“What do you want to be when you grow up?” When you were six years old, this question was probably fun to answer. Maybe you wanted to be an astronaut, professional athlete, or a movie star. There were no limits! As you get older, though, the answer isn’t so simple. You start to weigh the practicalities of a career path, from salary potential to job security.
If you are exploring career options, then today’s blog post is for you! We’re sharing ten careers that are on the rise in 2023 and are projected to keep growing. Take a look and see what your future could be!
NURSE
Nurses have always been in demand, but more so in recent years. With a rise in chronic conditions and an aging population in the United States, nurses are needed to fill hospitals, assisted living facilities, long-term care facilities, and more. Although nursing can certainly be challenging, the field is known for having good job security and flexible schedules.
For those who don't mind the additional schooling and training, you may want to consider becoming a nurse anesthetist or nurse practitioner. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, these fields are predicted to increase over 40% in the next decade. And while it’s not all about money, know that nurse anesthetists in the DC area make about $200k per year on average. Not too shabby!
Pharmacologist
Six out of ten American adults suffer from a chronic disease, such as diabetes, cancer, or Alzheimer’s disease. With the rise in these conditions, the medical world is more focused than ever on finding treatments and cures. That’s where pharmacologists come in! These medical scientists specialize in researching and developing new medications to help patients. If you’ve always dreamed of discovering a cure for cancer or find yourself interested in medical research, this field could be for you! Just get ready for lots of schooling: pharmacologists are required to earn an advanced degree such as a Ph.D. or Pharm.D.
Physical Therapist
All of this medical talk brings us to physical therapy. The increase in chronic conditions (yes, again!) and the fifty million Americans over the age of 65 are just two factors contributing to the 20% growth in this profession. Physical therapists often work with a range of clients, and it’s their job to help patients recover from injuries, manage pain, and ideally avoid surgeries. The field offers a lot of flexibility in terms of where and with whom you can work. Perhaps even more importantly, physical therapy is one of the most satisfying professions, according to recent surveys and studies. After all, who wouldn’t want to spend their days helping others get stronger and better?
Medical and Health Service Managers
With great demands in the healthcare world comes greater demand for healthcare leaders. Managers are needed to oversee medical facilities, including hospital departments, physicians’ offices, and clinics. This field is projected to grow almost 30% over the next decade and could be a good match for those interested in the business of healthcare. We have also seen a significant increase in undergraduate programs dedicated specifically to preparing students for a career combining business and health - pretty cool!
Financial Manager
If the medical field isn’t for you, consider helping the health of a business organization. Financial managers are responsible for overseeing the “financial sustainability” of a company. They help plan, direct, and organize operations through a number of tasks: data analysis, investments, profit planning, and risk management. With so many economic fluctuations and a growing global market, this field is expected to grow 17% in the coming years.
Data Scientist
These days, every company and organization has a wealth of data. But what do they do with it? That’s actually why so many places are hiring data scientists, who help the organization make sense of datasets. It’s their job to analyze, identify patterns, and even build models for predictions. Ultimately, data scientists help companies solve complex problems, make important decisions, and develop new strategies. This field is extremely popular and offers professionals the flexibility to work in just about any industry, from business to technology to healthcare. It’s also an area where we see more and more academic programs popping up each year!
Machine Learning Engineer
The popularity of data science has created an increased demand for machine learning engineers, not just data scientists. Machine learning engineers often work as part of a bigger team of data analysts and scientists to help build AI systems that hold huge data sets and can make predictions. Machine learning engineering could be the right fit for those who enjoy programming just as much as data analysis.
Information Security Analyst
According to the U.S. Government, cyber attacks are on the rise, and the risks to IT systems are increasing. This is bad news for most people, but not if you’re interested in a career in cybersecurity! Information security analyst roles are becoming increasingly popular in all industries, where these experts are needed to help secure computer networks and prevent cyber attacks. In fact, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that this field will expand 35% by 2031.
Software Developer
It’s probably no surprise to see software development on the list of growing careers. With our reliance on technical systems to perform jobs and daily tasks, professionals are needed to design the programs and apps that keep our lives running efficiently! Software developers can find jobs in just about any industry if they have the right skills. In addition to programming and other technical expertise, a developer must also have superior problem solving skills, creativity, and the ability to work on big teams.
Veterinarian
Over the past three years, pet ownership has significantly increased, and pet industry sales have soared to over $100 billion. Clearly, people are willing to spend on their pets, whether it’s food, accessories, or even healthcare. These factors are likely contributing to the increased demand for veterinarians, a career that is anticipated to expand by 19% over the next decade. Of course, there’s a lot of schooling involved if you want to become a veterinarian, but U.S. News and World Report ranks it number twelve in its list of best jobs.