Highest Paying Future Jobs Likely To Be In Demand In 2026

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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