Jobs expected to grow the most by 2026
Deciding which career to pursue after high school often involves carefully balancing passion and finance, which only becomes harder when the average college graduate holds around $37,000 in student-loan debt. For the last decade, educators from elementary schools to colleges are pushing more students toward the growing fields of science, technology, math, and engineering to better their chances of finding a good job once they enter the workforce. Critics worry the renewed focus on STEM will lead to sacrifices in other areas of U.S. education. Others see STEM as the future of the U.S. economy in the 21st century, with growth of over 20% in these fields compared to just 4% in non-STEM sectors.
STEM occupations may be the present for the U.S. job market, but will they continue to be the wave of the future? Stacker analyzed Bureau of Labor Statistics employment data comparing 2016 statistics to projections for 2026 to rank the 100 jobs that will see the most growth over the next eight years by percentage change in jobs. If two jobs had the same projected growth, the field that employed more people was ranked higher.
It looks like the U.S. will be riding the STEM wave for a while longer. The results reveal that over 90 of the 100 jobs on this list require some level of technical knowledge, from pipelayers to computer programmers. Read on to discover the few non-STEM jobs that managed to make the cut, and see why pursuing the health care field might be the safest bet if you’re planning on job hunting in the next few years.
#100: Geological and petroleum technicians
Projected percent change in employment between 2016 and 2026: 16.4%
Total employment in 2016: 15,000
Total projected employment in 2026: 17,400
#99: Social and human service assistants
Projected percent change in employment between 2016 and 2026: 16.4%
Total employment in 2016: 389,800
Total projected employment in 2026: 453,600
#98: Forensic science technicians
Projected percent change in employment between 2016 and 2026: 16.8%
Total employment in 2016: 15,400
Total projected employment in 2026: 18,000
#97: Combined food preparation and serving workers, including fast food
Projected percent change in employment between 2016 and 2026: 16.8%
Total employment in 2016: 3,452,200
Total projected employment in 2026: 4,032,100
#96: Film and video editors
Projected percent change in employment between 2016 and 2026: 17%
Total employment in 2016: 34,200
Total projected employment in 2026: 40,000
#95: Counselors
Projected percent change in employment between 2016 and 2026: 17%
Total employment in 2016: 744,500
Total projected employment in 2026: 870,700
#94: Septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners
Projected percent change in employment between 2016 and 2026: 17.2%
Total employment in 2016: 28,500
Total projected employment in 2026: 33,400
#93: Pipelayers
Projected percent change in employment between 2016 and 2026: 17.2%
Total employment in 2016: 44,100
Total projected employment in 2026: 51,700
#92: Hazardous materials removal workers
Projected percent change in employment between 2016 and 2026: 17.2%
Total employment in 2016: 46,200
Total projected employment in 2026: 54,100
#91: Miscellaneous health practitioners and technical workers
Projected percent change in employment between 2016 and 2026: 17.3%
Total employment in 2016: 70,800
Total projected employment in 2026: 83,100
#90: Interpreters and translators
Projected percent change in employment between 2016 and 2026: 17.7%
Total employment in 2016: 68,200
Total projected employment in 2026: 80,300
#89: Speech-language pathologists
Projected percent change in employment between 2016 and 2026: 17.8%
Total employment in 2016: 145,100
Total projected employment in 2026: 171,000
#88: Software developers and programmers
Projected percent change in employment between 2016 and 2026: 17.8%
Total employment in 2016: 1,714,000
Total projected employment in 2026: 2,019,600
#87: Optometrists
Projected percent change in employment between 2016 and 2026: 17.9%
Total employment in 2016: 40,200
Total projected employment in 2026: 47,400
#86: Social and community service managers
Projected percent change in employment between 2016 and 2026: 18%
Total employment in 2016: 147,300
Total projected employment in 2026: 173,800
#85: Community health workers
Projected percent change in employment between 2016 and 2026: 18.1%
Total employment in 2016: 57,500
Total projected employment in 2026: 67,800
#84: Business teachers, postsecondary
Projected percent change in employment between 2016 and 2026: 18.1%
Total employment in 2016: 104,200
Total projected employment in 2026: 123,000
#83: Helpers—pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
Projected percent change in employment between 2016 and 2026: 18.6%
Total employment in 2016: 55,500
Total projected employment in 2026: 65,800
#82: Extraction workers
