4 Career Sectors in Austin That Offer Solid Opportunities
Austin offers impressive economic opportunities. And the word is spreading: The metro area's population is expected to grow by about 602,811 people from 2020 through 2029—growth of nearly 27 percent.
Plus, Austin has one of the most robust job markets in the country, with an unemployment rate that ranks as one of the lowest in the nation. It's a great place to train and start a career.
Here are four career sectors that are particularly worth checking out:
Employment growth estimates are for the capital area between 2016 and 2026 and are based on data from the Texas Workforce Commission. Average salaries are based on 2018 data from the Occupational Employment Statistics program.
1. Health Services
Helping people get and stay healthy is a huge industry in Austin. In fact, registered nurse continues to be one of the top job postings in the region, according to the Austin Chamber of Commerce. It's a growing field with a bright future.
Also, consider the projected rates of job growth, as well as the average salaries, for these occupations:
- Physical therapist assistants—25.6 percent / $65,460
- Surgical technologists—26.3 percent / $50,440
- Medical assistants—31.6 percent / $33,760
- Respiratory therapists—47.2 percent / $59,100
- Pharmacy technicians—26.3 percent / $35,480
- Radiologic technologists—26.6 percent / $59,540
2. Arts, Media, and Culture
As the self-proclaimed live music capital of the world, Austin boasts a thriving arts scene that employs thousands of creative people. The Texas capital serves as host to major events like Austin City Limits and SXSW Music, Film, and Interactive that draw people from all over the country.
The Austin Chamber of Commerce says that more than 50,000 people in the area work in the creative and digital media technology industry. And art and design jobs (including graphic designers and multimedia artists) in the capital area are projected to grow by 14.6 percent between 2016 and 2026. So it's definitely worth looking at the creative programs offered by trade schools and colleges in Austin. With the right qualifications, you could enjoy a satisfying job in an exciting industry.
3. Technology
So many technology companies are headquartered in Austin that the city has been called the "Silicon Hills." Corporations like Dell, IBM, Apple, and Oracle all have a major presence in Austin. The city is second only to Dallas-Forth Worth in the amount of technology-related revenue it generates in Texas. Simply put, the high-tech industry in the region is flourishing. Check out the projected job growth and average salaries for these occupations:
- Web developers: 15.4 percent / $79,130
- Software developers, applications: 25.1 percent / $108,040
- Computer user support specialists: 12.7 percent / $51,040
- Computer network support specialists: 11.8 percent / $64,490
4. Manufacturing
Automotive technology and aerospace manufacturing are big business in Austin. The city is also known for semiconductor, medical device, and electronics manufacturing and development. According to the Austin Chamber of Commerce, 55 percent of the city's manufacturing jobs are in high-tech industries. And the total number of jobs in the city's manufacturing sector grew by 19 percent between 2010 and 2017. So it's a great time to consider a job in this field.