The Top 5 Jobs in the Northeast

If you’re looking for a career change (or a change of scenery!), here are some of the fastest-growing jobs for 2016 in the northeastern part of the U.S. This includes Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey. Sadly, “professional sports fan” isn’t on this list, despite the spirited fan bases for major league baseball, football, basketball, and hockey teams in this region.

1. Tech Job Outlook: Software Developer

Software developers are the unseen force behind every digital program you use. From apps on your phone to the fitness tracker on your wrist, software developers are the ones who devise, test, refine, and update the computer coding that makes our lives easier. Metro areas like New York, New Jersey, and Boston are becoming major tech hubs, and these skilled jobs are springing up accordingly. The median salary for a software developer is $93,350 per year, and the field is expected to grow a faster-than-average 22% per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

2. Administrative Job Outlook: Office Manager

If software developers are the shadowy force behind our digital lives, office managers are often the unsung heroes of our workday. Office managers are typically responsible for ensuring that office logistics run smoothly. This can include keeping inventories of office supplies, managing facilities, keeping records, and taking on administrative tasks like human resources or payroll. The median salary for office managers is $81,080 per year, with growth of 12% expected.

3. Logistics Job Outlook: Truck Driver

Truck drivers keep the northeast moving. Companies like UPS and FedEx have large facilities in the northeast, and with companies like Amazon expanding into warehouses all over the country to shorten customer delivery times, this is a field that is growing fast. The median salary for truck drivers is $38,200, and the field is expected to grow by at least 11% by 2022. Projections for 2016 suggest that there may also be a shortage of drivers on the horizon, so now might be the best time to get on the road.

4. Healthcare Job Outlook: Physician Assistant

Physician assistants (PAs) have become a major part of the healthcare industry of late, as the demand for healthcare grows with a growing and aging population and doctor and nurse populations struggle to keep up. PAs can practice medicine under doctors and surgeons and provide direct patient care (examinations, diagnosis, treatment, and education). The median salary for PAs is $90,930 per year, with astonishing projected growth of 38% by 2022.

5. Service Job Outlook: Gaming and Sports Book Writers and Runners

In recent elections, voters have authorized new casinos in New York, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. This means that in the next year and beyond, there will be a boom of casino openings—and with it, a large call for employees to work on the gaming floors. The median salary for this job is $20,850, with a massive 28% increase in job openings expected. Whether you’re already in the northeast and looking for a change of pace or you’re looking to trade your current town for the invigorating chill of a New England winter, opportunities are waiting—even if you’re not willing to swear undying loyalty to the Boston Red Sox or New York Yankees.