Nurses and software developers have a bright future - here are 30 of the fastest-growing high-paying jobs in the US

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Nurses and software developers have a bright future - here are 30 of the fastest-growing high-paying jobs in the US

software developer

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There are likely to be a lot more software developers in ten years, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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  • Using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' recently released projections for how the US workforce is likely to change over the next decade, we found 30 high-paying jobs that are predicted to see a large amount of employment growth.
  • Several medical and tech jobs show up on the list.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The future is looking pretty good for software developers and nurses.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics recently released projections for how the US workforce is likely to change between 2018 and 2028. One of the tables in the release shows the BLS' estimates for the net increase or decrease in the number of people employed in hundreds of occupational categories over that decade.

Read more: 10 charts that show why the economy feels so bad - even though it sounds so good

We combined those job growth projections with 2018 median annual earnings for each occupation from the Bureau's Occupational Employment Statistics program, using the geometric mean of the two numbers, to find roles that are both growing and high-paying.

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Since we are focused on high-paying jobs, we restricted our ranking to occupations with 2018 median earnings above the median among all occupations of $38,640.

Here are the 30 best jobs of the next decade or so:

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30. Information security analysts: BLS projects an increase of 35,500 jobs between 2018 and 2028.

30. Information security analysts: BLS projects an increase of 35,500 jobs between 2018 and 2028.

Number in 2018: 112,300

Projected number in 2028: 147,700

Median annual wage in 2018: $98,350

29. Licensed practical and vocational nurses: BLS projects an increase of 78,100 jobs between 2018 and 2028.

29. Licensed practical and vocational nurses: BLS projects an increase of 78,100 jobs between 2018 and 2028.

Number in 2018: 728,900

Projected number in 2028: 807,000

Median annual wage in 2018: $46,240

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28. Computer user support specialists: BLS projects an increase of 70,900 jobs between 2018 and 2028.

28. Computer user support specialists: BLS projects an increase of 70,900 jobs between 2018 and 2028.

Number in 2018: 671,800

Projected number in 2028: 742,700

Median annual wage in 2018: $50,980

27. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters: BLS projects an increase of 68,200 jobs between 2018 and 2028.

27. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters: BLS projects an increase of 68,200 jobs between 2018 and 2028.

Number in 2018: 500,300

Projected number in 2028: 568,600

Median annual wage in 2018: $53,910

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26. Carpenters: BLS projects an increase of 80,100 jobs between 2018 and 2028.

26. Carpenters: BLS projects an increase of 80,100 jobs between 2018 and 2028.

Number in 2018: 1,006,500

Projected number in 2028: 1,086,600

Median annual wage in 2018: $46,590

25. Computer occupations, all other: BLS projects an increase of 42,200 jobs between 2018 and 2028.

25. Computer occupations, all other: BLS projects an increase of 42,200 jobs between 2018 and 2028.

Number in 2018: 412,800

Projected number in 2028: 455,000

Median annual wage in 2018: $90,270

Note: This is a catchall occupational category that includes miscellaneous computer occupations that the Bureau of Labor Statistics doesn't classify elsewhere. Some examples of occupations in the category, according to the Labor Department's O*NET occupational database, include web administrators, software quality assurance engineers, geographic information systems specialists, and video game designers.

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24. Physician assistants: BLS projects an increase of 37,000 jobs between 2018 and 2028.

24. Physician assistants: BLS projects an increase of 37,000 jobs between 2018 and 2028.

Number in 2018: 118,800

Projected number in 2028: 155,700

Median annual wage in 2018: $108,610

23. Electricians: BLS projects an increase of 74,100 jobs between 2018 and 2028.

23. Electricians: BLS projects an increase of 74,100 jobs between 2018 and 2028.

Number in 2018: 715,400

Projected number in 2028: 789,500

Median annual wage in 2018: $55,190

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22. Services sales representatives, all other: BLS projects an increase of 76,400 jobs between 2018 and 2028.

22. Services sales representatives, all other: BLS projects an increase of 76,400 jobs between 2018 and 2028.

Number in 2018: 1,060,600

Projected number in 2028: 1,137,000

Median annual wage in 2018: $54,550

Note: This is a catchall occupational category that includes miscellaneous sales occupations that the Bureau of Labor Statistics doesn't classify elsewhere.

21. Construction managers: BLS projects an increase of 46,200 jobs between 2018 and 2028.

21. Construction managers: BLS projects an increase of 46,200 jobs between 2018 and 2028.

Number in 2018: 471,800

Projected number in 2028: 518,000

Median annual wage in 2018: $93,370

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20. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers: BLS projects an increase of 99,700 jobs between 2018 and 2028.

20. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers: BLS projects an increase of 99,700 jobs between 2018 and 2028.

Number in 2018: 1,958,800

Projected number in 2028: 2,058,500

Median annual wage in 2018: $43,680

19. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers: BLS projects an increase of 69,100 jobs between 2018 and 2028.

19. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers: BLS projects an increase of 69,100 jobs between 2018 and 2028.

Number in 2018: 662,600

Projected number in 2028: 731,700

Median annual wage in 2018: $65,230

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18. Systems software developers: BLS projects an increase of 42,600 jobs between 2018 and 2028.

18. Systems software developers: BLS projects an increase of 42,600 jobs between 2018 and 2028.

Number in 2018: 421,300

Projected number in 2028: 463,900

Median annual wage in 2018: $110,000

17. Physical therapists: BLS projects an increase of 54,200 jobs between 2018 and 2028.

17. Physical therapists: BLS projects an increase of 54,200 jobs between 2018 and 2028.

Number in 2018: 247,700

Projected number in 2028: 301,900

Median annual wage in 2018: $87,930

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16. Computer systems analysts: BLS projects an increase of 56,000 jobs between 2018 and 2028.

