What Jobs Are In High Demand Right Now?

You should think about a job and its industry’s long-term prognosis while choosing a career for the future. You’ll save time and money by not pursuing a profession that’s dying (or is no longer relevant). Finding a job is a frustrating enough process. This is mostly because there is no assurance that you will land your ideal career. However, with careful planning and preparation, you can raise your odds. Too many people fail to take this into account and end up unemployed or drowning in student loan debt. 

However, you may prevent that by looking into potential career paths, particularly for your current position. You should seriously consider finding a safer career if a pandemic, a recession, or automation can jeopardize your current or future employment.

You can use this list of future-demanding jobs to focus your studies. You’ll be able to choose the career that most suits you by doing that. Do not presume that you will be able to enter a high-paying position without any prior experience. 

The business will ultimately decide how much they are willing to compensate you. Though the number of jobs in the aforementioned professions could reach millions in the future, keep in mind that these are just forecasts. 

They don’t consider outside variables. The demand for vocations in science, technology, engineering, and medicine is unaffected by projections, though. Additionally, they are among the few occupations that are challenging for businesses to eliminate or replace with inexpensive labor.

1. Family Medicine Physicians

The BLS defines this category as physicians who “diagnose, treat, and supply preventive care to individuals and families across the lifespan.” These medical doctors often refer patients to specialists for advanced treatments.

Family medicine physicians, also referred to as primary care physicians are typically where patients choose for periodic exams and the treatment of common health ailments like sinus and respiratory infections as well as chronic illnesses like diabetes, asthma, and heart conditions.

Some medical care doctors specifically work with adults (internists) or children (pediatricians). Those that treat patients of all ages, from childhood to advanced age, are referred to as family physicians. Due to their varied patient population, family medicine doctors generally manage a wider range of medical conditions.

After graduation from medical school, family practice physicians complete a residency program. Doctors are required to finish a certain number of months in each training area before applying for board certification. Employment among family practice doctors is expected to grow 5% from 2020 to 2030.

2. Chief Executives

Chief executives represent the highest-paid profession outside of the medical or dental fields. Because the CEO is the highest-ranking employee of a company, the CEO’s job is to make critical decisions regarding the management team, steer the organization toward new markets or product areas, and interface with the board of directors.

While highly paid, many chief executives have daunting schedules. A Harvard Business Review survey found that the typical CEO spends 62.5 hours per week on work, with about half their time spent within the office and half traveling.

Not surprisingly, a Forbes study found that the bulk of Fortune 100 CEOs (53%) received a bachelor’s degree in business administration. However, many had undergraduate majors in unrelated fields (though some later received a master of business administration, or MBA, degree). 

Many executives in tech-related companies studied engineering as undergraduates. The number of people working as top executives is expected to grow by about 8% from 2020 to 2030.

3. Nurse Anesthetists

Nursing tends to pay well, generally compared with most other career paths, although nurse anesthetists do particularly well. Nurse anesthetists “administer anesthesia and supply care before, during, and after surgical, therapeutic, diagnostic, and obstetrical procedures.”

While their role is analogous to that of an anesthesiologist, they don’t complete the identical level of training. Meaning, that becoming a nurse anesthetist takes less time and money than going to medical school and becoming a physician. Certified RN anesthetists (CRNAs) may work in a broad array of different settings, including hospital surgical suites,  delivery rooms, ambulatory surgical centers, doctor’s offices, and pain management centers.

Candidates need to graduate with a master’s degree from an accredited program, which usually takes 24 to 51 months. Some persist in completing a fellowship program, particularly if they’re specializing within the sector. 

To become a CRNA, candidates also need a minimum of one year of full-time experience working as a registered nurse in a critical-care setting. It’s hard to seek out a job that will grow faster than nurse anesthetists over the next several years; the BLS expects employment to grow 45% between 2020 and 2030.

4. Pediatricians 

Pediatricians are physicians who specifically treat children, but internists and general practitioners are still among the highest-paid professionals. These general practitioners perform checkups and exams for younger patients, treat common ailments, and administer immunizations. They often refer patients to a specialist when their health issues are more complex.

Pediatricians require strong critical-thinking skills, especially given the massive number of patients they often serve, as well as excellent interpersonal skills and empathy.

In the school of medicine, pediatricians enter residency programs that allow them to develop their skills in a clinical environment. They need to pass licensing exams to practice, and most receive board certification to spice up their prospects in the job market. There are currently around 30,200 pediatricians practicing within the  United States, although the BLS expects that number to drop by 2% between 2020 and 2030.

5. Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers

Working within the aviation industry can mean a lot of time away from home, but it also results in a nice paycheck in many cases. The BLS lumps airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers into one category.

The pilot, or captain, typically has the most experience operating a plane and oversees the other members of the flight crew. The copilot is the second in command during the flight and helps the captain with responsibilities in the cockpit.

