Job Growth Estimates
Learn which occupations are expected to grow the most in the coming years, and why a college degree can be of great benefit.
To earn big bucks, you will need to pony up the time and money for education. That is, unless you become an air traffic controller. Out of the 50 highest-paying occupations, only air traffic controllers are exempt from a Bachelor's degree requirement* (*Source: U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics 2004-05).
Top 10 industries with the largest wage and salary growth, 2004-14
| (Numbers in thousands) | 2004 | 2014 | % Growth |
| Management, business, and financial occupations | 14,987,482 | 17,142,266 | 14.38% |
| Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations | 6,805,257 | 8,561,393 | 25.81% |
| Engineering | 1,448,871 | 1,643,500 | 13.43% |
| Education, training, and library occupations | 8,698,018 | 10,438,019 | 20% |
| Law enforcement workers | 1,199,357 | 1,347,418 | 12.35% |
| Nursing, psychiatric, and home health aide | 2,138,627 | 2,814,935 | 31.62% |
| Graphic Design | 228,216 | 262,951 | 15.22% |
| Community and social services occupations | 2,317,113 | 2,800,198 | 20.85% |
| Legal and legal support worker occupations | 1,657,590 | 1, 931, 325 | 14.70% |
| Computer and mathematical science occupations | 3,152,801 | 4,119,844 | 30.67% |
| (1): Source: National Employment Matrix | |||
