9 of the fastest-growing professions to help you choose a career path

Whether you’re just starting college, getting ready to enter the workforce or simply looking to make a career change, it can be tough to figure out how to choose a career path.

So, where to begin?

For starters, there’s more to choosing a career path than simply finding something you want to do. It’s also about finding the right combination of work you enjoy and considerations like education requirements, compensation and job availability.

We dug around the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ most recent reports to give you a jumping-off point on the top nine fast-growing professions.

What you’ll learn:

• Wind Turbine Technicians
• Solar Photovoltaic Installers
• Nurse Practitioners
• Data Scientist
• Information Security Analysts
• Medical and Health Services Managers
• Physical Therapist Assistants
• Actuaries
• Operations Research Analysts
• Physician Assistants

Wind Turbine Technicians

• Median annual salary: $62,580
• Typical education: Postsecondary nondegree / on-the-job training
• Projected job growth through 2034: 50%

With the highest projective growth, wind turbine technicians are expected to grow 50% over the next decade. The education requirements are less compared to other growing professions, and those in this profession also receive on the job training after obtaining a postsecondary nondegree. If you like to work outdoors and are okay in confined spaces and heights, this could be a good choice without having to complete years of education.

Solar Photovoltaic Installers

• Median annual salary: $51,860
• Typical education: High school diploma or equivalent
• Projected job growth through 2034: 42%

With solar becoming a more popular energy source, solar photovoltaic installers are another industry with a high projected growth potential. Similar to wind turbine technicians, people in this field tend to work outside and also should be okay with confined spaces and heights. With less education needs, some companies will hire with just a high school diploma whereas others may require some courses at a technical school or community college.

Nurse Practitioners

• Median annual salary: $129,210
• Typical education: Master’s degree
• Projected job growth through 2034: 40%

Already an RN? Consider maximizing your earning potential by levelling up to become a nurse practitioner (NP). NPs can work independently and provide a lot of the same care as doctors, like writing prescriptions or performing checkups. Similar to physician assistants, job growth for NPs is predicted because of changes in health care legislation and demand from an aging population.

Data Scientist

• Median annual salary: $112,590
• Typical education: Bachelor’s degree (but can vary)
• Projected job growth through 2034: 34%

Companies generate a lot of data, but it takes a specific person to clean, organize and analyze the data to interpret it to drive better decisions and results. Data scientists are important to business because they act as the bridge between raw data and actionable decisions, increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of a company. Typically, to apply for a job within data science, you need at least a bachelor’s degree in mathematics, statistics or computer sciences. Some companies prefer or will require a master’s or doctoral degree.

Information Security Analysts

• Median annual salary: $124,910
• Typical education: Bachelor’s degree
• Projected job growth through 2034: 29%

With technology becoming the backbone of most organizations, keeping an organization’s computer networks and systems safe is a high priority. Information Security Analysts work to plan and carry out security measures to keep information safe from bad actors and to help protect an organization’s data. Typically, a bachelor’s degree in computer science and some relevant work experience is necessary for landing a job in this field.

Medical and Health Services Managers

• Median annual salary: $117,960
• Typical education: Bachelor’s degree (but can vary)
• Projected job growth through 2034: 23%

If you are looking for more of a management job in the health care field and have strong leadership, communication and interpersonal skills, healthcare management could be a good place for you. People in these professions work in many types of healthcare facilities, such as hospitals and nursing homes, and help plan direct and coordinate the business activities of the provider.

Physical Therapist Assistants

• Median annual salary: $65,510
• Typical education: Associate degree and a license or certification
• Projected job growth through 2034: 22%

As the name suggests, a physical therapist assistant assists physical therapists as they help patients regain movement and manage pain. Going into this field is a good idea if you are looking to later expand your education to become a physical therapist. While to be a physical therapist assistant, you do need at least an associates degree, you can become an aid with just a high school diploma. However, the average salary of a physical therapist aid is about half of an assistant.

Actuaries

• Median annual salary: $125,770
• Typical education: Bachelor’s degree (but can vary)
• Projected job growth through 2034: 22%

With growing financial risks and uncertainties, there has been a rise in the actuarial profession. Actuaries use mathematics, statistics and financial theory to help business make informed financial decisions. While you only need a bachelor’s degree, preferably in math, statistics, finance or something similar, it is also usually required for you to pass a series of exams to be formally qualified.

Operations Research Analysts

• Median annual salary: $91,290
• Typical education: Bachelor's degree (but can vary)
• Projected job growth through 2034: 21%

If you are good with math and a problem solver, an operations research analyst might be a good occupation to look in to. Operations research analysts use math, statistics and data modeling to help organizations make better decisions and work more efficiently. To enter this career in an entry level profession, you need at least a bachelor’s degree. However, some require a master’s degree or other certification.

Physician Assistants

• Median annual salary: $133.260
• Typical education: Master's degree
• )Projected job growth through 2034: 20%

If you enjoy helping people and aren’t afraid to take on an intense master’s program, a career as a physician assistant could be good for you. Physician Assistants can prescribe medication and make diagnoses, similar to a doctor’s care. The profession’s huge projected growth is thanks to health care legislation, a bigger emphasis on preventative care, and a higher demand for health care services from older adults who are living longer and live more active lives than previous generations.

Choosing a career path can be a challenging but fun endeavor. If you do decide to move forward in a field that requires a master’s degree, deciding between a full-time or part-time program may be your next step. Then, follow these tips to better brand yourself on LinkedIn and soon you could be closer to that job you want.