The fastest-growing jobs in the US is expected to grow 100+% by 2026, Finding and getting a job can be a challenging process. Knowing more about job search methods and application techniques can help. To begin looking for jobs in your area, search by job title at CareerOneStop. Or, post your resume and register your job search with your state job website.
Best Jobs in America for 2023
I have compiled a list of the 50 Best Jobs in America to help people find jobs they’ll love. Each job stands out for its earning potential (median salary), job satisfaction, and job openings. Are you considering a new position? Check out this comprehensive list to see what jobs made the list this year, and view open jobs at companies across the country.
The Best High-Paying Jobs in the US
| OCCUPATION | GROWTH RATE, 2021-31 | 2023 MEDIAN PAY |
|---|---|---|
| Nurse practitioners | 46% | $120,680 per year |
| Wind turbine service technicians | 44% | $56,260 per year |
| Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers | 41% | $24,440 per year |
| Motion picture projectionists | 40% | $29,350 per year |
| Cooks, restaurant | 37% | $30,010 per year |
| Data scientists | 36% | $100,910 per year |
| Athletes and sports competitors | 36% | $77,300 per year |
| Information security analysts | 35% | $102,600 per year |
| Statisticians | 33% | $95,570 per year |
| Umpires, referees, and other sports officials | 32% | $35,860 per year |
| Web developers | 30% | $77,030 per year |
| Animal caretakers | 30% | $28,600 per year |
| Choreographers | 30% | $42,700 per year |
| Taxi drivers | 28% | $29,310 per year |
| Medical and health services managers | 28% | $101,340 per year |
| Logisticians | 28% | $77,030 per year |
| Physician assistants | 28% | $121,530 per year |
| Solar photovoltaic installers | 27% | $47,670 per year |
| Animal trainers | 27% | $31,280 per year |
| Enterprise Architect | $144,997 | |
| Full Stack Engineer | $101,794 | |
| Devops Engineer | $120,095 | |
| Strategy Manager | $140,000 | |
| Data Scientist | $120,000 | |
| Machine Learning Engineer | $130,489 | |
| Data Engineer | $113,960 | |
| Physical therapist assistants | 26% | $61,180 per year |
How to Get a Job in America
While the US has relatively strict immigration policies, you can still fulfill your dream with a little effort and persistence. The most common way to do this is to look for a job in America from your home country. Once you have a job offer, the employer will file a petition to sponsor your visa application with US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), which handles the rest of the process.
Are you applying for a job in the USA? Then you should first know all the rules and procedures in the American application process. Here are some helpful tips that will land you the job of your dreams in the States.
Job application in the USA
Job application in the USA
Are you applying for a job in the USA? Then you should first know all the rules and procedures in the American application process. Here are some helpful tips that will land you the job of your dreams in the States.
Take the chance of living in the USA and apply for the official US Green Card Lottery!
Job Requirements in the USA
Being the most popular country for expats and emigrants, the United States of America attracts millions of people worldwide every year. However, getting a work permit for the US is not easy.
You are allowed to take a job in the US under the following conditions:
- You have a Green Card.
- You are sponsored by a US employer and have a work visa for the USA.
- You entered the US as a spouse of an E-visa or L-visa holder and have the appropriate endorsement (COA code) on your I-94 entry form.
- Your employer back home sends you to a branch office in the US.
- You are offered a summer job or internship in the US.
No work permit without a visa
Your new job in the USA depends on your visa. Therefore, to avoid wasting your or HR departments’ time, take care of this first. You have the following options:
- Participate in the Green Card Lottery to get an unlimited residency and work permit for the USA quickly and easily.
- Apply specifically to companies with American branches. For a transfer to the USA, you might get an E-visa or L-visa later on.
- With a university degree and skills in high demand in the USA, you can look for US employers who offer special H-1B visa jobs.
If you are applying for a job in the United States without a visa or Green Card, you must make this clear right upfront.
Green Card or US visa to work in the USA?
Holding a Green Card is the easiest way to be allowed to work in the USA. But also, with an E-visa, an L-visa, or an H-visa, you have a work permit for America.
