20 Careers of the Future (With Salaries)

As the needs of the population change, certain industries become more popular with those looking for exciting and stable jobs. Careers of the future may focus on topics of interest like science, medicine, finances, and technology. If you are interested in one of those subject areas, you might be suitable for a career of the future. In this article, we discuss 20 jobs that may become more popular over the next 10 years, share the salaries for each position, and explore the primary job responsibilities of each one.

20 careers for the future

Use this list to discover what careers may become popular in the coming years, and could help create innovative technology and design practices in the future:

1. Electrician

National average salary: $31,809 per year

Primary duties: Electricians repair, maintain, and inspect wires, circuit systems, light fixtures, and other electrical equipment in homes, office buildings, factories, and other business settings. They may work with construction crews when designing or building new structures to ensure the proper installation of electrical systems. They may also work on home and building remodeling projects to replace outdated equipment. They have extensive knowledge of electrical code requirements and safety regulations.

2. Customer service representative

National average salary: $33,391 per year

Primary duties: Customer service representatives work with new and existing customers to address their needs and answer questions. They can work in a variety of industries from retail, food service, and information technology. They may answer phone calls, respond to emails and social media posts, and provide guidance for customers as they use a company's products. Customer service representatives make service suggestions based on client information and collect data to share with other departments.

3. Nurse

National average salary: $34,366 per year

Primary duties: Nurses examine and monitor patients to learn about their medical conditions. They may administer medications or vaccines, keep patient records, consult with other healthcare providers, and educate their patients on healthy habits and lifestyles.

4. Drone pilot

National average salary: $37,632 per year

Primary duties: Drone pilots operate drone devices and other unmanned aerial systems (UAS). They check their equipment before a flight to ensure proper safety measures are in place and analyze weather forecasts to learn about potential flight conditions. They create pre- and post-flight logs and navigate drones remotely through the air to capture images, conduct searches, and retrieve other information that may be less accessible by other means.

5. Biomedical engineer

National average salary: $40,606 per year

Primary duties: Biomedical engineers use both science and engineering skills to create computer systems, devices, software, and other equipment to advance medical technology. They often work in research or quality assurance departments to ensure all products are useful and safe for patients, doctors, and other users. They may train other staff on the best way to use these programs and devices. They may also provide technical support and troubleshooting to improve systems and correct errors.

Related: What Are Technical Skills?

6. Software developer

National average salary:$42,598 per year

Primary duties: Software developers design, create, and test programs and applications for computers and mobile devices. They're often skilled in computer programming and systems evaluation. Software developers can work in a variety of fields including health care, retail or marketing. They may design products for customer and consumer use as well as internal programs for management teams.

Related: Q&A: What Is Remote Work?

7. Physical therapist

National average salary: $45,768 per year

Primary duties: Physical therapists are healthcare professionals who focus on movement. They work to improve a patient's quality of life by helping them practice or relearn skills such as walking or helping them strengthen muscles after an injury. Physical therapists work with patients of all ages in hospital and clinical settings. Some may also provide care in places like nursing homes, schools or fitness facilities.

8. Sales representative

National average salary: $46,329 per year

Primary duties: Sales representatives work to encourage new customers to buy a business product or use their services. They identify potential new leads, make contact through emails or phone calls, and provide potential customers with information about how a certain product or service could affect their lives or business positively. Sales representatives are often persuasive and skilled in both verbal and written communication.

Related: Interview Question: 'Why Should We Hire You?'

9. Mechanical engineer

National average salary: $51,285 per year

Primary duties: Mechanical engineers design, develop, build, and test equipment that uses thermal sensors or other mechanics that create power to work properly. They may work in the manufacturing, health care or automotive industries to design things like batteries or heating and cooling systems. They often use computers to design their models and create prototypes of new devices. They also provide troubleshooting expertise and oversee the manufacturing process for each device to ensure quality.

10. Support specialist

National average salary: $52,370 per year

Primary duties: Support specialists work in information technology to provide assistance and troubleshooting expertise to users. They install and configure software programs for company users. They provide training on new programs or techniques to relevant parties. They also help users troubleshoot their own problems through step-by-step instructions.

11. Accountant

National average salary: $52,429 per year

Primary duties: Accountants work with businesses and individuals to create financial statements and reports to track costs, revenue, cash flow, and other financial metrics. They're often responsible for handling the majority of tasks required to prepare for an audit. They may also handle tax preparations and filings for individuals or organisations. Accountants may work for one company or provide consulting advice as part of a firm or as a self-contractor.

Related: The Essential Job Search Guide

12. Electronics engineer

National average salary: $53,341 per year

Primary duties: Electronics engineers create and test different types of electrical equipment, such as navigation systems, communication systems, electric motors, and radar tools. They often work with circuit boards and wiring to design interactive devices for public and private use. They may use computer software to draw plans and make models, then design tangible prototypes. They may also oversee the manufacturing process to ensure the quality of the final product.

13. Market researcher

National average salary: $55,905 per year

Primary duties: A market researcher collects and analyses data for businesses and organisations to make informed decisions about social, political or economic events. They work with quantitative statistics and qualitative research to provide insights and make recommendations about campaign designs or courses of action within individual departments.

14. Financial management specialist

National average salary: $57,468 per year

Primary duties: Financial management specialists create fiscal policies and procedures for a variety of organisations. They may help choose policy options based on current market research and prepare financial reports for consultation with management or other stakeholders. They conduct financial research to aid in the decision-making process.

15. Management analyst

National average salary: $69,846 per year

Primary duties: Management analysts prepare documentation, procedures, and manuals to help a company's management team function more effectively. They may have experience in instructional design or leadership roles. Management analysts may conduct research on business and financial data to create solutions and alternative practices for better communication or other organisational changes.

16. Data analyst

National average salary: $70,689 per year

Primary duties: Data analysts research, collect, and store data for companies to help them better understand different aspects of their business. They may work with logistics, market research, sales quotas or other processes and aspects to compile information for reports and presentations. Their efforts may help managers and supervisors make informed financial or marketing decisions.

17. Systems analyst

National average salary: $78,570 per year

Primary duties: Systems analysts are information technology professionals who work to create, implement, and maintain the network structures for a company. They construct these frameworks based on the specifications and requirements of an organisation's individual needs. Although system analsysts work closely with developers and programmers, they mostly work with network systems rather than with software or hardware.

Related: What Exactly Is a System Analyst Job Description?

18. Information security analyst

National average salary: $82,690 per year

Primary duties: Information security analysts plan and execute security measures that protect a business' computer networks and systems from cyberattacks or security breaches. They install programs like data encryption software and firewalls across networks and conduct testing to look for areas of exploitation within a system. Information security analysts monitor networks for breaches, then investigate and repair systems if they occur. They also write reports and prepare documents about their findings.

19. Project manager

National average salary: $89,161 per year

Primary duties: Project managers plan and oversee all aspects of a project to ensure it's completed on time and within budget. They can work in a variety of organisations to prepare budget plans, assign project roles, and monitor the progress of all team members. They provide stakeholders with constant feedback, and convey client questions and changes to the correct departments.

20. Lawyer

National average salary: $152,991 per year

Primary duties: Lawyers are legal professionals who provide guidance and representation for businesses and individuals for a variety of purposes. They conduct research into cases, prepare legal documents, and attend court proceedings and trials to defend their clients or designated organisations.