NueCareer

Ranked list · 30 careers

The 30 Best Jobs for the Future, Ranked on Growth, Pay and AI Resilience (2026)

Electrical Power-Line Installer and Repairer ranks first on growth, pay and AI resilience combined: +10.3% projected growth (BLS Employment Projections 2025–2035), a $95,320 median (BLS OEWS May 2025) and a resilience score of 76/100. Below are 30 careers that meet the criteria, each with its real median wage, outlook and entry requirement.

Careers on this list
30From 1,731 in the bank
Median pay on the list
$105,165BLS OEWS, May 2025
Projected to grow
30 of 30BLS EP, 2025–2035
Openings a year
407,800Combined, BLS EP

Method

How we built this list

Occupations ranked on three equally weighted measures: BLS projected employment growth over the projection decade, BLS median pay, and the NueCareer AI-resilience score derived from O*NET work activities. Each measure is a percentile across the bank, so a job has to do well on all three to rank. Only occupations paying at least the US median and projected to grow are included.

  1. Each occupation gets three percentiles across the bank: BLS projected employment growth, BLS OEWS median pay and the NueCareer AI-resilience score. The ranking is their equal-weighted average, so a job has to do well on all three.
  2. Only occupations projected to grow and paying at least the US median are included. The AI-resilience score is a NueCareer analysis of O*NET work activities, not a federal figure.
  3. BLS publishes one wage per occupation code, and several O*NET job titles can share a code. Only one title per code is listed, so the same wage does not appear over and over.
  4. Occupations with no BLS wage or projection data are excluded rather than estimated.
  5. The list is regenerated from source data on every bank refresh. It is not hand-picked and no editorial ranking is applied.

The list

The top 30 best jobs for the future

100% of these careers already have a full profile page; the rest publish with the next tranche and show the same bank data here in the meantime.

  1. 1

    1. Electrical Power-Line Installer and Repairer

    Installation, Maintenance, and Repair

    Median pay
    $95,320median a year
    Growth
    +10.3%
    Openings / yr
    10,900
    Education
    High school

    Install or repair cables or wires used in electrical power or distribution systems.

  2. 2

    2. Nurse Anesthetist

    Healthcare Practitioners and Technical

    Median pay
    $236,590median a year
    Growth
    +9.7%
    Openings / yr
    2,400
    Education
    Master's

    Administer anesthesia, monitor patient's vital signs, and oversee patient recovery from anesthesia.

  3. 3

    3. Wind Energy Operations Manager

    Management

    Median pay
    $141,900median a year
    Growth
    +4.9%
    Openings / yr
    100,900
    Education
    Bachelor's

    Manage wind field operations, including personnel, maintenance activities, financial activities, and planning.

  4. 4

    4. Prosthodontist

    Healthcare Practitioners and Technical

    Median pay
    $311,180median a year
    Growth
    +5.8%
    Openings / yr
    0
    Education
    Doctorate

    Diagnose, treat, rehabilitate, design, and fit prostheses that maintain oral function, health, and appearance for patients with clinical conditions associated with teeth, oral and maxillofacial tissues, or the jaw.

  5. 5

    5. Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon

    Healthcare Practitioners and Technical

    Median pay
    $352,220median a year
    Growth
    +5.6%
    Openings / yr
    200
    Education
    Doctorate

    Perform surgery and related procedures on the hard and soft tissues of the oral and maxillofacial regions to treat diseases, injuries, or defects.

  6. 6

    6. Nurse Midwife

    Healthcare Practitioners and Technical

    Median pay
    $134,040median a year
    Growth
    +11.5%
    Openings / yr
    400
    Education
    Master's

    Diagnose and coordinate all aspects of the birthing process, either independently or as part of a healthcare team.

  7. 7

    7. Construction Manager

    Management

    Median pay
    $114,990median a year
    Growth
    +9.1%
    Openings / yr
    49,700
    Education
    Bachelor's

    Plan, direct, or coordinate, usually through subordinate supervisory personnel, activities concerned with the construction and maintenance of structures, facilities, and systems.

  8. 8

    8. Physical Therapist

    Healthcare Practitioners and Technical

    Median pay
    $102,760median a year
    Growth
    +11.9%
    Openings / yr
    13,400
    Education
    Doctorate

    Assess, plan, organize, and participate in rehabilitative programs that improve mobility, relieve pain, increase strength, and improve or correct disabling conditions resulting from disease or injury.

