Makiko Tanigawa | digital vision | Getty Images
Some of the highest paying careers are also the fastest growing. Recent data shows that science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) jobs are projected to grow by 15% between 2021 and 2031.
While tens of thousands of workers have been laid off this year, STEM jobs remain in high demand. STEM-related jobs expected to increase by nearly 800,000 by 2031; According to a recent SmartAsset study, more than half of these are expected to be in math and computing.
The growth of America’s STEM industry is mainly attributed to the country’s growing computer industry. According to a US Department of Labor Beyond the Numbers report, computer jobs will be in demand over the next decade due to the growth of America’s digital economy.
In an increasingly evolving society dependent on digital technologies, from online shopping and social media platforms to artificial intelligence, robotics and machine learning, the risk of electronic security breaches is increasing. A greater need to protect electronic data requires more computing and STEM-related professions.
SmartAsset analyzed historical job growth between 2017 and 2021 and projected job growth from 2021 to 2031 to identify and rank the fastest growing STEM professions in the country. The study compared data from 74 occupations.
For the second year in a row, information security jobs top the list of fastest growing STEM jobs. Overall, STEM jobs account for 5.9% of the fastest growing jobs in the United States.
Of the fastest growing STEM jobs, here are seven that make over $100,000 according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics:
Average salary: $152,430
Growth rate 2017-2021: 19.8%
Projected growth rate 2021-2031: 8.2%
Change in the number of jobs 2017-2021: 3,310
Expected change in the number of jobs 2021-2031: 1,900
Average salary: $131,490
Growth rate 2017-2021: 10.5%
Projected growth rate 2021-2031: 21.3%
Change in the number of jobs 2017-2021: 2,920
Expected change in the number of jobs 2021-2031: 7,100
Average salary: $128,170
Growth rate 2017-2021: 10.5%
Projected growth rate 2021-2031: 4.8%
Change in the number of jobs 2017-2021: 6,980
Expected change in the number of jobs 2021-2031: 3,700
Average salary: $120,520
Growth rate 2017-2021: 7.0%
Projected growth rate 2021-2031: 4.3%
Change in the number of jobs 2017-2021: 11,000
Expected change in the number of jobs 2021-2031: 7,500
Average salary: $105,900
Growth rate 2017-2021: 19.9%
Projected growth rate 2021-2031: 20.8%
Change in the number of jobs 2017-2021: 3,830
Expected change in the number of jobs 2021-2031: 5,900
Average salary: $102,600
Growth rate 2017-2021: 49.4%
Projected growth rate 2021-2031: 34.7%
Change in the number of jobs 2017-2021: 51,970
Expected change in the number of jobs 2021-2031: 56,500
