You want to pursue a career in a field you’re excited about. However, you also want to go down a path that’s going to provide lucrative opportunities—not just right now but for years or decades to come. That means choosing high-paying jobs in demand today that are likely to remain in demand for the foreseeable future.
But how do you know what types of jobs are going to provide those opportunities? Fortunately, you don’t have to guess. Every year, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) releases employment projections for growth both overall and for each individual occupation over a period of 10 years.
Nothing is ever certain, but the BLS growth predictions can give you a good sense of the long-term trajectory of a huge range of roles. With that in mind, let's take a look at 15 high demand, high-paying jobs that are poised for serious growth over the next decade.
15 high-paying jobs that’ll be in demand in the next decade
For the purposes of this list, we’ve defined “high-paying” as jobs whose median pay was above the median household income in the U.S., which was $80,610 in 2023. “Poised for serious growth” means BLS has projected this occupation will grow “faster than average” or “much faster than average” over the next 10 years. (For reference, the average growth rate for all occupations is 5.3%.) Here is the list:
1. Nurse practitioner
Median salary in 2023: $126,260
Projected growth rate between 2023 and 2033: 46.3%
Usually working in hospitals, doctor's offices, outpatient facilities, and schools, nurse practitioners (NPs) deliver advanced nursing care. So advanced you may have had an appointment with one in place of a medical doctor (MD).
NPs can work with doctors or independently to examine, diagnose, provide guidance, and treat patients. These professionals can also prescribe medication, order laboratory and other tests for patients.
To become a nurse practitioner, you’ll first need to become a licensed registered nurse (RN), then obtain a master’s degree and a nurse practitioner’s certification. Nurse practitioners often get certified in specific areas of focus, like emergency medicine, pediatrics, or psychiatry.
2. Data scientist
Median salary in 2023: $108,020
Projected growth rate between 2023 and 2033: 36%
Data scientists create the frameworks that allow companies to collect, organize, and analyze data—then leverage that data to make better decisions for their business.
Daily tasks can include everything from running data experiments, implementing statistical models and algorithms, developing data products, and optimizing frameworks to increase efficacy and drive better business outcomes.
Data science is a highly technical, data-heavy role. As such, a bachelor’s degree in computer science, engineering, statistics, math, engineering, or a related field is typically a job requirement (and companies often prefer their data scientists to hold an advanced degree).
3. Information security analyst
Median salary in 2023: $120,360
Projected growth rate between 2023 and 2033: 32.7%
At a time when so much sensitive information is shared and stored digitally, cybersecurity has become a priority. This is probably one of the reasons why information security analyst is projected as one of the fastest growing jobs in the years to come.
Information security analysts are responsible for keeping a company’s information safe. They need to know all the ins and outs of cybersecurity and typically hold a bachelor’s degree (or higher) in a technology-related field, such as computer science. Day to day tasks can include:
- Researching and testing security solutions
- Evaluating a company’s current cybersecurity processes
- Identifying and fixing vulnerabilities
- Managing security threats or breaches
- Developing and implementing security solutions and technologies
4. Medical and health services managers
Median salary in 2023: $110,680
Projected growth rate between 2023 and 2033: 29%
Medical and health service managers are responsible for planning, directing, and coordinating the activities of healthcare providers. This is the only highest paying, in demand job in healthcare on this list that doesn't involve direct contact with patients.
Hospitals, nursing homes, and healthcare facilities are usually the organizations that need medical and health services managers. To get into this field, a bachelor's degree is often required, as well as administrative work experience in a hospital or health care facility.
5. Physician assistant
Median salary in 2023: $130,020
Projected growth rate between 2023 and 2033: 28.5%
A physician assistant (PA) is a licensed medical professional who provides routine patient care. Just like an MD, a physician assistant can examine, diagnose, and treat patients. They can also prescribe medication and develop treatment plans.
However, unlike doctors who work independently, physician assistants must be supervised by an MD. As a PA, you can work in a variety of settings, including doctors’ offices and hospitals, and within different specialties (e.g. primary care or surgery).
A career as a physician assistant starts with a bachelor’s degree in biology or a related field, followed by a master’s degree program (often called “PA school”), a national certification exam, and licensing (requirements vary by state).
6. Computer and information research scientists
Median salary in 2023: $145,080
Projected growth rate between 2023 and 2033: 26%
Computer and information research science is ideal for people who are fascinated by programming and robotics. This role's main responsibility is to design innovative and creative uses for new or existing technologies.
Daily tasks might include design and conduct experiments, develop theories and models to address computing problems, and work on the development of new computing languages. To get into this industry, a master's degree in computer science or related field is required. You'll also need strong logical thinking, math, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
7. Operations research analysts
Median salary in 2023: $83,640
Projected growth rate between 2023 and 2033: 23%
An operations research analyst's mission is to help companies make informed decisions and solve problems by using mathematics, logic, and statistics. Tasks include developing and testing quantitative models, writing memos, reports, and making improvement recommendations to management.