The main differences between E-visa, L-visa, H-visa, and Green Card at a glance:
| E-VISA + L-VISA | H-1B-VISA | GREEN CARD | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Employers | only US branches of companies from your home country | US companies with special needs in highly skilled and in-demand occupations | free choice |
| Education requirements | none | university degree and years of professional experience | none |
| Residence permit | up to 7 years | up to 9 years | unlimited |
| Is job change possible without loss of visa? | no | yes | yes |
The application process in the USA
Once you have answered all your work permit questions, you are ready to dive into the American job market. Your path to a new job will include the following stages:
- Searching for job ads
- Preparing and sending out job applications
- Attending job interviews
- Follow-up correspondence
- Feedback and job acceptance
Finding a job in the USA
Depending on the path you use to land your dream job in the USA, you will need to search for listings in special job categories. For example:
| WEHEN APPLYING FOR A JOB IN THE USA … | STRATEGY |
|---|---|
| … with a university degree and a lot of work experience, | use the keywords “H-1B” and “Sponsor” in job portals. |
| … in US branches of domestic companies, | approach a job in your home country and ask for a transfer to the USA after one year. |
| … for summer jobs or internships, | apply through organizations or universities. |
| … with a Green Card, | there are no restrictions. |
When looking for a job in the USA, you must show initiative! In addition to browsing job portals, you should expand your LinkedIn network, call companies, and maybe even attend a training session with USA business experts or English language trainers.
By reaching out to experts, peers, and potential employers, you’ll become more familiar with the dynamics of the American business world and can practice your unbeatable “elevator pitch” even before your first interview.
Application documents in the USA
Once you have found a suitable job advertisement, you can compile your application documents. Stick to the required format exactly and weigh your details to fit the job.
Resume, CV, or curriculum vitae for the USA
The American resume is also called Curriculum Vitae or CV and usually consists of 1 – 3 pages (depending on your work experience). It is a chronological document that provides a clear, bullet-point overview of your career history.
Although the basic structure of the resume should always be the same, some smart designs can give you an edge over competitors. Build your American CV as follows:
| RESUME (CV) FOR A JOB IN THE USA | |
|---|---|
| Header | Name, job title, contact details |
| Column 1 | Education, Skills, References |
| Column 2 | Short bio (3 – 4 lines), Languages, Work Experience, Organizations, Honors and Awards, Conferences & Courses, Soft Skills, Volunteer Experience, Interests |
When it comes to the American resume, less is more. Don’t overdo it with your soft skills and leave out Interests, Volunteer Experience, or Awards if they have no connection with your professional skills or simply don’t exist.
What shouldn’t go on your American resume?
When writing your application for a job in the USA, be sure to omit any information that could serve as grounds for discrimination. This includes your marital status, age, gender identity, photograph, number of children, sexual orientation, religion, and ethnicity.
Cover letter in the USA
The American cover letter is designed to motivate your prospective employer to take a look at your resume. Choose a greeting that includes the recipient’s name, such as “Dear Madeleine” or “Dear Mr. Smith.” Alternatively, you can choose a greeting such as “Dear ABC Team.”
Build the cover letter as follows:
| COVER LETTER FOR A JOB IN THE USA | |
|---|---|
| Header | Name, job title, contact details |
| Column 1 | Recipient name, address, date |
| Column 2 | Greeting, motivation text, farewell, signature |
In the text, briefly explain why you want the job and list how your future employer will benefit from hiring you. What problems will you solve? How will you skyrocket sales? What can your bosses look forward to when working with you?
Transcripts, testimonials, and certificates
Transcripts, diplomas, references, work samples, and the like are usually only sent upon request when applying for a job in the USA – unless the job advertisement specifically asks for them. Prepare certified translations of all documents and also provide important work samples in English.
Job interview in the USA
After you have sent off your application for a job in the USA, it’s time to wait. However, not as long as you might be used to. After 10 – 14 days, you will probably already have an interview invitation in your inbox.
Job interviews in the USA are normally structured into several stages. You might even have group interviews with other applicants, IQ tests, or exciting multiple-choice quizzes if you are lucky.
In a personal interview with the HR department and/or your future supervisor, you will quickly get to the point after a short small talk. Now it’s time for hard facts: put figures and results on the table. Specific inquiries about future joint projects also make an impression
Dress code for a job interview in the USA
Dress in a formal, unpretentious manner. At your first meeting with your future employer, you no longer need to stand out with flashy, creative design but with poise and ability.
Extra tip: Before the interview, practice what you will do with your hands while speaking and listening because body language also plays a big role in deciding for or against an applicant.
Traveling to the USA for a job interview: Visa or ESTA?
If you are flying to the USA for a job interview, you can apply for an ESTA electronic travel authorization, which is faster, cheaper, and easier to obtain than a US visa.
How to behave when entering the country for a job interview
When traveling for a job interview, you must not under any circumstances raise suspicions of illegal immigration intent.
However, because there is no special visa category for job interviews in the USA, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) false suspicions occur from time to time. In the worst case, an invited applicant is then denied entry. Therefore, we recommend some security measures for your entry:
#1. Combine your trip with a vacation and stay for a few days (or weeks).
For all questions, documents, and applications related to entering the USA, make it clear and have proof that you are coming for a vacation and will be leaving before your travel authorization expires.
#2. Do not mention your job application.
You are required to answer truthfully in the ESTA application. However, for the question, “Are you currently trying to obtain work in the United States?” it is not a lie if you check “no”.
