These 12 careers are your best chance to get a job in 2024

The software industry revenue is valued in the hundreds of billions of dollars a year and although experts may not agree on the exact dollar value, they all do agree that this industry is booming.  So, if your eyes were designed to look at a laptop screen for most of the day and you prefer to work alone with the organized efficiency of computing code, a high-paying gig as a software developer promises to fulfill your dreams.

Also, being that your product is digital, many companies hiring have flexible work-from-anywhere policies. 

It's sometimes a hybrid job that requires you to be both a creative problem solver and highly structured. Your work companions will be organized files and unforgiving code.

So, if you love working on your laptop with your toes in the sand and you can handle bringing in over $100,000 a year, this one is for you.

As a developer, you will be expected to handle the following:

• Analyze information to plan a new system installation or modify an existing one

• Analyze the needs of users and assess the software requirements to determine the design timeframe and cost estimates

• Discuss and coordinate information and limitations of a project with project managers

To get started, you will need a bachelor's degree in computer and information technology or a related field, such as engineering or mathematics. Regarding career growth, as a software developer, you may choose to move up the chain of command, become the boss, and earn over $200K per year as a computer and information systems manager. 

This video shows what it's like to be a software developer:

 The high volume of new hires for General Managers and Operations Managers is what puts this career at number four.  You will look like a strong candidate to hire if you show them you have leadership skills as well as Dependability, Attention to Detail, Communication, Decision-making, Problem-solving, and time management.

 This is definitely an office job with mandatory computer skills.  You will be putting out internal "fires", and spending a lot of time trying to make those unnecessary office meetings as productive as possible.

 If you are up for enduring the daily stresses and pressures of upper management and $147K a year is enough to ease your pain, then this could be your perfect career.  But you can't just step into this gig. You are going to need at least a Bachelor's degree.

 The American Management Association and National Management Association also have some educational program information.

 If you love the money and security of medical careers but would rather work a desk job around healthy people, you might consider a career as a Medical and Health Services Manager.  Your day-to-day activities behind the desk will be to plan, direct, and coordinate the business activities of healthcare providers. 

 Start by taking a career assessment test to help you determine if you have the right work personality for this profession.

 If you do, you will be helping medical professionals manage the business side of their practice and keep them organized. Sure, you will be busy pushing papers in the medical office and having meetings with doctors but not too busy to get to the bank and cash your hefty salary checks totaling over $100,000 per year!

 However, to be a Medical and Health Services Manager, you are going to need at least a bachelor’s degree.  Master’s degrees are common and sometimes preferred by employers.

 Take a look at this video about what it's like to work in this career:

 Your typical day could start with a problem brought to your attention regarding procedures and protocol, and by using your problem-solving and organizing skills, you will help management operate more efficiently.

 You will need at least a bachelor's degree, but some employers prefer to hire candidates who have a master’s degree in business administration (MBA).  Your best hiring advantage is going to be joining the ranks of the 24% of hires with Master's degrees and completing certification at the Institute of Management Consultants USA. 

 This video shows you what it's like to be a management analyst:

Bonus #2
Computer and Information Systems Managers

86,000 new jobs
 

Average salary of $164,070 per year

 You would be part of the "IT" team everyone calls for when they are on the edge of throwing their computer out the window. Computer and information systems managers are also referred to as information technology (IT) managers or IT project managers. 

 If a meeting has the word computer in the title, you will likely be there. You are responsible for all computer-related activities in an organization from planning to directing upgrades. You may also be asked to be a part of planning the technology goals of a company and guiding the computer system requirements for those goals.

 The majority of successful people in this career work well alone for longer periods of time and have the work personality strength of introversion.  Find out your natural work personality strengths by taking one of the best career tests used by corporate recruiters.  Then, if this is still the job for you, get a bachelor's degree in either computer and information technology or engineering technology.

 Here are specific types of computer and information systems managers:
Chief information officers (CIOs)
Chief technology officers (CTOs)
IT directors
IT security managers 

Bonus #3
Physician Assistants

Much Faster Than Average High growth rate
 

Average salary of $125,270 per year
 

Recession Resistant

Bonus #4
Information Security Analyst

32% growth rate (very high)

salary of $119,000 per year

 It's no longer "if" a hacker will attempt to compromise a company's computer network; it's now inevitable. AI and bot and virus traffic officially outnumber real people on the internet, and many of these programs are malicious and work tirelessly to hack a company.  The behind-the-scenes brain staying one step ahead of the destruction is the Information Security Analyst. 

 It's a critically important job that may look quiet from the outside until something goes wrong.  They are counting on you to find the vulnerabilities and security issues before the bad guys do.  You will be responsible for designing and implementing the security protocols and backup plans to safeguard the digital property of the company.  Things like software upgrades, patches, encryption, and firewalls are your weapons in the war for your company's data.

 This career's growth is exploding, with a projected 32% increase in hiring over the next 8 years.  But, more than lightning-fast typing skills, you'll need a bachelor's degree in computer and information technology, engineering, or math and the natural personality characteristics to keep you on the job with as little stress as possible. Learn how to get your work personality Fit Score for this career.

 If you want to stand out against the other applicants, you'll want to be certified as a CISSP or Certified Information Systems Security Professional.

 This video gives you a peek into the world of an information security analyst:

Bonus #5
Actuary

23.2% growth (much faster than average)

$127,580 per year average salary

If you love charts and graphs, data, statistics, and crunching the numbers for the probability of accidents, you could be the perfect fit for a career as an Actuary. You'll be the person helping insurance companies decide how much money to charge for insurance premiums to stay competitive and not go bankrupt.

Most actuaries work in teams in an office setting but occasional travel and meeting with clients may come with the job.  Seventy-nine percent of the professionals in this career have a bachelor's degree in math or business and certifications always help the resume, so consider the Casualty Actuarial Society (CAS) and the Society of Actuaries (SOA).

This unique career isn't for everyone but if you are in this zone and really good at it, you can earn close to $200,000 per year (on the high end of the salary averages).

Watch this video about being an actuary:

 How do you know which of these is the best career for you?

 Don’t just choose one of these careers because it pays well or your parents think it’s a good fit for you. There is a way you can find out if your personality fits one of these careers. Take a career test for your work personality, learn about your personality strengths in a working environment, and see the list of careers that fit you best. This will help guide you to the best career for you.

 This is your life and the career you will be investing in for many years. Making the right career choice will bring you joy, energy, and passion for what you do. After all, if you enjoy your work, you will never work a day in your life. 

 Learn more about CareerFitter.com. Take the career test or learn more about the career test.