The new year symbolizes fresh starts. For many, it’s a time for transformative changes — prioritizing personal growth, breaking habits, or deepening connections with loved ones.
It’s also the perfect moment to rethink your professional path. Whether you’re exploring a new major, transferring schools, or pursuing a career change, the upcoming year invites unending opportunities.
If 2025 has you seeking job security, higher earnings, and greater social mobility, understanding the most in-demand fields can guide your next steps. Here are five career paths set to thrive in the coming year.
1. Counselor
If one of your resolutions for the New Year includes service to others, you may consider working towards a career as a counselor. Join a rewarding field where you can help others lead their best lives by providing empathetic, accessible, and culturally responsive mental health care.
As a mental health counselor, you’ll encounter opportunities to make an immeasurable difference by:
- Destigmatizing mental health to promote acceptance, empathy, and understanding
- Educating clients and communities about mental health resources
- Empowering individuals to develop coping strategies for life’s challenges
- Fostering therapeutic relationships that promote personal growth
- Strengthening resilience and self-esteem in clients
Opportunities and earning potential
– Stacy Ilona Tapia, MS in Counseling
Over the next decade, The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) anticipates the need for substance abuse, behavioral, and mental health counselors to climb by over 19% — landing them positions in settings like:
- Community mental health centers
- Hospitals and healthcare facilities
- Private practices
- Telehealth
- And more!
In addition to roles in versatile workplaces, counselors can achieve a secure and stable living — earning a median salary above $50k.
Steps for success
To begin practicing, aspiring counselors must earn a master’s degree in counseling and pass the National Counselor Examination (NCE).
At University of Bridgeport, our MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program is designed to prepare you with the confidence and competence to take the NCE and the knowledge and hands-on experience you’ll need before entering the field.
2. Data analyst
If you’re looking to explore how numbers drive business decisions, become a data detective with a career at the crosshairs of innovation, automation, and technology.
As a data analyst, you’ll optimize organizational efficiency by:
- Evaluating the effectiveness of strategies and initiatives
- Streamlining processes through data-driven recommendations
- Transforming raw data into actionable insights for stakeholders
- Using statistical models to forecast future outcomes
- Utilizing data to uncover hidden opportunities and risks
Opportunities and earning potential
– Peter Kivela, MS in Data Analytics and Systems
As our personal lives become increasingly tied to data, so does the professional sphere. With technology evolving at an unprecedented rate, the demand for data analysts is predicted to spike 25% by 2030.
Sought-after in nearly every industry, data analysts can find pursue opportunities in workplaces like:
- Banks
- Healthcare organizations
- Marketing agencies
- Technology firms
- And more!
While salary estimations vary depending on experience levels and organizations, data analysts can anticipate earning around $80k annually.
Steps for success
To dive into a career in data analytics, you’ll need at least a bachelor’s degree. UB offers a BS in Analytics program, but you can also get started by pursuing a degree in Computer Science, Mathematics, or a related field.
To open doors to more versatile opportunities and maximize your earning potential, a master’s degree will accelerate your career trajectory. Our master’s in Data Analytics and Systems program will boost your status as an analytical expert — preparing you to add immense value to any organization.
3. Artificial intelligence engineer
Want a career at the cutting edge of modern technology? Artificial intelligence (AI) engineers pave the way for progress — revolutionizing the workforce by unlocking AI-powered solutions for real-world problems.
As an AI engineer, you’ll excel as an innovator by:
- Automating systems that perform tasks with minimal human intervention
- Empowering businesses to leverage artificial intelligence for better decision-making
- Integrating AI tools to improve user experiences and product functionality
- Optimizing algorithms to improve efficiency and accuracy
- Writing and testing code that powers intelligent systems
Opportunities and earning potential
– Adeel Tahir, MS in Artificial Intelligence
As artificial intelligence continues to become essential across sectors, AI engineers are highly sought-after for their fine-tuned knowledge and skills, with some experts citing an 80% increase in job openings.
When you choose a career in AI engineering, you can find rewarding roles in settings such as:
- Automotive companies
- E-commerce companies
- Educational institutions
- Finance and banking
- And more!
Although earnings can vary based on location, experience, and other factors, the average annual salary for an AI engineer is higher than $100k.
Steps for success
Entry-level roles in AI engineering — such as junior engineer or machine learning developer — can be achieved with a bachelor’s degree in fields such as computer science, electrical engineering, or mathematics. However, pursuing a master’s degree will increase your salary potential while providing the foundations necessary for advanced positions in the field.
