Career Advice

These 12 careers are your best chance to get a job in 2024

by CareerFitter

 You have the best chance of getting hired if you are pursuing any one of these 12 careers in 2024. These are the highest-paying jobs hiring the greatest number of people.  Most of them pay over $100,000 a year, some are recession-resistant, some do not require a degree, and some allow you to work from home.

Pursuing one of these careers will significantly increase your chances of getting hired sooner.  So, make your steps (or should I say interviews) count. Let’s look at the highest-paying careers that are growing fast and hiring the most in 2024.

1. Home Health and Personal Care Aides

804,600 new jobs projected

average salary: $30,180 annually

Recession Resistant

Home Health and Personal Care Aide caring for patient

 This career is staying at #1 for 2024.  It still has the highest projected hiring volume for both 2023 and 2024 out of all careers. They are projected to hire 804,600 new Home Health and Personal Care Aides.  

 If you are driven to do meaningful work helping others, Home Health or Personal Care Aide might be your perfect career.  However, (quick side thought/advice) don't invest in any career until you know for sure it's a good match. This career assessment test can help you compare your natural work personality characteristics to a job or career.

 For this purposeful job, you will travel to people’s homes, group homes, and other settings to provide daily care to patients. You will administer medication and check the patient's pulse rates, temperature, and blood pressure readings.

 The higher end of pay is over $38,000 a year. Just think about how your work will be helping people, saving lives, and joining the ranks of medical heroes. 

 These are some online classes to start your journey as a Home Health Aide

 No student loan money is required.  But, if you’re working for a certified home health or hospice agency, you might need to complete some training and sharpen your pencil for a standardized test.

 

If you dream of earning more per year, use this career as a stepping stone while you earn a degree and eventually make over $100,000 a year working as a nurse practitioner or a traveling nurse.

2. Software Developers

410,400 new jobs

$127,260 per year

Software Developer working on project

The software industry revenue is valued in the hundreds of billions of dollars a year and although experts may not agree on the exact dollar value, they all do agree that this industry is booming.  So, if your eyes were designed to look at a laptop screen for most of the day and you prefer to work alone with the organized efficiency of computing code, a high-paying gig as a software developer promises to fulfill your dreams.

Also, being that your product is digital, many companies hiring have flexible work-from-anywhere policies. 

It's sometimes a hybrid job that requires you to be both a creative problem solver and highly structured. Your work companions will be organized files and unforgiving code.

So, if you love working on your laptop with your toes in the sand and you can handle bringing in over $100,000 a year, this one is for you.

As a developer, you will be expected to handle the following:

  • Analyze information to plan a new system installation or modify an existing one

  • Analyze the needs of users and assess the software requirements to determine the design timeframe and cost estimates

  • Discuss and coordinate information and limitations of a project with project managers

To get started, you will need a bachelor's degree in computer and information technology or a related field, such as engineering or mathematics. Regarding career growth, as a software developer, you may choose to move up the chain of command, become the boss, and earn over $200K per year as a computer and information systems manager

This video shows what it's like to be a software developer:

3. Chef

28,000 New Chefs Needed

$60,210 Per Year

Chef cooking a steak over a grille

 If you already love to cook for people, it’s time to make that pay.  The best part is - No College Degree Required!

 Most Chefs learn their skills through work experience.  However, you can get training from select community colleges, technical schools, culinary arts schools, or 4-year colleges.

 Your job is to choose the dishes to serve, oversee the daily food preparation, and direct the kitchen staff to handle any food-related concerns.  

 You get to work around food all day and earn (on average) about $53,380 per year!  Hold on to your big dreams of hitting it "big-time" because Chef Gordon Ramsay reportedly earned about $63 million dollars in 2019.


 

4. Stockers and Order Fillers

178,600 new jobs

Up to $47,360 annual salary

No Degree Required

Stocker organizing produce

If you can quickly organize a store shelf and make the merchandise look more appealing and easy to see for consumers, then you should consider applying as a Stocker and Order Filler.  The number of new people that will be hired for this job is booming, and the best part is - NO degree is required and most companies offer paid training.

