What does the year 2018 have in store for job seekers? What are the top career choices to make this year? In this article on the best careers for 2018, find a list of the top 10 careers, the most sought-after job domains as well as some off-beat options.
The fluctuating trends in the job market create questions like whether to change careers, which job sector to choose, what kind of job roles to accept and on what salary. Be it someone who is starting a career or someone planning a job switch, the most challenging thing is to choose the right field. Choosing a job is and should be an individual choice, but it is good to know what prospects different careers have and whether it is the right time to switch. Here, we are talking about 2018. Fast-paced industries are in demand, and popular sectors like technology and health care continue to dominate the job market.
Top 10 Career Choices for 2018
This list of the best jobs of the year is based on the data of US News that ranks jobs based on various factors like growth volume and percentage in the near future, median salary, job prospects, rate of employment, as also the stress levels in that job and the work-life balance achieved. Their data is also based on the projected number of openings in various sectors as given by BLS.
Dentist
Estimated Growth: 23,200 new jobs through 2026
Median Salary: $153,900
Responsibilities: Diagnosing and treating oral ailments, prescribing medications, conducting surgeries, etc.
Requirements: Graduate degrees from accredited dental schools, a relevant experience, and a license to practice dentistry.
* Advancement in the research connecting oral health with overall health will lead to more demand for dentists in the future.
Software Developer
Estimated Growth: 253,400 new jobs by 2026
Median Salary: USD 100,000
Responsibilities: The software engineers write the codes that now go into most of the electronic devices that we use on a daily basis.
Requirements: A college degree in computer science or related discipline is necessary.
Nurse Practitioner
Estimated Growth: 56,000 new jobs by 2022
Median Salary: USD 100,000
Responsibilities: Taking patient histories, conducting physical exams, ordering labs, analyzing lab results, prescribing medicines, and educating patients and families about health care.
Requirements: A bachelor’s degree in nursing, passing the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN), and then a nurse practitioner degree, which can take 2-4 years.
Physician Assistant
Estimated Growth: 39,700 new openings through 2026
Median Salary: USD 101,400
Responsibilities: Assisting doctors in diagnosis and treatment of diseases, and instructing patients on proper diet, hygiene, and preventive care.
Requirements: A major in subjects like biology, chemistry, mathematics with very good grades, passing the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) on graduation, and 3 years experience in healthcare.
Pediatrician
Estimated Growth: 5,300 new jobs by 2026
Median Salary: USD 168,990
Responsibilities: Everything that concerns the kids’ health.
Requirements: A degree from a medical school, a fellowship in an optional field and a license to practice.
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon
Estimated Growth: 1200 new jobs by 2026
Median Salary: around USD 208,000
Responsibilities: When a situation is too complicated for a dentist that’s when these surgeons come in. Right from a tooth removal to oral cancer they take care of everything.
Requirements: A degree from the dental school and the completion of the residency program for Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. You can also achieve this post with a double degree, a dentist, and a medical doctor.
Physician
Estimated Growth: 8400 new openings through 2026
Median Salary: USD 196,380
Responsibilities: Diagnosis and treatment of diseases and instructing patients on proper diet, hygiene, and preventive care.
Requirements: A major in subjects like biology, chemistry, mathematics with very good grades, passing the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) on graduation, and 4 years in a medical school, also an internship and residency program.
Pediatrician
Estimated Growth: 3600 new jobs through 2026
Median Salary: USD 194,740
Responsibilities: The main responsibility is to deal with mental disorders. A psychiatrist also treats people suffer from stress, anxiety and depression.
Requirements: A college and medical school degree, residency program and a licence to practice.
Marketing Manager
Estimated Growth: 136000 new jobs through 2026
Median Salary: USD 131,180
Responsibilities: A marketing manager makes a marketing strategy for a company which abides by the objectives of the company and aims at achieving laid forward by it.
Requirements: A bachelors degree in business administration, marketing, advertisement, brand management. A masters degree may also be needed in some cases.
Registered Nurse
Estimated Growth: 437,000 new jobs through 2026
Median Salary: USD 32.91 per hour
Responsibilities: Monitoring a patient’s health condition, performing medical procedures, giving medicines, and monitoring progress in the patient’s health condition. The patient can be from different age groups.
Requirements: An associate’s degree or a diploma program is required for an entry-level position. A BSN degree program, a national licensing exam and meet other state-specific requirements.
Most Sought-after Domains
Health Care
With the current generation growing more health-conscious, and our apparent and obvious efforts in preventing and fighting illnesses, health care as a career is one of the most sought-after sectors. The report of the BLS states that we need to employ more people in the healthcare sector while retaining the current employees.
To practice as a professional health care provider, one needs to obtain a valid license via Board Certification, in addition to passing a registry exam. Other than the license, which is common to all people employed in the healthcare sector, specific qualifications are needed depending on the area they are functional in. Generally, an undergraduate degree in medicine, dentistry, pharmacology, or other relevant fields is enough to qualify in order to apply for a job.
Radiologic Technologist, Epidemiologist, Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse, Physical Therapist Assistant, Home Health Aide, and Pharmacy Technician are some of the other jobs in this sector that appear on employment websites.
Popular Options in Health Care
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (Growth rate by 2024 – 26%, Median Pay – USD 69650)
- Occupational Therapist (Growth rate by 2026 – 21%, Median Pay – USD 81,910)
- Esthetician (Growth rate by 2024 – 12%, Median Pay – USD 30,000)
- Pharmacists (Growth rate by 2026 – 6%, Median Pay – USD 122,230 per year)
- Medical Equipment Repairer (Growth rate by 2026 – 5%, Median Pay – USD 48,070 per year)
- Dietitian and Nutritionist (Growth rate by 2022 – 14%, Median Pay – USD 58,920 per year)
Engineering and Technology
A boom in the IT sector is expected and this field continues to be as much competitive and lucrative as it was in the past. But mind well that the employers are looking for innovative ideas and the right kind of skills.
