What does the future hold? If you have the right education, it could mean an exciting new career. These futuristic jobs are worlds from ordinary and may surprise you. Check out some of the top degrees for careers of the future, learn more about new and exciting jobs on the horizon, and learn how you can train to be a pioneer in a futuristic field.
Career training for green energy jobs
Everyone's talking about green jobs, and with good reason. These lucrative jobs are built by a demand for cleaner energy and sustainable products. From solar power to stellar marketing, the eco-friendly industry is expecting a lot of growth in the coming years. Check out a few of the top jobs for anyone interested in a sustainable income.
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Career focus: green marketer
Behind the scenes of the green product revolution are the marketers that convince us to buy. You could research and market organic and sustainable products as a green marketer. Market research analysts earned mean annual wages of $67,340 in 2008, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports. A bachelor's degree in marketing should prepare you for the job.
Career focus: biochemical engineer
The Growth Energy group recently announced a road map to sustainable biofuel production that could mean 1.3 million green collar jobs by 2022. Among those jobs would be jobs for engineers. Consider a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering or a specialized biochemical engineering degree if possible. Chemical engineers earned mean annual wages of $88,760 in 2008.
Career focus: solar photovoltaic installer
The futuristic solar panels popping up on roofs and lawns across the country are a product of solar photovoltaic installers. Most installers have experience in construction, though a knowledge of electrical systems comes in handy. Consider an associate degree in electronics or electrical systems. Wages vary depending on education and experience.
Career focus: climate change analyst
There's a lot of money to be made in saving the world. A recent job posting calling for a director of climate change policy cited a salary range of $85,000 to $110,000 and full benefits. A wide range of degrees could be acceptable for such a position: For policy leadership, consider advanced degrees in public policy, law, economics or environmental policy. For research positions, degrees in natural sciences or engineering may be acceptable.
Degree programs for enhanced systems
The government Web site Whitehouse.gov explains the importance of improving infrastructure: "Despite all of our efforts, our global digital infrastructure, based largely upon the Internet, is not secure or resilient enough today and future purposes." Funding for physical and technological improvements in infrastructure is expected to mean big job gains across the country.
From highways to the information superhighway, infrastructure careers should be high on the minds of job-hunters nationwide. Check out a few important infrastructure jobs.
Career focus: transportation planner
With the Obama administration pouring funding into infrastructure improvements, transportation planners will be needed to focus their civil engineering skills on transportation infrastructure. Civil engineers earned mean annual wages of $78,560 in 2008, the BLS reports. A bachelor's degree in civil engineering could be considered adequate training for all but the most technical positions.
Career focus: computer systems engineer
Just as transportation infrastructure will improve with engineering, so will computer systems. These specialized engineers use bachelor's degrees in computer engineering or computer science to design and implement new software and systems for computers. Computer software engineers earned mean annual wages of $87,900 in 2008, the BLS notes.
Health care careers expected to grow
An aging population and improving technology are two of the biggest reasons behind potential health care career growth, the BLS notes. Health care careers held a strong presence on the list of fastest growing occupations projected between 2006 and 2016. Careers for home health aides, medical assistants, substance abuse counselors, veterinarians, physical therapist assistants and pharmacy technicians all made the list.
Registered nurses are also expected to see big career gains. The BLS adds that "registered nurses are projected to generate 587,000 new jobs, among the largest number of new jobs for any occupation." Within the field of nursing, you can specialize in a range of care options, including prenatal and adult acute care.
Career focus: acute care nurse
Patients of acute care nurses have brief but severe illness and require skilled, focused care. While the career itself is not new, growth in the field is expected. All registered nurses earned mean annual salaries of $65,130 in 2008, according to the BLS; with specialization in acute care, that figure is likely to rise. A bachelor's degree in nursing with a certification in acute care is the most common route to the position.
Online education for futuristic careers
If you're training for a futuristic job, why limit yourself to a traditional education? Online education programs give you the chance to improve your valuable technology skills as you train for a career that will likely require a high level of computer ability. Even jobs outside the IT world have begun to require a high level of computer software knowledge, something you can begin to attain with an online degree.
While no career training program can guarantee one of these futuristic careers, it's safe to say that hiring managers of the future will likely prefer or require formal education among applicants. Train for an exciting future career today, and you'll enjoy the benefits in the years to come.
