Each time you send in a resume or fill out an application, you imagine you’re just one in 100 who may never be considered for the job. But in some fields, the odds are in your favor because as the number of professionals flocking to them increases, so does the number of positions becoming available.
Cost estimator
Expected increase in jobs by 2020: 36.4 percent
Median salary: $61,405
A cost estimator calculates how much a certain project will cost a company to take on, or how much a certain product will cost to create. Cost estimators figure out where and how money can be moved around — including supplies, employees, and location — to get a project done most economically.
Health educator
Expected increase in jobs by 2020: 36.5 percent
Median salary: $52,810
A health educator might find herself working in a variety of environments including schools, clinics and even offices. Health educators make plans to help patients manage current conditions, or to intervene in a place where unhealthy elements exist.
Audiologist
Expected increase in jobs by 2020: 36.8 percent
Median salary: $69,515
Audiologists administer and interpret tests to determine the type and severity of hearing impairments of individuals. Most jobs in this field require a master’s degree.
Dental Hygienist
Expected increase in jobs by 2020: 37.7 percent
Median salary: $62, 276
This position has been one of the fastest-growing jobs for nearly a decade. Dental hygienists not only clean teeth but also often apply sealings, handle teeth bleaching and even do root planning.
Market Research Analyst
Expected increase in jobs by 2020: 41.2 percent
Median salary: $51,377
Marketing analysts conduct research to determine if a product or service will be well received in the market, as well as review the competition and predict how conditions will affect sales.
Translator
Expected increase in jobs by 2020: 42.4 percent
Median salary: $43,499
With so many advances in modern technology, translations are needed in a variety of media today. A translator provides translations between two languages either through the written or spoken word, often for businesses, individual business owners, or in court.
Ultrasound technician
Expected increase in jobs by 2020: 43.5 percent
Median salary: $65,903
So long as people keep having babies, this job will be in demand. Ultrasound technicians take images inside the body, often to capture images of a fetus, but also to determine medical conditions. An associate’s degree can land one an entry level position in this line of work.
Event planner
Expected increase in jobs by 2020: 43.7 percent
Median salary: $55,812
A professional event planner works with individuals, parties and companies, choosing and reserving locations, entertainment, food and beverages and more for events from weddings to corporate retreats, all while considering the clients’ needs and budget.
Physical therapy assistant
Expected increase in jobs by 2020: 45.7 percent
Median salary: $47,028
Requiring less training and education than an actual physical therapist, this position helps those interested in physical therapy get in on the ground floor. The assistant helps with pain relief and mobility exercises, teaches patients how to use crutches and other devices related to recovery, and assists with stretches.
Biomedical engineer
Expected increase in jobs by 2020: 61.7 percent
Median salary: $50,230
Biomedical engineers work with a variety of scientists to conceive and develop devices or procedures that help solve medical issues. These can include prosthetic body parts, home-care delivery systems and health management.