The Future of Jobs Report 2025 by the World Economic Forum indicates that AI is more likely to improve human work through human-machine collaboration in fields like information technology and medical and healthcare services – both of which offer the highest-paying jobs with the most growth over the next 10 years.
In short – your job is safe as long as you learn how to work with emerging technologies and adapt as the job market changes. That’s the secret to landing a high-paying job in the future.
Key points:
- The fastest-growing future jobs are computer research scientists, AI and machine learning specialists, and physician assistants.
- Roles with the most decline over the next decade include cashiers, ticket clerks, and administrative assistants.
- A bachelor’s degree (or above) is required for most of these roles, with a few information technology roles that may require certifications to get ahead.
- Browse thousands of more publicly shared salaries on our Salary Database.
7 Highest-Paying Jobs In Demand for The Future
We’ve identified these top future jobs using salary data from the past 3+ years of interviews, data we’ve collected in our Salary Database, the Future of Jobs Report 2025 by the World Economic Forum, and job data from the U.S.Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook’s Fastest Growing Occupations Report.
You can find more salary data by searching for any of the below positions in our Salary Database. Don’t forget to join and add your salary too!
1. Computer and Information Research Scientists
Median salary: $145,080 per year
Highest salary recorded in our Salary Database: $150,000 per year
As technology continues to evolve over the next decade, computer research scientists are leading the way through their work in studying and developing new technologies in computing, including (but not limited to) algorithm design, system analysis, and software development.
There are tons of different routes a research scientist can take. They may also work with other scientists and engineers to integrate solutions in other sectors like healthcare and finance, and share their findings through published academic papers and reports. Some may also teach courses at universities.
A few alternative job titles to look up to get into this high-paying tech job include software engineer with a focus on research, AI research scientist, and research and development (R&D) engineer.
Job outlook (2023-2033): 26%
Education needed: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree
2. AI and Machine Learning (ML) Specialist
Median salary: $130,160 per year
Highest salary recorded in our Salary Database: $140,000 per year
AI and ML specialists focus on building and implementing AI and ML systems and programs to solve a specific problem. Many of the apps you come in contact with every day have AI and ML specialists behind them to provide specific solutions to you that you may never think twice about.
For example, when looking at an app like Zillow and their Zestimate that shows you the estimated worth of your house, the machine learning algorithms and models behind it were built by a team of AI and ML specialists and engineers.
Alternative job titles for this role may include machine learning engineer, AI engineer, and AI solutions architect.
Job outlook (2025-2030): 80% (taken from the Future of Jobs Report)
Education needed: Bachelor’s degree
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3. Physician Assistant
Median salary: $130,020 per year
Highest salary recorded in our Salary Database: $220,000 per year
Physician assistants are licensed medical professionals who work with a physician to provide medical care. They perform many of the same duties physicians do, such as patient care, diagnosis, treatment, and even performing procedures, but their role doesn’t duplicate the doctor’s work. They are there to help handle the load of patients and expand access to medical services – and for good money too.
We interviewed a physician assistant with 10 years of experience that makes $130,000 a year. Her advice for pursuing this career is to do a lot of shadowing to make sure it’s truly what you want to do.
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Job outlook (2023-2033): 28%
Education needed: Master’s degree
4. Nurse Practitioner
Median salary: $126,260 per year
Highest salary recorded in our Salary Database: $194,000 per year
Nurse practitioners are registered nurses who provide different healthcare services, such as diagnosing and treating medical conditions and managing patient care. There are several different areas they can specialize in, like family practice or pediatrics, and may work in hospitals, clinics, or private practices.
We interviewed a nurse practitioner who makes over $200,000 a year (base salary $144,000) with 8 years of experience, and was a labor and delivery nurse for 6 years before that. She took the traditional education route of a 4 year Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing degree, became a nurse, then went back to school for her Master’s to become a nurse practitioner.
Her advice is that she recommends exploring all of the different opportunities in nursing before deciding what’s right for you.
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Job outlook (2023-2033): 46%
Education needed: Master’s degree
5. Cybersecurity/Information Security Analyst
Median salary: $120,360 per year
Highest salary recorded in our Salary Database: $180,000 per year
Many of us know what happens when our credit card or social security numbers are leaked, and it isn’t pretty. Cybersecurity analysts help make sure that doesn’t happen by protecting an organization’s computer systems and networks from cyber threats.
We interviewed two cybersecurity analysts that both made over $100,000 a year: $135,000 a year and $150,000 a year. One of those engineers shared that he doesn’t think a college degree is absolutely necessary, but has a bachelor’s degree in information technology and thinks it helped him get in the door. He also recommends that certifications may also help you get ahead in this field.
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Job outlook (2023-2033): 33%
Education needed: Bachelor’s degree
6. Medical and Health Services Manager
Median salary: $110,680 per year
Highest salary recorded in our Salary Database: $95,000 per year
Following the trend of the growing demand in the healthcare field, medical and health services managers are the third highest-paying healthcare jobs on this list. These are your healthcare administrators at hospitals, surgery centers, and other healthcare facilities who oversee the operations and ensure everything runs smoothly and complies with healthcare laws and regulations.
A typical path to get into this field is a bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration or a mix of education in both healthcare and business. Many healthcare administrators may also pursue a master’s degree.
Job outlook (2023-2033): 29%
Education needed: Bachelor’s degree
7. Data Scientist/Big Data Specialist
Median salary: $108,020 per year
Highest salary recorded in our Salary Database: $260,000 per year
The main role of a data scientist is to analyze and interpret complex data in order to provide insights and trends to solve business problems. For example, the Future of Jobs report used as a source for this article was something that wouldn’t be possible if it weren’t for data scientists to make sense of jobs data.
We interviewed several data scientists, all of who make over $100,000. The highest salaries we interviewed in this video were $245,000 and $250,000 a year. Many in this video also had a mix of base salary, bonuses, and stock options in their compensation packages.
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Job outlook (2023-2033): 36%
Education needed: Bachelor’s degree
How to Embrace a Dynamic Job Market
Now that you know what’s growing the most in demand and pay, it’s important to know what jobs may be in jeopardy. Expected roles to decline over the next decade include cashiers, ticket clerks, administrative assistants, and executive secretaries.
As you navigate the job market over the next few years, the most important skill you can have is the desire to never stop learning and upskilling. Staying on top of new technologies and how certain sectors are changing and adapting – and making sure your skills can keep up – will set you apart from many others who don’t take the initiative to do the same.
Don’t forget to browse our other resources as you navigate your career, including finding your market rate, interview questions and answers to prepare for, salary negotiation scripts and myths, how to ask for a raise, guides to the highest-paying jobs without a college degree, and more!
That wraps it up for this week. Until next time, stay awesome, stay strong, and keep advocating for yourself no matter what! I’m Daniella, a writer, engineer, and creator of I Like to Dabble and Remote Work Bestie - my blog and podcast for leveling up your money, career, and side hustles. I’m extremely passionate about workers' rights and financial freedom, so it’s a pleasure to be able to bring you this type of content through the Salary Transparent Street blog (thank you for the opportunity, Hannah!) You can also follow me on Instagram, TikTok, Linkedin, and Twitter. Chat soon!
If this guide helps you land a higher-paying job, let us know! Send us an email ➡️ hello@salarytransparentstreet.com
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