10 Jobs With the Best Future Outlook for College Graduates

Do you know what blacksmiths, musicians, and carpenters have in common? These three professions are among the oldest jobs in the world. Farmers, fishermen, and artists also make the list.

Most in-demand jobs for today's college graduates are in newer spaces like IT and data science. Yet, many careers have stood the test of time and are still in high demand in the 21st century.

We created this guide to help you understand the top roles companies are looking to fill. That way, you can decide what to major in and the type of internship experience you need.

If you want to know the most in-demand job roles in the US, this guide is for you. Keep reading for the top ten jobs, their pay ranges, how to get them, and the types of employers you can expect to work for. Let's get started!

1. Nurse Practitioner

If you are looking for a fulfilling career in the medical industry, consider becoming a nurse practitioner. These professionals can practice independently or as part of a team, but they do not have to go to medical school.

Nurse practitioners can diagnose and treat illnesses, prescribe disease prevention and wellness plans, and order lab work, x-rays, and other diagnostic tests.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), nurse practitioners will see the most job growth between 2021 and 2031. This occupation will see a 46% increase in employment during that period.

States with the highest need for these medical professionals include Texas, California, and New York. States with the lowest nurse practitioner employment are New Mexico, Wyoming, North and South Dakota, Idaho, and Montana.

How Much Do Nurse Practitioners Get Paid?

The median annual salary for a nurse practitioner in the US is $120,680 per year. A median is not an average; it's the middle of a data set. That means some nurse practitioners make over $120,000 per year, and some make less.

The top 10% of nurse practitioners earn $78.54 per hour or more. That equates to an annual salary of over $160,000! The bottom 10% of nurse practitioners earn $79,470 per year or less.

You can compare a nurse practitioner's annual salary to the US average median salary, which is only $69,717. Even the lowest-paid nurse practitioners make more than the average US worker.

How Do You Get a Job as a Nurse Practitioner?

Getting a job as a nurse practitioner requires a combination of education, experience, and licensure. You must first hold a registered nursing (RN) license to start your journey toward becoming an NP.

You need a Bachelor of Science in Nursing to qualify for an RN license. You must also pass a national and state licensing exam. The national exam aspiring RNs must take is the National Council Licensure Exam (NCLEX).

Once you get experience as an RN, you can enroll in a nurse practitioner master's program. This degree is called the Master of Science in Nursing. You can also consider a doctoral program, though only a master's is required.

After receiving your graduate degree, the last step is to pass another national licensing exam. This exam is known as the National NP Certification Board Exam. You may also need to get a state license.

Nurse practitioners can work in their own independent practices. Most entry-level nurse practitioners work in physician offices or hospital systems. Outpatient care centers and home health service providers also employ NPs.

2. Physician Assistant

Another high-paying, high-growth medical industry job is a physician assistant. Physician assistants can do many of the same tasks as a doctor. The only difference is that they must work under a physician's supervision.

These professionals can conduct physicals, diagnose and treat patients, and even prescribe medication for physical and mental illnesses. Many undergraduates are attracted to this job because med school is not required.

Physician assistant jobs are expected to grow by 28% between 2021 to 2031. States like California, New York, Texas, Pennsylvania, and Florida have a high demand for these professionals.

States to avoid as a physician assistant include Montana, Wyoming, and North and South Dakota. Vermont, Alaska, Hawaii, Mississippi, and Alabama also employ very few physician assistants.

How Much Do Physician Assistants Get Paid?

According to the BLS, the median pay for physician assistants in the US is $121,530 per year. That is only a median, meaning some PAs get paid less, and some get paid more.

For example, the top 25% of physician assistants earn over $130,000 per year. Meanwhile, the bottom 10% of physician assistants earn an annual salary of $78,000 or less.

Physician assistants are the highest-paid professionals in high-growth occupations. The more experience a physician assistant has, the higher they can expect their salary to be.

How Do You Get a Job as a Physician Assistant?

