
With the kind of financial hardships the country is going through, you must be worried about future careers that would give you a decent income, besides job security. In this article, we will give you a detailed list of some of the best careers for the next ten years. Rest assured, if you choose one of these hot careers for the next 10 years, it will not only offer significant job satisfaction, but you can also take home a decent pay package.
The last couple of years have seen several thousands of people losing their jobs, which has brought us to the most important question – which are the best careers for the next ten years that would provide stability and a decent income? Now how would you define the term ‘best’? Different people may have varied opinions on this. For some, it may be the money they earn at the end of the month, irrespective of the kind of job, while for others, it may mean flexibility, working for the benefit of others, job growth, quality of life, etc., besides a decent salary.
If you are just about to finish your graduation and are thinking of long-term career goals, then you may like to know about the hot careers for the next 10 years. These days, it has become a challenge to choose a career path that fulfills your personal needs and wants, and at the same time helps you realize your goals and ambitions. So you should try to understand the recent trends of the market which shapes the business requirements of companies, thus creating jobs for you.
If your concern is job security, then try focusing on industries which would add several thousand jobs in the next few years. Each career option you choose has its pros and cons, so make sure that whatever you choose, your personal ambitions and goals are kept in mind. It’s very important to enjoy your job rather than becoming frustrated at the end of the day, thereby losing interest in your work. The following is a list of different careers and jobs which are the best careers for the next ten years or so; so do consider these options while making your decision.
Careers Worth Considering
- Pharmacist
- Forensic Psychologists
- Market Research Analyst
- Customer Service Executive
- Event Specialist
- Optometrist
- Makeup Artist
- Childcare Worker
- Computer Systems Applications Engineer
- Solar Power Installer
- Management Analyst
- Dental Hygienist
- Construction Estimator
- Auditor
- Risk Management Manager
- Civil Engineer
- Personal Financial Advisor
- Surgeon
- Immigration Expert
- Criminologists
Alternative Careers Worth Pursuing
Systems Engineer
A systems engineer job is one of the most exciting jobs, at least for the next ten years. As a systems engineer, you would be responsible for managing complex and large projects in a variety of fields from military defense programs to transportation networks. You would be responsible for finding out the technicalities required for completing a particular project, coordinating with lower-level engineers for completing the project and defining and maintaining quality and effective systems.
In the past, system engineer career option was a specialized field and job opportunities were available only in the defense and aerospace industries. However, with the kind of expansion multinational corporations are going through, system engineers are in demand in other industries as well. The range of industries vary from automobile companies to medical manufacturers.
Required Educational Qualifications and Professional Experience for a Systems Engineer
To become a systems engineer, you need to get a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in engineering, where formal training would be between 4 to 6 years. There are several factors which a systems engineer has to take into account. You also need to know the basics of computer programing and other fields of engineering, other than your specialization. Work experience in one particular field of engineering or different fields of engineering is required for applying for this position.
Average Salary of a System Engineer
You can expect to draw an average salary of around US $85,000, which can go up to as high as US $125,000 a year. For this job, you need to be prepared for long job hours and strict project deadlines.
Physician Assistant
Physician assistant is one of the best careers for the next ten years, and is a career option which would be in high demand in the near future. As a physician assistant, you will work under a doctor’s supervision. They are responsible for carrying out routine medical care, like helping during a surgery or while diagnosing an illness. In some states, they are authorized to prescribe medicines too. A job as a physician assistant gives you the satisfaction of treating patients just like a doctor.
An additional advantage of working as a physician assistant is that you don’t need to spend the kind of money required to go to a medical school. Moreover, there is no effect of the recession in this field. Since this is a relatively new field, the number of job openings are less, but in the future, the numbers are likely to increase.
Required Educational Qualification for a Physician Assistant
You need to have two years of college and experience in healthcare for getting admitted into the training programs of a physician assistant. Several applicants with a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree also apply for such training programs.
