These 20 US jobs are exploding in demand, paying up to $130,000

By Binh Minh April 13, 2025 | 05:00 am PT

Doctors working in a laboratory. Illustration photo by Pexels

From hospitals to clean energy, these booming jobs are reshaping the U.S. workforce in 2025.

According to recent data by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), compiled by U.S. News in March 2025, half of the 20 fastest-growing jobs in America are within the healthcare sector. These positions span various roles, including nurse practitioners, physical therapy assistants, and medical scientists.

However, the fastest-growing career is not in healthcare but in renewable energy. Wind turbine technicians are expected to see the highest job growth rate at an impressive 60.1%, reflecting America's shift toward green energy. Following closely are solar photovoltaic installers, with a growth rate of 48%, and nurse practitioners at 46.3%.

Median salaries for these thriving roles typically range from around $60,000 to $120,000 annually. The best-paid jobs on the list, such as software developers and physician assistants, offer median annual salaries as high as $132,000.

	Job	Median salary per year (USD)	Rate of job growth
1	Wind turbine technician	61,770	60.1%
2	Solar photovoltaic installer	48,800	48%
3	Nurse practitioner	126,260	46.3%
4	Data scientist	108,020	36%
5	Information security analyst	120,360	32.7%
6	Physician assistant	130,020	28.5%
7	Medical and health services manager	110,680	28.5%
8	Physical therapist assistant	64,080	25.4%
9	Operation research analyst	83,640	23%
10	Occupational therapy assistant	67,010	22.3%
11	Actuary	120,000	21.8%
12	Home health aide	33,530	20.7%
13	Logistician	79,400	19.3%
14	Veterinary technologist and technician	43,740	19.3%
15	Veterinarian	119,100	19.1%
16	Epidemiologist/Medical scientist	81,390	18.8%
17	Substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselor	53,710	18.8%
18	Speech-language pathologist	89,290	18.4%
19	Medical equipment repairer	60,670	18.4%
20	Software developer	132,270	17.9%

This list not only highlights promising career paths but also underscores broader trends toward healthcare expansion and renewable energy, reflecting a growing national focus on health and sustainability.