Top 10 Career Fields in America

Even if you're still in high school, you should already be thinking about what you want to do after graduation. Here is a list of the top 10 career fields in the United States, so you can get started in the right direction.

It is never too early to start thinking about your future job; in fact, you may start doing so while you are still in high school! If you have a general idea of what kind of career you may want to pursue after high school, you can work on developing abilities that will be useful to you in college. But which of the several job options should you choose? In addition to your interests and abilities, it is essential to think about the current climate of the sector in which you are interested in working. Will there be a greater demand for roles? Is the remuneration sufficient. Here is a summary of each of the top 10 job sectors in the United States, which have been identified based on their employment growth rate and/or higher-than-average incomes. Hopefully, this will help you get started in the right direction.

1. Medical treatment

Work in the medical field will never become obsolete. From 2018 to 2028, it is anticipated that employment opportunities in the health care industry would increase by 14%, which will result in the addition of around 1.9 million new positions. If that seems like a lot, that's because it is; in fact, projections show that employment in the health care industry will grow at a rate that is higher than any other occupational category during the next several years.

Possible roles

Registered nurse

Doctor

Nurse practitioner

Physiotherapist in training

Dietician

Salary

Jobs in the health care industry are not only satisfying but also profitable. In May of 2020, the yearly median income for health care practitioners and technical professions was $69,870. This includes registered nurses, doctors, surgeons, and dental hygienists, among other positions.

Education prerequisites

Some careers in health care, such as nursing, need just a bachelor's degree to enter the field. Other careers, such as those of physicians and nurse practitioners, call for higher levels of education in addition to extensive extra training and licensing requirements.

2. Instructional

Do you feel a strong calling to a career in education? Similar to the field of medicine, education is an industry that will never cease to be necessary. It is anticipated that employment opportunities in education, training, and library vocations will increase by 5 percent from 2018 to 2028, which would result in the addition of about 512,900 new positions. It is anticipated that enrollment will rise not only at the level of colleges and universities, but also within public elementary and secondary schools. Because of this, in addition to teachers at postsecondary institutions, there will be a demand for teachers at preschools, elementary schools, and secondary schools.

Possible roles

Teacher

Helper in the classroom

Special educator

The head of the school

Salary

In May of 2020, the median salary for teachers in elementary schools was $60,940, while the median salary for teachers in high schools was $62,870. During the same period of time, the average salary for school principals was $98,490.

Education prerequisites

In the field of education, professionals such as teachers, administrators, and others are required to have either a bachelor's degree or a master's degree, depending on the job wanted.

3. Technologies of the informational kind

"Computer geeks" are most definitely the ones who will get the final laugh. The area of information technology (IT) is now quite large, and its size is only going to keep expanding. It is anticipated that employment in computer and information technology professionals would expand by 12 percent from 2018 to 2028, which is substantially greater than the average growth rate for all other job types. This will result in the creation of around 546,200 new positions. It should come as no surprise that there has been an increase in demand for positions in the information technology industry given the increased focus on cloud computing, big data, and information security.

Possible roles

Analyst in computer security

Database administrator

Developer of computer software

Web developer

Salary

In May of 2020, the positions of computer and information technology professionals brought in a median yearly income of $91,250.

Education prerequisites

The kind of work environment and sector that a student wishes to enter dictates the educational requirements for information technology professionals. For instance, analysts in cybersecurity (also known as information security) often require a bachelor's degree or more to work in this field. The majority of database administrators have a bachelor's degree, however certain sectors with very big databases may prefer (or even need) candidates to have a master's degree in order to be considered.

4. Business

Students who study in business get a wide variety of important skills and domains of knowledge, which enables them to make a substantial contribution to the business world as well as the nonprofit sector. Students who study in business are able to quantify a collection of facts, analyze the financial implications of actions, and utilize statistics to back up their suggestions; more generally speaking, they think in numbers. From 2018 to 2028, it is anticipated that employment in business and financial operations vocations would expand by 7 percent, which will result in the addition of around 591,800 new positions.

Possible roles

The manager of business operations

Officer in charge of compliance

HR manager

Analyst of management systems

Salary

In the month of May 2020, the median annual pay for business-related occupations was $72,250.

Education prerequisites

There are a lot of jobs in the business world that demand college degrees, graduate degrees, and even occasionally postgraduate degrees. In some cases, obtaining the appropriate professional license is necessary as well.

5. Finance

Everyone has to have a bank account, pay taxes, and other financial obligations, regardless of how much or how little money they have. Analysis, advice, and other forms of assistance with money management are all services provided by financial specialists. Over 1,392,200 accounting positions were available in the year 2020 alone. The need for accountants and auditors in particular is expected to increase at the fastest rate (annually) from 2016 through 2026.

