10 Career Change Ideas: Explore New Roles and Industries

Explore top-paying and in-demand career change opportunities across leading industries and roles. Find your next career move today!

Cassie Moorhead

Published

Dec 12, 2024

Cassie Moorhead

Published

Dec 12, 2024

At different points in your career, you may decide that it's time to make a change and switch industries or professions. Changing careers sometimes means taking a few steps back and focusing on learning new skills. You may consider taking online courses and earning certificates before you can start applying for jobs. While you have to put in this effort upfront, it pays off in the long run when you feel more fulfilled at your new job and have better opportunities and career growth.

If you're feeling unsatisfied in your current role and are thinking about changing careers, explore these popular roles and growing industries we’ve compiled for you to consider.

10 roles for a career change

Think about what your dream job looks like. Some people may want the flexibility of working from home, while others need to know that they’re making a difference. Everyone has different work and personal values. Find companies that share these values and create the type of work environment that you do best in. Reflect on what fulfills you professionally and then start doing research on the types of jobs you think you’d enjoy.

If you’re considering changing careers, these are some of the top roles to investigate:

1. Digital marketer

Digital marketers help businesses reach their audiences using online channels like social media and websites. The goal of a digital marketer could be to generate leads and sales or grow brand awareness. Digital marketers know how to tell a brand's story through content and make sure it reaches target audiences.

Businesses of all sizes and stages need digital marketers to engage their customers. Digital marketers decide what content the brand needs, create or commission the content, choose the channels to promote it on, and then analyze data to optimize performance.

Digital marketing responsibilities can include:

Content calendar planning and management
Content creation
Social media management
Performance reporting
Search engine optimization (SEO)
Email marketing
Blogging
Website management
Paid advertising
Campaign stewardship
Project management
Content audits

Keep reading:

Freelance digital marketers on Upwork earn $15-$45 per hour

Find digital marketing jobs

2. Data scientist

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Data scientists combine computer programming, machine learning, statistical analysis, and software engineering skills to dive deep into an organization's data. They look for patterns and trends to help their clients and employers make better decisions.

A data scientist may use complex data to forecast and make predictions. They often work in programming languages like Python, R, and SQL. Part of a data scientist's job may be to communicate their findings to other stakeholders in a report or presentation.

Data science responsibilities may include:

Doing A/B testing
Creating frameworks
Providing predictive modeling
Developing algorithms and models
Creating custom analytics tools
Cleaning and mining data
Completing statistical analyses

Keep reading:

Freelance data scientists on Upwork earn $25-$50 per hour

Find data science jobs

3. Machine learning engineer

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Machine learning engineers help machines like robots learn how to function and increase output through repetition and patterns. The goal is for these machines to be able to perform these tasks independently. Machine learning engineers create autonomous machines.

These types of engineers use data to create algorithms that simulate how humans learn for machines and robots to replicate. Over time, the machine "learns" to become more efficient. Real-life examples of machine learning are image and speech recognition, video surveillance, predictive analytics, targeted advertisements, and self-driving cars.

Machine learning engineer responsibilities may include:

Conducting experiments
Designing machine learning systems
Performing statistical analyses
Creating and training models
Implementing algorithms

If you wanted to create a machine that mimics human intelligence, that would be artificial intelligence (AI). This is a growing field as companies across industries are dramatically expanding the use of AI and generative AI. Examples of AI are digital virtual assistants like Alexa and Siri, fully autonomous vehicles, chatbots, and Canva Image Generator.

Machine learning and AI engineers work in programming languages like Python, R, Java, JavaScript, C++, Julia, Lisp, and Haskell. These types of engineers are needed in many different industries.

Keep reading:

Freelance machine learning engineers on Upwork earn $50-$200 per hour

Find machine learning engineer jobs

4. UX designer

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UX (user experience) designers think about how the user interacts with a product and find ways to improve it. UX designers consider factors like usability, accessibility, and overall satisfaction when evaluating a product or service. They may work with a digital service like a mobile app or website, or a physical product. UX designers follow the user journey, ensuring a seamless experience from start to finish.

A UX designer decides how to display information in a way that's easy to use and visually appealing. They may create wireframes for developers and engineers to build. The job of a UX designer is to understand what the product or service needs to do and then make it as enjoyable as possible for the end user. They typically work in Adobe Creative Cloud (Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator) and programs like Figma and Sketch.

UX designer responsibilities may include:

Run A/B tests
Define end-user needs through focus groups and interviews
Create wireframes, mockups, and prototypes
Develop storyboards and user flows
Gather feedback on designs from users
Design interfaces and visual elements
Provide graphic design

Keep reading:

Freelancer UX designers on Upwork earn $25-$39 per hour

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5. Environmental consultant

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Environmental consultants use their expert knowledge of sustainability to advise businesses, nonprofits, and government organizations. These consultants help create policies, systems, and processes to minimize an organization's impact on the Earth. Environmental consultants can work in the public or private sector and help develop sustainable practices.

