Every few years I find myself staring at the latest labor-market forecasts and wondering the same thing most of us do: where should I be steering my career (or my kids’ career thinking) over the next decade? The newest projections for 2024-2034 dropped recently, and honestly, the numbers surprised me in the best way possible.
Even though overall job growth will be slower than the wild 2010s, the economy is still on track to add more than five million new positions. The real action, though, is concentrated in a handful of fields that are absolutely exploding. And the pay? A shocking number of these roles already clear six figures without forcing you to grind through eight years of school.
The Decade’s Biggest Career Winners
Two massive trends are driving everything you’re about to read: an aging population and the unstoppable rise of technology. Put those together and you get healthcare roles growing like crazy and tech jobs that didn’t even exist fifteen years ago now becoming some of the hottest tickets in town.
1. Wind Turbine Service Technicians – 50% Growth
Yes, the very fastest-growing job in America climbs wind turbines for a living. The median pay sits around $62,000 right now, but in high-wind states that number climbs fast with overtime and hazard bonuses. You’re looking at two-year technical training at most, often paid for by the employer.
I’ve talked to techs pulling $90K+ their second year on the job because the work can’t be outsourced and nobody wants to climb 300 feet in January. The catch? It’s not a huge occupation yet, so only about 6,800 new spots will open. Still, if you love the outdoors and don’t mind heights, this is one of those “hidden gem” careers.
2. Solar Photovoltaic Installers – 42% Growth
Solar is finally having its iPhone moment. Costs have crashed, tax credits are massive, and every warehouse and subdivision wants panels yesterday. Median pay is roughly $52K today, but lead installers and crew supervisors routinely hit $80K-$100K once they know the ropes.
Most positions need a few months of training plus an electrician’s apprentice mindset. Twelve thousand new jobs by 2034 sounds modest until you realize that’s basically an entirely new medium-sized city of solar workers.
3. Nurse Practitioners – 40% Growth, $129K Median
Here’s where the money gets serious. Nurse practitioners are already the rock stars of modern healthcare, and the aging Boomer wave is about to make them superstars. The role adds a staggering 128,400 jobs – the biggest raw number on the entire list.
“An aging population needs far more chronic-care management than we used to provide, and NPs are perfectly positioned to deliver it.”
Most programs are now “direct entry” even if you don’t have a nursing bachelor’s. You can go from zero healthcare experience to six-figure NP in about three years of intense grad school. In rural or underserved areas, total compensation often pushes well past $150K with loan forgiveness on top.
4. Data Scientists – 34% Growth, $112K Median
I still remember when “data scientist” sounded made-up. Now it’s adding 82,500 jobs and becoming the backbone of every company that wants to stay competitive. The beautiful part? The field is still wide open to self-taught coders and bootcamp grads who can tell a story with numbers.
Python, SQL, and the ability to explain insights to non-technical executives are the golden trio. In my experience, the people who combine decent technical chops with genuine curiosity are the ones companies fight over.
5. Information Security Analysts – 29% Growth, $124K Median
Cybersecurity used to be the department nobody wanted to fund. These days it’s the group that can shut the entire company down with one ignored email. No surprise it’s growing almost 30% and adding 52,000+ roles.
Certifications like CISSP or CEH still carry massive weight, and many firms will pay you to earn them. The field also has one of the lowest unemployment rates I’ve ever seen – basically zero if you’re halfway competent.
6. Medical and Health Services Managers – 23% Growth, $117K Median
Someone has to run the clinics, surgery centers, and telehealth empires that are popping up everywhere. These are the people turning RNs or MBAs into administrators who oversee budgets in the millions. The 142,900 new jobs projected make this the largest numerical increase on the list.
7. Physical Therapist Assistants – 22% Growth
Two-year associate degree, median pay north of $65K, and you get to help people walk again. With Medicare now covering more rehab, these roles are quietly becoming recession-proof.
8. Actuaries – 22% Growth, $125K Median
Still one of the best-kept secrets in finance. Pass a series of brutal exams and you’re basically guaranteed a quiet six-figure career pricing insurance risk or managing pension funds. The exams are self-study friendly, and many employers pay bonuses for each one you pass.
9. Operations Research Analysts – 21% Growth
Think of them as the grown-up version of the kid who optimized their fantasy football team. Companies now pay serious money for people who can model supply chains, pricing, or logistics with math and code.
10. Physician Assistants – 20% Growth, $133K Median
The original “almost a doctor” career is still growing fast because PAs can do 80% of what physicians do at roughly half the training cost. Most programs are 24-27 months after your bachelor’s, and first-year salaries commonly start above $110K.
Here’s the part that really excites me: almost none of these paths require you to be 22 and debt-free to start. Mid-career switches are not only possible – they’re becoming the norm.
I know a former English teacher who became a nurse practitioner at 38 and doubled her income in four years. I’ve watched marketing managers teach themselves Python on nights and weekends and land data-science roles before they even finished a formal bootcamp.
The next ten years will reward people who can spot the wave early and paddle out to meet it. The data couldn’t be clearer about where those waves are forming.
Whatever you decide, start learning something from this list today. Even six months of deliberate skill-building can position you for the openings that haven’t been posted yet.
The future of work isn’t coming – it’s already here. The only question is whether you’ll be ready to claim one of those new seats when they open up.
