If you’re just out of school or if you’re in a bit of a career rut, maybe it’s time to start blazing a new career path with an eye toward the future. The world has changed a lot since your parents began their careers; many of the jobs that exist now were barely on anyone’s radar. It can all seem a little overwhelming, but today there are lucrative jobs for a variety of interests and levels of education.
Every year, sites like Glassdoor and Indeed release a list of the best jobs based on salary/earning potential, number of job openings, and overall job satisfaction among people currently employed in the fields. We’ve taken into account their rankings, with the additional criteria of rapid education and training opportunities.
Here is our list of the top 10 jobs for 2020, many of which start in the six-figure range:
1. Data Scientist
Starting Salary: $108,000
Job Description: A data scientist is a rare amalgam of businessperson, statistician and computer scientist. They gather, analyze and interpret large sets of data. They use the data to solve problems and predict trends.
Job Requirements: A data scientist position usually requires at least a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree or a three-month-long immersive data science bootcamp that brings together instruction into machine learning, statistical analysis, natural language processing, and data visualization. Applicants should be familiar with Python, R, SQL, Hadoop, Java, SAS, Spark, Matlab, Hive and Tableau. People wanting to expand their computer science skills to become a data scientist can enroll in continuing education or bootcamp programs to provide the necessary skills. There are even data scientist training online programs. Graduates from top-tier data science programs can expect to make a higher starting salary than the average data scientist.
2. Software Engineer
Starting Salary: $104,000
Job Description: Behind nearly everything you see on the internet is a software engineer. Software engineering works with operating systems, apps, network control systems, and social networks. Once built, a software engineer is responsible for maintaining a site or app. The career requires fluency in several computer languages, including Javascript, Java, C, C++, Perl, Python and Objective-C.
Job Requirements: Many software engineering jobs require a bachelor’s degree or a completed immersive coding bootcamp, however, exceptions are sometimes made if the applicant can prove competence and provide a portfolio of existing platforms. Graduates from top tier programs like Hack Reactor can expect to make a higher starting salary than the average software engineer.
3. Data Engineer
Starting Salary: $100,000
Job Description: Data engineers are a critical step in the broader information pipeline. They build and warehouse big data, and organize it in formats that are easy to analyze. Data engineers help data scientists perform their jobs by creating infrastructures to gather and sort data.
Job Requirements: Most data engineer positions require a bachelor’s degree in computer science, information technology, or something similar to the two. Some may require a master’s degree, but a strong resume could speak for itself. Applicants should have a strong knowledge of several languages, including R, SAS, Python, C/C++, Ruby Perl, Java, and MatLab.
Graduates from top-tier data science programs in this field can also expect to make a higher starting salary than the average data scientist.
4. Product Manager
Starting Salary: $115,000
Job Description: The role of product manager varies dramatically from company to company, but in the simplest terms, a product manager takes a company’s product from design to execution to the users’ hand. Some companies could narrow that role, but a qualified product manager should be competent at all three phases of product management.
Job Requirements: Product managers need to be organized and have excellent communication skills. Most positions require a master’s degree in business.
5. DevOps Engineer
Starting Salary: $106,000
Job Description: Think of a DevOps engineer as an intermediary between IT developers, operations, development, and users. DevOps engineers may not design the software, but it’s critical that they understand every detail of coding. Their job is to ensure that the software does what it’s supposed to.
Job Requirements: Most DevOps positions require a bachelor’s, or sometimes a master’s degree in computer engineering. Applicants should know Python, Ruby, JavaScript, Go and C.
6. HR Manager
Starting Salary: $85,000
Job Description: As businesses grow, so does the need for a strong human resources (HR) department. HR managers are in charge of all personnel issues, including hiring and firing, disciplinary actions, employee training, and in some cases, payroll. An HR manager must be familiar with federal, local and state laws regarding pay, anti-discrimination and overall employee relations.
Job Requirements: The vast majority of HR manager jobs require a college education. Many require a master’s in business degree.
7. Program Manager
Starting Salary: $87,000
Job Description: Think of a program manager as sort of a project manager on steroids. Program managers oversee and implement multiple projects and multiple teams at a time. It is up to program managers to see the bigger picture and to make sure that all projects run in accordance with the organization’s broader business model.
Job Requirements: Program manager positions require a bachelor’s or master’s degree in business or a related major.
8. Occupational Therapist
Starting Salary: $74,000
Job Description: An occupational therapist works with sick, injured, and disabled people to help them navigate life and careers.
Job Requirements: Occupational therapist is one of the most highly educated jobs on this list. Some positions require a master’s degree in occupational therapy, while others require a PhD. All occupational therapists must obtain a license.
9. Marketing Manager
Starting Salary: $82,000
Job Description: A marketing manager is responsible for the implementation and reporting of company marketing initiatives. In larger companies, the marketing manager might oversee parts of the marketing plan, and in smaller companies, they might take a broader role. Marketing managers are responsible for developing and maintaining a company’s image.
Job Requirements: Most marketing managers have at least a bachelor’s degree, if not a master’s in business or marketing.
10. Nursing Manager
Starting Salary: $82,000
Job Description: A nursing manager’s role is much like it sounds. They manage the nursing staff at hospitals or large medical clinics.
Job Requirements: A nursing manager must be a licensed nurse. Many positions require a master’s degree or higher, and several additional certifications.
Are you interested in becoming a Data Scientist or a Software Engineer? Get up to speed with Galvanize’s Data Science bootcamp or Hack Reactor’s Software Engineering bootcamp.

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