  9. 9

    9. Occupational Therapist

    Healthcare Practitioners and Technical

    Median pay
    $100,330median a year
    Growth
    +14.8%
    Openings / yr
    10,000
    Education
    Master's

    Assess, plan, and organize rehabilitative programs that help build or restore vocational, homemaking, and daily living skills, as well as general independence, to persons with disabilities or developmental delays.

  10. 10

    10. Elevator Installer

    Construction and Extraction

    Median pay
    $109,910median a year
    Growth
    +5.7%
    Openings / yr
    1,900
    Education
    High school

    Assemble, install, repair, or maintain electric or hydraulic freight or passenger elevators, escalators, or dumbwaiters.

  11. 11

    11. Dentist

    Healthcare Practitioners and Technical

    Median pay
    $170,950median a year
    Growth
    +5.7%
    Openings / yr
    4,200
    Education
    Doctorate

    Examine, diagnose, and treat diseases, injuries, and malformations of teeth and gums.

  12. 12

    12. Orthotist and Prosthetist

    Healthcare Practitioners and Technical

    Median pay
    $81,110median a year
    Growth
    +12.9%
    Openings / yr
    700
    Education
    Master's

    Design, measure, fit, and adapt orthopedic braces, appliances or prostheses, such as limbs or facial parts for patients with disabling conditions.

  13. 13

    13. Nurse Practitioner

    Healthcare Practitioners and Technical

    Median pay
    $132,300median a year
    Growth
    +41.0%
    Openings / yr
    29,400
    Education
    Master's

    Diagnose and treat acute, episodic, or chronic illness, independently or as part of a healthcare team.

  14. 14

    14. Veterinarian

    Healthcare Practitioners and Technical

    Median pay
    $130,100median a year
    Growth
    +9.4%
    Openings / yr
    3,100
    Education
    Doctorate

    Diagnose, treat, or research diseases and injuries of animals.

  15. 15

    15. Physical Therapist Assistant

    Healthcare Support

    Median pay
    $68,380median a year
    Growth
    +23.0%
    Openings / yr
    18,500
    Education
    Associate's

    Assist physical therapists in providing physical therapy treatments and procedures.

  16. 16

    16. Audiologist

    Healthcare Practitioners and Technical

    Median pay
    $95,780median a year
    Growth
    +11.0%
    Openings / yr
    600
    Education
    Doctorate

    Assess and treat persons with hearing and related disorders.

  17. 17

    17. Wind Turbine Service Technician

    Installation, Maintenance, and Repair

    Median pay
    $64,120median a year
    Growth
    +29.5%
    Openings / yr
    1,500
    Education
    Certificate

    Inspect, diagnose, adjust, or repair wind turbines.

  18. 18

    18. Orthodontist

    Healthcare Practitioners and Technical

    Median pay
    $289,140median a year
    Growth
    +6.0%
    Openings / yr
    200
    Education
    Doctorate

    Examine, diagnose, and treat dental malocclusions and oral cavity anomalies.

  19. 19

    19. Electrician

    Construction and Extraction

    Median pay
    $63,190median a year
    Growth
    +9.2%
    Openings / yr
    72,700
    Education
    High school

    Install, maintain, and repair electrical wiring, equipment, and fixtures.

  20. 20

    20. Commercial Pilot

    Transportation and Material Moving

    Median pay
    $123,220median a year
    Growth
    +5.2%
    Openings / yr
    5,200
    Education
    Certificate

    Pilot and navigate the flight of fixed-wing aircraft on nonscheduled air carrier routes, or helicopters.

  21. 21

    21. Physician Assistant

    Healthcare Practitioners and Technical

    Median pay
    $135,880median a year
    Growth
    +21.1%
    Openings / yr
    11,500
    Education
    Master's

    Provide healthcare services typically performed by a physician, under the supervision of a physician.

  22. 22

    22. Dental Hygienist

    Healthcare Practitioners and Technical

    Median pay
    $98,100median a year
    Growth
    +8.0%
    Openings / yr
    15,000
    Education
    Associate's

    Administer oral hygiene care to patients.

