Here are the fastest growing occupations, through 2018, requiring at least a master's degree. The median salaries, given below, are not necessarily what you would earn if you were working in this field. Half the workers earned below it and half earned above it. Earnings vary by employer and depend on factors including level of experience and training, and location. Use the Salary Wizard at Salary.com to learn about salaries and wages where you live and work.
Sources:
CareerOneStop, Fastest-Growing Occupations
Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-2011
O*NET OnLine
Medical scientists research human diseases and conditions with an eye toward improving human health. Employment of mental health counselors is expected to grow by 40% through 2018. To work in this occupation you must have a Ph.D. Medical scientists earned a median annual salary of $72,590 in 2008.
Physician assistants are medical practitioners who work under the supervision of doctors. Their training, a master's degree, allows physician assistants to provide diagnostic, therapeutic, and preventive healthcare services. Employment in this field is expected to grow by 39% through 2018. Physician assistants earned a median annual salary of $81,230 in 2008.
Biochemists and biophysicists study living organisms and their relationship to the environment. We can expect to see a 37% growth in employment through 2018. One must usually earn a Ph.D. to work as a biochemist or biophysicist, but those who want to work in applied research, product development, management or inspection may be able find employment with only a bachelor's degree. Biochemists and biophysicists earned a median annual salary of $82,840 in 2008.
Veterinarians provide healthcare for pets, livestock, and zoo, sporting, and laboratory animals. Employment in this field is expected to grow by 33% through 2018. To work as a veterinarian one must earn a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. In 2008, the median annual salary for this job was $75,230.
Physical therapists (PTs) provide services that restore patients' functions, improve mobility, relieve pain, and prevent or limit permanent physical disabilities. Employment in this field is expected grow by 30% through 2018. Physical therapists have either a master's or a doctoral degree. Median annual earnings were $72,790 in 2008.
Anthropologists study the ways of life, languages, archaeological remains and physical characteristics of people in various parts of the world.
Archaeologists learn about earlier civilizations by examining material evidence. Employment of both anthropologists and archaeologists is expected to grow by 28% through 2018. To become an anthropologist or archaeologist one must earn at least a master's degree, but those who want to work in a college or university must earn a Ph.D. Anthropologists and archaeologists earned a median annual salary of $53,910 in 2008.
Environmental scientists and specialists, through their research, help to protect the environment. They identify, abate, and eliminate hazards to people and wildlife. Environmental scientists and specialists are expected to see a 28% increase in employment through 2018. Those who want to work in this field must earn, at the minimum, a master's degree. Environmental scientists and specialists earned a median annual salary of $59,750 in 2008.
A prosthodontist is a
dentist who specializes in replacing and restoring teeth. There is expected to be a 28% growth in employment between 2008 and 2018. To work as a prosthodontist one must earn a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree or a Doctor of Dental Medicine Degree (DMD) from a dental school. The median annual salary of those working in this area of dentistry was approximately $166,400 in 2008 (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
"Industrial-organizational psychologists apply psychological principles and research methods to the workplace in the interest of improving productivity and the quality of worklife," according to the
Occupational Outlook Handbook. Employment in this field is expected to grow by 26% through 2018. Median annual earnings of industrial-organizational psychologists were $77,010 in 2008. One can work in this field with a master's degree in psychology.
Geographers study the land, features, inhabitants and phenomena of a specific region or area of the earth. This field should see a 26% growth in employment through 2018. To work as a geographers one generally needs a minimum of a master's degree, but a Ph.D. is required if one wants to teach in a college or university. Median earnings in this field were $66,600 in 2008.
