Many nonprofits and businesses require external assistance —  usually financial — to support their mission and work. Grant consultants identify the organization's needs, research different grant programs, and help secure funding by applying for the right opportunities.

According to the LinkedIn report, grant consultants must be skilled at grant writing, grant administration, and federal grants management.

Where the most jobs are: New York City, Washington, DC, Cleveland

Median years of prior experience: 4.4

Imagine a developer who wants to build a wind farm but needs to lease land from several property owners in the area. A land agent steps in to make it happen.

They research who owns the land, negotiate fair lease agreements with the owners, and ensure all legal and regulatory requirements are met.

Those who have deep knowledge of land acquisition rules, can search titles, and negotiate contracts can excel in this role.

Where the most jobs are: Salt Lake City, Phoenix, Macon in Georgia

Median years of prior experience: 4.4

Treasury managers are like an organization's air traffic controllers. They ensure a company's finances are secure by keeping tabs on all expenses, monitoring bank accounts, and predicting cash needs.

According to the report, job seekers must be skilled at cash management, cash flow forecasting, and financial analysis to excel at this role.

Where the most jobs are: New York City, Chicago, Dallas

Median years of prior experience: 6.4

In a fast-growing industry like AI, researchers are often the brains behind new developments and advancements in this technology — think quicker outputs, improved solutions, and the ability to differentiate between large data sets quickly.

Similar to AI engineers and consultants, those seeking a job as an AI researcher must be skilled at deep learning, large language models (LLM), and PyTorch.

Where the most jobs are: San Francisco, Boston, Seattle

Median years of prior experience: 3.2

If a town wants to add a new park for its residents, a community planner would help navigate the process. They gather input from the community, study the area to find the perfect spot, and make sure the project aligns with zoning rules and budgets. Then, they team up with architects, engineers, and local officials to bring the vision to life.

Per the report, the skills needed for this role include urban planning, zoning, and community outreach.

Where the most jobs are: Washington, DC, Boston, Chicago

Median years of prior experience: 3.3

Security guards protect property, assets, and people by maintaining a safe and secure environment. Their duties typically include monitoring premises, patrolling areas, overseeing access points, and responding to security breaches or emergencies.

Per the report, the skills most commonly needed for this role include security operations, surveillance, and customer service.

Where the most jobs are: New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco

Median years of prior experience: 2.2

A sustainability specialist helps organizations become more responsible about their overall environmental footprint. They dig into operations, find ways to cut waste, save resources, and shrink carbon footprints. From crafting eco-friendly strategies to tracking progress, they're the go-to for making businesses cleaner, greener, and future-ready.

According to the report, those hoping to take on this role must be adept at sustainability reporting and understand corporate social responsibility and environmental policies.

Where the most jobs are: New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco

Median years of prior experience: 3

Outside sales representatives help companies sell their products or services by building a roster of clients, forging connections, and helping to achieve sales targets.

Those hoping to take on this role must be skilled at cold calling, account management, and sales operations.

Where the most jobs are: Houston, Dallas, Atlanta

Median years of prior experience: 4.3

This senior leadership role, typically in nonprofit organizations, requires the individual to devise fundraising strategies and suggest proposals for donor engagement. They are crucial in ensuring the organization secures the resources it needs for maximum impact.

Those hoping to take on this role must be skilled at fundraising, grant writing, and community outreach.

Where the most jobs are: New York City, Los Angeles, Washington, DC

Median years of prior experience: 5.4

Event coordinators work behind the scenes in planning and executing various events, including corporate, PR, brand, or collection launches, weddings, and birthday parties. They also handle their clients' logistics, decor, vendor management, and budget allocation.

Those seeking a job in this industry must be skilled at event planning, social media marketing, and customer service.

Where the most jobs are: New York City, Los Angeles, Boston

Median years of prior experience: 2.8

With the travel industry making a comeback post-COVID-19, there's also been a revival in travel advisor roles. As travelers seek curated and hassle-free journeys, travel advisors are important in ensuring stress-free and memorable trips.

They help vacationers plan every aspect of their trip, from accommodations and dining to must-see attractions. For clients unsure about where to go, travel advisors recommend destinations tailored to their interests, preferences, and budget. To succeed in this role, individuals must be skilled in travel planning, writing, and social media marketing, per the report.

Where the most jobs are: New York City, Los Angeles, Miami

Median years of prior experience: 4.7

In every industry, as innovations come along, employees have to upskill to stay on top of industry trends and meet organizational needs — this is where workforce development managers play a crucial role. They identify the company's needs and areas where employees require additional support, then devise training programs to address those gaps. Training programs usually include leadership workshops or skill-based courses.

The LinkedIn report says individuals must be skilled in program management and development, and community outreach to take on this role.

Where the most jobs are: Los Angeles, Columbus in Ohio, Seattle

Median years of prior experience: 5.1

The role of a physical therapist has made leaps in the past year, moving from No. 13 to the third spot this year.

Typically, physical therapists assess, devise plans, and help patients suffering from mobility issues or those recovering from injuries. According to the report, those seeking a career in this domain must have the following skills and qualifications: orthopedic rehabilitation, patient care management, and occupational therapy.

Where the most jobs are: New York City, Boston, Chicago

Median years of prior experience: 3.6

AI consultants, which ranked eighth last year, took the second spot this year.

AI consultants advise organizations on how to best implement AI tools and technology within their existing workflow. The report recommends that those seeking to work in this role be skilled in LLM, prompt engineering, and Python.

Where the most jobs are: San Francisco, New York City, Washington, DC

Median years of prior experience: 4.5

Given the rapid rise of AI in workplaces and our daily lives, it's no surprise that artificial intelligence engineers, who were No. 10 on last year's report, have taken the top spot this year.

AI engineers "design, develop, implement," and train AI models to perform complex tasks, recognize patterns, and analyze large amounts of data. Per the report, the skills most commonly needed are large language processing, PyTorch, and natural language processing.

Where the most jobs are: San Francisco, New York City, Boston

Median years of prior experience: 3.6