America’s 20 Fastest-Growing Jobs May Surprise You

iStock/Thinkstock(WASHINGTON) — The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is out with its most recent ranking of the 20 fastest-growing occupations in the U.S.

Coming in at No. 1, with median pay of $83,580 a year and a growth rate of 53 percent between now and 2022: “Industrial-organizational psychologists.”

Its growth rate beats that of every other occupation, including personal care aids (49 percent), home health aides (48 percent), diagnostic medical sonographers (46 percent), stonemasons (43 percent), stone masons laying down “segmented paving stones” (38 percent) and the members of 14 other fast-growing occupations.

The Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology says its members are versatile scientists “specializing in human behavior in the workplace.” Employers hire them — either in-house or as consultants — because their expertise results in better hires, increased productivity, reduced turnover, and lower labor costs.

Says the BLS, “Industrial-organizational psychologists [I-O psychologists] apply psychology to the workplace by using psychological principles and research methods to solve problems and improve the quality of work life. They study issues such as workplace productivity, management or employee working styles and employee morale. They also work with management on matters such as policy planning, employee screening or training and organizational development.”

In short, you hire I-O psychs to improve the efficiency of your organization. Unlike many other kinds of consultants you might hire, they can show causality between their contribution and improved performance of your business.

Henry Kasper, the BLS supervisor who tracks this occupation, tells ABC News that it’s one of the smallest that BLS follows: There are maybe 1,600 such psychologists. Though their job growth is indeed forecast to be robust, total growth between now and 2022 is only 900 jobs.

Nonetheless, says Kasper, “Companies see they can get a lot of benefit from hiring them (I-O psychologists) on a contract basis. They come in and help improve productivity. The trend is up — and in a pretty significant way. Given it’s so small, you don’t need to add that many jobs to get a massive percentage increase.”

Here are the top 20 fastest-growing occupations between now and 2022, as defined by BLS:

OCCUPATION, GROWTH RATE, 2012 MEDIAN PAY

• Industrial-organizational Psychologists, 53 percent: $83,580
• Personal care aides, 49 percent: $19,910
• Home health aides, 48 percent: $20, 820
• Insulation Workers, Mechanical, 47 percent: $39,170
• Interpreters & Translators, 46 percent: $45,430
• Diagnostic medical sonographers, 46 percent: $65,860
• Helpers–Brickmasons, blockmasons, stonemasons and tile and marble setters, 43 percent: $28,220
• Occupational therapy assistants, 43 percent: $53,240
• Genetic Counselors, 41 percent: $56,800
• Physical therapist assistants, 41 percent: $52,160
• Physical therapist aides, 40 percent: $23,880
• Skincare specialists, 40 percent: $28,640
• Physician assistants, 38 percent: $90,930
• Segmental pavers, 38 percent: $33,720
• Helpers- electricians, 37 percent: $27,670
• Information security analysts, 37 percent: 86,170
• Occupational therapy aides, 36 percent: $26,850
• Health specialties teachers, post- secondary, 36 percent: $81,140
• Medical secretaries, 36 percent: $31,350
• Physical therapist, 36 percent: $79,860

Copyright 2014 ABC News Radio