The 10 Fastest-Growing Jobs of the Next 10 Years — Many Pay $100K+
The US economy will add 5.2 million jobs by 2034, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. But growth is not spread evenly. Some careers are exploding. Others are quietly disappearing. Here are the 10 jobs expanding fastest — with real salary data and a clear path into each one.
Most career advice tells you to "follow your passion." That is not bad advice — but it is incomplete. The professionals who build the most financially rewarding and stable careers are the ones who find the intersection between what they are genuinely good at and what the market is actively, urgently paying for.
Right now, two structural forces are reshaping the job market at a speed rarely seen in modern history. The first is artificial intelligence — creating entirely new roles, transforming existing ones, and eliminating the most routine work faster than most people expected. The second is demographics — specifically an aging population in most wealthy countries, which is driving extraordinary demand for healthcare and care economy roles that AI cannot replace.
These are not trends you need to predict. They are already happening. And the careers listed below are growing because of them — not in spite of anything, but as a direct structural consequence. The BLS 2024–34 Employment Projections report, published August 2025, is the most authoritative data available. Every figure below comes from that source, cross-referenced with LinkedIn and Glassdoor 2025 salary data.
"The healthcare and social assistance sector will add 2 million new jobs by 2034 — the largest absolute gain of any industry. Computer and mathematical roles will grow at more than three times the economy average."
— U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2024–2034Two Sectors Dominating All Others
Before the list, it helps to understand the two broad forces driving almost everything on it. Healthcare is growing because the US population is aging, and an older population requires dramatically more medical care. This is a slow-moving, predictable, structural shift — not a trend. It will continue for decades. Technology — specifically AI, cloud computing, and cybersecurity — is growing because every organisation in every industry is now dependent on digital infrastructure, and the people who can build, protect, and improve that infrastructure are in chronically short supply.
Healthcare growth drivers
- Aging US population (Baby Boomers)
- Rising chronic disease prevalence
- Expanded access to care
- Shortage of physicians driving NP demand
Technology growth drivers
- AI deployment at scale
- Global cloud migration
- Rising cybersecurity threat landscape
- Data-driven decision-making
The 10 Fastest-Growing Occupations: 2024–2034
Each entry below includes the BLS-projected growth rate, the expected number of new jobs, the current median salary, and a realistic entry path. These are not aspirational — they are data-driven.
Wind Turbine Service Technician
The single fastest-growing occupation in the entire US economy. The renewable energy transition has created sustained demand for technicians who can install, inspect, and maintain wind turbines — work that is inherently physical, requires on-site presence, and cannot be automated. Turbines in remote locations need regular servicing by trained professionals. The path in does not require a four-year degree, making this one of the most accessible high-growth careers available.
How to enter: A 2-year wind energy technology programme at a community college or technical school is the most direct path. Some companies hire and train on the job. The AWEA (American Wind Energy Association) publishes training resources and industry contacts.
Solar Photovoltaic Installer
Solar panel installation is accelerating as costs fall, leasing options eliminate upfront barriers for consumers, and government incentives drive adoption. Residential, commercial, and utility-scale projects all require trained installers who can safely and correctly mount, connect, and commission PV systems. Like wind turbine technicians, this is a hands-on skilled trade that rewards certification over academic credentials.
How to enter: The NABCEP (North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners) certification is the industry standard. Entry via apprenticeship through electrical or construction unions is also a well-established pathway. Electricians and roofers often transition into solar installation with additional solar-specific training.
Nurse Practitioner
Nurse practitioners are advanced practice registered nurses who can independently diagnose, treat, and prescribe — effectively functioning as primary care providers in many contexts. The combination of physician shortages, an aging population with greater healthcare needs, and expanding scope-of-practice laws in many states is driving extraordinary demand. NPs are projected to add 128,400 new positions by 2034, with a median salary of $129,210 that places them among the highest-paid healthcare professionals outside of physician and surgeon roles.
How to enter: You must first become a Registered Nurse (RN), then complete a master's degree in nursing (MSN) or Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). Many programmes now offer part-time and online tracks specifically designed for working nurses. The investment is substantial but the earning potential and job security are among the strongest of any healthcare career.
Data Scientist
Data scientists extract insights from large, complex datasets using statistical methods and machine learning. The growing demand to build AI models, analyse business data, and integrate intelligent systems across industries is driving consistent growth in this field. What makes data science particularly compelling as a career choice is its accessibility — while a graduate degree helps, strong portfolio work combined with professional certifications can get candidates hired at mid-to-large companies without a formal CS degree.
How to enter: Core skills are Python, SQL, statistics, and machine learning fundamentals. The Google Data Analytics Certificate or IBM Data Science Professional Certificate on Coursera are the most recognised entry credentials. A strong GitHub portfolio demonstrating real projects is often more important than academic credentials for your first role.
Information Security Analyst
Cyberattacks are growing in frequency and severity — and every organisation needs professionals capable of defending against them. The BLS projects 29% growth and over 52,000 new positions by 2034, against a current global talent shortage of over 3.5 million professionals. That supply-demand gap means exceptional job security, strong negotiating leverage, and salary growth that consistently outpaces most other tech fields. The WEF ranks cybersecurity as the second most in-demand tech skill globally in 2025, behind only AI.