You'll be responsible for bringing inventory from the storage area or warehouse to where the customers will see it.  Depending on the size of the product, you may even have to operate power equipment and set up sales displays or occasionally interact with customers.

According to CareerFitter, your attention to detail and dependability are very important characteristics for this career.

Watch this video to learn more about what this job requires:

5. Registered Nurses

177,400 new jobs

Average salary is $81,220 per year

Recession Resistant

Registered nurse assisting patient

This career joined the ones being called "hero careers" during the pandemic.  If you are willing to commit to some education and training, you'll be on your way to having a recession-resistant career with excellent pay. Before becoming a registered nurse, you will need to be credentialed by the American Nurses Association.

If you are going to invest in this occupation you should have some natural abilities for being compassionate.  Your days will be filled with helping people who are often scared and looking to you for help and answers.  Also, you'll need stamina because the shifts can be long and demanding, and you'll need to be able to stay organized and competent filling out paperwork and charts even when you are exhausted.

Observation of a patient and the skills to follow meticulous details regarding medication will be part of your lifesaving super-hero power.  Each year, there are a staggering number of people who die due to medical mistakes from giving the wrong medication or wrong diagnosis.  Often, you are the eyes and ears of the doctors when they are not with the patient.

On a lighter note, if you have wanderlust and don't like to stay in one town too long, you might eventually consider getting paid to move around by becoming a travel nurse. Or, you may decide to become one of these other nurse specialists:

If your heart wants to be this kind of a hero, but your challenge is where to begin and how to pay for nursing school, check out the American Association of Colleges of Nursing.
 
This video shows you a peak into the daily life of a registered nurse:
 

6. Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand

158,800 new jobs being hired

NO College Degree Required

48,560.00 per year

Laborer putting box onto conveyor belt

If you like to keep your body moving all day and work within a team, then cancel your gym membership and go get a job as a Hand Laborer for Freight, Stock and other Materials because they will be hiring a lot of these positions in 2024.  CareerFitter says the top two work personality characteristics for this are attention to detail and the ability to work under some stressful situations. 

No need to bring proof of college because you don't need it, and while your college friends are taking out school loans, you'll be school debt-free and could be pulling in just under $49K a year.  

 

7. General and Operations Managers

147,300 new jobs

$98,100 per year, average salary

Operations manager consulting team

 The high volume of new hires for General Managers and Operations Managers is what puts this career at number four.  You will look like a strong candidate to hire if you show them you have leadership skills as well as Dependability, Attention to Detail, Communication, Decision-making, Problem-solving, and time management.

 This is definitely an office job with mandatory computer skills.  You will be putting out internal "fires", and spending a lot of time trying to make those unnecessary office meetings as productive as possible.

 If you are up for enduring the daily stresses and pressures of upper management and $147K a year is enough to ease your pain, then this could be your perfect career.  But you can't just step into this gig. You are going to need at least a Bachelor's degree.

 The American Management Association and National Management Association also have some educational program information.

 Take a look at this video about what it's like to work in this career:

8. Medical and Health Services Managers

144,700 new jobs

Average salary of $104,830 per year

Medical and health services manager consulting with doctor

 If you love the money and security of medical careers but would rather work a desk job around healthy people, you might consider a career as a Medical and Health Services Manager.  Your day-to-day activities behind the desk will be to plan, direct, and coordinate the business activities of healthcare providers. 

 Start by taking a career assessment test to help you determine if you have the right work personality for this profession.

 If you do, you will be helping medical professionals manage the business side of their practice and keep them organized. Sure, you will be busy pushing papers in the medical office and having meetings with doctors but not too busy to get to the bank and cash your hefty salary checks totaling over $100,000 per year!

 However, to be a Medical and Health Services Manager, you are going to need at least a bachelor’s degree.  Master’s degrees are common and sometimes preferred by employers.

 Take a look at this video about what it's like to work in this career:

 

9. Light Truck Drivers

133,800 new jobs

As high as $75,780.00 per year!