  23. 23

    23. Makeup Artist, Theatrical and Performance

    Personal Care and Service

    Median pay
    $97,150median a year
    Growth
    +6.1%
    Openings / yr
    600
    Education
    Certificate

    Apply makeup to performers to reflect period, setting, and situation of their role.

  24. 24

    24. Respiratory Therapist

    Healthcare Practitioners and Technical

    Median pay
    $82,280median a year
    Growth
    +8.5%
    Openings / yr
    8,600
    Education
    Associate's

    Assess, treat, and care for patients with breathing disorders.

  25. 25

    25. Health Specialties Teacher, Postsecondary

    Educational Instruction and Library

    Median pay
    $107,310median a year
    Growth
    +17.9%
    Openings / yr
    24,900
    Education
    Doctorate

    Teach courses in health specialties, in fields such as dentistry, laboratory technology, medicine, pharmacy, public health, therapy, and veterinary medicine.

  26. 26

    26. Electrical and Electronics Repairer, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay

    Installation, Maintenance, and Repair

    Median pay
    $103,020median a year
    Growth
    +9.7%
    Openings / yr
    1,800
    Education
    Certificate

    Inspect, test, repair, or maintain electrical equipment in generating stations, substations, and in-service relays.

  27. 27

    27. Forest Fire Inspector and Prevention Specialist

    Protective Service

    Median pay
    $56,870median a year
    Growth
    +13.1%
    Openings / yr
    400
    Education
    High school

    Enforce fire regulations, inspect forest for fire hazards, and recommend forest fire prevention or control measures.

  28. 28

    28. Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanic, Except Engines

    Installation, Maintenance, and Repair

    Median pay
    $65,510median a year
    Growth
    +6.7%
    Openings / yr
    15,000
    Education
    High school

    Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul mobile mechanical, hydraulic, and pneumatic equipment, such as cranes, bulldozers, graders, and conveyors, used in construction, logging, and mining.

  29. 29

    29. Dermatologist

    Healthcare Practitioners and Technical

    Median pay
    $328,730median a year
    Growth
    +6.8%
    Openings / yr
    400
    Education
    Doctorate

    Diagnose and treat diseases relating to the skin, hair, and nails.

  30. 30

    30. Farm Equipment Mechanic and Service Technician

    Installation, Maintenance, and Repair

    Median pay
    $56,550median a year
    Growth
    +10.7%
    Openings / yr
    3,700
    Education
    High school

    Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul farm machinery and vehicles, such as tractors, harvesters, dairy equipment, and irrigation systems.

Questions

Best Jobs for the Future: FAQ

What are the best jobs for the future?

Electrical Power-Line Installer and Repairer ranks first on growth, pay and AI resilience combined: +10.3% projected growth (BLS Employment Projections 2025–2035), a $95,320 median (BLS OEWS May 2025) and a resilience score of 76/100.

Which of these jobs pay the most?

The best-paid of the 30 are Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon ($352,220), Dermatologist ($328,730) and Prosthodontist ($311,180) (BLS OEWS May 2025).

Which of these jobs don’t require a degree?

10 of the 30 have a typical entry requirement below an associate's degree (BLS Employment Projections 2025–2035). The best-paid of them: Commercial Pilot ($123,220), Elevator Installer ($109,910) and Electrical and Electronics Repairer, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay ($103,020).

How is this list ranked?

Occupations ranked on three equally weighted measures: BLS projected employment growth over the projection decade, BLS median pay, and the NueCareer AI-resilience score derived from O*NET work activities. Each measure is a percentile across the bank, so a job has to do well on all three to rank. Only occupations paying at least the US median and projected to grow are included. Each occupation gets three percentiles across the bank: BLS projected employment growth, BLS OEWS median pay and the NueCareer AI-resilience score. The ranking is their equal-weighted average, so a job has to do well on all three. Only occupations projected to grow and paying at least the US median are included. The AI-resilience score is a NueCareer analysis of O*NET work activities, not a federal figure. BLS publishes one wage per occupation code, and several O*NET job titles can share a code. Only one title per code is listed, so the same wage does not appear over and over. Every figure comes from BLS OEWS May 2025, BLS Employment Projections 2025–2035 and O*NET 31.0 Database.