Projected percent change in employment between 2016 and 2026: 18.6%
Total employment in 2016: 194,400
Total projected employment in 2026: 230,600
#81: Financial managers
Projected percent change in employment between 2016 and 2026: 18.7%
Total employment in 2016: 580,400
Total projected employment in 2026: 689,000
#80: Veterinarians
Projected percent change in employment between 2016 and 2026: 18.8%
Total employment in 2016: 79,600
Total projected employment in 2026: 94,600
#79: Prosthodontists
Projected percent change in employment between 2016 and 2026: 19.1%
Total employment in 2016: 900
Total projected employment in 2026: 1,100
#78: Oral and maxillofacial surgeons
Projected percent change in employment between 2016 and 2026: 19.1%
Total employment in 2016: 6,800
Total projected employment in 2026: 8,100
#77: Dentists
Projected percent change in employment between 2016 and 2026: 19.1%
Total employment in 2016: 153,500
Total projected employment in 2026: 182,800
#76: Personal care and service occupations
Projected percent change in employment between 2016 and 2026: 19.1%
Total employment in 2016: 6,419,700
Total projected employment in 2026: 7,647,400
#75: Computer and information research scientists
Projected percent change in employment between 2016 and 2026: 19.2%
Total employment in 2016: 27,900
Total projected employment in 2026: 33,200
#74: Orthodontists
Projected percent change in employment between 2016 and 2026: 19.3%
Total employment in 2016: 6,600
Total projected employment in 2026: 7,800
#73: Mental health and substance abuse social workers
Projected percent change in employment between 2016 and 2026: 19.3%
Total employment in 2016: 123,900
Total projected employment in 2026: 147,900
#72: Cartographers and photogrammetrists
Projected percent change in employment between 2016 and 2026: 19.4%
Total employment in 2016: 12,600
Total projected employment in 2026: 15,000
#71: Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers
Projected percent change in employment between 2016 and 2026: 19.4%
Total employment in 2016: 83,800
Total projected employment in 2026: 100,000
#70: Dentists, general
Projected percent change in employment between 2016 and 2026: 19.4%
Total employment in 2016: 132,800
Total projected employment in 2026: 158,500
#69: Hearing aid specialists
Projected percent change in employment between 2016 and 2026: 19.5%
Total employment in 2016: 6,800
Total projected employment in 2026: 8,200
#68: Ophthalmic medical technicians
Projected percent change in employment between 2016 and 2026: 19.5%
Total employment in 2016: 44,500
Total projected employment in 2026: 53,200
#67: Dental assistants
Projected percent change in employment between 2016 and 2026: 19.5%
Total employment in 2016: 332,000
Total projected employment in 2026: 396,600
#66: Earth drillers, except oil and gas
Projected percent change in employment between 2016 and 2026: 19.6%
Total employment in 2016: 19,600
Total projected employment in 2026: 23,500
#65: Helpers—extraction workers
Projected percent change in employment between 2016 and 2026: 19.7%
Total employment in 2016: 17,000
Total projected employment in 2026: 20,300
#64: Health technologists and technicians, all other
Projected percent change in employment between 2016 and 2026: 19.7%
Total employment in 2016: 127,800
Total projected employment in 2026: 152,900
#63: Dental hygienists
Projected percent change in employment between 2016 and 2026: 19.7%
Total employment in 2016: 207,900
Total projected employment in 2026: 248,900
#62: Miscellaneous health technologists and technicians
Projected percent change in employment between 2016 and 2026: 19.8%
Total employment in 2016: 142,400
Total projected employment in 2026: 170,600
#61: Therapists, all other
Projected percent change in employment between 2016 and 2026: 19.9%
Total employment in 2016: 24,100
Total projected employment in 2026: 28,900
#60: Veterinary technologists and technicians
Projected percent change in employment between 2016 and 2026: 20%
Total employment in 2016: 102,000
Total projected employment in 2026: 122,400
#59: Health care social workers
Projected percent change in employment between 2016 and 2026: 20.1%
Total employment in 2016: 176,500
Total projected employment in 2026: 212,000
#58: Medical and health services managers
Projected percent change in employment between 2016 and 2026: 20.5%
Total employment in 2016: 352,200
Total projected employment in 2026: 424,300
#57: Nurse midwives
Projected percent change in employment between 2016 and 2026: 20.7%
Total employment in 2016: 6,500
Total projected employment in 2026: 7,800
#56: Audiologists
Projected percent change in employment between 2016 and 2026: 20.7%
Total employment in 2016: 14,800
Total projected employment in 2026: 17,800
#55: Wellhead pumpers
Projected percent change in employment between 2016 and 2026: 21.7%
Total employment in 2016: 11,500
