This article will look at the highest paying jobs of the next ten years and what type of training is necessary for those jobs. Here are the top 11 highest-paying jobs in the next ten years, with higher salaries than any other job in America.
These jobs require a degree, but they are not very common, making it difficult for people to get into them. Another reason you should make it work to your advantage!
11 highest paying jobs in the next 10 years
- Psychiatrists
Psychiatry is among the highest-paying branches of medicine. It will be one of the highest paying jobs in the next 10 years. As a psychiatrist, you administer treatment and diagnoses and offer recommendations to prevent mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders.
In other words, you’ll specialize in mental health. You can assess the mental and physical aspects of psychological problems, including substance use disorders.
Are you good at biology, chemistry, physics, and math? Then you can go for it.
You must complete a four-year undergraduate degree program, a four-year medical school degree, and four years of psychiatry residency. You must take a written examination for a state license to practice medicine in the USA.
You’ll also spend at least three additional years learning about the diagnosis and treatment of mental health. You also need to obtain board certification from the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology to be qualified to practice psychiatry.
It is a lot of work, but the payment is reasonable. You will be taking home an average salary of $249,760 per year.
- Financial managers
With a projected growth of 17% from 2021 to 2031, financial management is another of the highest paying jobs in the next 10 years. The percentage growth is much faster than the average for all occupations, with about 71,300 openings for financial managers projected each year, on average, over the decade.
As a financial manager, you are responsible for creating financial reports, directing investment activities, and developing plans for the long-term financial goals of a given organization. You can work in industries such as banks, investment firms, and insurance companies.
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You require a deep understanding of business, economics, finance, and math. You need a bachelor’s degree in finance or a closely related field, such as economics, accounting, or business.
You must also have at least 5 years of experience in a finance-related position, such as accountant, securities sales agent, or financial analyst.
The average pay of a finance manager in the US is $96k per year and can reach up to $200k with sufficient skills and expertise.
- Computer and Information Systems(IS)Managers/Scientists
Computer and information system scientists are one of the many branches affected by the daily advancement of technology. That makes it among the highest paying jobs in the next 10 years.
Computer and information system scientists must help oversee a company’s computer-related projects. You’ll be evaluating a company’s current technology and ensuring you’re up to date on currently available upgrades and best practices.
You will also develop an information systems strategy or plan, recommending hardware, software, and security, and supervise a team to implement those plans and recommendations.
If you’re in high school and considering this career, you should take math classes and computer or technology electives.
To work as a computer or IS scientist, you’ll need at least a bachelor’s degree in a tech-related field, such as computer science or information technology, to land a company’s computer/IS manager job. In addition, you also need at least five years of experience.
You can earn up to $208,000 as a computer and information system scientist/manager.
- Registered Nurses(RN)
You can work as a registered nurse in many places, such as hospitals, doctor’s offices, nursing care facilities, surgery centers, schools, or patients’ homes. You can also choose from specializations, including emergency care, pediatrics, or oncology.
As a registered nurse, you have many roles, from assisting with surgeries, monitoring vital signs, and even administering medication. You also must teach and communicate with patients, take their medical histories, update medical records, and monitor equipment. You can only do some of these at a time; hence, the need for many registered nurses.
You must consider such subjects, including English or language arts, algebra, geometry, biology, and chemistry. You need at least an associate’s degree in nursing(ADN). Some states will ask for at least a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) to qualify for your RN license.
You can take home as little as $82,750 per year, but you could make as much as $124,000.
- Software developers
As a software developer, you primarily work in an IT-related field, so studying computer science is necessary. You should study math, English, physics, engineering, and chemistry.
You’ll create software through designing, coding, testing, and so on. Also known as software engineering, the position requires higher coding expertise.
You can learn coding through a degree program, a coding Bootcamp, or by teaching yourself, which is its best feature. If you wish to pursue a degree, you can opt for a software engineering, computer science, information technology, or any software-focused bachelor’s degree. You’ll be far more successful as a software developer if you have relevant work experience.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics statistics shows that the median yearly wage for a software developer in the United States is $110,000.