Light truck driver consulting with customer

If you have anything equivalent to a high school diploma, you love to hit the open road for short day trips, and up to $75,000 per year makes you smile, then pick up an application to be a Light Truck Driver!

You are also going to need some occasional customer service skills and the ability to follow directions because you'll be backing into loading docks. Physical stamina is needed for opening large truck doors and helping load or unload freight.

CareerFitter says among your top work personality characteristics, you should be able to keep it composed under pressure, pay attention to details, and be dependable

This video shows more about what it's like on the job:

10. Financial Managers

126,600 new jobs

$139,790 average salary

Financial managers looking over papers

 Skip this one if you don't love math. However, if you are good with numbers, you like the idea of explaining complex financial transactions and evaluating financial data and information that impacts an organization, and you consider yourself honest and ethical, get ready to earn as much as $200,000 per year (on the upper salary end).

 As a Financial Manager you will be responsible for the financial health of the company you work for. You would be creating financial reports, directing investment activities, and putting together the plan to help execute the financial goals of your company.

 Becoming a Financial Manager only requires a bachelor's degree in business, but then you are going to need another 5+ years of experience as an accountantsecurities sales agent, or financial analyst.

 This video follows a day in the life of a Financial Manager:

11. Nurse Practitioners

​​118,600 new jobs

Average salary of $121,610 per year

Recession Resistant

Nurse practitioner consulting with patient

 It’s no surprise another “hero career” has stayed in the top 10 for 2024. The average salary jumped up about $10,000 a year. You can now expect to bring home over $120,000 annually (average) and be honored as a person saving lives!

 Nurse PractitionersNurse Anesthetists, and Nurse-Midwives are all commonly referred to as advanced practice registered nurses or APRNs.   They coordinate patient care and may provide primary and even specialty healthcare.

 Once you get your Master’s degree, stop worrying about a recession proof career and get ready for the companies to start pursuing you.  However, you will need to complete one more step – a state license and national APRN certification.

 Here is a video showing you what it is like to be a Nurse Practioner:

12. Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists

116,600 new jobs being added

$131,850 per year

market research analysts meeting together

If you saw something and thought, “that product is going to be popular,” you might consider being a Market Research Analyst.  

But you have to also like data and charts and graphs because you’ll be doing research on market conditions and helping companies determine how a product or service will sell, who wants them, and for what price.  

You need a bachelor’s degree but you can get an online marketing degree, and in the end, they will pay you $65,810 a year to do this.

If you are considering being a Market Research Analyst, make sure you have a work personality that is:

  • Analytical
  • Strong communication skills
  • Strong in Critical-thinking 
  • Detail Oriented

You can take a career test to find out if your work personality fits this job.


5 Bonus Careers | High Hiring Volume | Salaries Over $100,000

Bonus Career #1
Management Analyst

95,700 new jobs 

Average salary of $104,660 per year

Management analyst consulting with client on the phone

 

 If you love making things efficient and the thought of writing a manual to streamline and standardize procedures brings a smile to your face, Management Analyst might be the perfect career for you!  You will also be performing studies and evaluations, designing systems and procedures, and conducting studies about how to simplify work.

 Your typical day could start with a problem brought to your attention regarding procedures and protocol, and by using your problem-solving and organizing skills, you will help management operate more efficiently.

 You will need at least a bachelor's degree, but some employers prefer to hire candidates who have a master’s degree in business administration (MBA).  Your best hiring advantage is going to be joining the ranks of the 24% of hires with Master's degrees and completing certification at the Institute of Management Consultants USA

 This video shows you what it's like to be a management analyst:

Bonus #2
Computer and Information Systems Managers

86,000 new jobs
 
Average salary of $164,070 per year
Computer and information systems manager looking over data

 You would be part of the "IT" team everyone calls for when they are on the edge of throwing their computer out the window. Computer and information systems managers are also referred to as information technology (IT) managers or IT project managers. 

 If a meeting has the word computer in the title, you will likely be there. You are responsible for all computer-related activities in an organization from planning to directing upgrades. You may also be asked to be a part of planning the technology goals of a company and guiding the computer system requirements for those goals.

