Fastest Growing Jobs

Nurse Practitioners provide primary and specialty care for patients. This could be in areas like adult and geriatric health, kids’ health, or mental health. Job functions for NPs vary by state. But, they can often do many of the same things doctors do. That includes prescribing medicine and diagnosing health issues.

Job growth for NPs is high due to more demand for health care. As mentioned, NPs can do many of the tasks doctors do. So, they have become a major source of primary and preventative care. NPs are most needed in underserved areas – like rural and inner city communities. And, they are needed to treat aging adults.

359,400 new nurse practitioner jobs are expected by 2031. New York currently employs the most NPs: 19,130. California pays the highest mean salary, at $158,130. Doctor’s offices were the biggest employer for NPs. They also work in local, state, and private hospitals. Some work at outpatient care centers.

Wind Technicians play a key role in converting wind to energy. They install, maintain, and fix devices that do just that. These are called turbines. Most of wind techs’ work is on the maintenance side, since turbines need tune-ups a couple times a year. Wind techs inspect the machines and replace worn parts. They wear harnesses to stay safe on high turbine towers.

Job growth for wind techs is due to innovation in wind energy. Lately, taller towers with bigger blades have made wind power more efficient to generate. This has reduced costs. So, wind energy can now compete with other energy sources, like coal and gas. That means more technician jobs.

That said, it’s still not a huge field. 4,900 new jobs should be added between 2021 and 2031. The biggest employer is Texas, with 4,410 jobs. But, California offers the highest mean salary. There, wind techs earn an average of $69,220 per year.

Electric power generation companies are the biggest employers of wind techs. That includes big names like General Electric (GE). Some technicians work for companies that install and maintain turbines. One major player is FairWind, a global wind turbine company.

Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers work at entertainment venues to help ensure a positive experience for guests. Ushers guide guests to their seats; lobby attendants offer information, help with directions, and handle guest inquiries; and ticket takers scan tickets and welcome attendees.

The entertainment industry took a hit in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. But it’s bouncing back and, as such, ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers are in big demand.

Between 2021 and 2031, 25,600 new jobs are projected to become available. California currently has the greatest number of these workers at 14,560. The state that pays the highest wage is Washington, with a median annual salary of $35,260.

Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers work at movie theaters, concerts venues, sporting events, and theaters. A nice benefit of the job is that you get to watch the entertainment!

Motion picture projectionists set up, operate, and maintain media equipment and related sound production equipment. They receive and inspect film and rewind films so they can be played again. When setting up projectors, they need to adjust them and the screens to achieve proper size and focus of images and volume of the sound.

Movie theaters were essentially shut down during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now people are eager to watch movies again, and the need for motion picture professionals has picked up accordingly.

800 new jobs for these workers are projected to become available by 2031. In 2022, Michigan employed the greatest number of movie projectionists at 210, while California paid the highest salary, $53,540. Perhaps not surprisingly, within California the metro area of Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim paid the highest salary: $60,030.

While you might think of movie projectionists as working primarily in movie theaters, they are also employed by museums, historical sites, and similar institutions, as well as promoters of performing arts, sports, and similar events.

Cooks prepare food and meals. Their responsibilities might vary depending on where they work—for example, in a large establishment they might work under the direction of a head chef—but typically their duties include measuring ingredients needed for a recipe, using kitchen tools such as broilers, grills, slicers, grinders, and blenders, and ensuring that food is handled and stored in a sanitary fashion.

While the restaurant business was hurt by the COVID-19 pandemic, with many restaurants closing altogether, the industry has started to grow again at a fast pace, meeting the needs of people who are ready to get out of their homes and socialize.

419,300 new jobs are projected to become available between 2021 and 2031, with California currently employing the most cooks: 141,420. Cooks have the highest annual mean wages in Hawaii, at $42,710.

Most cooks work at restaurants, ranging from fast food to diners to other restaurants. However, they are also employed by healthcare, social assistance, and educational services.

Data Scientists collect and analyze data to make recommendations to their clients. They need to determine what kind of data to collect, how to collect it, and the best ways to test it or analyze it. They also need to find ways to clearly communicate their results, often through visualization techniques, which can help them create charts, maps, and other graphics.

As technology improves, so does the ability to quantify and analyze the performance of a business. As such, companies that might once have relied on financial software applications are able to get more sophisticated results and a broader picture of the health of their business.

By 2031, there should be 40,500 new roles for data scientists. The greatest number of these professionals—29,420—are employed in California. This state also pays the highest annual mean wage, $147,390.

Data scientists work for all types of companies, with the largest number being employed in the computer systems and design industry. They might also work for scientific research services.

Athletes and Sports Competitors participate in organized sporting evens and competitions. They need to stay in top shape and practice their sport to maintain and hone their athletic skills. They also need to understand and uphold the rules of the sport they engage in. Many athletes work with coaches, either one-on-one or with members of their team.

As with so many other industries in the entertainment business, the COVID-19 pandemic affected sports, with many events being cancelled or postponed. With the reappearance of sporting events, the demand for athletes has increased.

5,700 new jobs are expected to open up between 2021 and 2031. While data isn’t available for all 50 states, based on the data that is known, Florida is the highest employer, with 5,400 jobs, and Indiana pays the highest median annual salary at $702,270.

Most athletes work in the spectator sports industry. Some, however, are self-employed or work at fitness and recreational sports centers.

Information Security Analysts keep companies’ computer networks and systems safe. Part of that is watching for security breaches and responding when one happens. They also take proactive measures. That includes using firewalls, data encryption, and other tools and tactics. And, they make recovery plans in case of disaster.