The information technology sector is filled with a variety of jobs needing a variety of educational backgrounds. Having a thorough knowledge of computer science is necessary and either a bachelor’s or master’s degree in the subject is preferred. While a degree in management can add to your resume, some employers also prefer prior experience in the field.
Mechanical engineers, civil engineers, and construction managers are among the few other jobs in the technology and engineering sector that appear on employment websites.
Popular Options in Engineering and Technology
- Database Administrators (Growth rate by 2026 – 11%, Median Pay – USD 84,950 per year)
- Web Developer (Growth rate by 2026 – 13%, Median Pay – USD 66,130 per year)
- IT Manager (Growth rate by 2026 – 11%, Median Pay – USD 135,800 per year)
Business and Finance
There is a lot of scope for growth in this sector in terms of employment. There is a demand for accountants and auditors, who manage company accounts and yearly income statements. Financial analysts and financial planners who advise businesses on making the right decisions in order to earn profits are in great demand too.
You can become a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and boost your chances to climb the corporate ladder. There are numerous accounting and finance degree programs offered by various universities, leading to both, undergraduate and graduate degrees. Added to this, there are a number of certificate courses as well. The corporate sector is huge, and your experience can take you far.
Jobs like Operations Research Analyst, Logistician, Insurance Agent, Loan Officer, Business Operations Manager, and HR Specialist also feature on employment websites.
Popular Options in Business and Finance
- Market Research Analyst (Growth rate by 2026 – 26%, Median Pay – USD 62,560 per year)
- Marketing Managers (Growth rate by 2026 – 9%, Median Pay – USD 131,180 per year)
- Accountants (Growth rate by 2026 – 10%, Median Pay – USD 68,150 per year)
- Financial Advisors (Growth rate by 2026 – 14%, Median Pay – USD 90,530 per year)
Education
Teaching jobs, whether in school or in college, will continue to be the most sought-after careers. After all, recession or no recession, there will always be a demand for good teachers. The salaries are competitive, while the experience of imparting knowledge is wholesome. All these pluses add to the demand for jobs in the education sector.
People aspiring to be teachers may start with a bachelor’s degree in education from an accredited institution and can go on to do an education major in either elementary school education or middle and high school education. While it is not necessary for the private school teachers to acquire a teaching license, it is mandatory for the public school teachers to have one. Special needs educators need to have certifications in specialized fields such as dealing with students with visual impairments, and so on. To teach at the college/university level, one has to have a master’s degree in education and a doctoral degree is preferred, sometimes with relevant experience.
Jobs in any of these sectors will provide you with the right kind of security and salary in the future. See where your interest lies, and then acquire the qualifications and experience required to enter the field of your choice. Jobs of Marriage and Family Therapists, Substance Abuse Counselors, and Opticians will also have a very good number of openings in the coming years.
Popular Options in Education
- School Psychologist (Growth rate by 2026 – 14%, Median Pay – USD 78,690 per year)
- K-12 School Teachers (Growth rate by 2022 – Over 100,000 openings for elementary school teachers, 76,000 openings for middle school teachers, and over 50,000 openings for high school teachers, Median Pay – Range of USD 41,000 to USD 46000 per year)
Offbeat Career Choices for 2018
Master Sommelier
A master sommelier has great knowledge about wine which they can use in places like restaurants and wineries. If you have a knack for tasting different wines and telling one brand from another, pointing out the novel tastes each bottle holds this job is for you. There are many sommeliers in America, but the number is limited.To become a master you need to earn a diploma from the Court of Master Sommelier.
Submarine Cook
If you love the sea and love cooking, a submarine cook is just the perfect job for you. There is a difference though between a normal cook and a submarine cook when you are underwater with a crew of navy men you are not just a cook but a part of the time. It’s your job to not only maintain the health but also the morale of your crew members.
Calligraphers
Calligraphy is a fine art of creating new fonts and styling the existing scripts. Calligraphers are employed by craft stores, publication houses, print shops, and so on. But, they may also be freelancers, offering their expertise to individuals and organizations. A good calligrapher should be attentive to minute details and should possess a thorough knowledge of history, and historical scripts, and fonts.
Undercover Detectives
Undercover detectives are either private detectives or police officers, who hide their true identities in order to secretly gather information about people and crimes. This is a very responsible position and one has to undergo rigorous training for the same. One needs to be alert all the time as there is also a huge risk factor involved.
Chocolatiers
Chocolatiers are chefs who make confectionaries with chocolate as a core ingredient. However, they should not be confused with chocolate makers. Master chocolatiers not only make delicious desserts out of chocolate but also create artistically crafted pieces out of it.
Funeral Directors
Funeral directors, a.k.a. morticians are people in the business of funeral rites. They undertake the arrangements of the rites involved in cremation/burial of the deceased, alongside planning the entire funeral ceremony. They work full-time, mostly in crematories and funeral homes.
Brewmasters
Brewmasters are the people who brew beer in the brewery. Their job involves the entire process of beer-making, which includes numerous chemical processes as well. They are also responsible for the creation of unique beer recipes.
The hiring of full-time and permanent employees is set to increase this year. Those hired in the Information Technology, Financial Services, Manufacturing, and Health Care sectors will be much higher than the national average. Sales, Customer Service, IT, Production, and Administration are some other sectors that will dominate the recruitment of permanent and full-time employees. There is also a rapid surge in some unconventional careers that will only rise in the near future. The baseline is to realize your talents and apply it to the best of your abilities. It’s also equally necessary to analyze the market and make the right move at the right time.