Total projected employment in 2026: 14,000
#54: Miscellaneous health care support occupations
Projected percent change in employment between 2016 and 2026: 21.7%
Total employment in 2016: 1,418,800
Total projected employment in 2026: 1,727,400
#53: Animal care and service workers
Projected percent change in employment between 2016 and 2026: 21.8%
Total employment in 2016: 296,400
Total projected employment in 2026: 361,000
#52: Ambulance drivers and attendants, except emergency medical technicians
Projected percent change in employment between 2016 and 2026: 21.9%
Total employment in 2016: 17,300
Total projected employment in 2026: 21,100
#51: Orthotists and prosthetists
Projected percent change in employment between 2016 and 2026: 22.2%
Total employment in 2016: 7,800
Total projected employment in 2026: 9,500
#50: Other health care support occupations
Projected percent change in employment between 2016 and 2026: 22.2%
Total employment in 2016: 1,579,100
Total projected employment in 2026: 1,929,800
#49: Actuaries
Projected percent change in employment between 2016 and 2026: 22.5%
Total employment in 2016: 23,600
Total projected employment in 2026: 28,900
#48: Medical secretaries
Projected percent change in employment between 2016 and 2026: 22.5%
Total employment in 2016: 574,200
Total projected employment in 2026: 703,200
#47: Athletic trainers
Projected percent change in employment between 2016 and 2026: 22.8%
Total employment in 2016: 27,800
Total projected employment in 2026: 34,100
#46: Therapists
Projected percent change in employment between 2016 and 2026: 22.8%
Total employment in 2016: 723,000
Total projected employment in 2026: 888,000
#45: Other personal care and service workers
Projected percent change in employment between 2016 and 2026: 23%
Total employment in 2016: 4,129,500
Total projected employment in 2026: 5,077,900
#44: Mental health counselors
Projected percent change in employment between 2016 and 2026: 23.1%
Total employment in 2016: 157,700
Total projected employment in 2026: 194,200
#43: Diagnostic medical sonographers
Projected percent change in employment between 2016 and 2026: 23.2%
Total employment in 2016: 67,300
Total projected employment in 2026: 82,900
#42: Substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors
Projected percent change in employment between 2016 and 2026: 23.2%
Total employment in 2016: 102,400
Total projected employment in 2026: 126,200
#41: Market research analysts and marketing specialists
Projected percent change in employment between 2016 and 2026: 23.2%
Total employment in 2016: 595,400
Total projected employment in 2026: 733,700
#40: Service unit operators, oil, gas, and mining
Projected percent change in employment between 2016 and 2026: 23.4%
Total employment in 2016: 41,400
Total projected employment in 2026: 51,100
#39: Marriage and family therapists
Projected percent change in employment between 2016 and 2026: 23.4%
Total employment in 2016: 41,500
Total projected employment in 2026: 51,200
#38: Respiratory therapists
Projected percent change in employment between 2016 and 2026: 23.4%
Total employment in 2016: 130,200
Total projected employment in 2026: 160,600
#37: Health care support occupations
Projected percent change in employment between 2016 and 2026: 23.6%
Total employment in 2016: 4,315,600
Total projected employment in 2026: 5,335,200
#36: Occupational therapists
Projected percent change in employment between 2016 and 2026: 23.8%
Total employment in 2016: 130,400
Total projected employment in 2026: 161,400
#35: Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary
Projected percent change in employment between 2016 and 2026: 24%
Total employment in 2016: 67,900
Total projected employment in 2026: 84,200
#34: Derrick, rotary drill, and service unit operators, oil, gas, and mining
Projected percent change in employment between 2016 and 2026: 24%
Total employment in 2016: 69,200
Total projected employment in 2026: 85,800
#33: Nursing, psychiatric, and home health aides
Projected percent change in employment between 2016 and 2026: 24%
Total employment in 2016: 2,549,400
Total projected employment in 2026: 3,162,400
#32: Rotary drill operators, oil and gas
Projected percent change in employment between 2016 and 2026: 24.2%
Total employment in 2016: 16,700
Total projected employment in 2026: 20,800
#31: Nonfarm animal caretakers
Projected percent change in employment between 2016 and 2026: 24.2%
Total employment in 2016: 241,500
Total projected employment in 2026: 300,000
#30: Phlebotomists
Projected percent change in employment between 2016 and 2026: 24.5%
Total employment in 2016: 122,700
Total projected employment in 2026: 152,800
#29: Occupational therapy aides
Projected percent change in employment between 2016 and 2026: 24.7%
Total employment in 2016: 7,500
Total projected employment in 2026: 9,300
#28: Roustabouts, oil and gas
Projected percent change in employment between 2016 and 2026: 24.8%
