Are you wondering what are the best jobs for the future? Check out this list!
Choosing a career is one of the most important decisions you ever have to make in your entire life. It could shape your lifestyle, affect your levels of happiness and fulfillment and impact your earning potential.
Nowadays, being passionate about your job is not enough to become successful. You also have to think long-term. So, I’ve curated this list of the best jobs for the future to inform you of career paths that will stay in demand in the next several years.
Choosing In-Demand Jobs for The Future
Table of Contents
If you’re at a point in your life when you’re contemplating the right career path, I suggest looking into the job’s earning potential and outlook.
What is the job outlook for this field?
In this post, I will be referencing the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook in determining the outlook for a specific job. The job’s future growth rate of a specific career tells you how fast (or slow) it is growing, and thus helps you pick a good long-term career and avoid the worst jobs for the future.
In this list, I only picked jobs that are growing as fast as average (5-8%) and growing faster than average (9% or more). The job outlook by the BLS does not in any way provide career advice, but it’s a good tool to use in choosing jobs that are most likely to stay for the long haul.
Is the job’s earning potential enough to sustain my lifestyle?
Income potential is another matter you have to keep in mind while looking for jobs for future careers. A good salary is subjective, and it often depends on your status, location, and cost of living.
According to the BLS, the median weekly earnings of US workers is $991, or $51,480 a year. So, if you are making above this figure, then you’re most likely to be enjoying a good salary (although I understand that is not always the case and it still depends on individual circumstances). But for the sake of income potential, the jobs listed in this post have above-average annual income.
What Jobs Will Be Needed in the Future: 23 Best Careers For The Next 10 Years
This post may contain affiliate links. I may earn a small commission at NO extra cost to you for any purchases made through these links. Please read my disclosure page.
1. App and Software Developer
Software mobile applications have become popular tools in different aspects of our lives. We use these apps for information, entertainment, communication, monitoring, and many others. That’s why the demand for developers is projected to grow in the next decade, at a rate of 22% by the BLS.
Mobile and software developers make a six-digit annual median income. According to the BLS, app, and software, developers make around $110, 140 per year.
Requirement: a bachelor’s degree is not required but a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and software engineering are some of the majors that are used as stepping stones for software developers.
2. Registered Nurse
No matter how advanced healthcare technology gets, nursing is one job that can’t be replaced by robots and computers. Nurses provide patient care in various locations: health care centers, hospitals, and clinics. They also perform diagnostic tasks, assist in procedures and administer medications.
The projected job growth for registered nurses is 7% between 2019-2029. According to Salary.com, registered nurses in the US make an average income of $80,480 per year.
Requirement: a degree in nursing.
3. Nurse Practitioner
Another in-demand career in the medical field is a nurse practitioner. Nurse practitioners are nurses who have acquired more credentials and training, allowing them to perform more advanced tasks like diagnosing illnesses and dispensing medication.
The job growth rate for nurse practitioners is at 45%, which is faster than average. Nurse practitioners also enjoy a lucrative income, with an average of $112,272 a year.
Requirement: Bachelor of Science in Nursing, NP-focused graduate master’s or doctoral nursing program, and national NP board certification.
4. Financial Manager
Managing a business’s finances is no easy task, and this responsibility should only be undertaken by someone with the right education, training, and experience. Financial managers help businesses set financial goals, identify financial strengths and weaknesses, perform financial research and prepare financial reports.
Financial managers continue to be in great demand with a job growth rate of 15% and an estimated annual salary of $106,567 per year.
Requirement: a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or Business Administration. Learn more here.
5. Information Security Analyst
In this age of the internet and computers, information security analysts play a crucial role in protecting private data from breaches, viruses, and malware. According to IBM, 2021 had the highest cost of a data breach, amounting to $4.24 million. Technology is only evolving further, so the need for information security analysts will stay in the foreseeable future.
According to BLS, the job outlook for information security analysts is 31% while the average income is $99, 815 per year.
Requirement: may only require experience and training.
6. Physician Assistant
Another bankable profession in the medical field without spending tenuous years in medical school is to become a physician assistant. Physician assistants assist doctors and nurses in inpatient care. They can perform tests, give diagnoses, and prescribe treatments.
The outlook for this profession is looking great which has a job growth rate of 31% and an average annual salary of $95,172.
Requirement: healthcare experience and certification. Learn more here.
7. Post-secondary Educators
Post-secondary educators teach students after they finish high school. They work in colleges and universities, as well as in vocational and community colleges. Post-secondary teachers typically need at least a master’s degree as well as a teaching license. They may teach full-time or part-time in different institutions.
