Fastest Growing Careers

If you're thinking about your future career–or rethinking your current career–our list of the fastest-growing jobs is a great place to start your search. Our list includes the top 30 fastest-growing careers as projected by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). BLS job growth projections are updated every two years. While some of the careers on our list may not be right for you, they are still among the fast-growing careers in America and merit consideration.

Dispensing opticians are on the front line of eye care and vision improvement. Using prescriptions from optometrists and ophthamologists, dispensing technicians help patients select eyeglasses and contact lenses that are comfortable and help them see better.

Phlebotomy is the science and practice of drawing blood from patients and transporting the blood to labs for testing, transfusion, research, or donation. Phelbotomists are medical professionals who specialize in drawing blood.

Nurse midwives (CNMs) are Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) who deliver babies. They also provide prenatal care, gynecological exams and family planning services. Where there primary task is to deliver babies, nurse midwives are trained to handle various emergency situations.

Personal care aides help the elderly, disabled and injured, who are unable to form regular daily choirs and activities, with every day tasks such as housekeeping, homemaking, planning and preparing meals. They also provide their customers with various social support and assistance services.

Forensic science technicians work in the field of criminal justice and law enforcement assisting with criminal investigations. They aid investigations by collecting and analyzing evidence left at crime scenes. Typically, a forensic science technician will spend the majority of his or her time in the laboratory conducting analysis or in the field peforming crime scene investigation.

Web developers and designers design and develop websites that are aesthetically pleasing, functional and that support specific business, operational and marketing objectives. Web developers often are in charge of all aspects of website creation and maintenance including design, programming and marketing.

Occupational therapists help injured, ill and disabled individuals regain their ability function and carry out normal everyday activities. Their primary objective is to help their patients develop the skills required to work and have a fulfilling life.

Optometrists, sometimes referred as "eye doctors", specialize in eye care, eye health and the visual system. They diagnose eye conditions, problems, diseases, and other disorders and develop treatment programs to help patients maintain and improve their eye health and vision.

Hearing aid specialists help customers and patients find the right hearing aids. The administer hearing tests, analyze test results and make recommendations to patients. They also take ear impressions and make ear molds to help design hearing aids.

Audiologists are doctors that specialize in diagnosing and treating conditions relating to the ears–including hearing loss, issues with equilibrium and virtigo, tinnitus, and other disorders. Audiologists will often specialize in treating children or the elderly.

Interpreters and translators translate, in the spoken language or writing, one language into another. Translators also work in sign language for the hearing impaired. Typically, interpreters work only with spoken language and translators work with written communication.

Genetics counseling is a process through which individuals or families at risk of inherited conditions, genetic disorders, or birth defects are able to assess the probability of developing or transmitting the disorder to their children. Genetic counselors provide information, counseling, support and other healthcare services to individuals and families concerned with the risk of genetic disorders.

Cartographers and photogrammetrists are geographers of sorts who develop and update maps and charts using geographic information they college, measure and analyze. The maps and charts they developed are used by educational institutions, cities, and regional planning organizations.

Physician assistants work under the supervision of a licensed physician or surgeon. In some states they are able to work independently. They examine patients, diagnose ailments, and development treatment plans. Physician assistants work in all areas of medicine, including family medicine, primary care, surgery, emergency medicine, and psychiatry.

Personal financial advisors assist people with developing financial strategies for retirement and managing their finances. They consult their clients on matters relating to investments, insurance products, saving for college, tax preparation, estate planning, mortgages and retirement.

Operations research analyst are expert problem solvers that employ mathematical, statistical and analytical methods to corporations, organizations and key decision makers solve complex problems so they can make informed decisions. Operations research analysts work in various fields including business, healthcare, logistics and more.

Nurse practitioners, including nurse midwives and nurse anesthetists, are advanced practive registered nurses (APRNs), provide and coordinate advanced primary and specialty healthcare to patients. APRNs may work under the supervision of a licensed doctor or independently. Their scope of practice varies from state to state.

Ambulance drivers and attentants are primarily responsible for the transportion of injured, sick or convalenscent people to hospitals and other primary and emergency care facilities. They also help transport people to and from the ambulance itself so they must be in descent physical shape.

Statisticians collect data and analyze it using statistical methods. They use their statistical knowledge and skill to help organizations solve complex, real-world problems in healthcare, business, engineering and various other fields.

After a physician has treated a patient they often prescribe physical therapy. Physical therapists help people who have fallen ill or been injured in an accident regain movement and manage pain. They are an integral component of a comprehensive rehabilitation plan for individuals who have sustained injuries, are afflicted with illness, or have some other chronic condition.

Home health aides help individuals suffering from chronic conditions, illness and disability function in their daily lives. More often than not, home health aides assist older adults who can no longer carry out daily activities on their own. Responsibilities of a home health aide are regulated on a state level. In some states, home health aides can administer medication and check vital signs when supervized by a registered nurse.

Commerical divers use scuba gear to work underwater to install, remove, inspect and repair equipment, machines and structures. They also conduct experiments, perform tests, rig and detinate explosives and monitor marine life. Equipment they use include hammers, drills, welding equipment and various other hand tools.

Physical therapist assistants and physical therapist aides assisted patients who are recovering from physical injury or illness. Specifically they help rehabilitate by improving body movement, flexibility, strength and pain management. Physical therapist assistants and aides work under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist.

As their name suggests, physical therapist assistants and aides help physical therapists as they assist patients recovering from illness and injury. Under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist, physical therapist assistants and aids help injured people regain body movement and manage pain.

Occupational therapy assistants and aides help disabled, injured and recovering patients improve or reacquire the life skills they need for daily living and work. Occupational therapy assistants and aides typically work on the supervision of a licensed occupational therapist.

Wind turbines are large mechanical devices that look like windmills. These devices harness the power of wind energy and convert it into electricity. Wind turbine service technicians, also referred to as windtechs, install, inspect, repair and maintain wind turbines.