Want to find work after completing your studies in the United States? You are in the right article. The United States is a large country with a variety of cultures, lifestyles, and industries ready for new graduates to explore. Working in the United States will add value to your CV because the United States is one of the most influential and prosperous countries in the world. Not only that, the United States is also home to Silicon Valley, the world’s leading center for technological innovation, as well as many well-known companies such as Apple, Amazon, Google, Universal Pictures, IBM, and many more. Therefore, we have collected the top five graduate jobs in the United States that you need to know about based on industry rankings with the highest growth potential and quite promising salaries.
So, what are the top five graduate jobs in the United States? We’ve used the fastest growing job rankings from the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to see which industries you should consider after completing your studies in the United States. The BLS considers the professions with the highest growth potential and their salaries.
Nursing staffÂ
Nurses are desperately needed in the United States because of the ever-present need for medical personnel. The population has always needed medical experts to care for the elderly and sick. This makes the health sector very promising for new graduates. According to the BLS, nurses in the United States receive an average salary of USD 75,330 per year (2020).
To become a registered nurse in the United States, you need a bachelor’s degree and a state license. Studying nursing in the United States will usually take four years to complete. If you want to improve your opportunities in nursing, you can continue your learning to qualify as a nurse practitioner. For this role, you will need a master’s degree. This can take between two to four years to complete. Although training will take time, you may be interested in the average salary of USD 111,680 per year for this nursing specialty. Demand for these skills is also expected to grow by 45 percent (BLS 2019-2029).
Some universities with undergraduate nursing study programs in the United States are:
- Florida International University
- University of Alabama
- University of Illinois at Chicago
- Washington State University
- University of Cincinnati
Occupational Therapy
“Occupational Therapy” or “OT” is a field of health work that aims to help people who experience physical, psychological or social limitations in carrying out daily activities. In the United States, this field is urgently needed because the number of elderly people and people suffering from chronic diseases is increasing. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), occupational therapy jobs in the United States have a median salary of USD 86,210 per year (2020).
To become an occupational therapist in the US, you need to have a bachelor’s degree and state certification. Occupational therapy studies typically take four years. However, if you want to pursue a higher career in this field, you can continue your education to a master’s level. To become a licensed occupational therapist, you need to complete a two-year master’s program. The average salary for this position is USD 105,000 per year (BLS 2020) and demand for this skill set is expected to grow by 16% (BLS 2019-2029).
Here are some universities in the United States that offer bachelor’s and master’s programs in occupational therapy:
- University of Toledo
- New York UniversityÂ
- Parkland CollegeÂ
- Quinnipiac UniversityÂ
- The University of New OrleansÂ
Statistics
Have you completed a graduate program in mathematics or statistics? Or maybe you are considering pursuing one of these two fields at undergraduate level? If yes, then becoming a statistician could be an attractive option. In the United States, mathematicians and statistics experts are expected to be in demand in the next 10 years with a growth rate of 33 percent. Graduates with numerical and analytical skills are highly sought after for key positions in government, engineering, forensics, and scientific research in the US.
To truly thrive in this profession, it is recommended to obtain a master’s degree. In the US, it usually takes two years to complete after graduating from a four-year undergraduate program. Because these skills are highly desired by employers, statisticians can expect to earn USD 93,290 per year, while mathematicians can earn an annual salary of USD 110,860 (BLS 2020).
Find statistics programs offered by the following universities:
- Virginia Tech University
- University of North Carolina Wilmington
- Iowa State University
- Michigan State University
- University of Pittsburgh
Information Security Systems and Technology
Are you interested in technology and information security systems? If so, you might consider a job as an information security analyst. In the digital era like now, data and information security is very important. These jobs are in high demand in various fields, from finance to the military. According to the BLS, demand for information security workers is expected to continue to increase in the United States with growth of approximately 31 percent in the next 10 years.
To prepare to become an information security analyst, you need a bachelor’s degree in information technology or cybersecurity. Additionally, security certifications such as CompTIA Security+ or Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) are also very useful. In this job, you can earn an average of USD 103,590 per year (BLS 2020).
The following are several universities in the United States that offer information security programs:
- Oklahoma State University
- University of HartfordÂ
- Suffolk UniversityÂ
- University of TampaÂ
- University of Toledo
Mental health
If you want a career that is rewarding and helps others, you might consider becoming a mental health or substance abuse counselor. In the United States, the profession is expected to grow by 25 percent in the next decade as more people seek mental health support.
Most positions require a bachelor’s degree as a minimum requirement, although this may vary depending on the position. Relevant courses at undergraduate level include psychology or social sciences.
Taking a master’s program in mental health or psychology will also allow you to apply for more senior positions with greater responsibility and a higher salary. On average, mental health and substance abuse counselors can earn USD 47,660 per year in the United States.
