Twenty fastest growing occupations

The Bureau of Labor Statistics ranks the expected fastest growing occupations by 2018, about half of which are related to health care.

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20: Compliance officers, except agriculture, construction, health and safety, and transportation

Peter Robinson, Lane County Animal Control compliance officer, fills out a door hanger card on March 16, 2011, after finding no one at home at a residence with an allegedly unlicensed dog during his rounds in Eugene, Ore. Compliance officers, except agriculture, construction, health and safety, and transportation, are expected to be the 20th fastest growing occupation percentage-wise by 2018, adding 80,800 new jobs. The mean annual wage in May 2010 was $62,140, and the position requires long-term on-the-job training.

Chris Pietsch / AP

19. Self-enrichment education teachers

Photography instructor James Egbert, left, sizes up a picture while students Chan Kook Rha of Stanford, Conn., center, and R. Scott Sherman of Portsmouth, N.H., right, make their fall aspen photos on Sept. 24, 2004 while visiting the Maroon Bells near Aspen, Colo. Self-enrichment education teachers are expected to be the 19th fastest growing occupation by 2018, adding 81,300 new jobs. The mean annual wage in May 2010 was $41,210, and the position requires work experience in a related occupation.

Peter M. Fredin / AP

18. Veterinarians

Veterinarians Anne McDonald and Jeremy Campfiel smile at the "American Fondouk," a charitable veterinary hospital, on June 6 in the central Moroccan city of Fes. Veterinarians are expected to be the 18th fastest growing occupation by 2018, adding 19,700 new jobs. The mean annual wage in May 2010 was $92,570, and the position requires a first professional degree.

Abdelhak Senna / AFP/Getty Images

17. Physical therapist assistants

Tim Berta pauses before throwing a baseball while physical therapist assistant Lisa Hagele keeps a close watch during his physical rehab on March 14, 2008, at the University of Toledo Medical Center in Ohio. Physical therapist assistants are expected to be the 17th fastest growing occupation by 2018, adding 21,200 new jobs. The mean annual wage in May 2010 was $49,810, and the position requires an associate degree.

J.D. Pooley / AP

16. Medical assistants

Veronica Rios, left, looks on as medical assistant Elizabeth Garza, center, looks up medical records on Feb. 4. at the Country Doctor Community Clinic in Seattle. Medical assistants are expected to be the 16th fastest growing occupation by 2018, adding 163,900 new jobs. The mean annual wage in May 2010 was $29,760, and the position requires moderate-term on-the-job training.

Ted S. Warren / AP

15. Computer software engineers, applications

Sam Woodman, a software engineer for Adobe Systems Inc., works at the company's headquarters building on Sept. 7, 2010, in San Jose. Computer software engineers, applications are expected to be the 15th fastest growing occupation by 2018, adding 175,100 new jobs. The mean annual wage in May 2009 was $90,170, and the position requires a bachelor's degree.

Chip Chipman / Bloomberg

14. Dental assistants

Dentist Mark E. Harris, left, and dental assistant Theresa Esquibel work on a patient on Nov. 6, 2008 in Riverside, Calif. Dental assistants are expected to be the 14th fastest growing occupation by 2018, adding 105,600 new jobs. The mean annual wage in May 2010 was $34,140, and the position requires moderate-term on-the-job training.

Ric Francis / AP

13. Veterinary technologists and technicians

A baby Ridley's Kemp turtle, an endangered species, is seen receiving care from veterinary technicians after being rescued from oil from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, at the Audubon Center for the Research of Endangered Species on July 9, 2010, in New Orleans. Veterinary technologists and technicians are expected to be the 13th fastest growing occupation by 2018, adding 28,500 new jobs. The mean annual wage in May 2010 was $31,030, and the position requires an associate degree.

Gerald Herbert / AP

12. Dental hygienists

Dental hygienist Sarah Reilly cleans the teeth of patient Rachel Bogartz at a dental office on July 20, 2009, in Bethel, Conn. Dental hygienists are expected to be the 12th fastest growing occupation by 2018, adding 62,900 new jobs. The mean annual wage in May 2010 was $68,680, and the position requires an associate degree.

