Computer programmers or tech workers working in an office
Software developers had a median annual wage of $132,270, and this job role was projected to see employment increase by 410,400 from 2022 to 2032.
  • Employment is projected to increase for software developers, a high-paying job, from 2022 to 2032.
  • BI looked at employment projections and median annual wages to create a ranking of similar jobs.
  • Nurse practitioners ranked No. 5 on this list of high-paying and fast-growing jobs.

Spoiler alert: Software developers tops Business Insider's list of the top 20 high-paying and fast-growing jobs in the US.

To get the top 20 job titles, Business Insider looked at jobs projected to see employment increase between 2022 and 2032 and had median annual wages greater than the median annual wage for all jobs in the US, which was $48,060.

The annual wage estimates used were part of the release of May 2023 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics earlier this month. Projection data also comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

We calculated the geometric mean for all the jobs that both pay above the overall median and were also projected to see employment climb. That means our list is ranked based on a combination of growth and pay. For example, while the median wage for the No. 2 job is a bit higher than for the No. 1 job, the projected growth in number of positions for the No. 1 job is so much more than No. 2 that it rose to the top spot in the ranking.

We only looked at jobs with specific annual wage estimates. We excluded titles that contained "All Other" in their occupation titles, such as "Computer Occupations, All Other," given that label doesn't specify one role.

While several tech-related jobs were among the top 20, some healthcare roles were highly ranked. Nurse practitioners ranked No. 5, for instance.

Below are the top 20. Pay estimates, employment projections, and the "typical education needed for entry" stated for each job below come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

20. Software quality assurance analysts and testers
Two tech workers or office workers looking at a computer

Median annual wage: $101,800

Projected employment increase: 40,800

Typical education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree

19. Personal financial advisors
Financial advisor and client

Median annual wage: $99,580

Projected employment increase: 42,000

Typical education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree

18. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers
A truck driver getting into a truck

Median annual wage: $54,320

Projected employment increase: 89,300

Typical education needed for entry: Postsecondary nondegree award

17. Physician assistants
Doctor or healthcare worker with a patient

Median annual wage: $130,020

Projected employment increase: 39,300

Typical education needed for entry: Master's degree

16. Postsecondary health specialties teachers
Medical or healthcare students and a professor

Median annual wage: $105,650

Projected employment increase: 50,200

Typical education needed for entry: Doctoral or professional degree

15. Computer systems analysts
Tech worker holding a laptop

Median annual wage: $103,800

Projected employment increase: 51,100

Typical education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree

14. Accountants and auditors
Worker using a calculator

Median annual wage: $79,880

Projected employment increase: 67,400

Typical education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree

13. Project management specialists
Construction project manager and construction workers at a construction site

Median annual wage: $98,580

Projected employment increase: 54,700

Typical education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree

12. Information security analysts
Tech worker, computer programmer, or office worker

Median annual wage: $120,360

Projected employment increase: 53,200

Typical education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree

11. Data scientists
Tech worker, software developer, or worker

Median annual wage: $108,020

Projected employment increase: 59,400

Typical education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree

10. Market research analysts and marketing specialists
People in a meeting in an office

Median annual wage: $74,680

Projected employment increase: 116,600

Typical education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree

9. Lawyers
Lawyers sitting at a table and looking at a document

Median annual wage: $145,760

Projected employment increase: 62,400

Typical education needed for entry: Doctoral or professional degree

8. Management analysts
Four people in a meeting in an office

Median annual wage: $99,410

Projected employment increase: 95,700

Typical education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree

7. Computer and information systems managers
Two tech workers

Median annual wage: $169,510

Projected employment increase: 86,000

Typical education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree

6. General and operations managers
Manager, worker, or businessman talking to workers

Median annual wage: $101,280

Projected employment increase: 147,300

Typical education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree

5. Nurse practitioners
Healthcare worker and a patient

Median annual wage: $126,260

Projected employment increase: 118,600

Typical education needed for entry: Master's degree

4. Registered nurses
Registered nurse and a patient

Median annual wage: $86,070

Projected employment increase: 177,400

Typical education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree

3. Medical and health services managers
Doctor, healthecare workers, administrator

Median annual wage: $110,680

Projected employment increase: 144,700

Typical education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree

2. Financial managers
People sitting at a table and talking in an office

Median annual wage: $156,100

Projected employment increase: 126,600

Typical education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree

1. Software developers
Computer programmers or tech workers working in an office

Median annual wage: $132,270

Projected employment increase: 410,400

Typical education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree

Read the original article on Business Insider