Fastest Growing Jobs Aren't Always the Highest Paying

Two out of the top five fastest-growing job titles in the U.S. also provide a median pay below the U.S. annual median, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Over the next decade, jobs for solar photovoltaic installers are expected to grow by 63 percent, nearly ten times the rate of the overall occupational employment growth. Median pay for work in this job stands around $5,000 above the median currently.

This trend changes for work in health service. The fastest growing sector is the healthcare industry, with healthcare support occupations projected to grow by 18.2 percent over the next decade. The specific professions posting the highest growth are home health aides and personal care aides, with growth forecasts for both job titles around 37 and 36 percent respectively. Despite both titles holding double the growth prospects of their wider industry, both jobs pay well below the national median annual wage. About fifty percent of both job titles makes less than $24,000 a year.

*Note: A previous version of this story cited the annual median income for families instead of the annual median income for individuals. The text and chart now reflect that change.