Top Jobs in Demand for 2025

Last week, we covered the red flags 🚩 that signal it might be time to break up with your job.

This week, we're looking ahead! Knowing where the opportunities are and how to market yourself is key to staying ahead of the curve.

Keep reading to learn more about the top-paying, most in-demand jobs of 2025—what they are, how much they pay, and how you can land them. 🏁

+ If you’re a federal worker recently impacted by layoffs, check out this site we stumbled upon, Fed Layoffs: a curated collection of resources to help you navigate this transition and find your next opportunity.

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Tops Jobs of the Future 🔮

We’ve identified the top future jobs using salary data from the past 3 years of interviews, data we’ve collected in our Salary Database, the Future of Jobs Report 2025 by the World Economic Forum, and job data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook’s Fastest Growing Occupations Report.

You can find more salary data in our database by searching for any of the below positions (and don’t forget to join and add yours, too!).

1. Computer and Information Research Scientist

Median salary: $145,080 per year

Highest salary recorded in our Salary Database: $150,000 per year

Job outlook (2023-2033): 26%

Education needed: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree

As technology continues to evolve over the next decade, computer research scientists are leading the way through their work in studying and developing new technologies in computing, including (but not limited to) algorithm design, system analysis, and software development. 

There are tons of different routes a research scientist can take. They may also work with other scientists and engineers to integrate solutions in other sectors like healthcare and finance, and share their findings through published academic papers and reports. Some may also teach courses at universities.

A few alternative job titles to look up to get into this field include software engineer with a focus on research, AI research scientist, and research and development (R&D) engineer.

2. AI and Machine Learning (ML) Specialist

Median salary: $130,160 per year

Highest salary recorded in our Salary Database: $140,000 per year

Job outlook (2025-2030): 80% (taken from the Future of Jobs Report)

Education needed: Bachelor’s degree

AI and ML specialists focus on building and implementing AI and ML systems and programs to solve a specific problem. Many of the apps you come in contact with every day have AI and ML specialists behind them to provide specific solutions to you that you may never think twice about.

For example, when looking at an app like Zillow and their Zestimate that shows you the estimated worth of your house, the machine learning algorithms and models behind it were built by a team of AI and ML specialists and engineers. 

We interviewed an AI/ML Data Scientist who got hired on the spot with the Navy after teaching himself these skills. Alternative job titles for this role may include machine learning engineer, AI engineer, and AI solutions architect.

3. Physician Assistant

Median salary: $130,020 per year

Highest salary recorded in our Salary Database: $220,000 per year

Job outlook (2023-2033): 28%

Education needed: Master’s degree

Physician assistants are licensed medical professionals who work with a physician to provide medical care. They perform many of the same duties physicians do, such as patient care, diagnosis, treatment, and even performing procedures, but their role doesn’t duplicate the doctor’s work. They are there to help handle the load of patients and expand access to medical services – and for good money, too.

We interviewed a physician assistant in 2024 with 10 years of experience making $130,000 a year. Her advice for pursuing this career is to do a lot of shadowing to make sure it is really what you want to do.

Continue reading the full list here! 

In our latest episode of Two Cents Podcast, we dove deep into recent executive orders and their impact on workplace discrimination. We unpacked:

• Is discrimination now legal in the workplace?

• Is the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) being shut down?

• Are special observances like Black History Month now banned?

Choose to watch or listen on your preferred platform here!

• Do you know your market rate? Find out using our free guide.

• 4-day workweek anyone? AI might be your new bestie to help cut the workweek down. We’re listening.

• Breakfast just got more expensive: These egg price increases may have your favorite restaurant in a chokehold.

• Big Four firms are sticking with hybrid: Deloitte, KPMG, EY, and PwC are opting out of the 5-day office grind.

• A big win for childcare workers: Better pay and benefits are coming to NYC.

One last thing! Valentine’s Day may be over, but we’re still feeling the love! Check out our favorite couples moments from our viral Valentine’s Day compilation.

Remember that investing in yourself is the best form of self-love. Keep learning, and keep stacking your skills and your coins!