Flight engineers do preflight checks, monitor the plane’s cabin pressure, assess what proportion of fuel is being burned, and perform other important duties. However, due to the increased amount of automation in new aircraft, there are fewer jobs for flight engineers than there used to be.

Airline pilots usually require a bachelor’s degree and an Airline Transport Pilot certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration. They often start out as commercial pilots and accrue thousands of hours of experience within the cockpit before gaining employment with an airline.

In total, there are roughly 74,700 individuals employed as airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers within the United States. The BLS expects that number to rise by 14% between 2020 and 2030.

6. Dentists

Dentists who concentrate on other practice areas also get compensated quite well. The BLS lumps these other specialists into one group. Among the practitioners included in this category are endodontists, who perform root canals and other procedures on the inside of the tooth, and periodontists, who treat the gums and bones around the teeth.

Most dental programs require a bachelor’s degree with coursework in biology and chemistry. Like other dental professionals, specialists must take the Dental Admission Test to be accepted into an accredited dental program. 

After graduating from dental school, specialists typically complete two to three years of additional training in the field of their choice. The BLS expects employment within the specialties listed above to increase by 5% between 2020 and 2030.

7. Dentists 

Dentists often show up on lists of the simplest jobs in healthcare. While the pay tends to be attractive, the mixture of relatively low stress and flexible scheduling certainly adds to the appeal.

In a typical week, dental practitioners might find themselves analyzing X-rays, filling cavities, extracting damaged teeth, and administering sealants. It’s employment that requires a strong grasp of best practices in the field, attention to detail, and therefore the ability to develop a good rapport with patients.

While not always required to try to do so, dentists often select biology or other science majors as their undergraduate. After college, they take the Dental Admission Test (DAT) to get into a dental school, where they study subjects such as local anesthesia, anatomy, periodontics, and radiology. 

They also receive clinical experience under the supervision of a practicing dentist. The BLS expects overall employment among dentists to increase by 8% from 2020 to 2030, with over 139,000 within the field.

8. Computer and knowledge systems managers

Computer and knowledge systems (IS) managers oversee functions such as electronic data processing, information systems, analysis, and programming. They evaluate the knowledge technology (IT) needs of a business or government body and work with technical staff to implement computer systems that meet those objectives. Successful managers have to develop sound plans that mesh with the goals of the organization as well as the ability to motivate employees who are under their supervision. 

Before becoming IS managers, individuals generally have several years of experience under their belt in a related field. Generally, larger organizations require more-seasoned IT managers than smaller companies or startups. Consistent with the BLS, a chief technology officer (CTO), who supervises the whole technology function at a larger organization, will often need more than 5 years of IT experience.

Most computer and knowledge systems managers have received a bachelor’s degree in a computer-related major. Some have graduated from management information systems (MIS) programs, which add business coursework to the traditional computer programming and software development classes. 

To advance into a managerial role, IT professionals sometimes work toward a master of business administration (MBA) or other graduate degrees. Although some employers take courses part-time while they still work in an IT capacity, most MBA programs usually take two years to finish. The BLS projects that total employment will jump 11% between 2020 and 2030, much faster than the economy-wide average.

9. Architectural and engineering managers 

These managers are charged with coordinating all the technical aspects of architecture or engineering projects. which will include consulting with clients and preparing specifications for the project; analyzing the feasibility of labor being proposed; and reviewing contracts and budgets.

In addition to having strong administrative skills, managers in these fields need a background in architecture or engineering to know the demands of a particular project. While some engineering management positions may only require a bachelor’s degree, some employers require a master’s. 

For positions that are not technical in nature, managers often pursue a master’s in business administration. For those in additional technical roles, however, degrees like master’s in engineering management are often more beneficial. Jobs in architectural and engineering management are expected to grow by 4% between 2020 and 2030, consistent with the BLS.

10. Natural Sciences Managers

Moving up the organizational chart is the ticket to a good payday in just about any field, and therefore, the sciences are no different. Professionals who supervise chemists, physicists, biologists, and other scientists are among the top 25 of all occupations when it comes to mean pay. Natural sciences managers can have any number of titles, including health sciences manager, laboratory manager, research and development director, research manager, senior investigator, and senior scientist. 

What they need in common is a responsibility to coordinate activities such as testing, internal control, and production and to oversee research and development. The standard career path for managers begins as a scientist. In some cases, it will only require a bachelor’s degree, although many roles necessitate a master’s degree or Ph.D.  

in a scientific field. Some managers pursue knowledgeable science master’s (PSM) degree programs, which fuse advanced scientific learning with business coursework. The 2020 to 2030 outlook for natural sciences managers looks bright, with 6% employment growth expected by the BLS.

11. Financial Managers

The finance department plays a pivotal role, especially in medium- and large-sized organizations. Among their responsibilities are planning investment activities and assessing market trends to maximize profits while controlling risk. They also create financial reports that help the senior management team make decisions and inform shareholders.

