- Some entry-level jobs are projected to see large employment growth over the decade.
- This includes software developers and different types of nurses.
- Here are 25 jobs that typically require no related work experience, earn over the median annual wage, and are projected to grow from 2021 to 2031.
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25 entry-level jobs that pay well and are projected to grow over the decade
Sep 19, 2022, 3:07 PM ET
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25. Data scientists
Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: 40,500
Median annual wage in May 2021: $100,910
Typical educational requirements: Bachelor's degree
24. Software quality assurance analysts and testers
Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: 40,800
Median annual wage in May 2021: $98,220
Typical educational requirements: Bachelor's degree
23. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses
Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: 41,300
Median annual wage in May 2021: $48,070
Typical educational requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
22. Computer user support specialists
Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: 42,700
Median annual wage in May 2021: $49,770
Typical educational requirements: Some college, no degree
21. Securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents
Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: 47,700
Median annual wage in May 2021: $62,910
Typical educational requirements: Bachelor's degree
20. Secondary school teachers (except special and career/technical education)
Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: 48,700
Median annual wage in May 2021: $61,820
Typical educational requirements: Bachelor's degree
19. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing (except technical and scientific products)
Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: 48,900
Median annual wage in May 2021: $61,600
Typical educational requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
18. Paralegals and legal assistants
Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: 49,900
Median annual wage in May 2021: $56,230
Typical educational requirements: Associate's degree
17. Electricians
Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: 50,200
Median annual wage in May 2021: $60,040
Typical educational requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
15 (tie). Computer systems analysts
Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: 50,900
Median annual wage in May 2021: $99,270
Typical educational requirements: Bachelor's degree
15 (tie). Personal financial advisors
Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: 50,900
Median annual wage in May 2021: $94,170
Typical educational requirements: Bachelor's degree
14. Logisticians
Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: 54,100
Median annual wage in May 2021: $77,030
Typical educational requirements: Bachelor's degree
13. Elementary school teachers (except special education)
Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: 54,900
Median annual wage in May 2021: $61,400
Typical educational requirements: Bachelor's degree
12. Project management specialists
Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: 56,300
Median annual wage in May 2021: $94,500
Typical educational requirements: Bachelor's degree
11. Human resources specialists
Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: 58,800
Median annual wage in May 2021: $62,290
Typical educational requirements: Bachelor's degree
10. Industrial machinery mechanics
Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: 63,100
Median annual wage in May 2021: $59,840
Typical educational requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
9. Sales representatives of services (except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel)
Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: 71,400
Median annual wage in May 2021: $60,550
Typical educational requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
8. Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors
Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: 77,500
Median annual wage in May 2021: $48,520
Typical educational requirements: Bachelor's degree
7. Lawyers
Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: 80,200
Median annual wage in May 2021: $127,990
Typical educational requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
6. Accountants and auditors
Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: 81,800
Median annual wage in May 2021: $77,250
Typical educational requirements: Bachelor's degree
5. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers
Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: 90,900
Median annual wage in May 2021: $48,310
Typical educational requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
4. Nurse practitioners
Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: 112,700
Median annual wage in May 2021: $120,680
Typical educational requirements: Master's degree
3. Market research analysts and marketing specialists
Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: 150,300
Median annual wage in May 2021: $63,920
Typical educational requirements: Bachelor's degree
2. Registered nurses
Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: 195,400
Median annual wage in May 2021: $77,600
Typical educational requirements: Bachelor's degree
1. Software developers
Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: 370,600
Median annual wage in May 2021: $120,730
Typical educational requirements: Bachelor's degree
How we ranked the above occupations
For job seekers just beginning their careers, the above list of jobs may be a good start to find a promising first position. These jobs don't require any prior related work experience, pay relatively well, and are projected to see some kind of job growth from 2021 to 2031.
To find entry-level jobs that are projected to grow over the decade and make over median annual wage, Insider used data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. BLS has the typical necessary education and work experience for different occupations.
We only included jobs that make over the median annual wage in 2021 of $45,760. We filtered out jobs that are not projected to see job growth over the decade. We also excluded occupations that are catchall titles, such as "business operations specialists, all other." Because we wanted to look at occupations that could be considered entry level, we only looked at occupations with no "work experience in a related occupation" typically required.
We then ranked the occupations by their projected employment growth between 2021 and 2031 using BLS' latest job projections.
Based on our methodology, software developers take the top spot of jobs that don't need previous work experience and are projected to see large job growth. This occupation that typically makes six-figures a year is projected to see job growth of 370,600.