Operations research analysts often work in offices, but aren't limited to a specific field, being able to work in logistics, healthcare, and technology, for example. To become one, you'll need a bachelor's or master's degree in business, mathematics, or related fields.
8. Actuary
Median salary in 2023: $120,000
Projected growth rate between 2023 and 2033: 21.8%
Actuaries typically work for insurance companies and are responsible for evaluating risk. They use math, data, and statistics to determine whether their employer should issue a policy to a potential customer and what the premium should be—whether that’s an individual or a business.
As an actuary, you'd make evaluations regarding health, life, automobile, homeowners, medical malpractice, and workers’ compensation insurance, as well as retirement benefits and other investments.
A degree in actuarial science (which focuses on using math and statistical modeling to assess risk) or a related field, such as math or statistics, is a must. Plus, actuaries need to pass a series of rigorous exams over the course of several years in order to be certified by the Casualty Actuarial Society (CAS) or the Society of Actuaries (SOA).
9. Financial examiner
Median salary in 2023: $84,300
Projected growth rate between 2023 and 2033: 21%
Finance examiners are responsible for ensuring companies and financial institutions that handle monetary transactions are in compliance with laws that regulate them. These professionals often work in the insurance and finance industry, but there are also job opportunities in the government.
To become a finance examiners, a bachelor's degree in accounting or similar field is key. It's also highly recommended, but not mandatory, to get an Accredited Financial Examiner (AFE) and a Certified Financial Examiner (CFE) designation.
10. Veterinarian
Median salary in 2023: $119,100
Projected growth rate between 2023 and 2033: 19.1%
Veterinarians are responsible for all things animal care—from examination to diagnosis and treatment. Though veterinarians are often portrayed caring for pets, this profession is not limited to that and you could work with other types of animals.
To become a veterinarian is mandatory to complete a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree at an accredited college of veterinary medicine. Admissions tend to be competitive and requirements vary between universities.
Veterinarians also need to be licensed to practice the profession in the U.S. Requirements for licensure vary from state to state, but passing the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination is mandatory for all.
11. Health specialties teacher, postsecondary
Median salary in 2023: $105,650
Projected growth rate between 2023 and 2033: 18.8%
Health specialties teachers, postsecondary do exactly what their title suggests: Teach health specialists in a variety of fields, including dentistry, medicine, pharmacy, and veterinary medicine. Besiding teaching students, postsecondary teachers often conduct research and publish scholarly papers.
Typically, these professionals must have a doctoral degree and work experience in their fields. Other specific job requirements vary between institutions. As for soft skills, resourcefulness, writing, speaking, and interpersonal skills are key to fulfill this role.
12. Speech-language pathologist
Median salary in 2023: $89,290
Projected growth rate between 2023 and 2033: 18.4%
Also known as speech therapists, speech-language pathologists evaluate and treat individuals with speech, voice, language, and fluency disorders. Common problems treated by these professionals include stuttering, inability to speak, or speaking too loudly or too softly.
To become a speech-language pathologist a bachelor's degree in healthcare or related field is often required for admission in a speech-language pathology master's degree program. Then, you'll need the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP), offered by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, which is mandated in all U.S. states.
Depending on where you want to work and what type of clients you intend to treat (e.g. schools, children), you may also need specific licensing. Once you decide, check your state laws and the general requirements of the company, organization, or institution you intend to apply for.
13. Epidemiologist
Median salary in 2023: $81,390
Projected growth rate between 2023 and 2033: 18.1%
Epidemiologists research, monitor, and investigate diseases (and general public health issues) to identify patterns and potential causes for epidemics. By analyzing statistics, they're able to develop models to predict future occurrences.
For this reason, epidemiologists need to be detail-oriented individuals with strong critical thinking, math and statistical skills. The path to becoming an epidemiologist starts with a bachelor's degree in biology, social science, or related field. Then, the next step is getting a master's degree, preferably in public health with emphasis in epidemiology.
14. Software developer
Median salary in 2023: $132,270
Projected growth rate between 2023 and 2033: 17.9%
Simply put, software developers design computer application programs. It can be an enterprise software solution or a mobile app used by regular individuals. Work responsibilities also include testing, assuring quality, identifying and reporting bugs.
The most important thing you’ll need to succeed as a software developer is coding skills. For most gigs, it doesn’t really matter whether you learn through a computer science degree, a coding bootcamp, or self instruction.
As long as you have the skills—and can prove it during a technical interview—you should be able to land a job. However, some companies prefer software developers with a bachelor’s degree.
15. Nursing instructor and teacher, postsecondary
Median salary in 2023: $80,780
Projected growth rate between 2023 and 2033: 17.9%
Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary teach, instruct, and demonstrate patient care for nursing students. Like health specialties teachers, these professionals often go beyond teaching and engage in research.
Job requirements vary, but you'll definitely need a master's or doctoral degree as well as work experience in the field. Plus, all the basic skills of a teacher in order to properly evaluate and grade student's assignments, papers, clinic and laboratory work.
Amanda Cardoso contributed to the latest version of this article.