The events of the beginning of this decade have permanently altered what will be considered an in-demand career for years to come. As a result, you might have noticed a change from which careers were considered solid in 2017, 2018, and even 2019. Let’s look at an updated list.

Construction Worker

Jobs in the construction industries will likely continue to be in demand as more housing will be built, and existing business models will change. The average salary for construction workers is currently just over $31K a year, making it an attractive job for high school graduates who want to start working right away. Construction workers, or laborers, typically start out with tasks such as cleaning debris from job sites, loading and unloading tools, assembling barricades, helping more advanced workers, and holding “slow” and “stop” signs to regulate the flow of traffic. With time, experience, apprenticeship, and/or specialized training, construction workers can go on to become carpenters, electricians, structural metal workers, floor installers, or construction managers.

Certified Nursing Assistant

A Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) works directly under the supervision of a Registered Nurse in a variety of medical and healthcare settings, including hospitals, doctor’s offices, and nursing homes. Training to become a CNA includes learning how to take vital signs, feed patients, change bed linens, bathe and dress patients, move patients, and record observations of patient health. Nursing assistants average about $28K a year and should have a high school diploma (or GED) and state certification. 

Registered Nurse

To become a Registered Nurse (RN), you’ll need much more education than you do to become a CNA, but your earning potential is much higher. The national average salary for RNs is just over $70K a year. To become an RN, you’ll need a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree, either from a traditional university or a specialized nursing college, and you’ll need to pass a licensing exam (known as NCLEX-RN) and fulfill state licensing requirements. RNs can administer medications, perform diagnostic tests, and collaborate with medical doctors to provide the best possible patient care.

Long-Term Care Administrator

A long-term care administrator (or nursing home administrator) manages long-term care facilities by overseeing all departments and operations. The average salary for nursing home administrators crosses into the low six-figure range, and the career field is expected to grow over the next decade. To become an administrator, you’ll need a bachelor’s degree in a healthcare-related field, plus graduate work such as a Certificate in Healthcare Analytics or a Master of Health Administration. After completing coursework, potential long-term care administrators must become licensed.

Medical Technologist

If you’re looking for a healthcare career but don’t want to interact with patients directly, consider getting your bachelor’s degree in medical technology or clinical laboratory science. You’ll want to hone your biology and chemistry skills and learn to work with a variety of medical equipment and tools. Medical technologists test blood, other fluids, and body tissue samples, and they work with medical lab technicians. The work a medical technologist does is vital to the healthcare process. Technologists may specialize in a variety of fields, including forensic pathology, transfusion medicine, neuropathology, and others.

Truck Driver

Truck driving might not sound glamorous, but without truck drivers, there would be nothing on your local grocery and retail store shelves, and none of the packages you order online would ever get to you. Truck drivers can earn a living wage, too; the national average salary is over $57K a year. The lifestyle appeals to people who like the call of the open road. Training typically involves attending a trade school; upon completion, you’ll need to test for your commercial driver’s license, pass a drug and alcohol screening, and demonstrate that you have a clean driving record. 

Information Security Specialist

With all of our information online, information security specialists are going to become more and more important. Analysts in the information security field typically earn an average of over $81K a year and have earned a bachelor’s degree in programming, computer science, or a related field. If you work in the information security field, you’ll work with firewalls, antivirus software, and proxies, and you’ll need a firm grasp of networking.