Average Salary of a Physician Assistant
The average salary of an experienced physician assistant is around US $90,000.
College Professor
A college professor’s career is one of the upcoming hot careers for the next 10 years. They not only teach students and grade papers, but also spend a lot of their time writing books and articles, besides doing research. The main reason for college professors being one of the best careers for the next decade, is that you get enough time for yourself during the holidays. Moreover, compared to other professions, the workload is less.
There is intense competition for college professors in four-year colleges, especially for the tenure-track positions. However, there are a number of positions in institutions which conduct professional courses and community colleges. In these institutions, you may opt for a non-tenure track instructor or adjunct faculty member. With the current economic crisis taking a toll on the economy, several working professionals are heading back to colleges to enhance their skills.
Besides the above-mentioned advantages, several institutions offer free or reduced tuition fees for members of the family, besides free access to the library. However, the downside is that the starting salary of a college professor is on the lower side, and there is a gap between the pay package of faculty members of community colleges and those of universities.
Required Educational Qualification for a College Professor
To become a college professor, especially for tenure-track positions, a Ph.D. is required.
Average Salary of a College Professor
You can expect a pay package of around US $75,000, if you are experienced enough. The pay package may go up to US $125,000, depending upon the institution.
Nurse Practitioner
We all know that a registered nurse performs the task of a caretaker, but the role of a nurse practitioner entails not only involves caring but also diagnosing a number of ailments. A registered nurse with some additional training can go on to become a nurse practitioner. In the recent past, numerous registered nurses have opted to become nurse practitioners, indicating that it is a lucrative option and the best career for the next ten years.
Due to the short supply of qualified doctors and increasing number of retail health clinics, nurse practitioners are in high demand. With the growing number of people opting to become nurse practitioners, the education requirements are rising.
Nurse practitioners are the initial point of contact when a patient contacts a doctor. They are highly experienced individuals with a specialized degree, which helps them diagnose and treat some ailments. Though they are not trained to be a doctor, their duties and responsibilities are a step above registered nurses. The job responsibilities of a nurse practitioner includes performing physical exams and diagnosing ailments.
Required Educational Qualifications And Professional Experience for a Nurse Practitioner
The first step of becoming a nurse practitioner is to become a registered nurse. For becoming a registered nurse, you need to have a Bachelor’s degree, after which you may opt for a Master’s degree and additional training. Once you complete a Master’s degree in nursing, you can apply for a license of a nurse practitioner. Even though you don’t need to go to a medical school, it still requires you to go for an advanced degree with specialized training, besides passing the licensing exam.
Average Salary of A Nurse Practitioner
You can expect to earn anything around US $75,000, which can go up to around US $110,000 each year, once you gain a few years of experience.
Information Technology Project Manager
IT project managers of a company are responsible for creating a business plan, supervising operations, allocating assignments to team members, and providing a direction to the flow of work.
IT project managers work in a variety of fields ranging from educational institutions, government institutions to engineering, and manufacturing industries too.
Required Educational Qualifications and Professional Experience IT Project Manager
You need to have a Bachelor’s degree along with the knowledge of programming and systems analysis, to become an information technology project manager. At least 7 years of experience as a programmer or data processor is also required. There are several colleges which offer specialized courses in programming and business, which prepare you for the role of a data processor. In some companies, especially large organizations, an MBA may be required.
Average Salary of a IT Project Manager
If you have worked for about 10 years as a programmer, you can expect anything around US $100,000 to US $150,000 a year.
Certified Public Accountant
An accountant is an expert in analyzing and preparing financial reports. Reports can include anything to do with the finance of a particular organization, ranging from income, profit and loss statements, balance sheets, to tax returns. With a growing number of people starting up new business ventures, public accountants are in high demand. As companies grow, they would need public accountants, so as to set up an accounting system.