How to enter: CompTIA Security+ is the standard entry credential — recognised by the US Department of Defense and required for many government contractor roles. Google's Cybersecurity Certificate on Coursera (available to complete beginners, 3–6 months) includes a 30% discount on the Security+ exam and is an excellent starting point.
Medical and Health Services Manager
As healthcare expands in scale and complexity, the demand for professionals who can run hospitals, clinics, long-term care facilities, and healthcare systems grows with it. Health services managers handle budgets, staffing, regulatory compliance, and operational strategy. This is one of the highest-paying management roles accessible without a medical degree, and with 142,900 new positions projected by 2034, it represents one of the largest absolute job gains on this list.
How to enter: A bachelor's degree in health administration, business, or a clinical field is the typical entry requirement. Many professionals transition from clinical backgrounds (nursing, allied health) by adding an MBA or Master of Health Administration. For those already in business, healthcare-specific management education provides the domain knowledge needed to compete.
Physical Therapist Assistant
An aging population means more people managing musculoskeletal conditions, recovering from joint replacements, and rehabilitating from strokes and injuries — all of which require physical therapy. Physical therapist assistants work directly with patients under the supervision of licensed physical therapists, performing therapeutic exercises and manual therapy techniques. It is a career that combines genuinely meaningful daily work with strong job security, and the entry pathway via a two-year associate's degree makes it accessible without the cost and time commitment of a four-year degree.
How to enter: Accredited PTA associate degree programmes (typically 2 years) are available at community colleges across the country. State licensure is required upon graduation. Demand is especially strong in outpatient clinics, long-term care facilities, and home health settings.
Actuary
Actuaries use mathematics, statistics, and financial theory to measure and manage risk — primarily for insurance companies, pension funds, and financial institutions. It is one of the most consistently well-compensated professional careers available, and one of the most intellectually demanding. The growing complexity of financial systems, climate-related risks, and healthcare cost modelling is sustaining strong demand. The career progression is uniquely structured: actuarial exams create a clear ladder from entry level to Fellow, with salary increases at each stage.
How to enter: A degree in mathematics, statistics, or actuarial science is the starting point. Professional actuarial exams — administered by the Society of Actuaries (SOA) or Casualty Actuarial Society (CAS) — are required for career progression. Most candidates pass 2–3 preliminary exams before their first role, then continue sitting exams while employed. Many companies offer exam support and paid study time.
Operations Research Analyst
Operations research analysts use quantitative methods — mathematical modelling, optimisation, simulation — to help organisations make better decisions. As businesses become more data-driven and AI generates more analytical outputs that need human interpretation, the demand for professionals who can bridge mathematical analysis and operational strategy is rising. This role sits at an interesting intersection: technical enough to require rigorous quantitative skills, but business-facing enough to reward communication ability and strategic thinking.
How to enter: A bachelor's degree in mathematics, operations research, industrial engineering, or a quantitative business field. A master's degree significantly accelerates entry into higher-paying roles at larger organisations. Strong Excel and Python skills are practical requirements in most positions, alongside knowledge of modelling tools like Gurobi or CPLEX.
Physician Assistant
Physician assistants are licensed clinicians who examine patients, diagnose conditions, and prescribe treatment — often with significant independence, especially in rural or underserved settings. The combination of persistent physician shortages, an aging population, and expanding scope-of-practice legislation is sustaining exceptional demand. With 33,200 new positions projected and a median salary of $133,260, this is one of the most financially rewarding healthcare careers available without a full medical degree. Importantly, PA programmes typically take 2–3 years post-undergraduate — significantly shorter than medical school.
How to enter: A master's degree from an accredited PA programme (typically 2–3 years) following prerequisite coursework and documented clinical experience. The PANCE (Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam) is required for licensure. Most programmes are highly competitive — strong grades in science prerequisites and meaningful healthcare experience significantly improve admission chances.
What These Jobs Tell Us About the Next Decade
Look across this list and a clear pattern emerges. The fastest-growing careers are not random — they cluster around two forces that will define the next decade of work. The first is the care economy: an aging population that requires more medical attention, rehabilitation, and support than previous generations. These jobs are growing because of demographic inevitability — and they are structurally protected from automation by the irreplaceable human element at their core.
The second force is technology: specifically the need to build, protect, and extract intelligence from digital infrastructure at scale. Data scientists, information security analysts, and operations research analysts are all responding to the same underlying reality — every organisation is now a data organisation, and the people who can work effectively with that data are in chronically short supply.
The careers in the middle of this list — health services managers, physical therapist assistants, actuaries — share a third characteristic worth noting: they are all expert-level roles that require years of specific training to perform competently. That specificity is exactly what creates their value and their security. AI excels at generalised tasks. It struggles with the kind of deep domain expertise, physical presence, and professional judgment that these roles require at their highest level.
Meritium Insight: The most important strategic decision you can make right now is not which specific job to target — it is which sector to position yourself in. Healthcare and technology are both growing at rates that will create persistent opportunities for well-qualified professionals for the foreseeable future. Getting your first credential in either sector — even a foundational one — puts you on the right side of the structural shift that is already underway.
"The best time to position yourself for the fastest-growing careers was five years ago. The second best time is now — while the growth is still building and competition for these roles has not yet peaked."
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