2. Data Analysts<\/h2>\n
If there\u2019s one field that has positively exploded in the last decade, it\u2019s the field of data analytics. Big data is more than a buzzword, it\u2019s a growing field with lucrative opportunities for college graduates. As a matter of fact, the projections for careers in the fields of computer and information research scientists (which also includes data analysts) are among the strongest out there.<\/p>\n
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the\u00a0projected growth rate for jobs in the field is 16 percent<\/a>. This is more than three times the average national growth rate for jobs, which is five percent. Couple this with a 2018 median industry pay of more than $118,000 and you\u2019re looking at an opportunity to make some serious money. Of course, it\u2019s also recommended that you have a master\u2019s degree in computer science or another related field if you want to break into the industry.<\/p>\n Data science is also a promising field for people looking to break down walls and shatter glass ceilings in a traditionally male-dominated industry. An article from Forbes detailed that\u00a0only 26 percent of the jobs in data science in the U.S are held by women<\/a>. Thankfully, there are terrific programs out there looking to change these numbers.\u00a0Girls Who Code<\/a>\u00a0is one such program designed to offer clubs and immersion programs for girls from third grade through college. The program teaches girls all about the exciting world of computer science and how they can break into this dynamic field themselves.<\/p>\n Not all of the best careers for the future will require a four-year undergraduate degree. There are many jobs in America with a desperate need for skilled laborers.\u00a0A report by the National Science Board<\/a>\u00a0projects that there will be 3.4 million unfilled jobs in skilled labor by 2022. There\u2019s a serious demand for skilled positions jobs like plumbers and technicians, and these are well-paying jobs with promising career prospects.<\/p>\n One of the best things about skilled labor positions is how quickly you can potentially enter the workforce. Many of these positions require a high school degree and often an associate degree in a related field, but don\u2019t necessarily require graduation from a four-year university. Students looking to work with their hands in a high-demand field should give serious thought to jobs as plumbers, electricians, and other skilled trades.<\/p>\n There are\u00a0state-sponsored apprenticeship programs<\/a>\u00a0available for people eager to start their careers. Students can explore career opportunities in fields like the energy industry and find a variety of jobs from electrical technicians to power plant operators. You can even find available apprenticeships with specific companies in your industry. Do your parents have an\u00a0NC529 Account<\/a>\u00a0for you? These funds can also be used for\u00a0apprenticeship programs<\/a>!<\/p>\n Like medical care, people still need to visit the dentist regardless of how the economy is doing. As baby boomers keep getting older, they\u2019re going to require more dental care. The same can be said for the health-minded millennial generation.<\/p>\n Students will need an associate degree in dental hygiene to start a career as a dental hygienist. The\u00a0Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 11 percent annual growth<\/a>\u00a0in this important field over the next ten years. For a career as a dentist, you\u2019ll need a bachelor\u2019s degree followed by a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry (DMD).<\/p>\n Careers for dentists are expected to grow by seven percent by 2028 and have a 2018 median pay that\u2019s almost twice what you\u2019d make as a dental hygienist ($156,240 as a dentist compared to $74,820 as a dental hygienist).<\/p>\n Unless you\u2019ve been living under a rock (or in a cave without wi-fi) for the last 20 years, you already know how large a role software plays in our everyday lives. Whether it\u2019s your favorite social media platform or that new app you can\u2019t get enough of, you have a software developer to thank for that.<\/p>\n It\u2019s hard to understate just how important software developers are to the modern world. Practically everything you see on your phone or computer was built by a software developer. From the utility apps that let you type reports, to programs that help you schedule and track, down to your favorite video game, they\u2019re all thanks to the hard work of software developers. And developers do much more than build the programs themselves, they\u2019re also responsible for the updates and fixes that keep your favorite applications running smoothly. It\u2019s no wonder developers are in such high demand!<\/p>\n Software developers are also one of the hottest occupations on the market right now. U.S. News and World Report ranked it as their top job overall in their list of the 100 best jobs for 2020 as well as\u00a0number one in both STEM and technology fields<\/a>.<\/p>\n If this is a career you\u2019re interested in, you\u2019re going to at least need a bachelor\u2019s degree in computer science or a related field, and many companies will look favorably on an advanced degree. You may also want to consider programs like the previously mentioned Girls Who Code to help you develop a foundation for computer science before you get to college.