As a female student or professional, you might be looking for ways to improve your earning potential in your field. Or perhaps you’re considering making a career change to cater to your passions. Some industry- and job-specific data can lead you in the right direction when you’re looking for the next move in your career or education.

In March 2019, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released a chart that reflected certain occupations that had high median weekly earnings for women in 2018, as well as the employment outlook for each career. Whether you’re interested in pursuing one of these paths or are simply curious about the employment projections of 2018 for female employees, read on for an overview of the BLS’s results.

Careers in medicine

Careers in the medical field, while lucrative, have grown in demand. With an increasing aging population, the nation is in need of quality care physicians who can make up for the large population of retiring medical professionals.

The BLS reported that the job outlook for physician assistants is expected to grow 37% between 2016 and 2026. This is five times faster than the average growth rate for all occupations. The median annual salary for professionals working as physician assistants is $108,610. However, individuals in the top 10% of earners made a median annual salary of $151,850 in May 2019.

The job outlook for nurse practitioners is almost as significant as that of PAs, with an estimated increase of 36% between 2016 and 2026, as per the BLS. The median annual salary for these professionals is $107,030. These professionals also represented the highest median weekly earnings for women of all occupations in the BLS’s chart, at $1,891.

The career of a medical and health services manager is projected to grow by 20% between 2016 and 2026. Professionals in this career can also expect to earn a median salary of $99,730, according to BLS data. Although this is the only medical career that does not require an advanced degree that appears on this chart, many professionals in this field will seek out a master’s or doctorate in Health Professions & Medical Science in order to improve their career mobility and salary grade.

Physical therapist positions are expected to increase by 28% from 2016 to 2026, at a much faster rate than average, according to the BLS. This demand comes from the aging population of baby boomers, who are experiencing injuries that limit their mobility and require rehabilitation through a medical team that includes a physical therapist. Additionally, the prevalence of chronic conditions, such as obesity and diabetes, has grown in recent years. Patients will likely seek assistance from physical therapists to manage the effects of these issues.

The role of women in these careers is significant. While these numbers are represented by both men and women in the field, it is worth noting that each of these professions is female-dominated. In 2018, 85% of nurse practitioners, 74% of medical and health services managers, 68% of physician assistants and 67% of physical therapists were women.

Careers in technology

With the use of personal devices on a steady rise in the U.S., the career outlook for software developers is positive, as reported by the BLS. The overall increase of professionals in this industry was 24%. As consumers are looking for ways to make their lives easier, more and more mobile applications are joining the market. For this reason, the demand for developers that specialize in applications is projected to increase 31%, at a much faster rate than average.

Although the projections for openings in this career are hopeful, it is not good news for women primarily. According to the BLS’s 2018 data, only 20% of software developers were women. This shouldn’t deter you from pursuing a career in technology; on the contrary, it might inspire you to make your mark in this field in order to pave the way for women in technology.

According to the American Association of University Women, computer science has one of the smallest gender pay gaps, with female employees earning 94% of what males in the field earn. One such field that is growing in popularity, especially among women, is the career of a computer and information systems manager. The median annual salary for individuals in this profession was $142,530 in May 2018, as per the BLS. This represents one of the highest-paying careers that does not require more than a bachelor’s degree. However, those who want to increase their earnings even more and gain increased insight into the subject may consider a master’s degree in Computer Science/Information Systems.

No matter what industry you’re working in or trying to switch to, you can be seen as a more valuable member of the team when you have a master’s degree from an accredited university. Browse through different graduate schools that feature your program to seek out new ways to grow your personal and professional brand.