Most Marketable University Degrees
The year 2011 marks a huge transition: It's the year the Baby Boom generation -- one of the largest generations in U.S. history -- begins to turn 65 years of age and enter retirement. The exit of the Baby Boomers means new workers and professional staffers will be needed to take their place -- but the landscape is changing in other important ways. Old standby careers in manufacturing, academia, communications and other fields no longer offer a sure route to success. Some career paths are heating up and still dynamic, yielding a high return on your education dollar.
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Computer Science
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The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment growth in computer science will exceed that of most other professions -- maintaining a rate of 24 percent through 2018. The increasing sophistication of technology and the need for systems and software to drive it are the main forces behind the impressive growth. Workers who hold a Ph.D. in computer science are already in such high demand that, in some areas, there are more jobs than applicants. The median annual wage for computer and information scientists in 2008 was $97,970, according to the BLS.
Nursing
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At a rate of 22 percent -- expected to continue through at least 2018 -- nursing employment is forecast to increase faster than that of most other professions, says the BLS. Technological advances, an increasing emphasis on preventive care and an aging population are the main factors driving this growth. The mean annual wage for a registered nurse in May 2009 was $66,530.
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Financial Analysis
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Although the rate of employment for financial analysts is growing rapidly, so is competition for the well-paying jobs in this field. The BLS estimates that the growth rate will be about 20 percent through 2018 -- a very good showing. The reasons: Investment is becoming increasingly complex and global in nature, and the amount of assets that require expert management is rising. The median annual wage for a financial analyst in 2008 was $73,150 -- more than twice the U.S. median wage.
Teaching
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A significant proportion of the teaching workforce is expected to retire over the next decade, opening the door to newcomers, especially special education teachers. According to the BLS, the number of special education teaching jobs will increase at about 17 percent through 2018, creating "excellent" prospects. In 2008, the median wage for a special education teacher was $50,000 to just over $51,000, depending on the age level of students she managed.
Engineering
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This field is expected to grow at the same rate as the average for all jobs in the United States -- about 11 percent through 2018 -- though some types of engineering will do better than others. In greatest demand are biomedical engineers, with an expected growth rate of a whopping 72 percent. Civil engineers will see growth of about 24 percent through 2018, environmental engineers growth of about 14 percent, and chemical engineers will see a 2 percent decline. The median wage for a biomedical engineer in 2008 was $77,400. It was $74,600 for civil engineers, $74,020 for environmental engineers and $84,680 for chemical engineers.
Other Projections
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According to a 2010 article in "U.S. News & World Report," the best careers include accountant, financial adviser, commercial pilot, dental hygienist, clergy, education administrator and biomedical, civil and software engineers.
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References
- Photo Credit operation nurse image by Andrey Rakhmatullin from Fotolia.com
