The 4 most in-demand jobs that pay more than $120,000 per year, according to new research
The job market is constantly evolving, offering a wide array of opportunities for job seekers. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employers added a staggering 353,000 jobs in January across various industries. Among these, professional and business services, health care, and retail stood out with significant job additions.
Ladders, a leading jobsite, identifies six-figure job openings across industries and tracks the most in-demand positions. As of February 2024, the tech and health care industries stand out with numerous high-paying job opportunities.
Pharmacist
Pharmacists play a crucial role in retail and hospital settings like CVS, Walgreens, and hospital pharmacies. Their responsibilities include advising doctors on medication usage, filling prescriptions, addressing patient queries, and managing inventory. To qualify, pharmacists need a Doctor of Pharmacy degree and a state license.
Pharmacists earn an average salary of $120,000 per year, as reported by Indeed.
Pharmacy Manager
As the title suggests, pharmacy managers oversee operations at retail and hospital pharmacies. They ensure accurate order fulfillment, provide customer service, manage inventory, and optimize workflows. Typically, they hold a relevant bachelor’s degree and must be licensed by the state.
Pharmacy managers earn an average annual salary of $146,000, according to Indeed.
Project Manager
Project managers are essential in fields such as architecture, technology, and construction. Their responsibilities include project oversight, defining project scope, creating timelines, managing costs, and keeping stakeholders informed. A minimum of an associate’s degree is usually required, if not a bachelor’s degree.
Project managers can earn up to $137,000 per year, based on data from Indeed.
Senior Software Engineer
Senior software engineers develop websites and software applications using languages like CSS, HTML, and JavaScript. They may also lead teams of engineers and are in high demand across industries due to the need for online presence. Typically, they hold at least a bachelor’s degree.
Senior software engineers earn an average of $145,000 per year, as per Indeed’s data.
The increased demand for pharmacists and pharmacy managers can be attributed in part to the aging baby boomer population. John Mullinix, head of growth marketing at Ladders, highlights the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ projections, indicating high demand for health care positions in the coming decade.
Furthermore, the retirement of many baby boomers from these positions is creating additional openings in the field.
Regarding the demand for project managers, Mullinix notes, “With the proliferation of AI, there’s a lot more projects that need higher complexity to complete.” He emphasizes the need for skilled professionals to manage these complex projects from start to finish.
In the realm of software engineering, Mullinix explains, “More things are getting automated, and there’s a growing need for programmers to develop user interfaces, applications, automations, and even systems like AI and machine learning.” This growing technology landscape naturally calls for more developers to create and maintain it.