<\/p>\n Just as the world increasingly becomes even more digital, the need for cybersecurity has grown too. Data breaches are a huge deal and expose the private information of both customers and companies. According to IBM, the average total\u00a0cost of a data breach is $3.92 million<\/a>. With so much on the line, it\u2019s no surprise that companies are willing to pay handsomely for someone to protect their data.<\/p>\n Median salaries for cybersecurity experts can start at $80,000 for IT Security Consultants and can reach six figures for other positions such as a security director. The best way to start your path in cybersecurity is with, you guessed it, a bachelor\u2019s degree in computer science, information technology, engineering, or another related field.<\/p>\n No matter how you may feel about climate change or the continued use of fossil fuels, there\u2019s no question that the role of alternative energy in the world is only going to increase. Whether it\u2019s through the increased application of wind energy, wider use of solar power, or developing new electric cars, alternative and renewable energy are vast fields with virtually limitless untapped potential.<\/p>\n One of the most exciting things about alternative energy jobs is how broad a spectrum of careers there are in the field. There\u2019s a career for you in everything from construction to engineering, installation, and alternative energy research.<\/p>\n In fact,\u00a0wind turbine technician is the fastest-growing job<\/a>\u00a0in America, and employment is expected to grow by an incredible 108 percent by 2024. For this specific position, you\u2019ll likely need to complete a two-year program at a technical school in addition to a high school diploma.<\/p>\n The stigma toward seeking help with mental health is lessening at a time when people arguably need the services of mental health professionals more than ever. It\u2019s not a profession that can be automated, and you\u2019d be hard-pressed to find a caring ear from a robot. That\u2019s why there\u2019s\u00a0an expected growth rate of 22 percent<\/a>\u00a0in the field of substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors between 2018 and 2028.<\/p>\n Society, and insurance companies, are recognizing the growing importance of mental health. That means that there is going to be a much higher demand for professionals who are properly trained in providing mental health services. This includes psychologists, therapists, counselors, and social workers. Like many other medical professions, mental health professionals may also qualify for student loan forgiveness through FELS. Don\u2019t forget to\u00a0make sure your program qualifies<\/a>\u00a0to see if you can save on student loans.<\/p>\n If a career in mental health sounds right for you, you\u2019re going to need at least a master\u2019s degree in clinical social psychology or social work, or a doctorate in psychology to become a licensed psychotherapist.<\/p>\n To become a veterinarian, you\u2019re going to need a four-year degree in a field like biology, zoology, chemistry, physics, or another related field. You\u2019ll also need a\u00a0Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM)<\/a>\u00a0from an accredited program.<\/p>\n Once you have your degrees, you can stand to make a good living as a veterinarian. The\u00a02018 median pay for vets was $93,880<\/a>\u00a0and the projected growth rate for the next decade is 18 percent, more than three times higher than the national average.<\/p>\n Instead of worrying about a robot taking your job someday, what if you were the person designing the robot? Artificial intelligence is a dynamic and growing field with a wide variety of occupations, ranging from robotics engineers to natural language processing to artificial intelligence researchers.<\/p>\n Because it\u2019s such a new and exciting field, there\u2019s a lot of room for growth in the artificial intelligence industry. What\u2019s more, it can be a very lucrative career. The\u00a0New York Times reports<\/a>\u00a0that top researchers at big companies are finding salaries in the high six figures. If getting into AI sounds like something you want to do, you\u2019ll need at least a bachelor\u2019s degree, but a master\u2019s degree in computer science is recommended if you want to be placed into one of these larger roles.<\/p>\n These are only a choice few of the many careers with promising futures. The most important career is the one that is right for you. CFNC is here to help students\u00a0plan for their careers<\/a>\u00a0by\u00a0exploring different types of careers<\/a>\u00a0and even find tools for writing resumes, building cover letters, and more. Find out your best career for the future and start planning when you\u00a0create your CFNC account<\/a>\u00a0today.<\/p>\n3. Plumbers and Electricians<\/h2>\n
4. Dentists and Dental Hygienists<\/h2>\n
5. Software Developers<\/h2>\n
6. Cybersecurity Experts<\/h2>\n
7. Alternative Energy Installers and Technicians<\/h2>\n
8. Mental Health Professionals<\/h2>\n
9. Veterinarians<\/h2>\n
![\"veterinarian](\"https:\/\/www.cfnc.org\/media\/s0xhiu1v\/careers5.jpg?width=0&height=0\")
People love their pets, and they\u2019re willing to pay a lot of money to take care of them. If you\u2019re a compassionate person that loves working with animals, becoming a vet may be the best career for you.<\/p>\n10. Artificial Intelligence<\/h2>\n
Find the Right Career for Your Future<\/h2>\n