Top 25 Professions

Overall

Listed below are the 25 occupations projected to grow the fastest during the 2000-2010 time period. Click on an occupation to learn more about it, including state data.

#	Occupation	Employment		Percent change *	Earnings Quartile	Most significant source of education or training
#	Occupation	2000	2010	Percent change *	Earnings Quartile	Most significant source of education or training
1	Computer software engineers, applications	380,000	760,100	100%		Bachelor's degree
2	Computer support specialists	505,600	995,900	97%		Associate degree
3	Computer software engineers, systems software	316,900	601,200	90%		Bachelor's degree
4	Network and computer systems administrators	228,500	415,700	82%		Bachelor's degree
5	Network systems and data communications analysts	118,700	210,600	77%		Bachelor's degree
6	Desktop publishers	38,000	63,300	67%		Postsecondary vocational award
7	Database administrators	106,000	175,900	66%		Bachelor's degree
8	Personal and home care aides	413,600	672,100	62%		Short-term on-the-job training
9	Computer systems analysts	431,400	689,200	60%		Bachelor's degree
10	Medical assistants	328,600	515,800	57%		Moderate-term on-the-job training
11	Social and human service assistants	270,800	417,700	54%		Moderate-term on-the-job training
12	Physician assistants	57,800	88,700	53%		Bachelor's degree
13	Medical records and health information technicians	135,700	202,200	49%		Associate degree
14	Computer and information systems managers	313,000	462,900	48%		Bachelor's or higher degree, plus work experience
15	Home health aides	615,400	906,600	47%		Short-term on-the-job training
16	Physical therapist aides	35,900	52,500	46%		Short-term on-the-job training
17	Occupational therapist aides	8,500	12,400	45%		Short-term on-the-job training
18	Physical therapist assistants	43,900	63,600	45%		Associate degree
19	Audiologists	12,800	18,500	45%		Master's degree
20	Fitness trainers and aerobics instructors	158,300	222,200	40%		Postsecondary vocational award
21	Computer and information scientists, research	28,000	39,400	40%		Doctoral degree
22	Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers	55,200	77,200	40%		Short-term on-the-job training
23	Occupational therapist assistants	16,500	23,100	40%		Associate degree
24	Veterinary technologists and technicians	49,400	68,800	39%		Associate degree
25	Speech-language pathologists	87,900	122,400	39%		Master's degree

* Note: The national average percent change is 15.2% for the 2000-2010 employment