4. SOFTWARE DEVELOPER
Computers, robots, and mobile devices are useless without the
well-engineered software that gives life to the sophisticated
hardware it runs on. As the Internet grows and machines get
smarter and more connected to us and to each other, the
need for talented software developers will expand. Mobile app
development, especially, is considered one of the best careers for
2020 and beyond. In fact, almost 1.2 million total job openings
are projected to become available in the software development
field between 2016 and 2026. The median yearly pay for
application software developers in 2018 was $103,620.3
5. PHYSICAL THERAPIST
With more seniors in our communities, the need for physical
therapy professionals will increase. Many seniors end up requiring
some form of physical rehabilitation, pain management, mobility
assistance, or therapeutic treatment as they age. From 2016 to
2026, about 177,000 jobs may become available for physical
therapists. An additional 147,000 jobs could open up for physical
therapist assistants. In 2018, the median salary for physical
therapists was $87,930.3
6. REGISTERED NURSE (RN)
In total, more than two million
jobs are expected to become
available for RNs between 2016
and 2026.3 That number shouldn’t
be surprising given how quickly
the senior population is growing
in most regions. In all likelihood,
RNs will continue to be in high demand for decades to come,
even if their roles change a little because of technological
advances and medical breakthroughs. The median salary for RNs
in 2018 was $71,730.3
7. HEALTH SERVICES MANAGER
The health care sector may undergo more changes over the
coming decades than most other industries. Every health and
medical organization will need highly knowledgeable leaders
and managers to help them adapt to legal, regulatory, and
technological changes while still improving the quality and
efficiency of the services they deliver. Health and medical services
managers earned median yearly pay of $99,730 in 2018. And
about 367,000 job openings may become available in this field
over the decade that ends in 2026.3
8. DATA ANALYST
Thanks to computing advances and a cultural shift toward more
tracking and measuring, the amount of data that gets collected
every year grows by an astonishing amount. Organizations of
every type now have the ability to gather so much detailed
information that it’s becoming more and more difficult for a lot of
them to figure out what it all means. They need professionals who
can not only collect the data they need, but also spot patterns,
identify past and current trends, and forecast future probabilities.
The median salary for data analysts is $58,987.5
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SOUTH FAYETTE
9. DIGITAL CONTENT SPECIALIST
One of the major cultural
revolutions that keeps getting
more entrenched is the move
toward more dynamic, digital,
interactive, and on-demand
media. Because of digital
devices that keep us constantly
connected to almost any kind of information or entertainment we
want to consume, the need for fresh content that breaks through
the noise is never-ending. Organizations in every industry are
discovering that generating new digital content is becoming
a major key to sustaining their effectiveness. That’s why digital
content specialists—with all kinds of different job titles and
abilities—are increasingly in high demand, especially with the
growing popularity of remote work and freelance gigs. To prepare
for this type of position, it’s smart to get training in areas like
Internet marketing, writing, and multimedia and digital arts.
10. INFORMATION SECURITY ANALYST
As our modern way of life gets more intertwined with computers
and dependent on information technology (IT), we all become
more vulnerable to cyberattacks. So far, we’ve been lucky that
criminal hackers haven’t shut down critical infrastructure on a
very large scale or for an extended period of time. But that day
is probably coming unless we have enough computer security
specialists to help the government and essential organizations
protect their networks and IT systems. Cybersecurity is a world-
wide issue, and the bad guys keep getting more sophisticated in
their attacks. From 2016 to 2026, about 104,000 jobs are expected
to open up for information security analysts. In 2018, they earned
median yearly pay of $98,350.3
11. COMPUTER SYSTEMS ANALYST
The reasons for getting an education in computer science will
probably continue to multiply as information technology grows
more complex and intertwined with everything in our lives.
That growing complexity is why more and more organizations
will likely need systems analysts going forward. Companies will
need help choosing and implementing the best hardware and
software, including (potentially) robots and artificially intelligent
machines. From 2016 to 2026, computer systems analysts could
benefit from 449,000 job openings. In 2018, the median salary in
this field was $88,740.3
12. BIOMEDICAL ENGINEER
Professionals in this field are already starting to revolutionize the
health care industry. In fact, biomedical engineering is probably
one of the best careers to get into if you want your work to
have a positive impact in the years ahead. After all, biomedical
engineers are involved in all kinds of cutting-edge research and
development. For example, many of them get to design things
like sophisticated medical devices, artificial organs, bionic body
parts, and biological implants. About 16,000 jobs are expected
to become available in this field over the decade from 2016 to
2026. Biomedical engineers enjoyed a median salary of $88,550
in 2018.3