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Soon after you begin searching for a job, you might realize how many more opportunities are available than you initially thought.
Information technology jobs like computer engineers and network systems analysts have high rates of growth.
For some job seekers, it's a welcome discovery because they now have more choices.
For others, it means they have to sift through more job posts to see what best suits them.
Of the many factors you use to narrow down your search, such as salary and qualifications, one you should consider is projected job growth.
A field that will experience an increase in demand and in newly created positions in the coming years means more stability. You don't want to switch to a new career only to be downsized shortly after you start.
To help your search, we've put together a list of the top industries and the five hottest jobs in each, along with their median salaries.
These jobs will experience strong growth and be in great demand for the next decade, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Information technology
1. Network systems and data communications analysts
Projected growth by 2016: 53 percent
Median annual salary: $64,600*
2. Computer applications software engineers
Projected growth by 2016: 45 percent
Median annual salary: $79,780
3. Database administrators
Projected growth by 2016: 29 percent
Median annual salary: $64,670
4. Computer systems software engineers
Projected growth by 2016: 28 percent
Median annual salary: $85,370
5. Network and computer systems administrators
Projected growth by 2016: 27 percent
Median annual salary: $62,130
Service occupations
1. Home health aides
Projected growth by 2016: 49 percent
Median annual salary: $19,420
2. Makeup artists, theatrical and performance
Projected growth by 2016: 40 percent
Median annual salary: $31,820
3. Medical assistants
Projected growth: 35 percent
Median annual salary: $26,290
4. Skin care specialists
Projected growth by 2016: 34 percent
Median annual salary: $26,170
5. Dental assistants
Projected growth by 2016: 29 percent
Median annual salary: $30,220
Business and financial operations
1. Personal financial advisors
Projected growth by 2016: 41 percent
Median annual salary: $66,120
2. Financial analysts
Projected growth by 2016: 34 percent
Median annual salary: $66,590
3. Management analysts
Projected growth by 2016: 22 percent
Median annual salary: $68,050
4. Meeting and convention planners
Projected growth by 2016: 20 percent
Median annual salary: $42,180
5. Cost estimators
Projected growth by 2016: 19 percent
Median annual salary: $52,940
Health diagnosing and treating occupations
1. Veterinarians
Projected growth by 2016: 35 percent
Median annual salary: $71,990
2. Physician assistants
Projected growth by 2016: 27 percent
Median annual salary: $74,980
3. Physical therapists
Projected growth by 2016: 27 percent
Median annual salary: $66,200
4. Radiation therapists
Projected growth by 2016: 25 percent
Median annual salary: $66,170
5. Registered nurses
Projected growth by 2016: 23 percent
Median annual salary: $57,280
Education
1. Preschool teachers, except special education
Projected growth by 2016: 26 percent
Median annual salary: $22,680
2. Postsecondary teachers
Projected growth by 2016: 23 percent
Median annual salary: $56,120
3. Self-enrichment education teachers
Projected growth by 2016: 23 percent
Median annual salary: $33,440
4. Instructional coordinators
Projected growth by 2016: 22 percent
Median annual salary: $52,790
5. Special education teachers, preschool, kindergarten and elementary school
Projected growth by 2016: 20 percent
Median annual salary: $46,360
Sales
1. Securities, commodities and financial services sales agents
Projected growth by 2016: 25 percent
Median annual salary: $68,500
2. Counter and rental clerks
Projected growth by 2016: 23 percent
Median annual salary: $19,570
3. Advertising sales agents
Projected growth by 2016: 20 percent
Median annual salary: $42,750
4. Demonstrators and product promoters
Projected growth by 2016: 18 percent
Median annual salary: $22,150
5. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products
Projected growth by 2016: 12 percent
Median annual salary: $64,440
Art and design
1. Multimedia artists and animators
Projected growth by 2016: 26 percent
Median annual salary: $51,350
2. Interior designers
Projected growth by 2016: 19 percent
Median annual salary: $42,260
3. Fine artists, including painters, sculptors and illustrators
Projected growth by 2016: 10 percent
Median annual salary: $41,970
4. Graphic designers
Projected growth by 2016: 10 percent
Median annual salary: $39,900
5. Art directors
Projected growth by 2016: 9 percent
Median annual salary: $39,900
Office and administrative support
1. Customer service representatives
Projected growth by 2016: 25 percent
Median annual salary: $28,330
2. Bill and account collectors
Projected growth by 2016: 23 percent
Median annual salary: $29,050
3. Brokerage clerks
Projected growth by 2016: 20 percent
Median annual salary: $36,390
4. Medical secretaries
Projected growth: 17 percent
Median annual salary: $28,090
5. Executive secretaries and administrative assistants
Projected growth by 2016: 15 percent
Median annual salary: $37,240
Installation, maintenance and repair occupations
1. Medical equipment repairers
Projected growth by 2016: 22 percent
Median annual salary: $40,580
2. Automotive glass installers and repairers
Projected growth by 2016: 19 percent
Median annual salary: $30,720
3. Motorboat mechanics
Projected growth by 2016: 19 percent
Median annual salary: $33,210
4. Automotive service technicians and mechanics
Projected growth by 2016: 14 percent
Median annual salary: $33,780
5. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
Projected growth by 2016: 12 percent
Median annual salary: $40,440
Construction
1. Construction and building inspectors
Projected growth by 2016: 18 percent
Median annual salary: $46,570
2. Tile and marble setters
Projected growth by 2016: 15 percent
Median annual salary: $36,590
3. Boilermakers
Projected growth by 2016: 14 percent
Median annual salary: $46,960
4. Roofers
Projected growth by 2016: 14 percent
Median annual salary: $32,260
5. Reinforcing iron and rebar workers
Projected growth by 2016: 12 percent
Median annual salary: $38,220
*Median annual salary based on BLS data. E-mail to a friend
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