UB’s MS in Artificial Intelligence allows you to tailor your educational journey to your professional goals and interests through four concentration tracks: Cybersecurity, Data Sciences and Data Analytics, Deep Learning and Computer Vision, and Robotics and Automation. At UB, you’ll fully foster your identity as an AI expert — highly capable of navigating the analytical and intellectual challenges this exciting occupation contains.
With 70+ career-focused programs, esteemed faculty leaders, and hands-on learning opportunities throughout the region, UB is the place to find your purpose. Your future is purple — learn more about beginning your UB journey today!
4. Dental hygienist
Dental hygienists are champions of holistic wellness — enhancing community health by polishing smiles and educating patients about the importance of thorough oral care.
By committing to a career in dental hygiene, you’ll become a healthcare professional focused on:
- Assisting dentists by preparing patients for examinations and procedures
- Empowering patients by equipping them with lifelong dental care strategies
- Improving patients’ confidence by supporting a healthy smile
- Protecting oral health by identifying indicators of gum disease and tooth decay
- Supporting public health by educating communities about the importance of dental hygiene
Opportunities and earning potential
– Iliana Laluz-Sanchez, BS in Dental Hygiene
The need for skilled and knowledgeable dental hygiene experts is rising — forecasted to boost by 9% over the coming decade.
As the field grows, you can expect to find job openings in:
- Community health clinics
- Correctional facilities
- Dental offices
- Public health programs
- And more!
Based on education level, professional experience, and location, hygienists earn a median annual wage above $87k.
Steps for success
Embarking on a career in this fulfilling field requires a minimum of an associate degree. However, ample opportunities exist to further your education, bolster your job prospects, and surge your earning potential.
At UB, we’re proudly home to the acclaimed Fones School of Dental Hygiene. Established as the first dental hygiene school worldwide, the Fones School celebrates a decorated history of developing budding hygienists. Better still, we provide a range of programs, including associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degree programs and advanced certification courses. Through a blend of didactic and hands-on learning, our state-of-the-art on-campus clinic, and esteemed faculty experts, our Dental Hygiene programs will position you as an adept and compassionate oral care professional.
5. Physician assistant
Physician assistants are essential medical experts, providing patient-centered care across healthcare settings and specialties.
Helping doctors evaluate, diagnose, and treat patients, a day in the life of a physician assistant (PA) can entail:
- Advocating for patients and providing empathetic, high-quality care
- Assisting physicians by performing minor procedures and surgeries
- Educating patients about treatment options and preventative care strategies
- Prescribing medications and developing personalized care plans for patients
- Monitoring patient progress and adjusting their treatment plans as needed
Opportunities and earning potential
– Megan Anderson, PA-C
Given the breadth of duties these professionals can perform, the BLS projects the need for PAs to rise by more than 28% in the coming decade.
Practicing PAs can find rewarding roles in a wide variety of healthcare settings, such as:
- Community health clinics
- Pediatric offices
- Primary care practices
- Specialty care facilities
- And more!
The median yearly income for PAs ranks in the six-figure range — averaging above $130k.
Steps for success
To become a PA, rigorous educational and experiential requirements must be satisfied. In addition to earning a bachelor’s degree and acquiring direct patient care experience, students must achieve a master’s degree from an accredited program that blends classroom learning with varied clinical practices. After completing these essential steps, you must pass the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE) to practice as a PA.
UB’s Physician Assistant program provides the experience and support necessary to enter this competitive field. With a five-year PANCE pass rate of 98% for first-time test-takers, UB’s Physician Assistant Institute (PAI) equips students to excel — entering the field as knowledgeable and skilled practitioners.
Becoming in-demand in 2025
As 2025 approaches, the demand for skilled counseling, technology, and healthcare professionals is soaring. Whether starting fresh, advancing your education, or switching careers, now is the perfect time to prepare for these thriving industries.
At University of Bridgeport, we’re ready to help you align your passion with your purpose. With expert faculty, hands-on learning experiences, and cutting-edge programs, UB equips students to meet the demands of today’s job market and excel in their chosen fields.
Ready to take the next step toward a fulfilling future? Explore UB’s 70+ career-focused programs and discover how we can help you achieve your goals. Your future starts here — let’s make 2025 your year.
Bri Gagné is a marketing content writer at University of Bridgeport, bringing backgrounds in literary studies, creative storytelling, Universal Design for Learning (UDL), and social justice. They earned their bachelor’s degree in English Literature and Film Studies from University of Connecticut and their master’s in education from Eastern Connecticut State University.
After teaching English abroad and locally, Bri transitioned to a full-time writing career, contributing to the University’s educational narratives and brand-building efforts. They plan to begin their Master of Fine Arts in creative writing in 2025.