- Surgeon
As a surgeon, you’ll be liable for all medical procedures(surgeries). Your surgical team relies on you as their leader. In addition to performing operations and providing patients with postoperative surgical care and treatment, you are also in charge of the patient’s preoperative diagnosis.
Biology, English, physics, and chemistry are some subjects you should consider studying in high school as a future surgeon. Becoming a surgeon is a long process, requiring at least seven years of medical training.
You need a four-year degree(Science related, mostly biology or chemistry), a four-year medical degree, and up to 5 years as a resident. You’ll also go for a multi-year internship in a surgery department.
You can earn around $354,400 and $497,400 as a surgeon.
- Chief Executive
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, chief executive jobs will grow by 6% between 2021 and 2031, making it one of the highest paying jobs in the next ten years.
In your role as chief executive officer, or CEO, you manage a business by keeping an eye on its objectives, revenue, and expansion. You must step in when it comes time to make crucial decisions involving the management team.
A chief executive also interacts with the board of directors and guides the company toward new markets or product lines.
You must have at least a bachelor’s degree to serve as CEO. You need an undergraduate degree in business administration or a related field, such as accounting, public administration, marketing, or law, which are other options for you to consider.
Having a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree is a plus. In addition to having a degree, you must also have excellent financial skills and big business, managerial, and industrial experience.
Between $230,300 and $1,040,300 can be yours to keep each year, making this one of the highest-paying professions outside of those in medicine and engineering.
- Civil Engineers
Between the years 2021 and 2031, employment in civil engineering is expected to increase at an average rate of 7%, making it one of the highest paying jobs in the next 10 years.
Suppose you’re planning to dive into this profession. In that case, you’ll need a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering or civil engineering technology, a graduate degree, and licensing.
In high school, you might want to consider subjects such as mathematics, physics, chemistry, geography, or biology. As a civil engineer, you will develop an idea, design, build, oversee, run, and construct projects.
Maintaining infrastructure projects and systems, such as roads, buildings, airports, tunnels, dams, bridges, and water supply and sewage treatment systems, is within your responsibility.
You can earn from $89,500 to $113,000 as a civil engineer.
- Dentist
I’m sure you already know this, but just in case, a dentist’s job involves taking care of your patient’s teeth, gums, and other oral health issues. You will provide guidance and information on oral healthcare to promote proper dental hygiene.
You can administer sealants, fill cavities, remove damaged teeth, and examine X-rays.
If you think you’re up to the challenge, a career as a dentist might be for you, with predicted growth of 19% from 2021 to 2031.
Some of the important subjects to study are Chemistry, biology, and either math or physics. A 4-year doctorate in dental surgery (DDS) or dental medicine (DMD) is required.
A dentist can expect to earn an annual salary of $171,950.
- Technical writers
The world of freelancing is also advancing, with a lot of technical words to be put down in writing, including how-to guides, manuals, etc.
You’ll be responsible for breaking down the jargon of complex technical ideas and translating them into languages people can easily read and understand.
Technical writing jobs may require a bachelor’s degree in English, communications, journalism, or a related field. You should have knowledge about specific technical areas you’re writing about, which will mainly include computer science, information technology, engineering, medicine, etc.
As a technical writer, you’ll be taking home a good cheque of around $120,000 per year. Technical writing jobs have predicted job growth of 12% in the next ten years.
- Lawyer
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, lawyering jobs are expected to grow by 9% between 2021 and 2031. A bachelor’s degree and a Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an authorized law school to practice law are required.
It usually takes at least seven years to complete. You will also need to pass a state bar exam to practice law in the USA.
As a lawyer, you will defend clients in court or personal legal matters and offer advice. You also aid in reducing ambiguity surrounding the law field by educating people on current laws and regulations in a language they can understand.
You’ll be taking home over $126,000, which can increase depending on your practice area and experience.
Read also, Highest-paying jobs without a degree or experience.
Conclusion
You may turn these professional aspirations into a reality if you have the correct skill sets and interests. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, over the next ten years, these jobs will offer the best employment prospects and, consequently, top salaries.
In the meantime, you should consider a few aspects, such as the skill set needed, the level of education needed, and the type of work environment.