The U.S. job market is looking good. And for some fields, it’s looking great. We analyzed hundreds of professions to see which are have the strongest job growth and highest salaries.
Here are three to pursue:
App Developer
Total number of jobs: 741,137
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Job growth, 2005-2015: 28.2% (All jobs: 5.3%)
Projected job growth, 2015-2025: 22.7% (All jobs: 11.0%)
Median annual salary: $96,461 (All jobs: $43,430)
Typical education: Bachelor's degree
Got computer science and software skills? Good: You have choices. One of your best would be to become an app developer. The demand for mobile technology is skyrocketing and this means huge growth for these developers. You need only a bachelor's and can maybe get in with just an associate's.
Nurse Practitioner
Total number of jobs: 130,110
Job growth, 2005-2015: 30.3%
Projected job growth, 2015-2025: 25.7%
Median annual salary: $97,396
Typical education: Master's degree
Health care continues to see growth as more people get insurance. Being a nurse practitioner is a great way to tap into this. NPs do much of the same care as doctors and are paid well. You’ll need postgraduate study.
Market Research Analyst
Total number of jobs: 522,438
Job growth, 2005-2015: 28.0%
Projected job growth, 2015-2025: 28.2%
Median annual salary: $62,226
Typical education: Bachelor's degree
One exception to the tech and medical jobs dominating our list is market research analyst. Companies are awash in big data and need people who can make sense of it. The best jobs will go to those with a master’s degree in marketing, statistics or math.
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