This Random AI Skill Could Land You Over $100,000 a Year Annual Salary

If you’re trying to decide which career path to take or thinking about switching industries to stop living paycheck to paycheck, it’s crucial to keep an eye on which jobs are in demand in the current market. 

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), several careers are projected to see a large spike in job openings. Among these, careers in artificial intelligence (AI) are experiencing unprecedented demand, with some positions offering salaries well over $100,000 a year.

Goldman Sachs predicts that AI will ultimately affect more than 300 million jobs worldwide. As AI skills become increasingly vital—influencing various industries from healthcare to finance—workers can capitalize on the salary boosts that come with them.

Here are the top 12 fastest-growing jobs in the country that pay at least $75,000 a year.

Physician assistants (PAs), who see patients in doctor’s offices, hospitals, outpatient clinics, and other healthcare settings, work under a supervising physician while getting ahead financially.

After obtaining a master’s degree (usually after undergoing a rigorous postgraduate program) and passing the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination, PAs can perform many of the same functions as a doctor.

The BLS projects that there will be a big need for PAs over the next decade, with employment expected to grow 27% from 2022 to 2032. The annual median wage for PAs in 2022 was $126,010 per year.

Actuaries usually work for insurance companies. Although most work full-time in an office setting, some actuaries who work as consultants travel to meet with clients. These workers use math, statistics, and financial theories to analyze the economic costs of risk and uncertainty.

The BLS estimates that the employment of actuaries will grow 23% between 2022 and 2032. The annual salary for these workers in 2022 was $113,990.

To work as an actuary, you typically need a bachelor’s degree and must pass a series of exams to become certified.

Medical and health services managers are also fast-growing jobs in the healthcare field. The BLS projects that employment for these positions will be up 28% from 2022 to 2032.

The employees typically work in hospitals, nursing homes, or for group medical practices and help plan, direct, and coordinate business activities. 

Most of these employees have at least a bachelor’s degree, though some facilities may require a master’s. Pay in 2022 averaged $104,830 per year.

Demand for software developers is also expected to keep climbing over the next 10 years, with the BLS projecting that demand for these positions will rise 26% from 2022 to 2032.

Software developers can work in many different fields, such as developing computer applications or programs, quality assurance analysts, and testers identifying problems with applications or programs and reporting defects. 

Some companies require a bachelor’s degree, but other employers prefer to hire developers who have a master’s degree. The average salary for these gigs in 2022 was $127,260 per year.

The demand for statisticians is projected to be up 30% from 2022 to 2032, according to BLS data. These employees analyze data and apply mathematical techniques to offer solutions for businesses.

Statisticians can work in a great range of environments, from government jobs to working with scientific research teams or engineers. Typically, these workers need at least a master’s degree, but this may vary depending on the company.

In 2022, the average salary was $98,920 per year.

Information security analysts, who plan and implement security strategies for computer networks and systems, are also expected to be in high demand. The BLS projects a 32% increase in these jobs from 2022 to 2032.

Analysts typically work for computer companies, consulting firms, or within the technology departments at other companies. Generally, a bachelor’s degree along with some work experience may be required.

In 2022, the average salary for information security analysts was $112,000 per year.

Computer and information research scientists are in charge of designing innovative uses for new and existing computer technology. With the arrival of A.I., it should be no surprise that this profession is expected to grow 23% between 2022 and 2032.

A rule change by the NCAA has allowed college athletes to sign endorsements, which would technically make them self-employed, but they are making more than ever.

The average salary for these professionals in 2022 was $136,620 per year, with an average pay of $136,620.

Data scientists are also expected to be in demand as more companies depend on them to help make decisions regarding business processes, products, and marketing. The BLS expects employment for data scientists to grow 35% from 2022 to 2032.

Workers typically need to have at least a bachelor’s degree in mathematics, statistics, computer science, or a related field. Some companies may require a data scientist to have a master’s or even a Ph.D.

The average pay for a data scientist in 2022 was $103,500 per year.

Nurse practitioners were at the top of the BLS list when it comes to job growth, with 38% more jobs projected to be added from 2022 to 2032.

The BLS data lumped nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives, and nurse practitioners together to get their data. All three involve coordinating and providing patient care. Nurse practitioners may work at hospitals, doctor’s offices, or clinics.

Practitioners need to be licensed and earn a master’s degree to work in any of the advanced practice registered nurses (APRN) roles. On average, nurse practitioners were making $125,900 per year in 2022.

Epidemiologists are public health workers who investigate patterns and causes of disease and injury. They work mostly in offices and laboratories, usually at health departments for state and local governments, in hospitals, and at colleges and universities.

To be an epidemiologist you'd typically need at least a master’s degree to enter the occupation, like having a master’s degree in public health (MPH) or a related field.

The BLS projects that there will be a big need for epidemiologists over the next decade, with employment expected to grow 27% from 2022 to 2032. The median annual wage for epidemiologists was $78,520 in 2022.

Operations research analysts use mathematics and logic to help solve complex issues, which means they could help a number of businesses in different fields.

The BLS estimates that the employment of Operations Research Analysts will grow 23% from 2022 to 2032, and the median annual wage for operations research analysts was $85,720 in 2022.

To become an Operations Research Analyst, you typically need at least a bachelor’s degree. Some employers require or prefer that applicants have a master’s degree. 

Prompt engineering — teaching AI models how to respond to various inputs — is one of the fastest-growing jobs in the artificial technology industry. 

Most of these roles don’t require a bachelor’s degree and instead emphasize technical and soft skills. According to Indeed, a job that requires generative AI has an average salary of more than $170,000 annually. 

Pivoting to one of these in-demand and well-paying positions could help you take on new challenges and boost your bank account.

It’s great to set yourself up with a lucrative gig, but there are smart and savvy ways to make your money work for you, too. 

This can include planning for retirement, getting the most out of credit cards, and getting a handle on any lingering debt.