16. Computer systems analysts: BLS projects an increase of 56,000 jobs between 2018 and 2028.

Number in 2018: 633,900

Projected number in 2028: 689,900

Median annual wage in 2018: $88,740

15. Business operations specialists, all other: BLS projects an increase of 71,300 jobs between 2018 and 2028.

15. Business operations specialists, all other: BLS projects an increase of 71,300 jobs between 2018 and 2028.

Number in 2018: 1,135,700

Projected number in 2028: 1,207,000

Median annual wage in 2018: $70,530

Note: This is a catchall occupational category that includes miscellaneous sales occupations that the Bureau of Labor Statistics doesn't classify elsewhere. According to the Labor Department's O*NET occupational database, occupations in this category include energy auditors, security management specialists, and sustainability specialists.

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14. Nurse practitioners: BLS projects an increase of 53,300 jobs between 2018 and 2028.

14. Nurse practitioners: BLS projects an increase of 53,300 jobs between 2018 and 2028.

Number in 2018: 189,100

Projected number in 2028: 242,400

Median annual wage in 2018: $107,030

13. Postsecondary health specialties teachers: BLS projects an increase of 59,100 jobs between 2018 and 2028.

13. Postsecondary health specialties teachers: BLS projects an increase of 59,100 jobs between 2018 and 2028.

Number in 2018: 254,800

Projected number in 2028: 313,900

Median annual wage in 2018: $97,370

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12. Lawyers: BLS projects an increase of 50,100 jobs between 2018 and 2028.

12. Lawyers: BLS projects an increase of 50,100 jobs between 2018 and 2028.

Number in 2018: 823,900

Projected number in 2028: 874,000

Median annual wage in 2018: $120,910

11. Accountants and auditors: BLS projects an increase of 90,700 jobs between 2018 and 2028.

11. Accountants and auditors: BLS projects an increase of 90,700 jobs between 2018 and 2028.

Number in 2018: 1,424,000

Projected number in 2028: 1,514,700

Median annual wage in 2018: $70,500

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10. Computer and information systems managers: BLS projects an increase of 46,800 jobs between 2018 and 2028.

10. Computer and information systems managers: BLS projects an increase of 46,800 jobs between 2018 and 2028.

Number in 2018: 414,400

Projected number in 2028: 461,100

Median annual wage in 2018: $142,530

9. Physicians and surgeons, all other: BLS projects an increase of 33,700 jobs between 2018 and 2028.

9. Physicians and surgeons, all other: BLS projects an increase of 33,700 jobs between 2018 and 2028.

Number in 2018: 433,700

Projected number in 2028: 467,400

Median annual wage in 2018: $200,890

Note: This is a catchall occupational category that includes miscellaneous medical specialties that the Bureau of Labor Statistics doesn't classify elsewhere. Some examples of occupations in the category, according to the Labor Department's O*NET occupational database, include pathologists, neurologists, and dermatologists.

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8. Medical and health services managers: BLS projects an increase of 71,600 jobs between 2018 and 2028.

8. Medical and health services managers: BLS projects an increase of 71,600 jobs between 2018 and 2028.

Number in 2018: 406,100

Projected number in 2028: 477,600

Median annual wage in 2018: $99,730

7. Managers, all other: BLS projects an increase of 68,500 jobs between 2018 and 2028.

7. Managers, all other: BLS projects an increase of 68,500 jobs between 2018 and 2028.

Number in 2018: 1,079,600

Projected number in 2028: 1,148,100

Median annual wage in 2018: $107,480

Note: This is a catchall occupational category that includes miscellaneous managerial occupations that the Bureau of Labor Statistics doesn't classify elsewhere. Some examples of occupations in the category, according to the Labor Department's O*NET occupational database, include compliance managers, supply chain managers, and loss prevention managers.

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6. Market research analysts and marketing specialists: BLS projects an increase of 139,200 jobs between 2018 and 2028.

6. Market research analysts and marketing specialists: BLS projects an increase of 139,200 jobs between 2018 and 2028.

Number in 2018: 681,900

Projected number in 2028: 821,100

Median annual wage in 2018: $63,120

5. Management analysts: BLS projects an increase of 118,300 jobs between 2018 and 2028.

5. Management analysts: BLS projects an increase of 118,300 jobs between 2018 and 2028.

Number in 2018: 876,300

Projected number in 2028: 994,600

Median annual wage in 2018: $83,610

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4. Financial managers: BLS projects an increase of 104,700 jobs between 2018 and 2028.

4. Financial managers: BLS projects an increase of 104,700 jobs between 2018 and 2028.

Number in 2018: 653,600

Projected number in 2028: 758,300

Median annual wage in 2018: $127,990

3. General and operations managers: BLS projects an increase of 165,000 jobs between 2018 and 2028.

3. General and operations managers: BLS projects an increase of 165,000 jobs between 2018 and 2028.

Number in 2018: 2,376,400

Projected number in 2028: 2,541,400

Median annual wage in 2018: $100,930

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2. Applications software developers: BLS projects an increase of 241,500 jobs between 2018 and 2028.

2. Applications software developers: BLS projects an increase of 241,500 jobs between 2018 and 2028.

Number in 2018: 944,200

Projected number in 2028: 1,185,700

Median annual wage in 2018: $103,620

1. Registered nurses: BLS projects an increase of 371,500 jobs between 2018 and 2028.

1. Registered nurses: BLS projects an increase of 371,500 jobs between 2018 and 2028.

Number in 2018: 3,059,800

Projected number in 2028: 3,431,300

Median annual wage in 2018: $71,730

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