10 jobs in highest demand in the DC region

This Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2014 photo shows the Intel Edison, a small programmable computer the size of an SD memory card, seated on an electronics expansion board, in Decatur, Ga. The Edison has both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth technology built in, as well as a full distribution of the Linux operating system. (AP Photo/Ron Harris)
10. Computer systems analysts. (AP Photo/Ron Harris)
Boston-based Iron Mountain Inc. will build a $350 million data center in Manassas and create about 50 high paying jobs in the process. Iron Mountain Information Management LLC, a subsidiary of Iron Mountain Inc., says it will develop the data center over a period of several years with partners. The state-of-the-art data center facilities will be marketed to corporate, government and technology customers. (Thinkstock)
9. Network and computer systems administrators. (Thinkstock)
Website Login Screen Macro Closeup Capture Blue, computer security concept
8. Information security analysts. (Getty Images/iStockphoto/Brilt)
Male Sales Assistant At Checkout Of Clothing Store With Customers
7. Retail salespeople. (Getty Images/Monkey Business Images Ltd)
CEOs make far more than employees.  (Getty Images/iStockphoto/AndreyPopov)
6. Management analysts. (Getty Images/iStockphoto/AndreyPopov)
cybersecurity (thinkstock)
5. Computer systems engineers. (Thinkstock)
What issues do you want the presidential candidates to address? According to a new poll, a lot of adults want more discussion about children's health. (Thinkstock)
4. Registered nurses. (Getty Images/iStockphoto/megaflopp)
Residents have reported receiving calls from people claiming to be with the Arlington County Sherriff’s Office or other local law enforcement officials. (Thinkstock)
3. Sales representatives. (Thinkstock)
Businessman at work
2. Managers. (Getty Images/iStockphoto/cyano66)
Folders connection
1. Software developers. (Getty Images/iStockphoto/D3Damon)
A look at the top 10 jobs in the D.C. region in 2015. (Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments)
A look at the top 10 jobs in the D.C. region in 2015. (Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments)
(1/11)
This Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2014 photo shows the Intel Edison, a small programmable computer the size of an SD memory card, seated on an electronics expansion board, in Decatur, Ga. The Edison has both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth technology built in, as well as a full distribution of the Linux operating system. (AP Photo/Ron Harris)
Boston-based Iron Mountain Inc. will build a $350 million data center in Manassas and create about 50 high paying jobs in the process. Iron Mountain Information Management LLC, a subsidiary of Iron Mountain Inc., says it will develop the data center over a period of several years with partners. The state-of-the-art data center facilities will be marketed to corporate, government and technology customers. (Thinkstock)
Website Login Screen Macro Closeup Capture Blue, computer security concept
Male Sales Assistant At Checkout Of Clothing Store With Customers
CEOs make far more than employees.  (Getty Images/iStockphoto/AndreyPopov)
cybersecurity (thinkstock)
What issues do you want the presidential candidates to address? According to a new poll, a lot of adults want more discussion about children's health. (Thinkstock)
Residents have reported receiving calls from people claiming to be with the Arlington County Sherriff’s Office or other local law enforcement officials. (Thinkstock)
Businessman at work
Folders connection
A look at the top 10 jobs in the D.C. region in 2015. (Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments)

WASHINGTON — Demand for jobs in the D.C. area outpaced the nation for the first time in three years in 2015.

“There is a bright picture emerging,” said Council of Governments Executive Director Chuck Bean.

The Trends in Workforce Demand Report, from the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, also suggests that if your child has yet to choose a career path, there’s a good future in building computer skills.

The 10 most in-demand fields, from the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments.
The 10 most in-demand fields, from the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments. Read the full report by clicking the photo.

“Our report found that five of the … 10 occupations most in demand in the region are high-tech, computer-related: software developers, information security analysts and the like,” Bean said.

The five firms with the greatest number of area job postings in 2015 also are in advanced industries.

  1. General Dynamics
  2. Accenture
  3. Leidos
  4. Booz Allen
  5. Capital One

Bean says there’s no surprise among the other in-demand professions rounding out the top 10: managers, sales representatives and nurses. Most of the jobs pay well, too.

“Nine of the 10 occupations exceed the average annual wage of all the occupations in our region. The only one of the 10 that doesn’t is retail, which is number seven out of the 10 in most demand,” Bean said.

The median wage of the most in-demand jobs is more than $100,000. In 2015, the average annual wage in the metro D.C. region was $65,910.

Bean warns that the way to sustain a strong job market in the region is to become less reliant on employment related to the federal government.

“The reason we were in the doldrums here in the region in 2013-2014 was because of sequestration. We actually lost $10 billion in federal procurement just in our region,” Bean said.

“About 40 percent of our region’s economy is somehow related to the federal government, and we need to diversify.”

Bean and other experts believe one area ripe for growth here is exporting high tech services; for example, in bio-tech and cyber security.

Right now, 6 percent of the region’s economy is based on exports. Bean says growing exports by just 10 percent would mean an additional $2.7 billion in the region a year.

“And that’s a lot of the good jobs we’re talking about,” Bean said.

Kristi King

Kristi King is a veteran reporter who has been working in the WTOP newsroom since 1990. She covers everything from breaking news to consumer concerns and the latest medical developments.

Federal News Network Logo
Log in to your WTOP account for notifications and alerts customized for you.

Sign up