Best Jobs for 30 Year Olds

Updated on February 29, 2024

Entering your thirties can be a significant turning point in your career. It’s a time when you may be seeking stability, growth, or even a complete change in your professional path. Based on the current job market trends and future predictions, we’ve compiled a list of the top ten jobs that are well-suited for individuals in their thirties, considering factors like average salary, job description, responsibilities, and required education.

Data Scientist

  • Average Salary: $103,500​
  • Job Description: Data scientists analyze and interpret complex digital data, such as the usage statistics of a website, especially in order to assist a business in its decision-making.
  • Responsibilities: Collecting large sets of structured and unstructured data from disparate sources. Cleaning and validating the data to ensure accuracy, completeness, and uniformity. Devising and applying models and algorithms to mine the stores of big data.
  • Required Education: Bachelor’s degree in data science, computer science, information technology, or related field. A master’s degree is often preferred.

Nurse Practitioner

  • Average Salary: $121,610​
  • Job Description: Nurse practitioners (NPs) are advanced practice registered nurses who provide primary and specialty healthcare.
  • Responsibilities: Diagnosing and treating acute and chronic conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, infections, and injuries; prescribing medications; conducting physical exams; and interpreting lab results.
  • Required Education: Master’s degree in nursing (MSN) or Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP).

Software Developer

  • Average Salary: $127,260​
  • Job Description: Software developers create and maintain software applications that run on computers and other devices.
  • Responsibilities: Writing, debugging, and testing software code; designing user interfaces and software architectures; updating and maintaining existing software.
  • Required Education: Bachelor’s degree in computer science, software engineering, or related field.

Information Security Analyst

  • Average Salary: $112,000​
  • Job Description: Information security analysts plan and carry out security measures to protect an organization’s computer networks and systems.
  • Responsibilities: Monitoring their organization’s networks for security breaches and investigating a violation when one occurs; installing and using software, such as firewalls and data encryption programs, to protect sensitive information.
  • Required Education: Bachelor’s degree in computer science, programming, or a related field.

Physical Therapist Assistant

  • Average Salary: $62,770​
  • Job Description: Physical therapist assistants (PTAs) provide physical therapy services under the direction and supervision of a licensed physical therapist.
  • Responsibilities: Assisting patients in performing specific exercises as part of the plan of care; treating patients using a variety of techniques, such as massage and stretching; and educating patients and families about what to do after treatment.
  • Required Education: Associate degree from an accredited physical therapist assistant program.

Financial Manager

  • Average Salary: $81,220​
  • Job Description: Financial managers are responsible for the financial health of an organization.
  • Responsibilities: Producing financial reports, directing investment activities, and developing strategies and plans for the long-term financial goals of their organization.
  • Required Education: Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, economics, or business administration. Many financial managers also have a master’s degree and/or professional certifications.

Statistician

  • Average Salary: $98,920​
  • Job Description: Statisticians use mathematical techniques to analyze and interpret data and to help solve real-world problems in business, engineering, healthcare, or other fields.
  • Responsibilities: Deciding what data are needed to answer specific questions or problems, determining methods for finding or collecting data, designing surveys or experiments, and analyzing and interpreting data.
  • Required Education: Bachelor’s degree in statistics, mathematics, or related field. A master’s degree is often required for higher-level positions.

Wind Turbine Service Technician

  • Average Salary: $57,320​
  • Job Description: Wind turbine service technicians, also known as windtechs, install, maintain, and repair wind turbines.
  • Responsibilities: Inspecting the physical integrity of wind turbine towers, maintaining and repairing wind turbine components, and collecting turbine data for research and analysis.
  • Required Education: Postsecondary non-degree award in wind turbine maintenance or a related field.

Occupational Therapy Assistant

  • Average Salary: $64,250​
  • Job Description: Occupational therapy assistants (OTAs) help patients develop, recover, improve, and maintain the skills needed for daily living and working.
  • Responsibilities: Working under the direction of occupational therapists, assisting patients in performing therapeutic activities, such as exercises and stretches, and teaching patients how to use special equipment to improve their function in daily activities.
  • Required Education: Associate degree from an accredited occupational therapy assistant program.

Environmental Engineer

  • Average Salary: Information not directly available from the provided sources, but typically ranges from $60,000 to $100,000 depending on experience and location.
  • Job Description: Environmental engineers use the principles of engineering, soil science, biology, and chemistry to develop solutions to environmental problems.
  • Responsibilities: Working on projects to improve recycling, waste disposal, public health, and water and air pollution control.
  • Required Education: Bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering or a related field such as civil, chemical, or mechanical engineering.

Final Thoughts

Choosing a career path in your thirties is about more than just the paycheck; it’s about finding a role that offers growth, satisfaction, and stability as you move into this new chapter of your life. The jobs listed above not only promise lucrative opportunities but also align with the future direction of the job market, ensuring relevance and demand in the years to come.

Other Jobs in Demographic-Specific Opportunities

Sources

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Frank Gogol

I’m a firm believer that information is the key to financial freedom. On the Stilt Blog, I write about the complex topics — like finance, immigration, and technology — to help immigrants make the most of their lives in the U.S. Our content and brand have been featured in Forbes, TechCrunch, VentureBeat, and more.

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