Demand in this career has kept pace with cyber attacks. As these attacks become more frequent, companies with sensitive data need more analysts to stop hackers. Banking, finance, and health care are a few of the industries with the most cyber security concerns.

56,500 new jobs are expected to arrive by 2031. Virginia employs the most information security analysts: 17,960. New York pays the best, with a mean annual wage of $138,730.

IT security pros work in many industries, like finance and insurance. Many work for companies that provide computer systems design and related services. Global IT consulting firms like CGI Inc. and Booz Allen Hamilton often employ analysts.

Statisticians use math to solve real-life problems. They may collect data using means like surveys. Then, they analyze data with methods like statistics and data modeling. This lets them spots trends and patterns. Fields like business, engineering, and healthcare benefit from the work of statisticians as they plan new strategies.

This career is growing due to an increase in data and its use. More businesses have started collecting info through means like social media or mobile devices. They want to use this info to improve products, inform future decisions, and more. So, they need statisticians to turn data into insights.

We should see 11,200 more statistician jobs by 2031. Right now, the most jobs are in states with a lot of industry. Maryland employs the most statisticians: 3,240. New York pays the most, with a mean average salary of $137,840.

Statistician jobs occur across many industries. A lot of them work in research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences. Some big employers include Johnson & Johnson and Merck. Both make pharmaceuticals and medical products. The federal government also hires quite a few statisticians.

Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials are a crucial part of sporting events, as they are the ones responsible for upholding the rules of play. They carefully monitor the athletes and activity, making calls if they see an infraction and determining the resulting penalty. They might also be responsible for timing, starting and stopping play at appropriate times.

As the demand for athletes and sports competitors increases, so does the demand for the professionals who oversee the events these athletes compete in.

4,200 new jobs are projected to be created by 2031. Right now, California employs the most, at 2,390. Minnesota pays the highest mean salary: $62,760.

Most sports officials are self-employed, while others work for spectator sports organizations or in amusement or gambling industries. A smaller number work in for education and civic and social organizations.

Web Developers and Digital Designers create websites and ensure that they are functioning properly. They need to have knowledge of programming languages such as html to write code in building a site. Some work with graphic interfaces to add images or video. They are often responsible for testing and maintaining the website.

These days, even smaller companies have their own website—and consumers often expect them to. They rely on web developers to create their website and oversee its operation.

There should be 45,400 new web developer jobs added by 2031. According to the latest data, California is the state with the most jobs: 21,300. It’s also the state that pays the highest mean salary for these professionals: $145,560.

Web developers work in a variety of industries, with the majority being employed by computer systems design and software companies. They also work in retail, finance and insurance, and advertising and public relations.

Animal caretakers are responsible for the well-being of pets and other animals. Their duties might include feeding, bathing, monitoring for illness, and exercising. They might also keep records—health, feeding, intake, etc.—and clean and maintain the environment an animal lives in.

Pet ownership is on the rise, and professionals are needed to care for them. In addition, many venues such as aquariums and zoos were shut down during the COVID-19 pandemic. As they reopen, animal caretakers are needed to tend to the basic needs of the animals.

Between 2021 and 2031, 101,200 new jobs are projected to become available. California currently employs 25,030 animal caretakers, the highest number in any other state. Washington is the highest-paying state, with an annual mean salary of $39,450.

Choreographers are creative professionals who design and structure dance routines and movements. They conceptualize and craft sequences of steps, gestures, and motions that convey emotions, tell stories, and showcase artistic expression. They might work with individual dancers to teach, refine, and perfect their performances.

As people come out of hibernation from the COVID-19 pandemic, they are eager to be entertained, and musicals and ballet are two popular types of performances. Choreographers are needed behind the scenes to help create impactful performances. In addition, schools are now able to produce student plays, musicals, and other types of productions. Many choreographers work in education, and the need for them has grown.

1,900 new job openings for choreographers are projected to become available by 2031. California currently leads the pack in employment, with 1,840 choreographers. The highest annual median salary can be found in New York at $113,380.

The largest employers of choreographers are educational services at the state, local, and private levels. Many choreographers are self-employed, and others work for performing arts companies.

Medical and Health Services Managers provide leadership to hospitals, clinics, and other medical facilities. They coordinate and manage various aspects, such as budgets, staffing, patient care, and compliance with regulations. They are responsible for ensuring that the healthcare facility they manage delivers quality care and meets the needs of patients. Additionally, they work to improve processes, implement policies, and navigate the complex landscape of healthcare to ensure optimal outcomes for both patients and the organization.

The healthcare industry is growing faster than all other occupations, with an expected 2 million new jobs becoming available from 2021–2031. This may in part be due to the fact that baby boomers, the second-largest generation group, are aging and needing more care.

The US should see 136,200 new jobs for these professionals by 2031. The most jobs are currently in California, which has 52,350 medical and health services managers. New York pays the highest mean salary: $171,620.

The majority of medical and health services managers work in hospitals. But they can also be found in physicians’ offices, nursing and residential care facilities, government, and outpatient care centers.

Logisticians are responsible for efficiently managing the intricate process of supply chain operations. They coordinate the movement of goods, materials, and resources from suppliers to consumers, ensuring that products reach their destinations on time and in the most cost-effective manner.

E-commerce has grown rapidly in recent years. Logisticians play an important role in keeping e-commerce businesses running smoothly and efficiently.

Logisticians should see 54,100 new jobs by 2031. California employs the greatest number at 24,420, while the District of Columbia pays the top mean salary at $97,890.

Manufacturing companies are the largest employers of logisticians. These professionals also work for other companies, as well as in the federal government, wholesale trade, and professional, scientific, and technical services.