Over 60% of Americans are looking for a new job. That means if you’re throwing your resume into the ring for consideration, you have some stiff competition.

If you want to increase your odds of finding employment, you should apply for more in-demand jobs. Of course, some of these jobs have strict requirements.

You might have to start over and get a degree. If you can’t afford to do that, don’t worry, there are options available for you. You can become a solar photovoltaic installer or software developer.

Are you ready to pursue your next career? Check out this guide to learn about jobs with strong demand.

1. Solar Photovoltaic Installer

In recent years, there’s been a huge push for sustainable energy. That’s why careers in solar have become so lucrative. Well, that and the fact that it’s not a difficult job field to get into.

All you need to get things going is a high school diploma. From there, you’ll go through a hands-on training process to learn how to place solar panels. Training will also teach you all about panel maintenance and general troubleshooting.

If you want to maximize your earnings as a solar photovoltaic installer, it’s recommended to go to a technical college. After all, the more you learn, the more valuable you’ll be to employers. If you play your cards right, you could earn over 40,000 dollars a year.

2. Registered Nurse (RN)

Have you always loved helping people? You might make a promising RN. While it’s no secret that medical careers are some of the most high-demand jobs around, there is a special need for caring registered nurses.

It’s thought that the demand for nurses will continue to grow well into 2026. On top of being in high demand, RNs make great money. You can expect to earn about 70,000 dollars a year.

The thing is, you’ve got to be prepared to work for it. As an RN, you’ll be responsible for teaching patients how to manage their illnesses and injuries, providing emotional support to families, administering medication to patients, and more.

You also won’t be able to become a registered nurse overnight. You’ll have to enter a relevant degree program and get your license.

3. Wind Turbine Service Technician

Like Solar Panel installers, wind turbine technicians are in demand due to the push toward cleaner energy. As the name suggests, it will be your duty to maintain, service, and install these systems.

This isn’t the job for you if you’re scared of heights. In order to get things done, you’ll have to climb a 260-foot ladder on a normal basis. As you climb, you’ll carry about 45 pounds of tools with you.

To be a successful technician, you will have to attend a two-year technical college. After you’re done with your education, you’ll get a year of on-the-job training.

Most people enter an apprenticeship program to get their physical training. To go this route, you’ll need to be 18 years old with a high school diploma and a year’s worth of high school algebra under your belt.

During your apprenticeship, you’ll learn the ins and outs of first aid, and safety. Your instructor will also teach you how to maintain hydraulic, mechanical, and electrical systems.

4. Software Developer

If you’ve always been sort of tech-savvy, you might do well as a software developer. Due to cell phones, tablets, and cloud technology, there will always be a need for people to create and troubleshoot apps.

On top of the large amount of work available in this field, you also have easy access to education. Having a degree is nice, and it will help you grow your career, but it’s not necessary. There are plenty of free online sources that you can use to learn any programming language you want.

There are also tons of career options within the field with a lot of room for advancement. You can be an independent contractor and work from home or become part of a larger company.

The salary is nothing to sneeze at either. You can earn around 100,000 dollars a year.

5. Information Security Analyst

There isn’t a business around that isn’t vulnerable to cyberattacks. That means there will always be a demand for information security analysts.

You’ll come in to look for holes in a company’s security system. If you find one, you’ll have to work hard to plug it in before hackers can take advantage.

Most employers are looking for candidates with a bachelor’s degree. You’ll need to have a complete understanding of security hardware, software, and computer systems.

If you’re able to meet all of these requirements, you’ll get paid almost 100,000 dollars a year.

6. Nurse Practitioner

Nurse practitioners are registered nurses that have a lot more training. They can order medications and lab tests. They can also diagnose patients to some degree and perform actual examinations.

Since they have more expertise, they get paid a bit more. Most make well over 100,000 dollars a year.

You will have to spend quite a bit of time in med school to get started down this career path. You won’t be able to put in job applications until you have at least a master’s degree.

Due to the fact that it’s one of the biggest jobs that are in demand, however, the medical debt is more than worth it. You’ll be able to pay back your student loans with that sweet 6 figure salary.

7. Postsecondary Education Teacher

Postsecondary education jobs might pay a bit less than some of the other careers on this list, but it’s no less rewarding. You’ll still make over 70,000 dollars a year as a college professor and get to influence the minds of young adults.