Total employment in 2016: 50,000
Total projected employment in 2026: 62,400
#27: Health teachers, postsecondary
Projected percent change in employment between 2016 and 2026: 25.5%
Total employment in 2016: 301,400
Total projected employment in 2026: 378,300
#26: Derrick operators, oil and gas
Projected percent change in employment between 2016 and 2026: 25.7%
Total employment in 2016: 11,100
Total projected employment in 2026: 13,900
#25: Health specialties teachers, postsecondary
Projected percent change in employment between 2016 and 2026: 25.9%
Total employment in 2016: 233,500
Total projected employment in 2026: 294,000
#24: Massage therapists
Projected percent change in employment between 2016 and 2026: 26.3%
Total employment in 2016: 160,300
Total projected employment in 2026: 202,400
#23: Forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists
Projected percent change in employment between 2016 and 2026: 26.6%
Total employment in 2016: 1,700
Total projected employment in 2026: 2,200
#22: Operations research analysts
Projected percent change in employment between 2016 and 2026: 27.4%
Total employment in 2016: 114,000
Total projected employment in 2026: 145,300
#21: Mathematical science occupations
Projected percent change in employment between 2016 and 2026: 27.9%
Total employment in 2016: 180,700
Total projected employment in 2026: 231,000
#20: Physical therapists
Projected percent change in employment between 2016 and 2026: 28%
Total employment in 2016: 239,800
Total projected employment in 2026: 306,900
#19: Occupational therapy assistants and aides
Projected percent change in employment between 2016 and 2026: 28.3%
Total employment in 2016: 46,800
Total projected employment in 2026: 60,000
#18: Information security analysts
Projected percent change in employment between 2016 and 2026: 28.5%
Total employment in 2016: 100,000
Total projected employment in 2026: 128,500
#17: Occupational therapy assistants
Projected percent change in employment between 2016 and 2026: 28.9%
Total employment in 2016: 39,300
Total projected employment in 2026: 50,700
#16: Genetic counselors
Projected percent change in employment between 2016 and 2026: 29%
Total employment in 2016: 3,100
Total projected employment in 2026: 4,000
#15: Medical assistants
Projected percent change in employment between 2016 and 2026: 29%
Total employment in 2016: 634,400
Total projected employment in 2026: 818,400
#14: Bicycle repairers
Projected percent change in employment between 2016 and 2026: 29.3%
Total employment in 2016: 12,400
Total projected employment in 2026: 16,100
#13: Physical therapist aides
Projected percent change in employment between 2016 and 2026: 29.4%
Total employment in 2016: 52,000
Total projected employment in 2026: 67,200
#12: Mathematicians
Projected percent change in employment between 2016 and 2026: 29.7%
Total employment in 2016: 3,100
Total projected employment in 2026: 4,000
#11: Occupational therapy and physical therapist assistants and aides
Projected percent change in employment between 2016 and 2026: 29.9%
Total employment in 2016: 187,100
Total projected employment in 2026: 243,000
#10: Physical therapist assistants and aides
Projected percent change in employment between 2016 and 2026: 30.4%
Total employment in 2016: 140,300
Total projected employment in 2026: 183,000
#9: Software developers, applications
Projected percent change in employment between 2016 and 2026: 30.7%
Total employment in 2016: 831,300
Total projected employment in 2026: 1,086,600
#8: Physical therapist assistants
Projected percent change in employment between 2016 and 2026: 31%
Total employment in 2016: 88,300
Total projected employment in 2026: 115,800
#7: Statisticians
Projected percent change in employment between 2016 and 2026: 33.8%
Total employment in 2016: 37,200
Total projected employment in 2026: 49,800
#6: Nurse practitioners
Projected percent change in employment between 2016 and 2026: 36.1%
Total employment in 2016: 155,500
Total projected employment in 2026: 211,600
#5: Physician assistants
Projected percent change in employment between 2016 and 2026: 37.3%
Total employment in 2016: 106,200
Total projected employment in 2026: 145,900
#4: Personal care aides
Projected percent change in employment between 2016 and 2026: 38.6%
Total employment in 2016: 2,016,100
Total projected employment in 2026: 2,793,800
#3: Home health aides
Projected percent change in employment between 2016 and 2026: 47.3%
Total employment in 2016: 911,500
Total projected employment in 2026: 1,342,700
#2: Wind turbine service technicians
Projected percent change in employment between 2016 and 2026: 96.3%
Total employment in 2016: 5,800
Total projected employment in 2026: 11,300
#1: Solar photovoltaic installers
Projected percent change in employment between 2016 and 2026: 104.9%
Total employment in 2016: 11,300
Total projected employment in 2026: 23,100
