It can pay to take a long view on salary expectations in your field.
In-demand jobs like software developers, physician assistants and online sales managers have seen substantial increases in median salaries in recent years, according to a new report from job site CareerCast. (See the full list of jobs with the fastest-growing salaries, below.)
"High salary growth rate and overall highest paying jobs are not necessarily one [and] the same," CareerCast online content editor Kyle Kensing said in the report. "Careers with high entry-point wages do not necessarily grow considerably from median to upper wage earning levels."
Of course, just because salaries are rising quickly in your field or role, doesn't mean you're poised to take advantage as a new or veteran employee.
"If you're already employed at a company or organization, they are generally not going to give you substantial pay raises unless they think that they have to," said business consultant Dorie Clark, author of "Entrepreneurial You."
One way to get in on the rising-salary trend: Go back on the job hunt. You may find another opportunity worth taking or be able to leverage an offer into a raise with your current employer, Clark said.
"This is a tool you should use with discretion," she warned. "You can't go to your boss all the time with competing offers, to bang your salary higher."
That won't generate goodwill — and could backfire, ending up with you needing to take that job offer even if you'd rather remain in your current role.
| Profession | Annual Median Salary 2017 | Annual Median Salary 2013 | Wage growth to 90th percentile | Hiring Outlook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer systems analyst | $87,220 | $79,145 | 57.9% | 21% |
| Information security analyst | $92,600 | $88,590 | 59% | 18% |
| Mathematician | $105,810 | $101,171 | 51.5% | 21% |
| Online sales manager | $117,960 | $88,249 | 42.7% | 5% |
| Operations research analyst | $79,200 | $72,680 | 67.5% | 30% |
| Physician assistant | $101,480 | $89,097 | 40.1% | 30% |
| Software developer | $102,280 | $92,820 | 54% | 17% |
Employees in a field with fast-rising salaries should also look at the field to see what skills and other qualifications are driving pay boosts, Clark said. Taking on a leadership role or obtaining a useful certification can easily become a talking point in a compensation conversation.
"A boss does not want to give you a raise because you think you deserve one," Clark said. "You earn a raise by making yourself more valuable to the company."
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