Highest Paying Future Jobs Likely To Be In Demand In 2026
Read this to stay ahead of the career curve!
The results are out! The US News & Worlds Report 2018 has been released, which tells us what are the highest paying future jobs. And if you were looking for the best jobs for the future, you’re in luck! We’ve listed the different industries with various jobs that will scale well into the future in terms of pay and job demand.
Highest paying future jobs: Manual labour and construction
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1. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers
Median annual earnings in 2016: $41,340
Projected growth (2016 to 2026): 6%
Typical educational requirements: Secondary school qualifications
Job description: Basically responsible for driving long-haul journeys to transport goods in heavy tractor-trailer trucks. The combined weight of passengers, vehicle and cargo normally total over 26,000 pounds!
2. Construction Managers
Median annual earnings in 2016: $91,370
Projected growth (2016 to 2026): 11%
Typical educational requirements: Bachelor’s degree
Job description: These managers oversee and coordinate activities of construction workers, ensuring projects are completed according to deadlines.
3. Architectural and Engineering Managers
Median annual earnings in 2016: $137,720
Projected growth (2016 to 2026): 6%
Typical educational requirements: Bachelor’s degree
Job description: Architectural and Engineering managers plan and coordinate activities between architectural and engineering companies. They can be stationed either on site or in offices.
4. Civil Engineers
Median annual earnings in 2016: $84,770
Projected growth (2016 to 2026): 11%
Typical educational requirements: Bachelor’s degree
Job description: Civil engineers design and supervise infrastructure projects for both the public and private sectors. Typical projects vary across a wide range, such as roads, bridges, and buildings.
Highest paying future jobs: Finance
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1. Financial manager
Median annual earnings in 2016: $121,750
Projected growth (2016 to 2026): 19%
Typical educational requirements: Bachelor’s degree
Job description: Mainly responsible to keep a company financially healthy. They produce reports and come up with strategies for the future to minimise financial losses and increase gains.
2. Accountants
Median annual earnings in 2016: $68,150
Projected growth (2016 to 2026): 10%
Typical educational requirements: Bachelor’s degree
Job description: Accountants prepare financial documents. They make sure the records are accurate and document all incoming money and outgoing expenses, as well as ensure relevant taxes are paid correctly.
3. Personal Financial Advisors
Median annual earnings in 2016: $90,640
Projected growth (2016 to 2026): 15%
Typical educational requirements: Bachelor’s degree
Job description: Slightly different from financial advisors, as they’re more concerned with giving guidance to individuals instead of companies.
4. Top Executives
Median annual earnings in 2016: $104,700
Projected growth (2016 to 2026): 8%
Typical educational requirements: Bachelor’s degree
Job description: Basically when you reach the top of the ladder in a company. Top executives consist of the most senior management who are in charge of making sure an organisation meets its goals.
Highest paying future jobs: IT and software development
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1. Software developer
Median annual earnings in 2016: $91,620
Projected growth (2016 to 2026): 24%
Typical educational requirements: Bachelor’s degree
Job description: Play a crucial role in the drafting, designing, creating, testing and maintaining software systems. Typically make bespoke systems to fit a company’s needs.
2. IT manager
Median annual earnings in 2016: $91,620
Projected growth (2016 to 2026): 11.9%
Typical educational requirements: Bachelor’s degree
Job description: Supervise hardware and software upgrades. Also oversees cybersecurity to prevent hacking and malicious software from disrupting the company’s digital infrastructure. Coordinate with seniour management to integrate innovative technology into a company’s existing profile.
3. Information Security Analyst
Median annual earnings in 2016: $92,600
Projected growth (2016 to 2026): 28%
Typical educational requirements: Bachelor’s degree
Job description: Prevent, monitor and respond to data breaches and cyber attacks.
4. Computer Systems Analyst
Median annual earnings in 2016: $87,220
Projected growth (2016 to 2026): 9%
Typical educational requirements: Bachelor’s degree
Job description: Pair the best available technology in the market to help the company’s business function more optimally.
Highest paying future jobs: Sales and marketing
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1. Marketing manager
Median annual earnings in 2016: $131,180
Projected growth (2016 to 2026): 10%
Typical educational requirements: Secondary School
Job description: You need to be a jack of all trades! From implementing new strategies, training new staff, analysing the market to forecasting future sales and shifting focus on what your team is selling. It’s a varied job so it’s difficult to say, but the more flexible and competent you are, the higher you climb.
2. Wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives
Median annual earnings in 2016: $61,270
Projected growth (2016 to 2026): 5%
Typical educational requirements: Secondary school qualifications
Job description: Travel and meet with potential clients and suppliers. Discuss the company’s product range and negotiate large sales contracts.
3. Sales manager
Median annual earnings in 2016: $117,960
Projected growth (2016 to 2026): 7.4%
Typical educational requirements: Bachelor’s degree
Job description: Involved in establishing relationships with clients and responsible for increasing sales of the company’s products. Provides guidance to sales team and decides on strategies, whilst setting short and long-term goals.
4. Pharmaceutical Sales Representative
Median annual earnings in 2016: $122,107
Projected growth (2016 to 2026): 16.4%
Typical educational requirements: Bachelor’s degree
Job description: Provide information about the company’s pharmaceutical products to doctors and increase awareness of the product’s benefits. Often involves travelling around.
Healthcare
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1. Anaesthesiologist
Mean annual salary: $269,600
Projected growth (2016 to 2026): 17.8%
Typical educational requirements:
Job description: Administer drugs that allow surgeries to be painless. Also crucially involved with checking vital signs before, during and after operations.
2. Surgeon
Median annual earnings in 2016: $252,910
Projected growth (2016 to 2026): 16.8%
Typical educational requirements: Bachelor’s degree, four years of medical school, surgical residency program
Job description: Perform surgeries to remove abnormalities to repair injuries or prevent life-threatening diseases from being fatal.
3. Obstetrician and gynaecologist
Median annual earnings in 2016: $234,310
Projected growth (2016 to 2026): 17.9%
Typical educational requirements: Bachelor’s degree, four years of medical school, four-year residency, three-year specialisation fellowship program
Job description: Care for women’s reproductive health. Involves screening for STDs, managing contraceptives and issues such as abnormal bleeding
4. Registered nurses
Median annual earnings in 2016: $68,450
Projected growth (2016 to 2026): 16%
Typical educational requirements: Bachelor’s degree
Job description: Assess patient needs and provide customised healthcare for each patient. Includes performing diagnostic tests, administering medication, providing advice and assisting with rehabilitation.
With these highest paying future jobs in mind, how will you shape your career?
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