This career option is pretty flexible as well. Yes, you’ll need a Ph.D., but you can get it in any subject you love. That theater degree your parents told you was impractical is actually pretty useful, after all.

If you want to make a little extra money on the side, you could publish a textbook and use it to teach your students. The other benefit is that you’ll get to see fresh faces every single semester. It keeps things from getting boring.

As far as demand goes, there’s always a need for quality teachers.

8. Physician Assistant

Due to the large population and increased number of seniors, doctors are always on the lookout for good help. That’s what physician assistants are for.

They work closely with surgeons and doctors to diagnose and treat patients. Physician assistants can also make changes to a patient’s medical charts if needed and educate people on their treatment options.

Other than the growing demand, you also get the benefit of choosing where you work. You don’t have to stick to a hospital or clinic.

You can branch out and specialize in geriatric care, emergency medicine, psychiatry, family care, or podiatry. That’s only the tip of the iceberg.

You will need a master’s degree and state license before you can become a physician assistant. Once you have those two things, you can start raking in a 6 figure salary.

9. Occupational Therapist

Occupational therapists work with people with conditions or injuries that interrupt their day-to-day lives. Most of this is done by teaching patients rehabilitative stretches and exercises. As these patients recover, you’ll record their status to keep them on the path toward success.

For the most part, you’ll find yourself in assisted living and nursing homes. Some occupational therapists choose to work with children with developmental difficulties.

On top of the emotional rewards that come with this career path, you’ll also be well compensated. As long as you take the time to get your master’s degree and license, you can earn over 40,000 dollars a year.

10. Accountant and Auditor

Was math your favorite subject while you were in school? We have the job for you. No career field will allow you to crunch numbers quite like accounting.

When it comes to tax time, people will flock to you so they can keep the IRS happy and avoid paying out too much. Don’t worry, you won’t just get clients when January approaches.

Businesses will need your help all year round to keep their finances in order. They’ll pay you thousands of dollars to handle their records and receipts.

There are many different areas of accounting. For you to be successful and legally work, you’ll have to pick one and get your degree in it.

11. Medical and Health Services Manager

As a medical manager, your job will be to keep offices in good working order. That means you’re going to need to have a good eye for detail and killer organizational skills.

Since you’ll be in charge of keeping all the office software up to date, being tech savvy is a plus. You’re going to be working with insurance companies, doctors, patients, and administrators, so you’ve got to be able to communicate.

You’ll need to have a bachelor’s degree in health administration to be a good job candidate. If you really want to throw the door to opportunity wide open, it’s recommended to go for your master’s degree in business or public administration.

Managing an entire medical office can be a bit stressful, but at least you don’t have to see the patient’s blood, and you’ll earn 6 figures. It’s a win-win!

12. Statistician

This is another career option for the math lovers out there. You’ll use your knowledge of numbers to analyze data and make predictions based on it. Your employer can then make big business decisions based on your findings.

To lead the university or financial institution you work at in the right direction, you’ll need to have a master’s degree. If you don’t want to spend that kind of money, you might be able to find a good job with only a bachelor’s degree in your hand.

Either way, the need for statisticians is expected to go up by over 30 percent, so finding a job right out of school shouldn’t be too hard.

13. Financial Manager

As a financial manager, it’s up to you to make sure a business doesn’t go bankrupt. You’ll write up the financial reports and make all the big investment decisions for the company.

Now you might be wondering how a financial manager is different from an accountant. While they have a lot of the same duties, financial managers focus a bit more on strategy.

Before you can become the big financial honcho, you’ll have to graduate with your bachelor’s degree and get a bit of experience under your belt.

14. Lawyer

The demand for lawyers isn’t skyrocketing, but it’s not on a downward slope either. With all the different areas of law, you’re sure to find a job somewhere after graduation.

The first step is to specialize while you’re in school. You can assist people with writing up their wills, dip your toes into family law, or represent someone with a DUI charge.

While being a lawyer is a stressful job, it does pay well. Get ready to bring in over 125,000 dollars a year!

The Most In-Demand Jobs That Exist Today

As you can see, there are tons of in-demand jobs that you can go after. No matter where you are in your career, it’s never too late to go back to school and pursue a degree.

If you don’t want to take out thousands of dollars in student loans, there are options for you as well. Start paving the way toward your future today!

For tips that will help you land one of these amazing jobs, visit the Education Career section of our blog.