environmental problems including pollution. Employment in this field is expected to grow by 30% through 2018. Environmental engineering technicians earned median hourly wages of $19.76 and a median annual salary of $41,100 in 2008.
6. Occupational Therapist Assistants
Occupational therapist assistants help clients with activities and exercises specified in a treatment plan developed with occupational therapists. Employment in this field is expected to grow by 30% through 2018. Occupational therapist assistants earned median hourly wages of $23.19 and a median annual salary of $48,230 in 2008.
7. Fitness Trainers and Aerobics Instructors
Fitness trainers lead, motivate and instruct people in exercise activities. There is expected to be a 29% increase in the employment of fitness trainers through 2018. Fitness trainers earned median hourly wages of $14.04 and a median annual salary of $29,210 in 2008.
8. Environmental Science and Protection Technicians
Environmental science and protection technicians, working under the direction of environmental scientists, monitor the environment and investigate sources of pollution by performing laboratory and field tests. Employment in this field is expected to grow by 29% through 2018. Environmental science and protection technicians' median annual earnings were $40,230 and their median hourly wages were $19.34 in 2008.
9. Heating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers
Heating, air conditioning and refrigeration mechanics and installers, commonly called HVAC technicians, install, maintain and repair heating, air conditioning and refrigeration systems. We can expect to see a 28% growth in employment in this field through 2018. HVAC technicians earned median hourly wages of $19.08 and a median annual salary of $39,680 in 2008.
10. Paralegals and Legal Assistants
Paralegals, sometimes called legal assistants, help lawyers with a variety of tasks, including preparing for trials, hearings and closings; doing research; and drafting legal documents. Employment in this field is expected to grow by 28% through 2018. Paralegals earned median hourly wages of $22.18 and a median annual salary of $46,120 in 2008.
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