By Charlene Lattea, WVU Online | Wednesday, April 12, 2023
A place where the jobs are growing fast and paying well? Check out these hot jobs that could be yours in the next five years with one of our online degrees.
You’re spending time and money to earn a great brand-new degree and you want to use it to make the most of your job prospects and your life. You’re growing and you want to enter a field that is also growing and where you can reach your full potential.
What are your options?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the hot jobs through 2031 will be found in the business, computer and information technology, and healthcare fields.
"Anything that involves tech-based foundations is really growing right now," says Career Development Specialist Cagla Celik, of the WVU Career Services Center.
"Some of the hot careers we are seeing include cybersecurity, information systems management, marketing and sales, accounting, financial management, information technology, and data analytics."
Wondering what specific jobs will be hot in the next five years? Check out this list of desirable jobs on the horizon, along with WVU Online degrees that will prepare you to be a competitive candidate:
The computer and information technology field is projected to experience a much faster than average employment growth of 15.4 percent through 2031, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. There will strong demand for IT services, including cybersecurity services and cloud computing, and that in turn will fuel the demand for occupations in the computer field. In addition, software developers are expected to see the third-largest increase in jobs of any occupation over the 2021−31 decade.
High-paying jobs in this field include:
Digital Forensic Analyst | Median Salary:
$95,270
Data forensic analysts conduct investigations on computer-based crimes establishing
documentary or physical evidence, such as digital media and logs associated with
cyber intrusion incidents.
Computer & Information Systems Manager | Median Salary:
$159,010
As a computer and information systems manager, you will coordinate daily operations
and project activities for an organization, in fields such as electronic data
processing, information systems, systems analysis, and computer programming.
Software Developer | Median Salary:
$120,730
Software developers research, design, and develop computer and network software
or specialized utility programs. They analyze user needs and develop software
solutions, applying principles and techniques of computer science, engineering,
and mathematical analysis.
If you are interested these jobs, check out the following WVU Online degrees:
The demand for professional and business services is expected to increase during the decade ending in 2031, driven by the need for technical expertise in areas such as IT solutions, management, marketing research, and other consulting and technical services. This sector is projected to see the third-largest employment increase over the 2021–31 decade.
High-paying jobs in this field:
Financial Manager | Median Salary:
$131,710
Financial managers plan and direct accounting, investing, banking, insurance,
securities, and other financial activities of an organization, while establishing
and maintaining relationships with individual or business customers.
Business Intelligence Analyst | Median Salary:
$100,910
A business intelligence analyst produces financial and market intelligence by
querying data repositories and generating reports. In this position, you will
formulate recommendations for actions that the business can take.
Human Resources Manager | Median Salary:
$126,230
As a human resource manager, you will direct the human resources activities and
staff of an organization, serving as a link between management and employees
by handling questions, interpreting and administering contracts, and helping
resolve work-related problems.
Marketing Manager | Median Salary:
$135,030
You will coordinate marketing policies and programs, while determining the demand
for products and services offered by a firm and its competitors and identifying
potential customers. Your goal will be to maximize the firm’s share of the market
and ensuring that customers are satisfied.
WVU Online degrees that will get you these jobs include:
Healthcare support occupations are projected to grow the fastest of all occupational groups, at 17.8 percent from 2021−2031. Demand for caregiving services and therapy services is expected to rise rapidly in response to the growing elderly population, which typically has elevated healthcare needs.
One especially hot job in this sector is nurse practitioner. This position is projected to experience the fastest employment growth of all occupations, with projected growth of 45.7 percent. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, healthcare facilities are increasingly using healthcare models that utilize nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and other healthcare practitioners to provide patient care that would otherwise be provided by a doctor.
Nurse Practitioner | Median Salary:
$120,680
Nurse practitioners diagnose and treat acute, episodic, or chronic illness, independently
or as part of a healthcare team. They also order, perform, or interpret diagnostic
tests and may prescribe medication. For this job, you must be a registered nurse
with a specialized graduate education.
Other high-paying and desirable jobs in the healthcare sector for the next five years include:
Nurse Midwife | Median Salary:
$112,830
As a nurse midwife, you will diagnose and coordinate all aspects of the birthing
process, either independently or as part of a healthcare team, and may provide
well-woman gynecological care as well. Nurse midwives must have specialized,
graduate nursing education.
Medical & Health Services Manager | Median Salary:
$101,340
Medical and health services managers direct medical and health services in hospitals,
clinics, managed care organizations, public health agencies, or similar organizations,
developing and maintaining computerized record management systems to coordinate
data.
WVU Online degrees that will get you these jobs:
Often, a master’s degree or higher is necessary for these highly competitive and challenging positions, along with a several years’ previous experience or a proven track record in a related occupation, as well as professional certifications.
Celik recommends that students do major- or industry-specific research to identify skills and qualifications required in their chosen field.
"Then be proactive and strive to gain the skills and qualifications you need, not only in a classroom setting, but also outside the classroom by attending training programs, working towards certifications and credentials, and learning how to use important tools and software in your field."
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