International students looking for career options in the USA can explore popular fields such as information technology, healthcare, business, education, etc.
Having the largest economy in the world, the US is a land of opportunities and several immigrants dream of working in the country. However, finding employment opportunities in the country is not an easy task. Employers are often not willing to hire international candidates due to cultural differences and visa-related complexities. Therefore, it becomes imperative to go for the right career choice.
There are many career options in the USA, but choosing the right career option involves a combination of three things- your skills, strengths, and goals. Therefore, an individual should evaluate himself on these parameters to pick the best suitable career choice.
Highest Earning Professions in USA
Some of the most highest-earning professions in USA can be found under the following job sectors:
- Information Technology
- Healthcare
- Real Estate
- Education
- Business
- Finance
- Architecture and engineering
- Advertising, promotions, and marketing
Information Technology
There has been a significant advancement in the field of information technology in recent years. With the use of advanced technologies like artificial intelligence and machine learning, the sector has played a major role in the recovery of the economy. Other important sectors like health, education, and retail are dependent on technology to a great extent. Some of the professions under the IT sector include software developer, cybersecurity analyst, web developer, and database administrator etc. The skills required for making a career in this field are analytical thinking, data analysis, and research.
Healthcare
With the increase in the number of technologies and treatments, the healthcare sector has become one of the fastest-growing sectors in the country. It is projected by the U.S.Bureau of Labor Statistics that the healthcare sector will grow by 14% from 2018 to 2028. This is due to the increase in the ageing population with increased health care needs. Some of the profiles in healthcare include doctors, physical therapists, registered nurses, dieticians, etc. The skills that are necessary for this field involve research, logical thinking, and problem-solving.
Real Estate
Another growing industry in the US is the real estate industry. With the opening of new businesses, additional properties are required by the real estate developers. The real estate industry of the US includes around 351,000 companies with total annual revenue of approximately $469 billion. Some of the business skills that are required for this sector are sales, planning, verbal and nonverbal communication.
Education
Education is also one of the most popular job sectors in the US. This sector is very important for the U.S. economy as it is responsible for developing the skills of the future workforce of the nation. Possible roles that can be taken up in the field of education involve school principal, teacher, teaching assistant, and special educator. The necessary skills to make a career in this sector are teamwork, research, organization, communication, and creativity.
Business
It is estimated that employment from business occupations is expected to grow by 7% from 2018-2028, adding around 591,800 jobs. The possible roles in this field can be a business operations manager, management analyst, compliance officer, and HR manager, among others. Students looking for opportunities in this area should be good with numbers, analytics and decision making.
Finance
Finance professionals are responsible for assisting and advising clients in managing their finances. Some of the most popular roles in the finance sector include chief financial officer, accountant, auditor, financial planner, loan officer, etc. These professionals are expected to be comfortable in dealing with large sets of data and numbers.
Architecture and engineering
The main job of an architect is to design structures and buildings while engineers use scientific methods to design, build and manage systems and structures. It is estimated that around 113,300 new jobs will be added to this field by 2028. Some of the possible roles involve Architect, Cartographer, Photogrammetrist, Mechanical Engineer, and Civil Engineer, etc.
Advertising, promotions, and marketing
The professionals involved in this field are responsible for calculating demand for products and services and generating interest among potential customers. The employment opportunities in this sector are expected to grow by 8% from 2018-2028. Some of the popular roles are advertising manager, digital marketing manager, promotions coordinator, and brand manager, among others.
Most Popular Professions in USA
The Technology and Healthcare sectors have the highest number of job openings and pay in the country. A Physician/doctor is one of the most reputable professions in the US, with a base salary of around $212,000 per year. Undoubtedly, medical studies are not easy, and a student needs to pass USMLE in order to get the license to practice in the US.
The profession of a Pharmacy Manager is among the most popular professions in the USA. However, the number of job openings per year is smaller for this role. At number three, there is Software Architect. It is evident that students who opt for careers in the fields of Medicine and Computer Sciences are benefitted the most in the country.
Tips on Getting a Job in USA
As an international student, you need to be well prepared before beginning your job hunt in the US. Following are some of the tips that might help you:
- Start as early as possible because it takes a considerable amount of time to find a company that sponsors H1B Visas for its employees.
- Collect information about the different visa options available to study in the USA.
- Discuss the different options available with your career coach at school as they have years of experience with international students.
- Connect with your teachers and classmates. Networking plays a significant role in the US when it comes to finding job opportunities.
Eligibility Requirements to Work in the USA
A Work permit Visa is an authorization or an official stamp given to a person who decides to work in a foreign country. There are various types of Work permit Visas that can be further classified into permanent or temporary Visas. To work in the USA, you must fulfill the following requirements:
- You must have a job offer in the USA. the candidate must have been accepted in a job position within the U.S in order to qualify for a work visa.
- The employer must have filed a Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker with U.S Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). This petition must be approved.
- You need to prove that you will leave the country once your work is done and the duration of stay is over
- You should have enough money to take care of you and your dependents.
- Have no record of criminal activities.
- You don’t have any medical issues, have certificates of good health.
- You would not take up any other work, apart from the work allotted by your employer.
Pay-Scale of Jobs in the USA
While searching for career options in the USA, it is also important to understand the average salary offered by the various professions. The table given below summarizes the pay scale of some of the top professions in the USA:
| Job Profile | Average base salary (in Dollars) |
|---|---|
| Front-end engineer | 105,240 |
| Java developer | 83,589 |
| Data scientist | 107,801 |
| Product manager | 117,713 |
| Data engineer | 102,472 |
| Software engineer | 105,563 |
| Business development manager | 78,480 |
| Nursing manager | 85,389 |
| Finance manager | 120,644 |
| Accounting manager | 85,794 |
| Clinic manager | 70,000 |
| Physical therapist | 71,483 |
As discussed in the article, there are a number of career options that can be taken by international students in the US. The key is to find a career that not only matches your interests and skills but also provides you with the best employment opportunities in the country.
