In-Demand, Higher-Paying Occupations (2010-2020)
Sign Up for Email Updates about Data and Statistics
In-Demand, Higher-Paying Occupations (2010-2020)
Note: This section presents data for 29 occupations that were selected based on three criteria: projected growth rate, projected number of new jobs added, and 2012 median annual earnings. The selected occupations have a projected growth rate above the 14.3 percent average for all occupations, they are projected to add 24,600** new jobs or more between 2010 and 2020, and had annual earnings above the median for all occupations ($34,460) in 2012.
**24,600 is the median number of projected new jobs among the full list of 64 rapid growth occupations (those with 29% or more growth projected by BLS for 2010-2020).
In-Demand, Higher-Paying Occupations
Occupation Name |
Projected Growth Rate 2010-2020[1] |
Projected Growth Number (new jobs in thousands) 2010-2020[2] |
Median Annual Earnings (2012)[3] |
Typical Education Level for Entry[4] |
Percent of Women Employed (2011)[5] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Accountants and auditors |
15.70% |
190.7 |
$63,550 |
Bachelor's |
60% |
Brickmasons and blockmasons |
40.00% |
41.8 |
$46,440 |
High School |
0% |
Cargo and freight agents |
29.00% |
24.1 |
$39,720 |
High School |
26% |
Carpenters |
19.60% |
196 |
$39,940 |
High School |
1% |
Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers |
35.00% |
50.1 |
$35,760 |
High School |
0% |
Cost estimators |
36.00% |
67.5 |
$58,860 |
Bachelor's |
11% |
Database Administrators |
31.00% |
33.9 |
$77,080 |
Bachelor's |
39% |
Dental hygienists |
38.00% |
68.5 |
$70,210 |
Associate's |
98% |
Elementary school teachers, except special ed |
16.80% |
248.8 |
$53,400 |
Bachelor's |
80% |
Healthcare social workers |
34.00% |
51.2 |
$49,830 |
Bachelor's |
81% |
Heating, Air conditioning and refrigeration mechanics and installers |
34.00% |
90.3 |
$43,640 |
Post-secondary |
1% |
Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers |
20.60% |
330.1 |
$38,200 |
High School |
5% |
Interpreters and translators |
42.00% |
24.6 |
$45,430 |
Bachelor's |
68% |
Licensed practical and vocational nurses |
22.40% |
168.5 |
$41,540 |
Post-secondary |
92% |
Market research analysts and marketing specialists |
41.00% |
116.6 |
$60,300 |
Bachelor's |
57% |
Medical scientists, except epidemiologists |
36.00% |
36.4 |
$76,980 |
Doctoral or Professional |
53% |
Meeting, convention, and event planners |
44.00% |
31.3 |
$45,810 |
Bachelor's |
77% |
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers |
31.00% |
39.5 |
$39,980 |
Bachelor's |
81% |
Mental health counselors |
36% |
43.6 |
$40,080 |
Master's |
71% |
Occupational therapist |
33.00% |
36.4 |
$75,400 |
Master's |
92% |
Personal Financial Advisors |
32.00% |
66.4 |
$67,520 |
Bachelor's |
31% |
Physical therapists |
39.00% |
77.4 |
$79,860 |
Master's |
72% |
Physical therapists assistants |
46.00% |
30.8 |
$52,160 |
Associate's |
70% |
Physician Assistants |
30.00% |
24.7 |
$90,930 |
Master's |
67% |
Physicians and surgeons |
24.40% |
168.3 |
$187,200 |
Doctoral or Professional |
36% |
Postsecondary teachers |
17.40% |
305.7 |
$62,390 |
Doctoral or Professional |
48% |
Registered Nurses |
26.00% |
711.9 |
$65,470 |
Associate's |
91% |
Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing |
15.60% |
223.4 |
$54,230 |
High School |
27% |
Software Developers, Systems Software |
32.00% |
127.2 |
$99,000 |
Bachelor's |
22% |
[1],[2],[4] Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational Employment Projections Program. Table 1.7. "Occupational employment and job openings data, projected 2010-20, and worker characteristics, 2010."
[3] Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational Employment Statistics. "May 2012 Occupational Profiles." http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_stru.htm
[5] U.S. Census Bureau. 2011 American Community Survey. Note: The percentages for employment by gender come from the 2011 American Community Survey (ACS). The ACS provides data on occupations based on a modified version of the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) system that contains less detail tan the occupations from the Employment Projections program and the Occupational Employment Statistics used in this analysis. Some detailed occupations included in this analysis therefore have employment by gender percentages corresponding with ACS occupations that may group two or more detailed occupations.
Chart 1
Text Version of Projected new jobs for 29 selected occupations by industry
Chart 2
Text Version of Occupations by projected growth rate 2010-2020
Chart 3
Text Version of Occupations by projected number of new jobs 2010-2020
Chart 4
Text Version of Occupations by median annual earnings.
Chart 5
Text Version of Occupations by gender shares of employment.