Required Educational Qualification and Professional Experience for a Certified Public Accountant
For becoming a public accountant, you need to have a degree in accounting. You need to start as early possibly during your high school and take a keen interest in maths. While in college, try building your basic accounting knowledge, as several companies prefer hiring people with a Master’s degree. A certification exam is also required with at least 150 hours of accounting and business classes, besides some kind of accounting work experience.
Average Salary of a Certified Public Accountant
On an average, you can expect an annual salary of US $75,000, which may go up to around US $150,000 too, as time goes by.
Geoscientist
As a geoscientist, you will need to study the physical aspects, structure and composition of the Earth. There are some geoscientists who work to find out natural resources like metals and petroleum under the surface of the Earth. You will also study the rock composition of the Earth’s surface. Depending on the area of expertise, there are various categories of geoscientists.
Required Educational Qualifications and Prrofessional Experience for a Geoscientist
To enter the field of geoscience, you need a Bachelor’s degree.
- For research positions in state or federal geological surveys and in private companies, you need a Master’s degree .
- For teaching positions and high-level research, you need a Doctoral degree.
- For offering services directly to the public a license is required.
Excellent computer skills and knowledge of operating sophisticated electronic technology like remote sensing, digital mapping, and geographic information systems is required.
If you opt for this career, you should prepare to stay away from your near and dear ones for long periods of time. Moreover, you will also have to work in remote locations in varied climatic conditions for explorations and surveys.
Average Salary of a Geoscientist
For all the hard work involved, you can expect to get something around US $75,000 a year to start with, and as you gain more experience, you can earn well over US $100,000 a year.
Physical Therapist
As a physical therapist, you would be responsible for serving people who have suffered from an injury, disease or illness, and help the patient restore his or her range of motion, flexibility and strength. Moreover, they help in promoting the overall health of a patient. Physical therapists are employed by hospitals, rehabilitation centers and nursing homes. They are responsible for designing individual treatment programs for patients and teaching specific exercises.
Required Educational Qualifications and Professional Experience for a Physical Therapist
If you opt for this career, you need to have a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) or Doctor of Physiotherapy (DPhysio) degree, which include specialized programs in physical therapy. Once the program is completed, the doctor of physical therapy continues with his/her residency, followed by a fellowship thereafter.
Average Salary Of a Therapist
Once you start practicing and gain some experience, you can expect to earn approximately US $60,000 a year.
Computer or Network Security Consultant
As a computer or network security consultant, you would be responsible for protecting networks and computer systems from viruses, sypware and hackers. With business growth, the use of computers have increased greatly, which in turn has increased the demand of computer consultants. There are several companies which computerize their operations but are not that large enough to employ a computer specialist on a full-time basis. In such cases, these companies hire consultants on contract.
Required Educational Qualifications and Professional Experience Computer Security Consultant
To become a computer security consultant, you don’t need to have a formal computer science degree, since most of the skills can be self-taught. However, a degree in computer science is helpful to understand the intricacies of the job involved. In some companies, you may need a certification in information systems security. It is experience that counts in this field, so try gaining some experience as a staff computer specialist.
Average Salary of Computer Security Consultant
As a computer security consultant, you will be able to earn anything around US $100,000 a year.
Anesthesiologist
If a patient is undergoing a surgery, it is the anesthesiologist who administers anesthesia. Anesthetics are nothing but medicines that cause temporary loss of bodily sensation during a surgery. An anesthesiologist is a doctor who monitors patients during the course of surgery, and prescribes medicines and treatment procedures after surgery.
Just like an MD or a surgeon, an anesthesiologist is a highly qualified medical professional. Besides the basic medical qualification, an anesthesiologist has to undergo extensive training.
Required Eduational Qualification and Professional Experience for a Anesthesiologist
For becoming an anesthesiologist, you must first complete an undergraduate degree of four years and then a medical school program for four years. Once you complete a four-year course in medicine, you need to further undergo special training of another four years. You need to have an excellent background in biology, besides chemistry, maths and physics, for a career as an anesthesiologist.