An environmental consultant may audit how the organization is currently performing and then offer recommendations for improvements that adhere to environmental laws and regulations. They help improve and protect the environment by advising companies and organizations to be more sustainable in their business operations.

‍Environmental consultant responsibilities may include:

Advising regulatory compliance
Remediating environmental concerns
Practicing conservation
Designing environmental management systems
Doing data analysis and reporting
Visiting worksites
Conducting tests

Keep reading:

Independent Contractor vs. Consultant: Differences and Job Considerations

Average hourly rate: $35 per hour

Find environmental consultant and sustainability jobs

6. Solar technician

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As more people install solar panels on their homes and businesses, the demand for solar technicians increases. Solar panels convert energy from sunlight to electrical energy. Companies and individuals use solar panels as an alternative energy source. Solar technicians typically install these panels on the tops or sides of buildings or in an empty field where they can absorb the most sunlight possible.

One great aspect of becoming a solar technician is that you typically don't need a bachelor's degree. It’s a trade that you can generally learn on the job. Employers often teach technicians safety protocols, as the job involves working with electrical systems and installation techniques. Some technical schools or community colleges may offer courses and training for solar technicians to make it easier to find a job.

Solar technician responsibilities may include:

Performing maintenance repairs
Doing installations
Making sure panels adhere to local regulations and codes
Building solar farms
Consulting with clients
Troubleshooting electrical systems

Average hourly rate: $45 per hour

Find solar energy jobs

7. Yoga instructor

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Yoga is an ancient practice that today has become a wellness exercise combining stretching, meditation, and strength. Instructors lead their classes through different poses and types of yoga, from power yoga in a heated room to a gentler, slow-paced yin. Yoga instructors must attend a registered yoga school and complete a certification program, which is typically between 200 and 500 hours.

As a yoga instructor, you can teach small classes at a yoga studio, gym, or other facility or even corporate or private classes. Many companies offer yoga classes to their employees as part of their wellness benefits. Virtual yoga has become more popular, allowing you to teach students from the comfort of your home.

Yoga teacher responsibilities may include:

Leading the class through yoga poses
Providing adjustments
Correcting posture and alignment
Checking in students at the front desk
Cleaning exercise space between classes

Average hourly rate: $28 per hour

Find online yoga jobs

8. Nutritionist

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Nutritionists help clients achieve their health and wellness goals through diet and exercise. They create specialized meal plans based on their clients’ individual needs and check in to monitor progress. Nutritionists focus on the wellness side of food and diet, compared to registered dieticians who work alongside medical professionals as part of a treatment plan.

Depending on where you live (you can check U.S. state laws here), you may need to earn a related degree, take courses, and become a certified and licensed dietician before working as a nutritionist. Some states and countries allow nutritionists to work with clients in a nonmedical capacity without needing a license.

Nutritionist responsibilities may include:

Creating meal and exercise plans
Addressing dietary restrictions
Assessing sleep, exercise, and food habits
Educating clients on healthy eating habits
Setting goals for clients
Providing ongoing support, coaching, and check-ins
Monitoring progress

Average hourly rate: $34 per hour

Find nutrition jobs

9. Shopify developer

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Shopify developers build e-commerce sites using Shopify. They build everything from the visual storefront to the back-end checkout process. Depending on how complex the website is, Shopify developers may create custom APIs and frameworks. Shopify developers work on both the front and back ends, keeping user experience and functionality in mind.

As a Shopify developer, you may build custom themes or work within existing templates. Shopify uses its own language, Liquid, to create themes, but Shopify developers may also need to know HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and JSON for integrations and APIs.

Shopify developer responsibilities may include:

Managing Shopify integrations
Creating custom APIs
Improving user experience
Debugging and testing websites
Designing and editing themes
Providing technical support

Keep reading:

Shopify’s Dev Degree Program: All You Need To Know

Freelancer Shopify developers on Upwork earn $15-$29 per hour

Find Shopify developer jobs

10. Content creator

Content creators make graphics, audio, video, or copy for their own channels or their clients'. Some content creators have successful social media channels, blogs, or podcasts that they can monetize through brand partnerships or advertising–these are influencers. Other content creators freelance or work in-house for a client, creating content for the brand's channels.

As a content creator, you’ll need to stay on top of trends and know how to create content that engages a target audience. You may choose to specialize in a particular type of medium, like video. Depending on the type of content you want to create, you may need to know the Adobe Creative Cloud, Canva, or video editing software.

