Top 10 Female-Dominated Professions in the United States

Top 10 Female-Dominated Professions in the United States

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1. Preschool and kindergarten teachers

Female workforce: 97.6 percent Median pay: $29,780 (preschool) and $57,980 (kindergarten) Requirements: Associate degree (preschool) and bachelor's degree (kindergarten) Job growth outlook from 2018 to 2028: 7 percent (preschool) and 3 percent (kindergarten)

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1. Preschool and kindergarten teachers

Early childhood educators play a pivotal role in caring for and educating kids. They typically work a 10-month school year (though some positions are year-round) and usually work in a public or private school or childcare center. Job growth for preschool teachers is projected to increase by seven percent by 2028, which is faster than the 

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1. Preschool and kindergarten teachers

average growth among all jobs. The BLS predicts this is due to the increasingly important role early childhood education and development plays in our society.

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2. Dental hygienists

Female workforce: 97.1 percent Median pay: $74,820 Requirements: Associate degree Job growth outlook from 2018 to 2028: 11 percent Getting your teeth cleaned? You're likely making an appointment with a dental hygienist. A dental hygienist provides patients with preventative care, examining 

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2. Dental hygienists

the mouth for signs of oral disease in the process. Dental hygiene programs typically take three years to complete, and hygienists must be licensed in the state in which they work. The job outlook for dental hygiene is positive due to the country's increased aging population and the growing amount of research pointing to the importance of good oral care.

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3. Speech language pathologists

Female workforce: 96 percent Median pay: $77,510 Requirements: Master's degree Job growth outlook from 2018 to 2028: 27 percent The projected job growth for speech language pathologists is the highest on this list — it is expected to grow at least 27 percent from 2018 to 2028.  That's because speech pathologists not only work with 

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3. Speech language pathologists

kids who have difficulty communicating, but they also work with adults who might have speech or language impairments as a result of a stroke, dementia, and other health conditions. Speech language pathologists typically need a master's degree and state license before they can start practicing.

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4. Dental assistants

Female workforce: 96 percent Median pay: $38,660 Requirements: Varies Job growth outlook from 2018 to 2028: 11 percent Besides pay, the biggest difference between dental assistants and dental hygienists is that dental assistants directly support dentists. They might handle office tasks, such as scheduling 

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4. Dental assistants

appointments; perform basic dental care, such as polishing a patient's teeth; or prep patients for various procedures. The educational requirements to become a dental assistant are also less rigorous than that of a dental hygienist. Some states require assistants to graduate from an accredited program, while other states do not have any educational 

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4. Dental assistants

prerequisites at all. Instead, you would learn on the job.

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5. Childcare workers

Female workforce: 94 percent Median pay: $23,240 Requirements: High school diploma or equivalent Job growth outlook from 2018 to 2028: 2 percent Childcare workers work in a variety of settings, including daycare centers, a private household, and sometimes even their own homes. Duties include dressing, feeding, 

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5. Childcare workers

monitoring playtime, and overall caring for children. Typically, no formal education is required, but sometimes positions call for an early childhood education degree depending on the place of employment.

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6. Secretaries and administrative assistants

Female workforce: 94 percent Median pay: $38,880 Requirements: High school diploma or equivalent Job growth outlook from 2018 to 2028: -7 percent Secretaries and administrative assistant jobs exist in nearly every industry, though you'll find the most positions in schools, hospitals, and government and legal offices. Typically, a high 

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6. Secretaries and administrative assistants

school diploma is required as well as several weeks of job training. The general job growth for secretaries and administrative assistant positions isn't as promising as some of the other professions on this list. That could be due, in part, to the automation of these jobs. However, the BLS predicts there'll likely be an increased 

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6. Secretaries and administrative assistants

need for medical secretaries over the next 10 years as aging baby boomers start to require more medical attention.

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7. Medical records & health information technicians

Female workforce: 93.6 percent Median pay: $40,350 Requirements: Post-secondary certificate Job growth outlook from 2018 to 2028: 11 percent Medical records & health information technicians spend much of their time behind a computer. They organize, manage, and code patients' health records for insurance 

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7. Medical records & health information technicians

reimbursements, various databases and registries, and patient medical history records. Sometimes these jobs can be done remotely, and typically, a bachelor's degree isn't required for these positions. Like other health-related professions on this list, the need for medical records & health information technicians is expected to grow as the 

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7. Medical records & health information technicians

country's baby-boomer population continues to age.

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8. Dietitians and nutritionists

Female workforce: 93.1 percent Median pay: $60,370 Requirements: Bachelor's degree Job growth outlook from 2018 to 2028: 11 percent Dietitians and nutritionists aim to help people eat better and live a healthy lifestyle. They can work in a variety of settings, from hospitals and nursing homes to cafeterias and state 

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8. Dietitians and nutritionists

governments. They can also help clients prevent and treat common diseases, including diabetes. Dietitians and nutritionists typically need a bachelor's degree in food and nutrition (or a related degree), and many go on to secure more advanced degrees as well.

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9. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists

Female workforce: 92.1 percent Median pay: $24,830 Requirements: Post-secondary certificate Job growth outlook from 2018 to 2028: 8 percent Women make up a large majority of hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists. Typically, these jobs are available in a barbershop or salon, but there's 

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9. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists

also an opportunity to offer these services in clients' homes.  You can work for a larger company, or you can start your own business; there's a lot of flexibility in this field. All states require these professionals to be licensed. This means you would need a degree from a state-approved barber or cosmetology program.

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10. Medical assistants

Female workforce: 90.6 percent Median pay: $33,610 Requirements: Post-secondary certificate Job growth outlook from 2018 to 2028: 23 percent This is the second-fastest-growing profession on the list, behind speech language pathology, also due to the aging baby-boomer population's need for increased medical services.

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10. Medical assistants

The difference between a medical assistant and a medical records & health information tech is that medical assistants typically work in a hospital, physician's office, or other healthcare facilities (versus in an office or from home, behind a computer).  These positions typically do not require a formal degree and call for less specialized knowledge 

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10. Medical assistants

about coding and medical software programs. A medical assistant also likely works directly with patients, taking vital signs and giving immunizations. They may also complete paperwork and carry out standard office procedures.

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