 The majority of successful people in this career work well alone for longer periods of time and have the work personality strength of introversion.  Find out your natural work personality strengths by taking one of the best career tests used by corporate recruiters.  Then, if this is still the job for you, get a bachelor's degree in either computer and information technology or engineering technology.

 Here are specific types of computer and information systems managers:
Chief information officers (CIOs)
Chief technology officers (CTOs)
IT directors
IT security managers 

This is a video of what it's like to be one of the Computer and Information Systems Managers:


Bonus #3
Physician Assistants

Much Faster Than Average High growth rate
 
Average salary of $125,270 per year
 
Recession Resistant
Physician assistant talking with patient

Your shortened title will be PA and although you will have your master's degree, you will accidentally be called "doctor" many times a week because a Physician Assistant does a lot of the duties performed by a physician under their supervision. 

 You may have to wear scrubs but you will definitely be putting on the gloves to do physicals, patient treatments, counseling patients, and in some cases, you'll even prescribe medication.

This career has its own accredited education program. Most have a bachelor’s degree when they start the program and most programs are 2 to 4 years of undergrad work focusing on science.

However, when you get out of school, it’s easier to pay off those school loans when you’re pulling in $125K per year – average pay!

You’ll want to start with a program accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc., and you should familiarize yourself with the American Academy of PAs.

Watch this video to learn more about the daily work-life career of a Physician Assistant:

Bonus #4
Information Security Analyst

32% growth rate (very high)

salary of $119,000 per year

Information security analyst analyzing data

 It's no longer "if" a hacker will attempt to compromise a company's computer network; it's now inevitable. AI and bot and virus traffic officially outnumber real people on the internet, and many of these programs are malicious and work tirelessly to hack a company.  The behind-the-scenes brain staying one step ahead of the destruction is the Information Security Analyst

 It's a critically important job that may look quiet from the outside until something goes wrong.  They are counting on you to find the vulnerabilities and security issues before the bad guys do.  You will be responsible for designing and implementing the security protocols and backup plans to safeguard the digital property of the company.  Things like software upgrades, patches, encryption, and firewalls are your weapons in the war for your company's data.

 This career's growth is exploding, with a projected 32% increase in hiring over the next 8 years.  But, more than lightning-fast typing skills, you'll need a bachelor's degree in computer and information technology, engineering, or math and the natural personality characteristics to keep you on the job with as little stress as possible. Learn how to get your work personality Fit Score for this career.

 If you want to stand out against the other applicants, you'll want to be certified as a CISSP or Certified Information Systems Security Professional.

 This video gives you a peek into the world of an information security analyst:

Bonus #5
Actuary

23.2% growth (much faster than average)

$127,580 per year average salary

Actuary looking over files

If you love charts and graphs, data, statistics, and crunching the numbers for the probability of accidents, you could be the perfect fit for a career as an Actuary. You'll be the person helping insurance companies decide how much money to charge for insurance premiums to stay competitive and not go bankrupt.

Most actuaries work in teams in an office setting but occasional travel and meeting with clients may come with the job.  Seventy-nine percent of the professionals in this career have a bachelor's degree in math or business and certifications always help the resume, so consider the Casualty Actuarial Society (CAS) and the Society of Actuaries (SOA).

This unique career isn't for everyone but if you are in this zone and really good at it, you can earn close to $200,000 per year (on the high end of the salary averages).

Watch this video about being an actuary:

 How do you know which of these is the best career for you?

 Don’t just choose one of these careers because it pays well or your parents think it’s a good fit for you. There is a way you can find out if your personality fits one of these careers. Take a career test for your work personality, learn about your personality strengths in a working environment, and see the list of careers that fit you best. This will help guide you to the best career for you.

 This is your life and the career you will be investing in for many years. Making the right career choice will bring you joy, energy, and passion for what you do. After all, if you enjoy your work, you will never work a day in your life. 

 Learn more about CareerFitter.com. Take the career test or learn more about the career test.

 


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