Content creator responsibilities may include:

Negotiating contracts
Creating audio, graphic, video, or written content
Managing editorial calendars
Partnering with brands
Promoting products
Responding to comments and messages
Doing affiliate marketing

Freelancer content creators on Upwork earn $25-$55 per hour

Find content creator jobs

Top industries for career changes

The industry you work in affects everything from job availability to workplace flexibility. Some industries are better suited for remote working, while others need in-person participation. Ideally, you want to choose an industry that’s growing and is in high demand; typically, that means a higher average salary and more secure job. The industry should align with your interests, whether that's health care or sustainability, so you can enjoy what you do.

When evaluating jobs and industries, analyze how experts predict they will change and evolve based on societal trends and technological developments in the next five to ten years. Consider whether advances in generative AI (artificial intelligence) could impact your day-to-day job activities or if the demand for your industry will grow or shrink.

AI, sustainability, and other trending areas have demands for talent that aren't quite met yet by availability because the fields are newer. This low supply and high demand situation can mean higher starting salaries and opportunities for growth. You have a chance of establishing yourself as a leader in a new field.

Before suggesting specific roles, we’ll describe several different types of industries to consider switching to:

Tech-based roles

Many people choose to work in tech because the industry is known for high-paying jobs that you can do from home. These positions often allow work-from-home flexibility, or you can spend part of the time in the office, depending on the company's remote working policies. You can teach yourself hard skills like coding languages or earn certificates in product management or Google Analytics to make yourself a more competitive candidate. Online learning platforms offer free and paid courses to acquire specific skills.

Finding a tech job can be difficult without experience. As you learn new skills, you can gain immediate experience by freelancing on Upwork. Add to your portfolio while earning extra income on the side as a freelancer. Choose how many hours per week you can dedicate to freelancing and only submit proposals to projects that focus on the specific skills you want to develop. You may even want to keep freelancing and building your career as an independent professional.

Online learning platforms for tech skills:

Green economy roles

Private and public companies worldwide are shifting their focus toward being greener, creating a surge in demand for jobs. The green economy invests in social and environmental sustainability. Many companies are looking to minimize their impact and use of resources. This could involve developing an alternative energy source or reducing corporate waste by switching to more eco-friendly product packaging.

In the green economy, you could work in corporate social responsibility, helping companies reduce their impact, or be in the field as a technician, farmer, or researcher. Sustainability has many different facets that you can focus on, whether you want to be on the business side or have more of a hands-on technical role.

Different areas of focus for green economy jobs:

Biology
Consulting
Corporate social responsibility
Urban planning
Environmental science
Conservation
Nonprofit positions
Environmental engineering
Government regulations
Waste management

Where to find sustainable jobs:

Health-centric professions

The large health care industry maintains a steady demand for roles and job security over time. Instead of meeting with doctors and therapists in person, telemedicine allows patients to chat or video call with health care professionals from the comfort of their homes—which increases job flexibility for workers.

If you go beyond medicine and enter the health and wellness space, you can find a variety of other jobs that may fit your interests. The idea of wellness has even worked its way into the workplace as more employers offer these types of benefits and try to cultivate a company culture that prevents burnout. This focus on health typically pays off with increased productivity and fewer absences and workplace injuries among employees.

Examples of jobs in the wellness industry:

Nutritionist
Life coach
Personal trainer
Fitness instructor
Chef
Chiropractor
Aesthetician
Acupuncturist
Massage therapist

Some of these jobs require schooling to become licensed, while others can be self-taught. Depending on the type of role, you may be able to work from home or need to meet in person with clients.

E-commerce and online business

Instead of selling products only at brick-and-mortar stores, companies can reach customers globally with e-commerce. Online websites, marketplaces, and social media allow companies to connect with customers from all over the world. Some companies operate completely online and don’t need a storefront, providing products and services directly to customers through their websites or apps.

You can also create your own online store and fulfill orders by dropshipping. Instead of having to keep product inventory, you can work with suppliers that handle stock and shipping. Dropshipping suppliers ship products directly to your customers.

If you want to set up an online business, you don't need to have your own product. As an affiliate marketer, you can earn a commission by promoting and selling other companies’ products and services by advertising them on your social media channels or blog. Every time someone purchases a product using your link or code, you make money.

Keep reading:

Creative avenues

Creators can use digital platforms to monetize their artistic skills. You can choose from a variety of different creative avenues and mediums, depending on what your talents are. Switching careers and moving into the creative space can mean starting from scratch to build your business and reputation. Think about what you're naturally talented at and how you could make it profitable.

If you enjoy creating physical products, you can set up your own Etsy store. Digital creators can engage their audience on social media and make money by running ads and partnering with brands. As a freelancer, you can offer your services, like graphic design or writing, directly to your clients on a platform like Upwork.