If you like the field of medicine but don't want to become a nurse or go to med school, a physician assistant is the job for you. You only need a bachelor's degree before you can start working in your industry.

Yes, physician assistants do need to go to PA school. But before you can even apply, you must accumulate at least 1,000 hours of healthcare or patient care experience.

Physician assistant school takes anywhere from 23 to 27 months to complete. Upon graduating, you can then take the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE) and start practicing.

The PANCE is a 300-question multiple-choice exam. The good news is that you can retake the test if you do not pass it on the first try.

Like nurse practitioners, physician assistants work in physician offices, outpatient care centers, and hospital systems. Physician assistants are not qualified to practice independently and must work as part of a team.

3. Information Security Analyst

Information security analysts are IT professionals. You may not think of an IT job as fulfilling. But in this role, you will be the first line of defense for businesses and individuals that use computer networks.

As an information security analyst, you would design security programs, monitor system vulnerabilities, and design risk management strategies. You can work for yourself or for companies with in-house IT teams.

The BLS has found that information security analysts will enjoy 35% job growth over the next decade. Two of the states with the highest employment of these professionals are Virginia and Maryland due to their proximity to DC.

States to avoid as an information security professional include Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, and West Virginia. Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Nevada also employ low volumes of information security analysts.

How Much Do Information Security Analysts Get Paid?

The median annual salary for an information security analyst in the US is $102,600. That comes out to nearly $50 per hour. Top-earning information security analysts can earn more than $80 per hour.

On the low end, most entry-level information security analysts make less than $30 per hour or $61,520 per year. Your experience and the location where you work factor into your pay.

For example, average wages within this profession are highest in California, New York, Maryland, and Iowa. Low-earning states for information security professionals include Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Mississippi.

How Do You Get a Job as an Information Security Analyst?

The majority of information security professionals hold a Bachelor of Science degree. There are many different majors you can choose from, including cybersecurity, management information systems, and computer science.

Many employers require experience before you can apply for a job. Smaller IT firms may hire recent graduates. Otherwise, certifications aren't required but may help you stand out if you lack experience.

Getting an internship is a great way to earn experience in this growing field. And you will not have to worry about going uncompensated. IT is one of the top fields for high-paying jobs and internships.

Most information security professionals work for themselves or other service providers. Financial institutions, data processing centers, and software companies also employ information security analysts in droves.

4. Medical and Health Services Managers

Yet another healthcare profession, medical and health services managers coordinate care. These professionals serve administrative roles; they do not provide care. Yet, healthcare systems can not operate without them.

Medical and health services managers coordinate patient care. But they also oversee the organization's staff. For example, medical and health services managers may set up training for nurses and physicians.

Medical and health services managers can expect to see 28% job growth between 2021 and 2033. Cities with the highest demand for these workers include New York City, Los Angeles, and Boston.

States to avoid if you want a career in medical and health services management include Vermont, New Hampshire, and Delaware. Wyoming, South Dakota, and North Dakota also employ low volumes of these workers. 

How Much Do Medical and Health Services Managers Get Paid?

According to the BLS, medical and health services managers earn a median of $101,340 per year. But it is important to note that there is a wide pay range for professionals in this job role.

The top 10% of earners make nearly $100 an hour, or over $205,620 per year. Yet, the bottom 10% of medical and health services managers only earn $60,780 per year.

If you want to make more in your position, consider working in a high-paying state. New York, Washington DC, and Massachusetts offer the highest salaries for individuals in this profession.

How Do You Get a Job as a Medical and Health Services Manager?

Medical and health services managers need to earn a bachelor's degree. The good news is there is a wide range of undergraduate programs that can qualify you for this career, including the following:

• Healthcare administration
• Business management
• Public health
• Nursing

Once you receive your degree, you must go on to a master's program. Consider a degree program in one of the fields we mentioned above. You can also enroll in a doctoral program, though a master's degree should suffice.

