We’ve all heard the stories. Robots are going to take our jobs. What you might not know is – they’re already doing it as you read this.
We don’t mean to scare you, but we do have to face the facts. With technology growing and making a lot of jobs much easier, you’ll need to future-proof your career now if you want to be living comfortably in the next 10 years.
So unless you’re all in on crypto and clairvoyant enough to know when it’s going to peak and make you some easy millions, you’ll want to consider jumping into one of these fields that are expected to grow immensely in demand and salary in the future.
1. Artifical Intelligence
Average annual salary: $150,667 per year
From self-driving cars to Pokemon Go, artifical intelligence will be present in many aspects of our lives within the next ten years. In fact, many of the other industries mentioned on this list – such as psychology, nursing and civil engineering – will be vastly improved by AI developments to come. If you want to be on the forefront of digital technology, this is the space to be.
2. Software and Web Development
Average annual salary: $105,727 per year
As we transition to a primarily digital society, the demands for online tools and apps that can automate and simplify our daily lives increases. Individuals aren’t the only ones making these demands either. More and more businesses are transitioning to a digital-first model and they need developers to help them do it.
Most importantly, you don’t have to go back to school to become a proficient developer. Many excellent courses are available online and with the no-code movement, you could be launching apps and sites in as little as few months, not years.
3. Cybersecurity
Average annual salary: $100,126 per year
Of course, the more people that are online sharing their data with the world, the more opportunity there will be for exploitation. Cybersecurity specialists make sure that doesn’t happen. There are several opportunities within this field, from building the right tools, to helping businesses secure their systems and data, to working with law enforcement to find criminals exploiting vulnerabilities to steal personal data.
4. Solar and Wind Technology
$105,505 per year (for solar energy consultants)
Pretty much any kind of alternative energy, really. As we collectively try to combat climate change, demand for oil and gas substitutes will skyrocket. Getting into production of equipment can be super lucrative for first movers in this industry, but there will also be tons of local opportunities for service providers who can install and maintain these alternative energy sources in office buildings and homes.
5. Home Healthcare
Average annual salary: $75,354 per year (for registered nurses, including average overtime)
People are living longer and thankfully, with the help of telemedicine and changed in healthcare laws, they are opting to stay home, rather than spend their time in hospitals and nursing homes. This means there’s a rise a demand for home healthcare products – such as hospital beds and shower kits – as well as home care services including on-call nurses, personal aides, and even meal delivery.
6. Psychology and Psychiatry
Average annual salary: $231,346 per year (for psychiatrists)
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’s not a profession that can be automated, and you’d be hard-pressed to find a caring ear from a robot. The expected boom will also be significantly helped along by remote therapy options, where patients will no longer need to leave their homes to be able to get the help they need.
7. Data Mining and Analytics
Average annual salary: $72,714 per year
Big data became a big buzzword in the early 2000s, but there was a huge problem. Lots of companies had all this data on hand, but they didn’t know how to use it! Since then, companies like Google, Amazon and Uber have used this data to create algorithms that have results in massive growth and tremendous profits. Nowadays, other companies are looking to cash in by hiring their own experts to analyze their data and find ways to help them serve customers better.
8. Civil Engineering
Average annual salary: $86,682 per year
COVID-19 has changed how cities will operate for years to come. Companies are closing or opting for smaller office and employees move away from cities to avoid higher rent costs and get more space at home. The task of figuring out how best to redesign cities and towns to best accomodate the adjusting needs of their citizens will fall to civil engineers. If you want to have influence on how our new world will function, this is where you need to be.
9. Business Consulting
Average Annual Salary: $76,821 per year
Just because you’re not working in the business, doesn’t mean you can’t work on the business. The robots will only do what we tell them (until they become sentient and take over, but I digress). Even if you’re not doing the actual job, you may have specialized knowledge in your area that can come in handy for many businesses who can’t hire someone full time. Transitioning from employee to independent consultant will allow you to work with several businesses at once and still be able to capitalize on the skills you already have.
10. Household Plumbing and Electricity
Average annual salary: $88,784 per year (for a plumbing engineer)
This might be the most expected item on the list, but just think for a second. So many folks are going into new and exciting careers that these tried and true jobs always get left behind. However, no matter how much we grow or change as a society, plumbers and electricians will always be in high demand. So if you’re looking for a skill you can take to the bank for decades to come, this might just be it.
Most of the careers on this list do require some level of tertiary or advanced training, so you’ll need to start now if you want to be one of the top-earning professionals within the next 10 years. However, don’t just pick one because it will make the most money or it’s in highest demand. Be sure to research and give some consideration to which career will allow you to feel comfortable and fulfilled. Just because we’re being replaced by robots, doesn’t mean we need to become them.
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