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Typical education needed for entry into the largest growing occupations 2014–24
February 26, 2016
From 2014 to 2024, the U.S. economy is projected to add 9.8 million jobs. Among the 15 occupations projected to grow the most by 2024, a bachelor’s degree is typically needed to work in the 4 occupations that paid the highest annual wages in 2014: general and operations managers ($97,270), software application developers ($95,510), registered nurses ($66,640), and accountants and auditors ($65,940). In general, higher paying occupations require higher levels of education.
Wages and typical education needed for entry into occupations with largest projected job growth 2014-24
Occupation
2024 Projected employment
2014 Median annual wage
Typical education needed for entry
General and operations managers
2,275,200
$97,270
Bachelor's degree
Software developers, applications
853,700
95,510
Bachelor's degree
Registered nurses
3,190,300
66,640
Bachelor's degree
Accountants and auditors
1,475,100
65,940
Bachelor's degree
Medical assistants
730,200
29,960
Postsecondary nondegree award
Nursing assistants
1,754,100
25,100
Postsecondary nondegree award
Customer service representatives
2,834,800
31,200
High school diploma or equivalent
Construction laborers
1,306,500
31,090
No formal educational credential
Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand
2,566,400
24,430
No formal educational credential
Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
2,496,900
22,840
No formal educational credential
Cooks, restaurant
1,268,700
22,490
No formal educational credential
Retail salespersons
4,939,100
21,390
No formal educational credential
Home health aides
1,261,900
21,380
No formal educational credential
Personal care aides
2,226,500
20,440
No formal educational credential
Combined food preparation and serving workers, including fast food
3,503,200
18,410
No formal educational credential
Employment of retail salespersons is projected to reach more than 4.9 million by 2024, the most of any occupation. Following retail salespersons, there are projected to be 3.5 million jobs in food preparation and serving occupations, by 2024. These occupations typically do not require formal education credentials.
These data are from the Employment Projections program. To learn more, see “Employment Projections 2014–24” (HTML) (PDF).
United States Department of Labor