Jobs that fall within the fast-growing financial manager category include controllers, who prepare financial reports like income statements and balance sheets; treasurers, who devise investment strategies for the organization; and risk managers, who use various measures to limit the company’s exposure to financial or currency risk.

Financial managers usually need a bachelor’s degree or higher in fields like finance, accounting, economics, or business administration. Most finance professionals have several years of experience in jobs like loan officer, accountant, securities sales agent, or securities analyst.

The need for financial managers is likely to grow much faster than the job market overall. The BLS foresees a 17% increase in total employment between 2020 and 2030.

12. Marketing Managers

Products and services don’t sell themselves. It takes talented professionals to research how much demand there is for a particular offering and find ways to bring it to market. These functions are crucial to a business’s bottom line, so it’s not going to be a surprise that marketing managers are among the highest-paid professions in the U.S.

To flourish, marketing managers need to demonstrate a blend of creativity and business acumen. Day-to-day activities include everything from acquiring marketing research to planning promotional activities to developing websites and social media campaigns.

Marketing managers typically need a bachelor’s degree, with coursework in areas like management, economics, finance, computing, and statistics being particularly helpful. Highly competitive jobs may require a master’s degree. The BLS expects the job market for marketing managers to grow faster than average, with an estimated 10% growth from 2020 to 2030.

13. Physicist

Physicists can often be the most important people on a project as they conduct research into physical phenomena, develop theories on the idea of observation and experiments, and devise methods to use physical laws and theories. In short, they make sure things both work and work well.

While many create an office environment, it is not always desk work. Physicists can find themselves jockeying between paperwork and dealing in research labs. It’s a common requirement for positions that a physicist possesses a Ph.D. in physics, astronomy, or a related field, and that he or she be typically interested in advanced mathematics or engineering. 

The common course load will include courses like quantum mechanics, thermodynamics, and electromagnetism. Physicists are in demand at the maximum rate of any other occupation. Between 2020 and 2030, the BLS states that physicists should expect to work out employment projections of 8%. 

14. Judges

Judges don’t only swing the gavel. They preside over hearings, determine the relevance of data presented, apply laws and precedents to hunt judgments, and write opinions on their decisions regarding cases and disputes.

Judges are also required to guide a jury when a jury is selected to decide the case. When there’s no jury, the judge makes the ultimate ruling. They ensure that hearings and trials are conducted fairly and that the legal rights of all involved parties are protected.

Many judges were successful as lawyers before they became judges. A school degree is a requirement for the position, as is a clean record of practice. Most judges are appointed or elected, which suggests there is a fair bit of politics when it comes to pursuing the bench, taking terms between 4 and 14 years. Certain judges are appointed for all times. 

The work growth rate for judges is slower than the average of all occupations. Judges can expect to see an increase of 3% from 2020 to 2030, significantly slower than the national average of 8%. 

15. Podiatrists

Podiatrists diagnose and treat diseases and deformities of the foot, ankle, and lower leg.  They supply medical and surgical care. Most podiatrists work with the offices of podiatry, either on their own or with other podiatrists or health practitioners. Others work in private and public hospitals, outpatient care centers, or for the government’s executive branch.

Podiatrists must have a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM) degree from an accredited college of podiatric medicine. A DPM course of study takes four years to complete. After earning a DPM, podiatrists must apply to and complete a three-year podiatric medicine and surgery residency (PMSR) program. 

Residency programs happen in hospitals and provide both medical and surgical experience. They’ll need to complete additional training in specific areas like podiatric wound care or diabetic foot care. One drawback to a future career as a podiatrist may be a potential lack of job openings.  

Consistent with the BLS, employment in this sector is projected to grow 2% from 2020 to 2030, slower than the 2%typical for all occupations. A mean of 900 openings for podiatrists is projected each year. Most of those openings may result from the need to replace workers who transfer or retire.

What Is the Highest Paying Job in the World?

In a traditional sense, the anesthesiologist has the highest-paying job in the world. they’re also the only jobs listed above $300,000 a year. The list, however, doesn’t take into account mega-CEOs like Warren Buffett and Jeff Bezos, who make considerably more than that.

Who Gets the Very Best Salary in the World?

The CEOs of massive companies always top the list. In 2020, that was Tim Cook, Apple CEO, who cashed in some stock options and took home an unlimited $265 million. That’s slightly over $1 million for every working day. Tim Cook took home almost $100 million in 2021.

How am I able to get a High-paying Job?

Most high-paying jobs require advanced degrees like a Ph.D. or medical degree. Although a number of the jobs on this list require only an undergrad,  the truth is that it’s increasingly more difficult to land a coveted position when you are competing against someone with secondary degrees.

The Bottom Line

When it involves high-paying jobs, it’s hard to beat a tech or medical career. Specialists tend to earn the biggest paychecks, but general practitioners and even non-physician roles, like nurse anesthetists, certainly usher in attractive salaries. If the medical field isn’t for you, then careers like engineering and management can also lead to lucrative jobs.