Wind turbine service technicians
Wind turbine service technicians, also known as windtechs, install, maintain, and repair wind turbines.
education requirement: Technical school, trained by employer after hiring
growth rate: 108%
salary median: $51,050
Occupational Therapy Assistants
Occupational therapy assistants help patients develop, recover, and improve the skills needed for daily living and working. Occupational therapy assistants are directly involved in providing therapy to patients. Assistants work under the direction of occupational therapists.
education requirement: Associate’s degree in occupational therapy assistant program
growth rate: 40%
salary median: $54,520
Occupational Therapy Aides
Occupational therapy aides help patients develop, recover, and improve the skills needed for daily living and working. Occupational therapy aides typically perform support activities. Aides work under the direction of occupational therapists.
education requirement: High school diploma, on the job training
growth rate: 39%
salary median: $21,920
Physical Therapist Assistants and Aides
Physical therapist assistants, sometimes called PTAs, and physical therapist aides work under the direction and supervision of physical therapists. They help patients who are recovering from injuries and illnesses regain movement and manage pain.
education requirement: Associate’s degree in physical therapy
growth rate: 41%
salary median: $42,980
Home Health Aides
Home health aides help people with disabilities, chronic illness, or cognitive impairment with activities of daily living. They often help older adults who need assistance. In some states, home health aides may be able to give a client medication or check the client’s vital signs under the direction of a nurse or other healthcare practitioner.
education requirement: High school diploma, hospice or home health agency for formal training and standardized test
growth rate: 38%
salary median: $21,920
Commercial Divers
Work below surface of water, using scuba gear to inspect, repair, remove, or install equipment and structures. May use a variety of power and hand tools, such as drills, sledgehammers, torches, and welding equipment.
education requirement: Associate’s degree of postsecondary certificate, licensure, dive training and safety training program
growth rate: 37%
salary median: $50,470
Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Midwives, and Nurse Practitioners
Nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives, and nurse practitioners, also referred to as advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), coordinate patient care and may provide primary and specialty healthcare. The scope of practice varies from state to state.
education requirement: Master’s degree in ARNP, state and national certification exam
growth rate: 31%
salary median: $104,740
Physical Therapist
Physical therapists, sometimes called PTs, help injured or ill people improve their movement and manage their pain. These therapists are often an important part of the rehabilitation, treatment, and prevention of patients with chronic conditions, illnesses, or injuries.
education requirement: Doctor of Physical Therapy degree, licensure
growth rate: 34%
salary median: $84,020
Ambulance drivers and attendants, except emergency medical technicians
Drive ambulances in transporting sick, injured of convalescent persons. Remove and replace soiled linens or equipment to maintain sanitary conditions. Place patients on stretchers and load stretchers into ambulances.
education requirement: High school diploma
growth rate: 33%
salary median: $23,740
Occupational Therapy Aides
Occupational therapy aides help patients develop, recover, and improve the skills needed for daily living and working. Occupational therapy aides typically perform support activities. Aides work under the direction of occupational therapists.
education requirement: Associate’s degree in occupational therapy assistance, licensure
growth rate: 31%
salary median: $27,800
Physician Assistants
Physician assistants, also known as PAs, practice medicine on teams with physicians, surgeons, and other healthcare workers. They examine, diagnose, and treat patients.
education requirement: Master’s degree, licensure
growth rate: 30%
salary median: $98,180
Operations Research Analysts
Operations research analysts use advanced mathematical and analytical methods to help organizations investigate complex issues, identify and solve problems, and make better decisions.
education requirement: Bachelor’s degree for entry-level positions, Master’s degree or Ph.D. in operations research, management science, analytics, math, engineering, computer science, or another technical or quantitative field
growth rate: 30%
salary median: $78,630
Personal Financial Advisors
Personal financial advisors provide advice on investments, insurance, mortgages, college savings, estate planning, taxes, and retirement to help individuals manage their finances.
education requirement: Bachelor’s degree but a Master’s degree and certification can improve chances for advancement
growth rate: 30%
salary median: $89,160
Cartographers and Photogrammetrists
Cartographers and photogrammetrists collect, measure, and interpret geographic information in order to create and update maps and charts for regional planning, education, emergency response, and other purposes.
education requirement: Bachelor’s degree in cartography, geography, or geomatics, surveying is the most common path of entry into this occupation, licensure in some states
growth rate: 29%
salary median: $61,880
Genetic Counselors
Genetic counselors assess individual or family risk for a variety of inherited conditions, such as genetic disorders and birth defects. They provide information and support to other healthcare providers, or to individuals and families concerned with the risk of inherited conditions.
education requirement: Master’s degree in genetic counseling or genetics, board certification
growth rate: 29%
salary median: $72,090
Interpreters and Translators
Interpreters and translators convert information from one language into another language. Interpreters work in spoken or sign language; translators work in written language.
education requirement: Bachelor’s degree, knowledge of at least one other language, job specific training program
growth rate: 29%
salary median: $44,190
Audiologists
Audiologists diagnose, manage, and treat a patient’s hearing, balance, or ear problems.
education requirement: Doctoral degree, licensure
growth rate: 29%
salary median: $74,890
Hearing Aid Specialists
Select and administer tests to evaluate hearing or related disabilities. Administer basic hearing tests including air conduction, bone conduction, or speech audiometry tests. Train clients to use hearing aids or other augmentative communication devices. Create or modify impressions for earmolds and hearing aid shells. Maintain and repair hearing aids or other communication devices. Demonstrate assistive listening devices to clients. Diagnose and treat hearing or related disabilities under the direct of an audiologist. Perform basic screening procedures such as pure tone screening, otoacoustic screening, immittance screening, and screening of ear canal status using otoscope. Assist audiologists in performing aural procedures such as real ear measurements, speech audiometry, auditory brainstem responses, electronystagmography, and cochlear implant mapping.
education requirement: High school diploma
growth rate: 27%
salary median: $49,600
Optometrists
Optometrists examine the eyes and other parts of the visual system. They also diagnose and treat visual problems and manage diseases, injuries, and other disorders of the eyes. They prescribe eyeglasses or contact lenses as needed.
education requirement: Doctor of Optometry, licensure
growth rate: 27%
salary median: $103,900