According to the BLS, jobs for future teachers in higher education are growing at a rate of 9%. Meanwhile, the 2020 median pay for post-secondary educators is $80,790 per year.
Requirement: a master’s degree or higher. Learn more here.
8. Medical and Health Services Manager
Health services managers manage healthcare facilities to make sure that the hospitals or clinics they manage run as smoothly as possible. While doctors attend to patients, healthcare services managers supervise hospital employees, manage budgets, help patients with insurance, etc. In short, these professionals attend to the business side of healthcare.
Health services managers have a healthy projected job growth rate of 32% and a lucrative six-digit annual salary of $100, 980 on average.
Requirement: at least a bachelor’s degree with less than 5 years of work experience. Learn more here.
9. Physical Therapist
The demand for physical therapists is driven by the fact that PTs can help people recover from injuries, stroke, and other conditions that affect mobility. Physical therapists aren’t just needed for pain management and rehabilitation, but long-term treatment as well.
Good thing, the outlook for physical therapy as a career is looking bright, as BLS estimates an 18% job growth rate. Additionally, income from physical therapy is quite lucrative, with an average of $91,572 per year.
Requirement: doctoral or professional degree. Learn more here.
10. Operations Research Analyst
For people who love finding solutions for complex problems using data and analytical thinking, working as an operations research analyst should be a great fit. As an operations research analyst, your job is to figure out the best course of action in specific problems within an organization or company and present these options to the upper management.
This job has a 25% job outlook and a $93,528 average yearly income.
Requirement: a bachelor’s degree. Learn more here.
11. Statistician
Statisticians are hired in different sectors to help solve real-world problems. These people are geniuses in analyzing data and using statistical models in predicting outcomes. With these tasks, statisticians can help their teams or the upper management figure out the best solutions to problems.
A career in statistics is growing at a rate of 33% for the next decade, according to the BLS. Also, this job makes good money because the average annual income is $91,160.
Requirement: a master’s degree. Learn more here.
12. Dental Hygienist
You might be surprised that some of the best jobs for the future don’t require a college degree, and being a dental hygienist is one of them. Dental hygienists typically assess a patient’s oral history and provide advice for their concerns. Dental hygienists may also perform routine tests like applying fluoride and removing plaque.
The job growth rate for dental hygiene is 6%, and their income is at $76,148 on average per year.
Requirement: an associate’s degree. Learn more here.
13. Occupational Therapist
One of the fastest-growing professions in healthcare is occupational therapy. Occupational therapists help patients overcome struggles so they perform daily activities. Occupational therapists work with patients who have specific illnesses, injuries or conditions, and use tools and strategies to help them live better lives.
The job outlook for occupational therapy is 16% while the average annual income is $90,838.
Requirement: an associate’s degree. Learn more here.
14. Veterinarians
If you’re wondering what is the best job for the future for animal lovers, the answer is this: veterinarian. Vets are doctors for animals. They diagnose and treat their furry patients, as well as provide preventative care. Veterinarians do not only work in animal hospitals and clinics but also go on-site, such as farms, to administer their services.
Veterinary medicine continues to be in demand in the foreseeable future with a job outlook of 16%. Additionally, vets make almost six digits, with an average of $98,418 per year.
Requirement: a doctoral degree. Learn more here.
15. Industrial Engineer
If you are considering jobs for future engineers, then consider industrial engineering. Industrial engineers are responsible for designing workflows and systems to create a more streamlined and cost-effective production. Industrial engineers aim to ensure high efficiency and productivity while reducing waste and costs.
According to BLS, the demand for industrial engineers is projected to grow at a rate of 10% for the next 10 years. According to Glassdoor, industrial engineers make an average of $84,255 per year.
Requirement: a bachelor’s degree. Learn more here.
16. Construction Managers
When it comes to building new structures, construction workers are the most visible. But behind the scenes is a construction manager who supervises everything: from conception, compliance to safety regulations to making sure the entire project stays on the budget. Although these may all seem demanding, it can be one of the best jobs of the future who enjoys making sense of the chaos.
According to BLS, construction managers will stay in demand with a job growth rate of 8%. Also, construction managers enjoy a hefty paycheck as their average income is $95,260 per year.
Requirement: a bachelor’s degree
17. Medical Sonographer
Medical sonography might be a less popular career option in the healthcare industry, but it’s also one of the best jobs for the future. Sonographers are knowledgeable and trained in operating high-frequency equipment to capture images inside the body. Doctors then use these images for diagnosis.
