In the coming decade, you should care about Consumer Non-Durables Jobs. Many of the fastest-growing and highest-paying jobs will be in the consumer non-durables sector (food, beverages, toiletries, etc.).
There are many reasons why you should pay attention to this trend. But, first, you need to understand what exactly these jobs are and why there are so many of them. Let’s look at some facts about this sector, its growth outlook, and why it will be crucial in the next few years.
1. Human Resources Manager
The consumer non-durables industry is worth over $2 trillion and can be broken down into three areas: consumer food services, cosmetics, personal care, and paper manufacturing.
Human resources managers working for consumer non-durables companies can expect an annual salary of approximately $84,000 per year. They’ll also have access to paid time off and healthcare benefits.
2. Information Security Analyst
This is a high-demand job for information security professionals who possess knowledge of cyber threats and can suggest ways to protect confidential data from unauthorized access.
Starting salary ranges from $70,000 to $160,000 annually, depending on skills and experience. Newer industries such as renewable energy and technology are increasingly creating job opportunities in these areas.
3. Quality Assurance Analyst
Quality assurance analysts help ensure that products and services meet company standards before they go to market and throughout their lifespan. They check for flaws, review processes, and perform quality tests.
According to a 2018 report from The Bureau of Labor Statistics, most QA analysts work full-time as manufacturing companies or engineering firms’ employees. Their median annual salary is $63,720 (2018 BLS data). In 2024 that number is expected to rise to $78,270.
4. Production Associate
Work at a film production company to help bring products to life. In production, you will use various tools, such as lights and cameras to document product development and provide feedback for further improvements.
You’ll also gain skills that transfer across industries: communication, teamwork, planning, and execution. The best part? You’ll be among many job seekers who want to work in film production! That means ample opportunity if you do decide to switch industries or locations. Median annual wage: $44,110.
5. Communication Specialist
In 2017, according to figures released by the Public Relations Society of America and CareerCast, public relations specialists averaged a median salary of $64,300.
When working with some of the world’s biggest brands, it can be easy to see why salaries in communication are so high. For example, Forbes recently reported that Facebook’s Public Relations manager earns $229,000 per year. The company boasts over 1 billion users worldwide and constantly creates new business opportunities for its internal PR team.
6. Digital Designer
If you’re an accomplished digital designer, you could potentially pull down a salary upwards of $70K—not too shabby.
But if you don’t have years of experience under your belt, expect to make closer to $35K-$45K as a junior digital designer. Besides money, there are other perks to working as a digital designer.
7. Benefits Coordinator
This is an international career path with a high demand for sales associates and customer service representatives. The medical and health care business also sees solid pay for benefit coordinators who specialize in vision and dental coverage.
Salaries for these positions vary, with health benefits managers averaging more than $68,000 per year. Benefits coordinator salaries range from $23,600 to $56,200 annually.
8. Brand Manager
The average annual salary for a brand manager is $110,154. With a growth of 9% through 2022, job opportunities in these high-paying jobs will grow dramatically.
Successful brand managers are adept at identifying consumer needs and desires and then determining how to fulfill them. To be a successful brand manager, you must also have strong communication skills and an entrepreneurial spirit.
9. Sales Representative
If you have a personality that works well with humans and animals, a sales representative position may be a good career path. Your main goal as a sales rep is to convince consumers to purchase consumer non-durable goods from your company.
Ideally, sales reps make 50 calls per day, hitting roughly 30 out of 50 customers (and potential customers). Sales rep jobs also come with high pay; these folks earn around $53,000 annually.
10. Network Engineer
As you might expect, a network engineer is an individual who is trained to design and implement computer networks. A background in technology and computer science is generally required for such a position. However, a degree isn’t always necessary; some companies prefer their engineers to have at least one or two years of relevant work experience before applying.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects faster than average job growth for these professionals between 2016 and 2026, with an estimated 5 percent increase in jobs. Indeed reported a median salary of $98,520 in May 2017. While it varies by company and location, salaries typically start around $70,000 per year and reach up to $150,000 annually.
With only a high school diploma on your resume (or even less), you could quickly start off making well into six figures. Network engineering jobs can be found across the country—but not necessarily in your hometown.
The fastest-growing segment of our employment economy is consumer non-durables. While almost every industry has experienced job cuts over the past five years, non-durable industries have continued to grow.
This trend will continue through 2024 as more jobs are added to fields such as hospitality and restaurants than any other field. As a result, non-durable sectors will remain some of the best paying segments within our economy through 2024 and into 2027.
