The Fastest Growing Professions
This decade’s hottest jobs and requirements to pursue them
Is your career field expected to project high growth in the next eight years? Will your degree pay off with a high salary or good job? The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics1 (BLS) lists employment projections for the fastest growing professions in a ten-year period. Below are outlined 10 of the career fields, the degrees required to pursue them and the compensation students should expect when working in these fields.
1. Network Systems and Data Communications Analysts
Network systems and data communications analysts include several positions in the information technology (IT) field. Database architects design databases and network systems for use by others. Telecommunications specialists ease the interaction between communications equipment and computer. Web developers create websites. Webmasters or web administrators maintain and monitor websites.
The BLS lists a bachelor’s degree as the most significant source of postsecondary education or training for network systems and data communications analysts. Students wishing to become network systems and data communications analysts should pursue a degree in IT, web design, multimedia technologies or a related field.
In 2009, the mean annual salary for network systems and data communications analysts was $76,560. The BLS estimates more than 53% growth from 2008 to 2018 in employment of network systems and data communications analysts.
2. Home Health Aides, Personal and Home Care Aides
Home health aides provide routine health care to the elderly, disabled and those residing in nursing facilities. Duties include bathing, dressing, grooming and preparing meals. Personal and home care aides provide everyday assistance to the elderly or disabled adults by cleaning and straightening their rooms and making their meals.
The BLS lists short-term on-the-job training as the most significant source of postsecondary education or training for home health aides, personal and home care aides. Often experience and training from a college degree is helpful. Students should pursue nursing or health care related degrees for these positions.
In 2009, the mean annual salary for home health aides was $21,620. The mean annual salary for personal and home care aides was $20,280. The BLS anticipates more than 50% growth in employment of home health aides and more than 45% employment growth of personal and home care aides from 2008 to 2018.
3. Financial Examiners and Compliance Officers
Financial examiners enforce compliance with financial regulatory laws, real estate transactions and financial security. Compliance officers ensure that companies, agencies and organizations comply with all laws in place to protect both the business and the public. Their duties include researching laws and policies, inspecting company policies and frequently following up with companies.
The BLS lists a bachelor’s degree as the most significant source of postsecondary education for financial examiners. Students should pursue a degree in law, accounting, economics or finance. Long-term on-the-job training was listed as the most significant source of postsecondary education for compliance officers. This is almost certainly coupled with extensive experience learned from courses and hands-on training.
In 2009, the mean annual salary for financial examiners was $79,070. The mean annual salary for compliance officers was $55,100. The BLS anticipates more than 41% employment growth of financial examiners and more than 31% growth of employed compliance officers from 2008 to 2018.
4. Physician and Medical Assistants
Physician assistants practice medicine under the supervision of a licensed physician or surgeon. Duties include examining and treating patients, collaborating medical histories and ordering lab tests. Medical assistants perform routine clerical tasks to keep medical offices running smoothly. They file records, bill insurance, authorize drug refills and draw blood.
The BLS lists a master’s degree as the most significant source of postsecondary education for physician assistants. Students should pursue a degree in medicine. Moderate-term on-the-job training was listed as the most significant source of postsecondary education for medical assistants.
In 2009, the mean annual salary for physician assistants was $84,830. The mean annual salary for medical assistants was $29,450. The BLS anticipates an almost 39% growth in physician assistants and a more than 33% growth in medical assistants by 2018.
5. Physical Therapists, Physical Therapist Aides and Assistants
Physical therapists diagnose and treat patients will illnesses, diseases and injuries that result in difficulty or inability to move portions of the body. These include whiplash, amputations, breaks and multiple sclerosis. Physical therapist assistants administer care to patients under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist. Physical therapist aides are responsible for clerical tasks and maintenance of physical therapy areas and equipment.
The BLS lists a master’s degree as the most significant source of postsecondary education for physical therapists. An associate’s degree is the most significant source of postsecondary education for physical therapist assistants; short-term on-the-job training for physical therapist aides.
In 2009, the mean annual salary for physical therapists was $76,220. The mean annual salary for physical therapist assistants was $48,590; $24,990 for physical therapist aides. The BLS anticipates the following job growth by 2018: more than 30% for physical therapists; more than 33% for physical therapist assistants; more than 36% for physical therapist aides.
6. Computer Software Engineers – Applications and Systems
Computer applications software engineers design, test and develop software for users. They are also responsible for the maintenance of programs and subsequent software updates and releases. Computer systems software engineers construct and maintain infrastructural computer programs. The programs they create may be as large as full operating systems or as small as company-specific applications.
The BLS lists a bachelor’s degree as the most significant source of postsecondary education for computer software engineers. Students should pursue degrees in IT, computer sciences or engineering.
In 2009, the mean annual salary for computer applications software engineers was $90,170. The mean annual salary for computer systems software engineers was $96,620. The BLS projects more than 34% growth in employment of computer applications software engineers and more than 30% growth in employment of computer systems software engineers by 2018.
7. Self-Enrichment Education Teachers
Self-enrichment education teachers are individuals who provide instruction in courses that are considered of a non-academic nature, or courses that are academic in nature presented in a non-academic setting. Courses they teach include cooking, sewing, photography, music, literature or foreign languages. This education rarely, if ever, leads to a formal degree. Students are driven to take the courses out of enjoyment, self-improvement or to make themselves more attractive to employers.
The BLS lists work experience in a related occupation as the most significant source of postsecondary education for self-enrichment education teachers. This may also include their own experiences in formal education and outside training.
In 2009, the mean annual salary for self-enrichment education teachers was $41,360. The BLS projects more than 32% employment growth for self-enrichment education teachers by 2018.
8. Occupational Therapist Assistants and Aides
Occupational therapist assistants help patients with rehabilitative exercises and plans under the supervision of a licensed therapist. Occupational therapist aides clean and set up equipment for use by patients and provide clerical services, such as filing client paperwork and answering phones.
The BLS lists an associate’s degree as the most significant source of postsecondary education for occupational therapist assistants. Short-term on-the-job training is the most significant source of postsecondary education for occupational therapist aides.
In 2009, the mean annual wage for occupational therapist assistants was $50,830. The mean annual wage for occupational therapist aides was $28,890. The BLS anticipates more than 29% job growth for occupational therapist assistants and more than 30% employment growth for occupational therapist aides by 2018.
9. Survey Researchers
Survey researchers design and conduct surveys. They provide supervision over those interviewing survey subjects and present the survey conclusions to clients. Most survey researchers are employed by scientific agencies or educational providers.
The BLS lists a bachelor’s degree as the most significant source of postsecondary education for survey researchers. Students will want to pursue a degree in applied mathematics, computational mathematics, business or statistics.
In 2009, the mean annual salary for survey researchers was $42,330. The BLS anticipates more than 30% growth in employment of survey researchers from 2008 to 2018.
10. Personal Financial Advisors
Personal financial advisors advise clients on money management and personal finances. They help clients with budget planning, real estate, taxes and investments.
The BLS lists a bachelor’s degree as the most significant source of postsecondary education for personal financial advisors. Students should pursue a degree in accounting, economics, finance, applied mathematics or statistics.
In 2009, the mean annual salary for personal financial advisors was $94,180. The BLS expects more than 30% growth in employment of personal financial advisors between 2008 and 2018.
Resources:
1 Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Edition, accessed September 21, 2010, http://www.bls.gov/oco/.