10 Best Jobs For 2016

According to the U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, job prospects are looking up for college graduates. Healthcare jobs are experiencing tremendous growth for a variety of reasons, including low unemployment in the field, good pay, and the ability to achieve work-life balance. Outside of the healthcare sector, the tech industry is another area that is good for job seekers. It’s experiencing faster than average growth, which works well for both salaries and opportunities. Programmers, software developers, and support personnel are all in high demand.

An objective look at the best paying jobs for college graduates must begin with the understanding that STEM jobs offer the highest salaries, on average, for college graduates in the near term and career wise. STEM, of course, refers to science, technology, engineering and math. With that being said, here is a list of jobs for 2016 that have the strongest projected growth in those fields and provide healthy starting salaries for recent graduates. Keep in mind, starting salaries can vary by city, state and level of experience.

1. Registered Nurse

Average Salary: $56,900 – $73,600

Predicted Growth: 2012-2022: 19 percent

Minimum Requirements: Associate or Bachelor’s degree from an approved nursing program along with a nursing license is required. The health care industry will continue to dominate for years to come. Most health care professionals are benefiting from the aging population and increasing number of insured individuals. Although the minimum requirements to become a nurse are often an associate degree, the field is becoming increasingly competitive, and a bachelor’s degree in nursing is becoming a requirement for many employers.

2. Software Engineer/ Applications Developer

Average Salary: $80,725 – $100,700

Predicted Growth in 2016-2024: 18.4 percent

Minimum Requirements: A bachelor’s degree and experience with a variety of software and technical systems are a must. However, information technology engineers are expected to continue to educate themselves in the latest technology. The technology field will continue to grow as the demand for computer networking skills increases. The need for new internet applications, system safety, and upgrades are a few of the specific duties for this role.

3. Physician Assistants

Average Salary: $84,980 Predicted Growth in 2016: 27 percent

Minimum Requirements: Completion of a two-year physician assistant program is required before candidates are eligible to take the national license exam. The job outlook for physician assistants will continue to expand as healthcare facilities, particularly in rural and inner city areas, increasingly use physician assistants to handle physician shortages and save money.

4. Web Developer

Average Salary:$63,490

Predicted Growth 2012-2022: 20 percent

Minimum Requirements: Associate degree. Despite the craze over Instagram and Twitter, websites are still a must have for everyone from Goldman Sachs to the person down the street selling lamps. Web developers that are experts in not only website design and construction, but also skilled in creating and managing e-commerce sites have a much better advantage, as well as an opportunity at higher pay. For the most part, Web Developers can work in an office setting or from the comfort of their home while earning an attractive starting salary. When considering this field, understand that demonstrated skills and a portfolio showcasing your work are more important than any degree.

5. Information Security Analyst

Average Salary: $53,400 to $85,800

Predicted Growth 2012-2022: 37 percent

Minimum Requirements: Bachelor’s degree. Network security specialists monitor computer networks for security threats or unauthorized users. Sony Pictures, Target, JPMorgan Chase, Home Depot and even the U.S. government have all been a victim of recent cyber-attacks. The FBI ranks cybercrime as one of its top law enforcement activities. If you possess the skills to design and carry out security measures that protect an organization’s data and computer networks, you’ve got a lucrative future ahead of you. Staying up-todate in computer languages, technologies and cybersecurity issues are also critical to your success. Organizations seek individuals who can stay ahead of the attackers and not react to them.

6. Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers

Average Salary: $37,980

Predicted Growth: 29.9 percent

Minimum Requirements: A Master’s degree is viewed as the standard for most counselors. Having a state certified license in addition to your education is a huge plus as well. The field of Mental Health Counseling is experiencing high demand and has become a huge topic in recent years. New health laws require that under a medical policy which offers mental health aspects, an insurer must provide the same amount of visits to a Mental Health Counselor as they provide for medical visits according to the Affordable Care Act. The criminal justice system is increasingly offering treatment programs as an alternative to incarceration, fueling the demand for qualified counselors.

7. Financial Analyst

Average Salary: $66,000

Predicted Growth 2008-2018: 20 percent

Minimum Requirements: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in finance, business, accounting, statistics, or economics. Analysts provide advice on how to best grow a company’s or individual’s worth. Getting a job in this field is heavily dependent on contacts. Growing your network through internships and university activities would be vital for success in this career field.

8. Network Systems Administrator

Average Salary: $77,910

Predicted Growth 2008-2018: 28 percent

Minimum Requirement: Most employers require a bachelor’s degree in computer science and related work experience. However, an associate’s degree combined with work experience may also be acceptable for some employers. Professional certifications, such as those offered by Microsoft and Cisco, may be required for employment or career advancement. Certain employers may also require security clearances from the Department of Defense depending upon the level or nature of the job function. In general, Network Systems Administrators ensure network availability to all users of a local area network (LAN) or wide area network (WAN). Demand is expected to increase as companies continue to invest in mobile networks, and create new and faster technologies.

9. Engineer

Average Salary: $75,780

Predicted Growth 2008-2018: 11 percent

Minimum Requirement: Bachelor of Science in engineering as well as passing state licensure exams. Employment for engineers will continue to grow as governments and industries work to meet the challenges of a growing population. The engineering field is very diverse and the average income for engineers will vary by specialty, qualifications, experience, and location. However, much of employment growth has evolved around research and development, biomed and civil engineering.

10. Accountant

Average Salary: $51,400 to $85,300

Predicted Growth: 14 percent

Minimum Requirement: Bachelor’s degree in accounting. The accounting job outlook has been favorable for aspiring accountants. Due to the increased number of audits and corporate scandals amongst national employers, companies are hiring more employees to perform accounting and financial auditing services that meet industry standards. Obtaining a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) certification is heavily preferred by auditing and accounting employers. By passing the Certified Public Accountant examination, CPA’s are assumed experts in the accounting field and their salary and benefits package reflects this. Individuals with industry-wide certifications will be highly preferred over non-certified accountants. Employers are seeking strong performers to shield them from any mistakes that may appear to weaken their brand and appearance of stability.