Best Career Change Jobs After 30

Career changes made at age 30 can be both exciting and challenging. Some of the best career change jobs after 30 are as follows:

• Teaching – Provides strong job security, a sense of giving back and growth opportunities
• Web development – An always-expanding field and allows for strong salary development
• Physician assisting – A well-paid, growth industry; make a difference and help people
• Social media managing – Great for bold, creative types and can open up the world to you

Why Change Careers in Your 30s?

Approaching the age of 30 can feel like a milestone. If you are working in a career that doesn’t fulfill you, it might be a good time to reevaluate the work you are doing and look into getting a new job at 30.

After all, you likely have another 30 or so years left to work, so you want to be sure you are spending that time in a role or industry that feels like a good fit.

Starting a career at 30 from scratch might sound tough – but your 30s are often a good time to make a career pivot.

This is because at this age, many people don’t yet have a lot of heavy responsibilities (such as a mortgage, children or aging parents who need care).

This means you have the time and mental capacity to take some time and reassess.

Additionally, those aged around 30 will likely have about 10 years of experience under their belts, which means they are likely well positioned to know what works for them and what they might want to change in the future.

They will have collected a set of personal and core competencies that they can transfer into different workplaces too.

As well as having more personal insight, another benefit of changing careers in your 30s is that you will have extra knowledge compared to a new graduate, so you can expect a starting salary to be higher, even if you’re new in an industry.

In general, the best careers to start in your 30s are those which use your skills but take you in a new growth-oriented direction.

Pros and Cons of a Career Change at 30

Pros

• New Opportunities – Changing careers at age 30 can open up new opportunities for growth and advancement, both professionally and personally.
• Pursuing Your Passion – If you're unhappy with your current job, a career change can allow you to pursue a field that you're truly passionate about.
• Learning New Skills – Changing careers can also provide you with the opportunity to learn new skills and gain valuable experience, which can enhance your employability and increase your earning potential.
• Personal Growth – A career change can also lead to personal growth, as you step outside of your comfort zone and challenge yourself to learn new things and take on new responsibilities.

Cons

• Financial Risk – A career change can be a financial risk, as you may have to start over at a lower salary or an entry-level position and work your way up again. This can be especially difficult if you have financial obligations, such as a mortgage or student loans.
• Time and Effort – Changing careers at age 30 requires a significant investment of time and effort. You may need to go back to school or undergo additional training to gain the skills necessary for your new career.
• Limited Experience – Depending on the career you choose, you may have limited experience in the field, which can make it harder to land a job and get started.
• Potential Setbacks – Finally, there's always the possibility that your career change won't work out as planned. You may find that you don't enjoy your new career as much as you thought you would, or that you're not as successful in it as you had hoped.

Signs You Might Need a Career Change at 30

A career change at 30 might sound daunting. If you’re not sure that this is for you, there are some signs you can look out for.

Your Passion Is Gone

If you don’t feel excited about the work that you do in your current career and it’s just a slog, then know that half a lifetime more of it will bring you down further.

If you’re phoning it in and are on autopilot then you’re not getting joy from the way you spend at least eight to 10 hours of each working day.

That’s a lot of time wasted when you could be passionate about your work and have that good feeling spread into all aspects of your life.

Switching careers at 30 might be the way to reignite your passion for working life.

You Feel Miserable About Going Into Work

It’s not healthy to dread each day. If you’re dragging yourself out of bed and feeling bored and negative about much of your waking life, then it’s going to cause other issues in your life.

Your friends and family will likely see this misery and it could even spill into your physical health.

Your Health Is Giving You Pause

The stress of working in a place that makes you feel miserable will likely give you some physical or mental health symptoms.

Commonly reported ones are:

• Fatigue
• Headaches
• Loss of hair
• Joint/back pain
• Lack of sleep

If you don’t make a change, these health issues might only get worse.

A career change at 30 might sound like a lot of work, but if it salvages your health then it’s definitely worth it.

Even if you keep putting it off, it’s never too late to make a change that will help your life feel better all around. Career changes are even made in your 40s and beyond.

The Salary You Get Is Not Helping You Feel Valued

Nobody likes feeling undervalued at work. If you don’t get paid fairly and you’re being rejected for promotions or pay raises it can make you feel like you need to move on.

Especially at age 30, when most people are on the cusp of marriage and children – or home ownership – the salary you earn can be a deciding factor over whether you leave your career for another.

Switching careers at 30 can set you up financially for the rest of your life if you plan it well.

You’re Fantasizing About Other Ways of Living

Your brain is a powerful thing; if you keep slipping into dreams of a different type of life, your subconscious is likely sending you a message.

Maybe you want to get out of the corporate world and into a nonprofit job, have always dreamt of doing something more creative or maybe you regret not getting those top grades at school and know you have more to give.

You need to live a life of purpose and movement. Even if it’s not obviously about work, fantasies of living elsewhere or with a different set of variables can be signifying that you need growth.

Changing careers and researching your options is a good starting point for creating a life that you don’t need to escape from.

If you are feeling any of the above ways, it’s a strong signal that it’s time to make a change.

This next section will take you through some steps so you can work out your own route to the best careers to start in your 30s.

How to Change a Career at 30

A good way to work out a plan for changing your career is to take some time out from your current job to reflect.

You could sign up for a retreat or similar type of weekend workshop aimed at people looking for a change of direction.

In that reflection time, be sure to assess where you're at – as well as where you want to go.

Here’s an outline of practical things you can do as you look for the best career change jobs at 30:

Make a List of Your Transferable Skills

Make a list of your transferable skills as they can be very valuable to other career paths.

