Renewable energy production will drive much of American job growth over the next decade: According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), wind turbine service technicians, solar photovoltaic installers, and nurse practitioner roles are expected to have the highest rate of growth by 2033.
An occupation is the broad type of work a person performs, while a job is the specific role someone holds. It’s specific to each person at a point in time, based on their skills and experience. A pediatrician’s occupation would be “doctor,” and their job would be “pediatrician.”
Wind energy is a growing component of US renewable energy production, and wind turbine service technician jobs are projected to grow the most of any occupation, 60% by 2033. Turbine techs earned a median salary of nearly $62,000 in 2023.
The second fastest-growing job is solar photovoltaic installer, the people who assemble and maintain solar panels. Solar energy is another growing part of renewable energy production. Installers make a median salary of nearly $49,000.
The highest-paying job in the top 20 is computer and information research scientist people who research innovative uses for new and existing computing technologies. In 2023, their median income was $145,000.
Are medical jobs in demand?
Nurse practitioner, the third-fastest-growing occupation, is one of eight healthcare roles among the top 20 fastest-growing professions. The median income for this role in 2023 was just over $126,000.
Other healthcare positions in the top 20 and their functions includes:
- Medical and health services manager: Planning, directing, and coordinating the business side of healthcare.
- Physician assistant: Examining, diagnosing, and treating patients under a doctor’s supervision.
- Physical therapist assistant: Helping patients regain movement and manage pain after injuries and illnesses, supervised by a physical therapist.
- Occupational therapy assistant: Helping prepare treatment rooms for occupational therapy sessions, and assisting occupational therapists with treatment.
- Home health and personal care aide: Assisting people with disabilities or chronic illnesses and monitoring their condition.
- Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselor: Advising on issues like alcoholism, addiction, and depression.
- Epidemiologist: Investigating patterns and causes of disease and injury to inform public health decisions.
Our furry friends are getting care, too: three of the top 20 growing professions are veterinary-related: veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretaker, veterinary technologists and technician, and veterinarian.
Which types of occupations are adding the most jobs?
The home health and personal care aides profession is expected to have the most new jobs, with 820,500 new positions projected by 2033 — more than double that of any other occupation. In 2023, these roles earned an average median salary of $33,530.
Second is software developer with an increase of 303,700 jobs. Their median income is the second highest on this list, at $132,270.
The highest-paying occupation projected to add new jobs by 2033 is computer and information systems manager, who oversee and coordinate an organization's computer-related activities to bring in just under $170,000.
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