Average Salary of Anesthesiologist
Once you complete your specialized training, you can expect to earn anything around US $300,000 a year.
Gynecologist
A gynecologist is a doctor who specializes in matters relating to the reproductive system, pregnancy, labor and childbirth. They also provide medical care during childbirth, offer family planning advice, and help detect sexually transmitted diseases.
Required Eduational Qualification and Professional Experience for a Gyanecologist
To become a gynecologist, you need to complete a four-year medical degree from a medical school, followed by a four-year gynecology residency program, obstetrics, gynecologic oncology, ultrasonography, and work in reproductive endocrinology. Also, you need to have a 6-month residency experience in primary and preventive care. Once these steps are complete, you need to be certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, which should be renewed after every 10 years.
Average Salary of Gynecologist
Once you complete this program, you can expect to earn around US $200,000 a year, which can even go as high as US $325,000.
Psychiatrists
Psychiatrists diagnose and treat patients with mental disorders. Even in cases of anxiety, unusual behavior or mental retardation, it is a psychiatrist who helps an individual. Most of the time, psychiatrists work with psychiatric social workers, psychiatric nurses, and psychologists, so as to treat a patient. Depending on your preference, you can either work in your own private office or in clinics and hospitals.
Required Eduational Qualification and Professional Experience for a Psychiatrist
After your specialized Bachelor’s degree in psychiatry, you need to take admission into a medical school, after which you have to undergo one year of internship. Once you complete this step, a three-year specialized psychiatric training is mandatory, and you need to get this as a resident in a hospital. Once you complete all these steps, you can apply for a license by appearing for an examination. However, you need to have at least 4 to 5 years of experience to become a certified psychiatrist.
You can also opt to specialize in various fields of psychiatry, like legal, educational or child psychiatry, or may become a researcher or teacher in a hospital or medical college.
Average Salary of Psychiatrist
As a psychiatrist, you can expect to earn anything around US $175,000 a year, which may go up to US $275,000 a year, with experience.
Nurse Anesthetist
A nurse anesthetist works as a specialized nurse, and is responsible for working alongside an anesthesiologist. He or she helps an anesthesiologist during the course of surgery to administer anesthesia, and is also responsible for overseeing the post-surgery health of patients. Nurse anesthetists holds a very responsible position; it is they who mix the appropriate concentration of anesthetics, and this requires great focus and skill.
Required Eduational Qualification and Professional Experience for a Nurse Anesthetist
For a nurse anesthetist you first need to qualify as a registered nurse, for which you need to have a four-year degree in either nursing or science. Once you qualify for practicing as a nurse, you need to work for at least a year, and it’s only after that you can apply for a specialized training program to become a nurse anesthetist. This program is usually for 24 to 36 months, and is of a Master’s degree level, after which you need to apply for a license.
Average Salary of Nurse Anesthatist
Once you have passed all these steps, you can expect to earn anywhere around US $150,000 a year.
Sales Director
The responsibilities of a sales director includes setting and meeting the sales goals of an organization. He or she is also responsible for finding out new customers, besides coordinating the day-to-day working of the sales team. He sets quotas, goals and territories of the team, besides mentoring and training the team members. Analysis and review of the market helps him gain a broader perspective of the market, besides giving him an idea of the potential areas where sales volume can increase.
Required Eduational Qualification and Professional Experience for a Sales Director
Since it’s a managerial position, you need to have years of experience (at least 10) in marketing or sales. There are several sales managers who begin their careers as sales workers, gain experience over the years, and then go on to become a sales manager. You also need to have good knowledge of mathematics and statistics. If you have a Master’s degree in business, it’s an added advantage, as several employers prefer such candidates.
Average Salary of Sales Director/Manager
The earning potential of a sales manager is high, as it is not only the salary promised which you get, b