For instance, those switching from a sales job to business consulting might well bring in presentation skills and other strengths.

Research Career Options

If you don't already have a clear idea about your dream job, look at various different industries you might want to go into and assess if they are a good fit – as well as what you might need in place before moving forward.

Career change at 30 ideas might be hard to come by but you can begin by looking online and speaking to trusted friends.

You might look at a career change at 30 quiz for example, or sign up to work with a career coach.

Reach Out to Your Networks

Reach out to your networks and let people know you are looking at starting a new career at 30.

Sometimes there can be great opportunities to be found through personal connections – or from networks like professional associations or social clubs.

A friend or family member might be able to get you work experience or a foot in the door with a job interview.

Alternatively, they might be able to help you find resources and routes to training/education.

Retrain

Then you need to figure out what education or training you need to switch over.

Making sure you are upskilling and bringing the right qualities to the table is crucial.

The best careers for 30 year olds will be those that match your skills well and allow you to showcase your talent.

Update Your Resume

Definitely update your resume with your new skills and add the correct keywords that matter in your changed industry.

For example, a move into technology will require that you flag being adept in various software packages or that you are a ‘quick learner’.

Making a career change at 30 means you have to compete with younger people so make sure you are up to date with what’s new and fresh in the world of recruitment.

Search for Your New Role

After updating and polishing a resume, using your networks and researching, it’s time to look for new job opportunities and apply for roles.

If you’re nervous you can ask a mentor to help – or you can boost your confidence first by offering your experience for free in internships or volunteering opportunities in your new field.

The Best Career Change Jobs At Age 30

There are some broad careers that career changers are often drawn to transition into as they progress through life.

Here’s an outline of some of the best careers to start in your 30s.

1. Teaching

If you’re feeling a lack of purpose in your current role then looking into teaching is a good idea. One of the biggest ways to know you are doing impactful work is working with children.

It’s also a challenging alternative to an office-based job if you’re bored with staring at a screen all day.

Teaching allows for lots of personal development and it offers one of the best opportunities for quick progression amongst the various careers you can start in your 30s.

You will need to get a teaching qualification for this career change but you can expect to earn between $38,000 to $80,000 a year in public schools (and more if you go to the private sector) according to Salary.com.

Teachers also have great job stability and will always be in demand.

2. Web Developing

Knowing yourself and your personality is a large part of starting this journey.

If pay is an important motivator for you as you search for a new career at 30, then looking at tech roles might be more up your street.

According to CareerKarma.com, a web developer can expect to earn an average salary of $77,200.

You would need coding experience, but this can be done through an online bootcamp.

As far as qualifications go, attending a coding bootcamp is faster and more affordable than most other options.

It will also often offer career services to help you get a job upon graduation, so starting a career in IT at 30 is definitely feasible.

Roles in web development are available on a freelance basis or you can work for a big employer – it is a flexible career in a growth industry with lots of options.

3. Physician Assisting

Wanting to give back can be a powerful motivator in changing careers mid-life and healthcare offers a lot of options.

Physician assistants (PAs) will work in a variety of busy and challenging healthcare settings, including primary care and emergency medicine.

Their work depends on their specialty; for example, a physician assistant may choose to work with children in pediatrics, giving routine vaccinations or exams.

Changing careers to become a physician assistant doesn’t require as many years of study as some other medical fields, but a master’s degree is required.

You are paid well for this though; as a PA you can expect to earn around $115,000 according to CareerKarma.com.

On top of this, the employment rate of physician assistants is projected to grow much faster over the next decade than for most other occupations.

4. Social Media Managing

Jobs to start in your 30s might well be ones that didn’t exist a decade ago when you first entered the workplace.

As well as web development, another growth industry is the management of online platforms in the social media world.

Every big company needs help in this realm – and often no formal qualifications are required.

Starting a new career in your 30s requires chutzpah, so go out there, get experience and learn about the social media world so you can make this career change option a viable one.

According to Payscale.com, the average American salary for social media managers is $53,060 but this can vary hugely depending on industry and location.

It’s an international market so you can even move around the world. Career change at 30 ideas depend on you being creative, so if you think of yourself as someone influential, who enjoys brainstorming and is open to learning and growing, then the role of Social Media Manager might be perfect for you.

What If Youre Not Quite Ready for a New Career Path at 30?

There's no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to career changes or alternatives.

It's important to evaluate your goals, values and priorities and make a decision that's right for you.

Here are some alternatives to making a full career change at age 30.

• Upskilling and retraining – Instead of completely changing careers, you could consider upskilling and retraining to enhance your current skill set and make yourself more valuable in your current industry. This could involve taking courses, attending workshops or conferences, or earning a certification or degree.

• Switching employers or industries – Another option is to switch to a new employer or industry within your current career field. This can provide new challenges and opportunities for growth without the full-scale career change.

• Starting a side business – If you have an entrepreneurial spirit, starting a side business part time could be a good option and will also be a handy supplement to your full-time income. This allows you to pursue a passion or interest outside of your current career while maintaining the stability of your current job.

• Taking on new responsibilities – Sometimes, taking on new responsibilities within your current job can provide the challenge and growth you're looking for. Talk to your manager about opportunities for advancement or additional responsibilities within your current role.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts

You might be looking for a new career because of a lack of fulfillment or you might have been feeling undervalued at your old job.

The best career change jobs at 30 are those which excite you personally, so that you feel motivated to make the move with all the effort that might entail.

Changing careers in your 30s can be challenging but it’s a move better made sooner than later.

Starting a new career at 30 with no experience will be hard so make sure you focus on remedying that as soon as possible by learning about the different options available.

If you follow the clear steps above you will make the transition smoothly.