16 careers that will survive the recession

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Hanna Horvath, CFP®

Hanna Horvath, CFP®

CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ & Managing Editor, Growth

Hanna Horvath is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and managing editor for growth at Policygenius. She helps produce the Easy Money newsletter, and owns all growth initiatives for Easy Money. She recently passed her exam to become a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ in November 2020.

Hanna's work has appeared in NBC News, Business Insider and Inc. Magazine. She is regularly quoted in top media outlets, including CNBC, Best Company and HerMoney. She has also appeared on the Money Moolala podcast and All's Fair podcast.

Prior to Policygenius, Hanna wrote for KNBC in Los Angeles and WNBC in New York. When she isn't writing, she's (often) running, (usually) cooking and (sometimes) doing photography.

Published September 6, 2018|2 min read

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Everyone wants job stability. Though the U.S. economy has been growing steadily since the Great Recession, another downturn could be on the horizon. No job is completely protected from the next downturn, but certain fields are safer from cuts. We looked into data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics to find out which ones will grow the most through the next recession and beyond.

If you are looking for a change in career or are just starting out in the working world, check out these growing career paths, ranked by projected growth through 2026.

1. Solar photovoltaic installers

Growth rate: 105% Median pay in 2017: $39,490 Education level: High school diploma or equivalent Number of jobs in 2016: 11,300 Projected job growth through 2026: 11,800

2. Wind turbine service technicians

Growth rate: 96% Median pay in 2017: $53,880 Education level: Certificate Number of jobs in 2016: 5,800 Projected job growth through 2026: 5,600

3. Home health & personal care aides

Growth rate: 41% Median pay in 2017: $23,130 Education level: High school diploma or equivalent Number of jobs in 2016: 2.9 million Projected job growth through 2026: 1.2 million

4. Physician assistants

Growth rate: 37% Median pay in 2017: $104,860 Education level: Master’s degree Number of jobs in 2016: 106,200 Projected job growth through 2026: 39,600

5. Statisticians & mathematicians

Growth rate: 33% Median pay in 2017: $84,760 Education level: Master’s degree Number of jobs in 2016: 40,300 Projected job growth through 2026: 13,500

6. Nurse practitioners, anesthetists & midwives

Growth rate: 31% Median pay in 2017: $110,930 Education level: Master’s degree Number of jobs in 2016: 203,800 Projected job growth through 2026: 64,200

7. Physical therapist assistants & aides

Growth rate: 30% Median pay in 2017: $46,920 Education level: Associate degree Number of jobs in 2016: 140,300 Projected job growth through 2026: 42,700

8. Medical assistants

Growth rate: 29% Median pay in 2017: $32,480 Education level: Certificate Number of jobs in 2016: 634,400 Projected job growth through 2026: 183,900

9. Genetic counselors

Growth rate: 29% Median pay: $77,480 Education level: Master’s degree Number of jobs in 2016: 3,100 Projected job growth through 2026: 900

10. Occupational therapy assistants & aides

Growth rate: 28% Median pay in 2017: $56,690 Education level: Associate degree Number of jobs in 2016: 46,800 Projected job growth through 2026: 13,200

11. Information security analyst

Growth rate: 28% Median pay in 2017: $95,510 Education level: Bachelor’s degree Number of jobs in 2016: 100,000 Projected job growth through 2026: 28,500

12. Physical therapists

Growth rate: 28% Median pay in 2017: $86,850 Education level: Doctoral or professional degree Number of jobs in 2016: 239,800 Projected job growth through 2026: 67,100

13. Operations research analysts

Growth rate: 27% Median pay in 2017: $81,390 Education level: Bachelor’s degree Number of jobs in 2016: 114,000 Projected job growth through 2026: 31,300

14. Massage therapists

Growth rate: 26% Median pay in 2017: $39,990 Education level: Certificate Number of jobs in 2016: 160,300 Projected job growth through 2026: 42,100

15. Software developers

Growth rate: 24% Median pay in 2017: $103,560 Education Level: Bachelor’s degree Number of jobs in 2016: 1.3 million Projected job growth through 2026: 302,500

16. Fire inspectors

Growth rate: 10% Median pay in 2017: $56,670 Education level: High school diploma Number of jobs in 2016: 14,100 Projected job growth through 2026: 1,400

Interested in wage growth by state? Check out the five states where pay has gone up the most since the Recession.

Image: DjelicS

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 2016 Occupational Outlook Handbook.
CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ & Managing Editor, Growth

Hanna Horvath, CFP®

CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ & Managing Editor, Growth

Hanna Horvath is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and managing editor for growth at Policygenius. She helps produce the Easy Money newsletter, and owns all growth initiatives for Easy Money. She recently passed her exam to become a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ in November 2020.

Hanna's work has appeared in NBC News, Business Insider and Inc. Magazine. She is regularly quoted in top media outlets, including CNBC, Best Company and HerMoney. She has also appeared on the Money Moolala podcast and All's Fair podcast.

Prior to Policygenius, Hanna wrote for KNBC in Los Angeles and WNBC in New York. When she isn't writing, she's (often) running, (usually) cooking and (sometimes) doing photography.