Maybe we should have seen this coming.
Shortly after the brand new eighth season of Selling Sunset dropped on Netflix, “Realtor” was named the most popular job in America.
That’s according to new research from BeamJobs, which identifies the 10 jobs getting the most monthly searches. And wouldn’t you know it, “travel agent” comes next at number two, followed by “firefighter,” “nurse,” and “ultrasound technician.”
Ranking is based on BeamJobs’ analysis of the number of Google searches mentioning various jobs and using terms like “become a” and “how to become” over the past 12 months.
The search volume for each term was combined to assess which jobs were the most desirable.
Top 10 Searched Jobs in America:
- Realtor — This role, with an average of 52,948 monthly searches, according to BeamJobs data, comes with a median salary of $63,060 and ranks as the most popular career in every state except Alabama. Georgia gave it the most love with 19.94 average monthly searches per 100,000 people.
- Travel Agent — Average monthly search volume: 35,691 (with the most interest shown in Alabama: 14.89 searches per 100,000 people—and with a median salary of $47,410)
- Firefighter — Average monthly search volume: 29,434 (with California showing the most interest at 15.13 searches per 100,000 residents—and a median salary of $57,120)
- Nurse — Average monthly search volume: 28,450 (Most in-demand in California, with 12.52 searches per 100,000 residents—and with a median salary of $86,070).
- Ultrasound Technician — Average monthly search volume: 28,252 (with 9.37 searches per 100,000 residents in Virginia—and with a median salary of $81,350)
- Electrician — Average monthly search volume: 27,684 (with 13.47 searches per 100,000 Washington residents—and with a median salary of $61,590)
- Therapist — Average monthly search volume: 26,562 (with 6.10 searches per 100,000 residents in Wisconsin, where it ranks fourth after Realtor, travel agent, and electrician—and with a median salary of $92,740)
- Pharmacist — 25,622 average monthly searches
- Paralegal — 24,335
- Dental hygienist — 22,309
Of all the 50 states, Wyoming had the highest recorded number of job searches at 513.22 for every 100,000 citizens. At the opposite end of that spectrum, Wisconsin recorded the fewest with 229.60 searches per 100,000 people.
Stephen Greet, co-founder and CEO of BeamJobs, commented on the research:
“It’s interesting to see such a wide range of jobs appear in the ranking, demonstrating how much skills and aspirations can vary across the country.
“Moreover, the ranking suggests that a high salary isn’t always essential when searching for a job; firefighters rank third, and since volunteers account for more than half of firefighters in the U.S., it reflects that money isn’t a motivator for all.
“While this new research is useful and inspiring for job seekers, it can certainly offer insight for those within the education sector, as understanding the most desirable jobs, as well as where they are most in-demand, can help with the organization and planning of learning materials.”
BeamJobs’ findings also serve as a helpful reminder that not all desirable careers require a college degree. In fact, the most-searched career in the country is “Realtor,” which has never required a four-year (or even two-year) degree. Ditto for travel agents and firefighters, though travel agents can benefit from a two-year degree in a related field like travel and tourism.
Something every high school career counselor should keep in mind: College is still required for some career paths, but plenty of fulfilling—and necessary—careers come without crippling college debt.