Why? Because the application has already taken place sometime before your ESTA application and you are now only flying in for contract negotiation. According to ESTA guidelines, this is permitted. However, you should not risk any misunderstandings.
#3. Do not keep application documents in your luggage.
During your entry into the United States, you will have to go through a security check and customs area, where your luggage may be searched as well. Certificates and references in your luggage might lead to false suspicions.
#4. Prepare for the talk with border officials.
A U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer will ask you why you are traveling to the USA, where you will be staying, and what your plans are for your stay. When answering, focus on your planned vacation, sightseeing, road trips, or whatever you will enjoy doing in the US. Your job interview is irrelevant here and should not be mentioned for security reasons.
Follow-up when applying for a job in the USA
Haven’t you received a reply to your application yet? Then write a short and friendly email and ask about the status of your application.
A thank-you note after the interview is also highly appreciated in the USA! About two days after the interview, thank the interviewer for the pleasant meeting, re-emphasize your motivation, and explain that you are looking forward to the upcoming decision.
Helpful tips and tricks for job applications in the USA
Our job applications 101 are guaranteed to put you ahead of your competitors:
- Write all emails, letters, and work samples in American (not British) English.
- Take a preparatory language course.
- Learn the technical vocabulary for the job you are applying for.
- Network with potential employers on LinkedIn and learn the faces and names of colleagues early on.
- Follow the format guidelines for the American resume and the required application scope.
- Do not list “English” under “Languages.”
- After the interview, ask for the interviewer’s business card.
- Don’t forget the follow-up email and a thank you note after the interview.
- Participate in the Green Card Lottery to quickly get an unlimited work permit for the USA. You will be much more popular with US employers with a Green Card.
Job acceptance in the USA
Have you received a contract offer for a job in the USA? Congratulations! Any details you didn’t clarify in the interview will now be the subject of your contract negotiations.
Some facts about American employment contracts:
- The written form of employment contracts is not mandatory in the USA. After the interview, conditions can instead be stipulated within a written job offer.
- There are fixed-term and permanent, “full-time,” and “part-time” contracts in the US.
- There is no statutory vacation entitlement in the United States.
- The various US states have different minimum wages.
- There is no legal protection against dismissal in the USA.
- So-called “benefits” can compensate for a lack of security and lower wages.
Before signing a contract, learn in detail about available benefits, such as health insurance through the employer, pension contracts, life insurance, overtime regulations, and individual vacation arrangements, and negotiate with confidence.
Talk about visa and relocation process issues, sick days agreements, notice periods, probationary periods, and any warranties with an employment attorney who specializes in the USA.
Federal Government Employment
There are job openings in federal agencies across the country. If you’re interested in one, visit USAJOBS.gov. It’s the official job site for the federal government. There, you can:
- Search for jobs, including ones in high demand.
- Learn how the government hires people.
- Find student job opportunities with the government.
- Learn about government jobs for non-U.S. citizens.
How to Apply for a Federal Job Through USAJOBS
You must create a USAJOBS profile to apply.
- USAJOBS requires users to have a login.gov account. Sign up with login.gov.
- Sign into USAJOBS, create your profile, and upload your resume.
- Search for jobs that interest you.
- Review the job announcements to see if you qualify.
- Prepare your application in USAJOBS.
- Submit your application through USAJOBS to the federal agency with the job opening.
Search for Jobs at a Specific Agency
Though most federal agencies post their jobs on USAJOBS, some post jobs on their websites. If you want to work for a specific agency, find its website through the A-Z Index of Government Agencies.
- Explore local and virtual federal hiring events and training opportunities.
There is never an application fee or a testing fee to apply for a government or U.S. Postal Service job.
Veterans
If you’ve served in the military and want to find a federal job, check out FedsHireVets.gov. It has information on:
- Veterans’ preference
- Special hiring authorities
- Other tips for vets and transitioning service members seeking federal civilian jobs
Federal Jobs for People with Disabilities
If you’re looking for a job and have a disability, you might consider working for the federal government.
Advantages of Government Jobs for People with Disabilities
The federal government:
- Uses Schedule A, a non-competitive hiring process. It’s faster and easier than the competitive process.
- Provides reasonable accommodations to qualified employees
You can also apply for jobs through the competitive hiring process.
Finding and Applying for Federal Jobs
You can search and apply online for most jobs at USAJOBS.gov.
- Check out USAJOBS’ tips for individuals with disabilities. It covers Schedule A and other factors in applying for a job.
Apply for a Job Through an Agency
Contact the agency’s Selective Placement Program Coordinator (SPPC) for help.
College Students and Recent Graduates with Disabilities
Find summer jobs, internships, and permanent positions through the Workforce Recruitment Program.
Veterans with Disabilities
Special hiring authorities let agencies appoint vets with service-connected disabilities to jobs.
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