The Most Important Jobs To Apply for This Year
Written by
Kathryn Jackson
Edited by
Laura Bogart
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When looking at the job market for 2025, in a rapidly changing economy, consider working for industries that are expected to grow, like healthcare and tech. Besides salary, make sure to inquire what job benefits are offered, like health insurance, retirement plans, paid time off and mental health support.
It also helps to look in a field that needs more people, so even if the candidate pool is large, you have a better chance of being hired. According to a study by Resume Genius, here are some of the most needed jobs to apply for this year.
Software Developer
- Required education: Bachelor’s degree or training
- Median annual salary: $130,160
Software developers are responsible for designing software for computer programs and applications. According to the most recent information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), in 2023, software developers held approximately 1.7 million jobs.
The top-paying industries for software developers are software publishers, manufacturing, and finance and insurance.
Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Anesthetist and Nurse Midwife
- Required education: Master’s degree
- Median annual salary: $129,480
Nurse practitioners have additional training that allow them to provide many of the same services as physicians. Nurse anesthetists administer anesthesia before, during and after certain procedures, including therapeutic, obstetrical, diagnostic and surgical. Nurse midwives deliver babies, manage emergency situations during labor and may also provide primary maternity care for women.
Outpatient care centers, hospitals and physician’s offices are the highest-paying locations for all of these medical professionals.
Education Administrator
- Required education: Master’s degree
- Median annual salary: $111,020
Education administrators are responsible for ensuring that educational institutions are run efficiently by developing curriculums and implementing procedures and policies.
Top-paying options for education administrators include physician’s offices, scientific research and development services, and general medical and surgical hospitals, according to BLS data.
General and Operations Manager
- Required education: Bachelor’s degree
- Median annual salary: $101,280
General and operations managers coordinate the operations of public or private sector organizations, possibly in more than one location.
Top-paying industries for these professionals are monetary authorities-central bank securities, commodity contracts and other financial investments and related activities, and computer and peripheral equipment manufacturing, according to the BLS.
 Management Analyst
- Required education: Bachelor’s degree
- Median annual salary: $99,410
Management analysts offer managers ways to improve efficiency, reduce costs and increase revenues to make organizations more profitable.
Professional, scientific and technical services, management of companies and enterprises, and finance and insurance government are the highest-paying industries for management analysts.
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