Creative avenues to consider:

What to consider with a career change

Changing careers is a big decision that takes planning and research. At first, moving to a different industry or switching professions can feel like starting over. Soft skills like communication, organization, and leadership are transferable, but you may need to learn specific hard skills before you're qualified for the types of positions you want.

As you start brainstorming your different options, you want to make sure changing career paths is the right move. Evaluate your current position and company to identify possible growth opportunities and other small changes that would impact your job satisfaction and happiness. You may decide to look for the same job title at a different company that fits your needs better.

Here are some factors to consider when deciding to change careers:

What to change. Try to determine how big a change you need, whether you would be happy at a different company doing the same role or if you need to change positions or industries entirely.
Values. Changing career paths is an opportunity for a fresh start. Think about what matters to you most in the workplace, whether it's flexibility, culture, pay, or the type of work you do, so you can find companies and positions that match.
Skills gaps. Evaluate what courses, certifications, and skills you need to learn before you can start applying for jobs.
Market research. Pay attention to projected growth and trends so you can move into an industry that pays well and has job openings.
Career goals. Use this time to set career goals and contemplate where you want to be in the next five years.
Time commitment. Decide if now is the right time to make a change. Research the types of jobs you want and consider if you have the time in your schedule to commit to upskilling and preparing your resume.
Burnout. Reflect and see if you're suffering from burnout and need to learn how to create work-life balance by setting boundaries or taking some time off completely to recover.
Quitting. Decide if you can change careers while staying at your current job or if you want to quit, take time off, or go back to school.
Career coaching. Get career advice from an expert coach if you need help creating an action plan and figuring out your next move.

Prepare for your career transition

Many people in their careers decide to transition into a new industry or position, and that's OK. Changing careers may seem like a big hurdle at first, but it can present more opportunities down the road. Some jobs are needed across all industries, while others are industry-specific. You may need to go back to school or learn new skills. Changing your industry or current career can feel like starting over, but it pays off if you can find jobs that you're interested in or that have higher pay, better benefits, and better fit for your overall interests and needs.

Complete research and reskilling

Changing careers sometimes means that you need to learn new skills and focus on professional development. Research the industry and specific positions you want to apply to and start closing the skills gaps. You can start taking online courses and earning certificates to make yourself a more competitive candidate.

Make sure to research the industry and positions you're applying to so you feel prepared. The interview process may be different from what you're used to. Interview styles can be more technical or behavioral based on the industry and the types of roles.

Gain experience by freelancing

When changing industries or roles, landing interviews can be difficult if you don’t have relevant experience. Employers want to see that you have a work history that matches the skills on your resume and, ideally, related portfolio items to share. As a freelancer, you can learn a new skill and immediately start getting hands-on experience by taking on projects. You may need to start with smaller and more entry-level projects to build your skills and reviews.

On Upwork, you can search the Talent Marketplace for projects that fit the specific skills that you’re trying to grow. Gain experience and build your portfolio while earning money on the side by freelancing.

Build a network in the new field

Another important aspect of changing industries is networking. Becoming involved in the industry by attending networking events can help you make connections. You may find a mentor who can provide coaching and guidance as you look for a new job and establish yourself in the industry. They may even be able to refer you to a job at their company.

Market yourself

Before you start applying for jobs, make sure you update your resume, cover letter, LinkedIn profile, and portfolio with your latest experience and tailor them to the type of job you want. If you need more help, you can hire a freelance resume writer.

Think about what transferable skills you have and put them on your resume. While your past work experience may be different from what you want to do, many of the skills you learned are likely still useful. Organization and communication skills, for example, are needed in every industry.

Find exciting career opportunities on Upwork

Whether you want to start freelancing or are just looking to gain experience so you can change careers, Upwork is the perfect first step. Changing careers may mean going back to school or taking online courses, and employers often want experience. You can get this by freelancing for clients on Upwork.

Find projects on Talent Marketplace that require the exact skill set you're trying to build and get experience, all while earning income. Keep building your career as a freelancer, find a contract-to-hire opportunity, or apply to your dream company while knowing you can always go back to freelancing. Today could be one day or Day 1; it's all up to you.

Disclaimer: Upwork does not control, operate, or sponsor the tools or services discussed in this article, which are only provided as potential options. Each reader and company should take the time to adequately analyze and determine the tools or services that would best fit their specific needs and situation.

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Author Spotlight

Cassie Moorhead

Content Writer

Cassie is a storyteller and content creator with over eight years of experience helping brands communicate to their customers through different channels. She enjoys finding new coffee shops to work from and spending time in nature with her dog, Sweeney.

Content Writer