You must have a state license to work as a medical and health services manager. Check the requirements in your state to learn more. Consider gaining certification, too, especially if you work in a specialized field.

Medical and health services managers usually work for hospital systems, physician offices, outpatient care centers, and home health care service providers. Nursing homes and rehab centers also commonly employ them.

5. Data Scientists and Statisticians

Data scientists and statisticians are two job roles that have a lot in common. They both use statistics to analyze data sets. The biggest difference is that data science explicitly applies to software.

For example, data scientists extract trends from large sets of data and interpret these trends into concise reports. Data science is an ideal career for people who are good with numbers.

Statisticians work with data sets, too, but this information doesn't always come from computers. And while they may need to write reports, the main goal of a statistician is to collect and organize statistical data.

Data science professionals will see 36% job growth over the next decade. Meanwhile, statisticians can expect a slightly less favorable outlook. Experts expect this occupation to grow 33% between 2021 and 2031.

How Much Do Data Scientists and Statisticians Get Paid?

Data scientists and statisticians perform similar duties. That is why their salaries are on par with each other. Data scientists earn a median of $100,910 per year, while statisticians earn a median annual salary of $95,570.

The difference in pay between these two roles is more apparent with top and bottom earners. The top 10% of data scientists earn nearly $10,000 more than the highest-earning statisticians.

Entry-level data scientists also earn more. The lowest-earning professionals in this field earn less than $59,430 per year. The annual salary for the bottom 10% of statisticians is much lower at $49,350 or just $23.72 per hour.

How Do You Get a Job as a Data Scientist or Statistician?

Both of these professions require a Bachelor's degree. You can obtain the same degree as a first step to entering either field. Data science, computer science, and math are great choices for aspiring data professionals.

Once you receive your degree, you can apply for entry-level jobs. Candidates with work experience via internships will have a leg up on the competition. Consider obtaining certification if you do not have experience.

Data professionals can increase their wages and career opportunities with advanced degrees. However, you usually don't need a master's degree to enter the field because these professionals are in such high demand.

IT firms, large companies, consultants, financial institutions, and scientific research organizations often employ data scientists. The highest-paying industries for this profession are computer and semiconductor manufacturing.

Statisticians commonly work for scientific research organizations, the government, and enterprise businesses. Pharmaceutical companies are the highest-paying employers of these professionals.

6. Web Developers

Another high-growth IT job to consider is web development. Web developers use coding languages to create websites for individuals, businesses, and organizations. They may also audit and optimize existing websites.

The unique thing about web development is that you do not technically need a degree to do it. You only need to learn a coding language and get experience. However, as we will discuss later, a degree can help you earn more.

Web developers will enjoy 30% job growth over the next decade. California, New York, Texas, Florida, and Wisconsin employ the most web developers. Yet, web developers commonly work remotely.

That means you can live wherever you want and still find employment. Consider settling in a state with a lower cost of living, especially if your wages are on the lower end of the spectrum.

How Much Do Web Developers Get Paid?

The median pay for a US web developer is $77,030 per year. Yet, the average annual wage is significantly higher at $81,320. When the median and average are so different, that means the pay range is large.

Top-earning web designers can make over $62 per hour. At the low end, entry-level developers and developers without a degree may earn less than $18 per hour at first.

If you want to maximize your pay, getting a degree and internship experience can help. Also, consider applying for jobs at companies in high-paying states, including Virginia, Washington, Rhode Island, and Maryland.

How Do You Get a Job as a Web Developer?

As mentioned, web developers do not technically need to go to college to start working. But if you want to increase your pay and career opportunities, you need a degree in computer science or web development.

You can still get a job as a web developer even if you do not have a degree in one of these fields. Web development boot camps can help you learn the coding languages and skills needed to start your career.

Also, consider getting a web developer certification. This is a great option for those who do not have a degree, as well as college graduates with no internship experience or who are career changers.