Possible roles

Accountant

Chief Executive Officer of a Company (CFO)

Financial planner

Officer of loans

Salary

In May of 2020, the median annual pay for positions in the banking sector was $72,250.

Education prerequisites

A bachelor's degree is required for a variety of positions in the finance industry, including those of accountant, financial planner, and loan officer. Certain jobs in the financial sector need holders of advanced degrees and/or relevant certificates.

6. Building construction and technical design

Buildings and other structures, including homes, hospitals, and other types of establishments, may be designed by architects. In order to design, construct, and maintain buildings and systems, engineers use the principles of science and mathematics. By the year 2028, it is anticipated that the areas of architecture and engineering would have gained around 113,300 new positions.

Possible roles

Architect

a person who specializes in cartography and photogrammetry

Civil engineer

Environmental engineer

Salary

When May 2020 rolled around, the median annual pay for positions in architecture and engineering was $83,160.

Education prerequisites

A bachelor's degree is often required for entry-level work in the fields of architecture and engineering. For example, to work as a civil engineer, one normally just needs a bachelor's degree; but, in order to be qualified for senior jobs, one has to have a graduate degree as well as professional licensure.

7. Public relations, marketing, and commercial endeavors

These experts determine how much demand there is for various goods and services, work to pique the curiosity of prospective purchasers, and do much more besides. It is anticipated that employment opportunities for managers of advertising, promotions, and marketing would increase by 8 percent from 2018 to 2028, which is faster than the average growth projection for all occupations.

Possible roles

Advertising manager

Manager of the brand

Digital media director

Coordinator of promotional activities

Salary

Because of the exceptional compensation offered, managerial roles are among the most sought after in this industry. In May of 2020, the average annual salary for marketing managers was $142,170, while the median salary for advertising and promotions managers was $133,460.

Education prerequisites

The majority of executive roles in advertising, promotions, and marketing call for a bachelor's degree as a minimum educational requirement. A master's degree or a master's of business administration may be required for some high management positions.

8. Social services

A career in social work is an excellent choice for anybody who has a strong desire to assist others and to encourage their recovery and overall well-being. From 2018 to 2028, it is anticipated that employment opportunities in social service jobs would increase by 11 percent, which is much higher than the average growth rate for all professions. It is anticipated that the expansion would result in the addition of around 306,200 jobs.

Possible roles

Psychologist who specializes in couples and families

Counselors in the field of rehabilitation

Psychologists who work in schools

Employed in social work

Salary

In May of 2020, the community and social care occupations that paid the median annual pay were those that paid $47,520.

Education prerequisites

Clinical social workers are required to have a master's degree, two years of experience working in a clinical setting under supervision, and a license issued by the state in which they practice social work in order to practice. Other types of social workers just need a bachelor's degree.

9. Mathematical Concepts

Math is challenging for us, but if it's one of your favorite subjects, you may want to think about making a living in the field. The number of jobs available for mathematicians and statisticians is expected to increase by 30 percent from 2018 to 2028, which is much greater than the average growth rate for all other professions. Across all sectors of the economy, statistical analysis is used to help make educated business choices. In addition, since a growing number of individuals and businesses conduct their transactions online, more and more enterprises are in need of trained mathematical specialists who can evaluate massive volumes of data.

Possible roles

Actuary

Economist

Mathematician

Statistician

Salary

In May of 2020, the median salary for mathematicians was $110,860, while the median salary for statisticians was around $92,270.

Education prerequisites

Actuaries, for example, are among the math careers that just need a bachelor's degree for entry-level consideration. A master's degree in mathematics or statistics is often required for work as a mathematician or statistician, while a master's degree or doctoral degree is typically required for work as an economist.

10. Science

Do you delight in discovery, adventure, and creating new things? Think about pursuing a job in one of the scientific fields! From 2018 to 2028, it is anticipated that employment in life, physical, and social scientific professions would increase by 7 percent, which will result in around 97,400 new jobs.

Possible roles

Biochemist or biophysicist — you choose!

Epidemiologist

Geoscientist

Technicians in nuclear energy

Salary

As of May 2020, the yearly pay that represented the median for these various categories of scientific jobs was $69,760.

Education prerequisites

The degree of education needed to pursue a career in the area of science varies according to the subfield and specific function that is desired. In contrast, a master's degree is required to become an epidemiologist; however, some epidemiologists also have a doctorate degree in either epidemiology or medicine. Biochemists and biophysicists are required to have a PhD. A minimum of a bachelor's degree is required for employment in the geosciences. Even though nuclear technicians only require an associate degree, many go on to get a bachelor's or even a master's degree.