Still growing strong: Even in hot job market, some professions lead the pack
It seems like all occupations are in demand in today’s job market. Still, some careers are more in demand than others, with many professions expected to grow over the next five to 10 years.
If you’re trying to decide on a career path or considering a change of course, here’s a look at some of the nation’s fastest-growing fields, according to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics:
Wind turbine service technicians
While the overall number of wind turbine service technicians is still small, jobs in the field will grow by 68 percent in the next 10 years. Wind turbine service technicians install, maintain and repair wind turbines. Preparation may consist of an earned degree or certification at a technical school and on-the-job training. The median annual wage for
wind turbine technicians was $55,000 in May 2020, according to the BLS. Current projections barely take into account any new infrastructure initiatives in the years ahead, but because wind electricity
generation is expected to grow rapidly over the coming decade, additional technicians will be needed to install and maintain new turbines. Job prospects are expected to be excellent.
Nurse practitioners
Nurse practitioners, nurse anesthetists and nurse midwives coordinate patient care and may provide primary and specialty healthcare. A combination of factors — high numbers of retiring veteran nurses, aging baby boomer and Gen X populations and the increasing prevalence of preventative healthcare
— continues to make nursing one of the nation’s fastest-growing professions. Jobs are expected to grow by 45 percent
over the next decade. Nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives and nurse practitioners must earn advanced degrees and must also be licensed in their state and pass a national certification exam. The median annual wage for nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives and nurse practitioners was $123,780 in 2020, according to the BLS.
Solar photovoltaic installer
As the United States looks to increase alternative sources of energy, solar
photovoltaic installers will increase by 42 percent over the next 10 years.
Solar PV installers assemble, set up and maintain rooftop or other systems that convert sunlight into energy. While the majority of solar panel installations are done outdoors, PV installers sometimes work in attics and crawl spaces to connect panels to the electrical grid. Although installers typically need a high school diploma, some take courses at a technical school or community college.
Installers typically receive on-the-job training lasting up to 1 year. In 2019,
the median annual wage for solar photovoltaic installers was $47,670 in 2020.
Cooks
Cooks work in restaurants, schools, hospitals, private households and other places where food is prepared and served. While the pandemic put a hurting on restaurants across the country, there are new signs of hope in the industry, meaning restaurants are looking to hire
part-time and full-time cooks. In fact, the hiring of cooks is expected to increase 26 percent through 2030, much faster than the average for all occupations.
Cooks typically learn their skills through on-the-job training and related work experience. Although no formal education is required, some cooks attend culinary school. The median hourly wage for cooks was $14 in May 2021, while the annual salary was $29,120.
– Marco Buscaglia