The #1 qualification for aspiring web developers is a portfolio. Prospective clients and employers will want to see your past work. You can create samples, but real-life websites you've developed for clients are the gold standard.

Many web developers work for themselves. Other may work for web development companies, marketing firms, and web design businesses. Large companies also employ in-house web developers.

7. Software Developers

Do you want to create new applications and software programs for a living? Software development may be the career for you. As a software developer, you will design, develop, and update software systems, databases, and more.

Unlike web developers, software developers need a degree. This profession requires knowledge of computer science, software engineering, and statistical analysis. Most people can only gain these skills from a degree program.

The software developer occupation will see over 130,000 new jobs added per year between now and 2029. That equates to 21.5% growth for the entire occupation.

Cities employing the highest number of these professionals include New York City, Seattle, San Francisco, Washington DC, and San Jose, California, which is part of Silicon Valley.

How Much Do Software Developers Get Paid?

The median annual wage for a software developer was $107,510 in 2019. In only two years, the median annual wage has grown. Today, the middle 50% of software developers earn $120,730 or $58.05 per hour.

Top-earning software developers can bring home over $168,000 per year. Meanwhile, even the lowest earners see above-average salaries. The bottom 10% of software developers make around $64,470.

Many software developers work remotely. That means you can seek employment at a company in high-paying areas like Silicon Valley, Seattle, Baltimore, Washington DC, and New York City.

How Do You Get a Job as a Software Developer? 

The majority of software developers have a bachelor's degree or higher. As with web developers, you can technically get a job in this field with no degree. All you need to do is learn a programming language or two.

If you do pursue a degree, you can expect higher earnings and better job prospects. Many employers require applicants to hold at least a bachelor's degree in a related field like computer science or software engineering.

Whether you pursue a degree or not, you need experience with other tools you would use in your role. In addition to programming languages, that includes systems like Git and Mercurial SCM.

The next step is to get experience and build your portfolio. Another way to stand out from other prospective software developers is to seek certification. Certificates are especially helpful for entry-level software developers.

Software publishers are the top employers of software developers. Enterprise businesses, IT vendors, computer manufacturers, and data processing centers also commonly employ these professionals.

8. Construction Managers

Construction managers design, implement, and coordinate construction projects. These professionals work on projects ranging from residential to commercial. They may also manage the project's finances.

Many construction managers also oversee trade workers and other contractors. This includes excavators, stonemasons, electricians, plumbers, painters, landscapers, and more.

34,700 new construction manager jobs will open up annually in the US from 2019 to 2029. That equates to an annual occupational growth of 8.5% during the same period.

States with the highest demand for construction managers include California, Texas, Florida, North Carolina, and Illinois. New York City, in particular, is also a great place if you want to work in a market with high demand.

How Much Do Construction Managers Get Paid?

The median annual salary of a construction manager in the US is $95,260. Meanwhile, the average construction manager earns much more, or $108,210 per year. That means there is a wide pay range for these professionals.

On the low end, the bottom 10% of construction managers make less than $60,050 per year. That is nearly a third of what the top 10% of earners make, which is over $163,000 per year.

The reason for this wide range is demand. The construction industry used to need construction managers so badly that employers promoted workers who did not have degrees. Today, a degree is a requirement for this job.

How Do You Get a Job as a Construction Manager?

Employers today want construction managers to hold at least a bachelor's degree. Civil engineering and construction management are excellent degree programs to consider if you want to work in this field.

Once you earn your degree, you need entry-level experience. A college internship or apprenticeship can help you get experience before you graduate. That way, you'll have a leg up on your peers.

Certification is the next step. Organizations like the Construction Management Association of America offer certification programs specifically for aspiring construction managers.

If you want to maximize your pay as a construction manager, consider earning a master's degree in construction management. Your degree program will allow you to specialize, as well as the business skills you need to thrive.

The top employer of construction managers is commercial building companies. Residential builders, land companies, utility providers, and the government also commonly employ these professionals. Many choose to be self-employed.

