10. Psychologist
Psychologist jobs are growing at a rate of 19.1% per decade, and the median pay for these professionals is $75,892 per year. Becoming a psychologist requires the completion of a bachelor’s degree in psychology or a related field, and then completing either a PhD in psychology or a PsyD program, depending on your professional goals. The PhD programs are useful if you would like to teach at an academic institution or work on clinical research. The PsyD option, on the other hand, is designed for people who want to provide mental health therapy. Of course, this is something of a generalization; many PsyDs teach in academic environments and many PhDs work in private practices. Most states have board exams that would-be psychologists must take and pass before they are allowed to practice on their own.
Psychologists may work in a solo practice or in a group practice. Because of the impact of managed care plans, there are concerns about coverage. However, more health plans are adding a mental health coverage, helping to ease the burden of clients seeking help.
9. Pharmacist
The projected growth for pharmacist jobs over the next decade is 24.5%. The median pay for pharmacists is currently $98,777 per year. The role of the pharmacist is expanding with the increase in patient-education responsibilities.
Pharmacists also are responsible for dispensing drugs in hospital and nursing home environments. Currently, the FDA is considering “behind the wall” drugs that would be dispensed by the pharmacist but with added safety and dosage instructions. This practice is already used in other countries. If it is adopted in the United States, pharmacists will be busier still with helping patients understand their medicines as well as with ensuring that the patients are avoiding any dangerous drug or herbal remedy interactions. State regulation of pharmacies, as well as the very rapid growth of chain pharmacies, is creating a demand that is expected to remain strong for years to come.
8. Real Estate Appraiser
Even with the recent downturn in the housing market, job growth for real estate appraiser is expected to be 22.8% over the next decade. The median salary for an appraiser is currently $82,437 per year. Real estate appraisers are generally certified and licensed by the given state in which they reside. Real estate appraisers need to possess excellent oral and written skills, have the ability to make challenging decisions, and provide
excellent customer service.
7. Computer / IT Analyst
The job growth rate is expected to be 36.1% over the next decade for all positions in this field. The median salary for network operations directors is currently $130,983 per year. With communications and networking technology rapidly expanding, computer/IT analysts are in high demand. With the move to web-based purchasing, even more IT positions will be created to maintain websites, as well as to help provide sales data to companies.
6. Market Research Analyst
The job growth rate over the next decade is expected to be 20.2% for market research analysts, and the median income for an e-commerce marketing director is currently $134,932. Market research analysts generally possess a bachelor’s degree in business or marketing, as well as an MBA or a master’s degree in marketing or market research. Market research analysts conduct product testing, in-depth interviews with customers, and focus groups to determine what customers like or do not like about a given product or service. While there no licenses are required to do this job, some market research analysts receive training on conducting focus groups and interviews.
The job growth rate for physician assistants is expected to be 49.7% over the next decade, and the current median salary for a physician assistant is $77,396. With the declining number of primary care physicians, as well as the changing reimbursement regimes for doctor visits by health plans, the number of physician assistants has grown rapidly of late. The physician assistant position is licensed and requires an advanced degree, and all physician assistants must pass a board exam. Most states in the US allow physician assistants to prescribe most medications and administer vaccines, and some pharmacy chains are even setting up clinics run by physician assistants.
4. Human Resources Manager
The job growth for this position is expected to be 23.5% over the coming decade, and the median expected salary for an HR director is currently $140,996 per year. Human resources managers are in greater demand now as more outsourcing initiatives, mergers, and acquisitions are undertaken. Human resources managers generally have a bachelor’s in business or a related degree and a master’s degree in either organizational behavior or an MBA.
3. Financial Advisor
The job growth for this position is expected to be 23.9% over the next decade, and the median expected salary for a financial advisor is now $100,859. Many states are now requiring that financial advisors be licensed and have a minimum level of training in order to practice. Most financial advisors have a bachelor’s degree in business, and some have an MBA.
2. College Professor
The job growth for college professors is expected to be 31.4% over the next decade, and the median income for a typical college professor is $79,812. Most universities require professors to hold a PhD in their field of specialization. Some areas of concern include the need to publish articles as well as write research grants as part of the performance criteria for professors.
1. Software Engineer
The job growth for software engineers is expected to be 46.07% over the next decade, and the median income for these professional’s is now $84,799. With the improvement of computer technology, as well as the increased focus on green technology that is controlled by computer hardware and software, the demand for software engineers will only increase. Most software engineers have a bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related field. There are dozens of certifications available for software engineers for a wide variety of programming languages that are used.