Jessica Hill / AP

11. Physical therapist aides

Bob Veillette, second from left, has a physical therapy session with therapist Adam Granger, left, and physical therapist tech aid Craig Foley as wife Bonnie looks on in Brookfield, Conn. on Dec. 9, 2008. Physical therapist aides are expected to be the 11th fastest growing occupation by 2018, adding 16,700 new jobs. The mean annual wage in May 2010 was $25,000, and the position requires short-term on-the-job training.

Jessica Hill / AP

10. Athletic trainers

Head athletic trainer Eric Claas, left, applies a cold towel to sophomore Cuong Nguyn (30) during a morning football practice at Father Ryan High School on July 20 in Nashville. Athletic trainers are expected to be the 10th fastest growing occupation by 2018, adding 6,000 new jobs. The mean annual wage in May 2010 was $44,030, and the position requires a bachelor's degree.

Mark Humphrey / AP

9. Biochemists and biophysicists

David Deamer, biochemist at the University of California Santa Cruz, looks at crystalization of the amino acids as part of an experiment in his lab on July 13, 2007. Biochemists and biophysicists are expected to be the ninth fastest growing occupation by 2018, adding 8,700 new jobs. The mean annual wage in May 2010 was $86,580, and the position requires a doctoral degree.

Paul Sakuma / AP

8. Skin care specialists

Lead esthetician Jennifer Rosenberg readies her lotions and other supplies before the start of the day on Nov. 3, 2003, at La Prairie in New York. Skin care specialists are expected to be the eighth fastest growing occupation by 2018, adding 14,700 new jobs. The mean annual wage in May 2010 was $32,030, and the position requires a post-secondary vocational award.

Jennifer S. Altman / Bloomberg

7. Physician assistants

Physician assistant Tracy Parsons, right, listens to Carolyn Cruse's chest on May 4, 2007, at St. John's Clinic in Rolla, Mo. Physician assistants are expected to be the seventh fastest growing occupation by 2018, adding 29,200 new jobs. The mean annual wage in May 2010 was $87,140, and the position requires a master's degree.

Kelley McCall / AP

6. Medical scientists, except epidemiologists

Dentist Kathy Silloway examines Kaylee Devenger on Feb. 1, 2007 in St. Johnsbury, Vt. Medical scientists, except epidemiologists, are expected to be the sixth fastest growing occupation by 2018, adding 44,200 new jobs. The mean annual wage in May 2010 was $86,710, and the position requires a doctoral degree.

Toby Talbot / AP

5. Financial examiners

Jill E. Farrell, the only examiner at the Division of Banking and Securities, and Roger W. Prince, Chief of Securities, look over documents at their downtown office on July 8, 2010, in Anchorage Alaska. Financial examiners are expected to be the fifth fastest growing occupation by 2018, adding 11,100 new jobs. The mean annual wage in May 2010 was $82,320, and the position requires a bachelor's degree.

Nikki Kahn / The Washington Post

4. Personal and home care aides

Home care aide Joann Milam, right, folds Nancy Rutherford's laundry on April, 8, 2009, in Springfield, Ill.. Personal and home care aides are expected to be the fourth fastest growing occupation by 2018, adding 375,800 new jobs. The mean annual wage in May 2010 was $20,420, and the position requires short-term on-the-job training.

Seth Perlman / AP

3. Home health aides

Wendy Cerrato, United HomeCare Services home health aide, makes the bed of Noemi Kavanagh as she helps her in her apartment on Jan. 6, 2010, in Miami. Home health aides are expected to be the third fastest growing occupation by 2018, adding 460,900 new jobs. The mean annual wage in May 2010 was $21,760, and the position requires short-term on-the-job training.

Joe Raedle / Getty Images

2. Network systems and data communications analysts

A worker inspects a server on the production line in Guelstein, southern Germany. Network systems and data communications analysts are expected to be the second fastest growing occupation by 2018, adding 155,800 new jobs. The mean annual wage in May 2009 was $76,560, and the position requires a bachelor's degree.

/ AP

1. Biomedical engineers

Rashid Bashir, an assistant professor of biomedical engineering at Purdue University, demonstrates an atomic force microscope in West Lafayette, Ind. on June 28, 2001. Biomedical engineers are expected to be the fastest growing occupation by 2018, adding 11,600 new jobs. The mean annual wage in May 2010 was $84,780, and the position requires a bachelor's degree.

Dave Umberger / AP

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