Medical sonographers are projected to be in high demand in the next decade as it has a 12% job outlook. They also make quite a decent income, averaging $74,320 a year.
Requirement: at least an associate’s degree only. Learn more here.
18. Actuary
Actuaries are professionals who study risks. By using mathematics, statistics, and theory, actuaries evaluate risks and help people and businesses mitigate these risks. A lot of actuaries work in the insurance industry, but some work in accounting, finance, and other sectors.
If you’re considering new jobs for the future and have a strong inclination for analyzing data, then actuarial science could be a good fit for you. The job outlook for actuaries is growing faster than average at a rate of 18%. Also, actuaries have a good income with a national average of $122, 741.
Requirement: at least a bachelor’s degree and must pass a series of exams to become certified. Learn more here.
Related:
Best Work-at-Home Jobs that Provide Equipment
Other Best Online Jobs for The Future
If you are looking for the best online jobs, these are some job options that you should look into. These jobs do not require formal education or degrees.
19. Digital Marketer
Thanks to the internet and technology, digital marketing is rapidly moving forward, and it will continue to grow as an industry. Digital marketing is all about establishing and maintaining brand awareness, as well as reaching out to new and potential customers using different platforms like email, social media, and content marketing.
According to The Drum, digital marketers are in demand not just today, but in the future, as small businesses and companies need to cope and play with the ever-changing digital landscape.
20. SEO Specialist
Search Engine Optimization or SEO is a branch of digital marketing that focuses primarily on making sites search engine-friendly. The SEO market is growing continually, and so will the demand for SEO specialists.
And now that working from home has become quite the norm, companies are looking to hire SEO experts regardless of location. So if you’re thinking of SEO as a career path, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to take on projects and work for companies from all over the world, therefore making it one of the best jobs for the future.
21. Freelance writer
Digital spaces will always need written content, so the demand for freelance writers will always be there. According to Forbes, freelance writing is one of the most in-demand freelance services nowadays, and it will continue to be so as the number of new websites grows each day.
Focus on a niche if you’d like to become an excellent freelance writer and get well-paying jobs. This way, you can easily market yourself as an “authority” or “expert” in your niches and it would be easier to pitch your services to potential clients. Some of the most profitable freelance writing niches are finance, cryptocurrency, travel, and digital marketing.
Related: How to Become a Freelance Writer with No Experience
22. Virtual assistant
Working as a virtual assistant can be a lucrative career, and the industry is a stable one too. Virtual assistants provide administrative, technical, and creative support to business owners. Their tasks can vary greatly, from appointment setting, calendar management, bookkeeping, data entry, social media management, content creation, and more. And what’s even better is that a virtual assistant can work remotely, so it is one of the best jobs of the future.
Hiring virtual assistants is now considered the new normal. Even when the global health crisis has forced most businesses to operate from home, entrepreneurs found themselves with too much to do, and having someone to tackle the monotonous tasks gave them the much-needed breathing room. So if you think you have what it takes to become a virtual assistant, consider getting started on this job now.
Related:
How to Become a Virtual Assistant
Virtual Assistant Jobs for Beginners
23. E-commerce / Online Entrepreneur
If you’d rather work for yourself than someone else, then consider setting up shop online. Perhaps being an online entrepreneur is the fitting job of the future for you. And thanks to numerous platforms today, from Amazon, eBay, Etsy, and Shopify, selling online almost anything has never been easier.
The future of eCommerce is looking bright, as predicted by BigCommerce. The selling journey will become shorter, shop owners will get a lot of help from artificial intelligence tools, and automation will play a crucial role in the business. All of these means you will have the ability to run your business online as conveniently and seamlessly as possible.
Related:
How to Sell on Amazon for Beginners with Retail Arbitrage
Final Thoughts
These are just a couple of options for jobs to think about for the future. Most of them fall under the categories of business, healthcare, and technology. But the job market is never fixed, so one job that might be in high demand today might not become as popular ten to twenty years from now.
I mean, look at the postal service. Now that communication is basically at the tip of our fingertips, we could think of mail delivery as a dying profession.
Perhaps some of the jobs you have in mind are not listed here, so I urge you to check out their job outlooks and earning potential to see if they’re worth pursuing long-term. You can use these projections to help you understand the need for these jobs over the next couple of decades. It would be great to know from the get-go that you’ll potentially stay happy and fulfilled with your chosen career path down the road.
So, what is the best job for the future for you? Let’s connect down in the comments.