9. Postsecondary Health Teachers

Postsecondary teachers include trade school and community college lecturers, university professors, and others who teach beyond the high school level. The highest demand for these professionals is in health specialties.

This job will allow you to work in a health-adjacent role, training other health professionals. Health specialties include dentistry, human and veterinary medicine, dentistry, public health, counseling and therapy, and more.

According to the BLS, the postsecondary health teacher occupation in the US will grow 20.5% between now and 2029. That equals around 26,000 new jobs per year.

States like Texas, New York, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and California are the best places to find a job as a health specialties teacher. Specifically, check out cities like New York, Philadelphia, Houston, and Dallas.

How Much Do Postsecondary Health Teachers Get Paid?

The median annual salary for a postsecondary health teacher was $97,320 in 2019. In 2021, the median annual salary increased to $102,720. Of all industries on our list, this one has the highest max pay potential.

The top 10% of earners in this field make more than $100 per hour. That equates to over $200,000 per year. Meanwhile, the bottom 10% of earners make $48,890 per year.

This wide range is due to the flexible job style postsecondary teachers enjoy. Some professors work on an adjunct basis, meaning they do not work full-time hours.

How Do You Get a Job as a Postsecondary Health Teacher?

There are so many paths you can take to become a postsecondary health teacher. The first step is to get a degree in the health specialization you are passionate about.

Many postsecondary teachers can find work with a master's degree. If you want to work as a full-time professor or in a teaching hospital, you will likely need a professional school degree or a doctorate.

The majority of postsecondary health teachers work for colleges, universities, and professional schools. Junior colleges, technical schools, and teaching hospitals also commonly employ health specialty teachers.

10. Physical Therapists

If you want to work in healthcare but don't want to go to med school, PA school, or nursing school, consider physical therapy. In this field, you work with patients undergoing rehabilitation for injuries and disabling conditions.

The main job of a physical therapist is to design and deliver treatment plans to improve patient mobility, address chronic pain, and improve muscular strength.

In addition to administering therapy, physical therapists support patients and their families.

Physical therapy jobs in the US are projected to increase by over 18% between now and 2029. There will be 15,200 new openings for physical therapists each year during that period.

How Much Do Physical Therapists Get Paid?

In 2019, the median salary for a US physical therapist was $89,440. The median salary has since increased to $95,620 per year. This annual salary is in line with the job's average annual wage of $92,920.

The more experience you gain as a physical therapist, the higher your pay. For example, the most experienced physical therapists earn over $60 per hour or $127,110 per year.

Location also determines pay. Nevada, California, and Connecticut offer the highest salaries for these professionals. States with lower annual salaries include Missouri, Iowa, Michigan, and North and South Carolina.

How Do You Get a Job as a Physical Therapist?

The first step toward becoming a physical therapist is to get an undergraduate degree. Some physical therapy schools offer fast-track programs during which you can earn your bachelor's and doctorate degrees in six years.

If you choose to go the traditional route, there are many degree paths you can take. Consider majoring in kinesiology, biology, or exercise science. Psychology and business courses are great supplements to these majors.

After graduation, you can apply to a doctor of physical therapy (DPT) program. It takes three years to complete the program, after which you can apply for a fellowship or residency. Residencies are optional, not a requirement.

Physical therapists who wish to specialize in a particular field can seek board certification. The American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties offers credentialing programs for particular areas of physical therapy practice.

The highest-paying employers of physical therapists are outpatient centers, home health care providers, and child care providers. Physicians and hospitals also commonly employ these professionals.

Honor Society for College Graduates

Recent college graduates have amazing opportunities ahead. These ten jobs are only a sample of the high-growth, high-paying job roles available to hard-working students like you.

Are you searching for a professional society of students whose goals are aligned with yours? Honor Society is a professional network with over 1.5 million global members. Join us today to get the job you've been dreaming of!