One of these hot jobs pays over $87,000 per year!

In a competitive job market, maximizing the potential of your education could hinge on a question of numbers: How many workers might be hired in a given field?

Since crystal balls aren't exactly what one might call reliable, the U.S. Department of Labor has done some projecting of its own when it comes to employment outlook.

Here's a closer look at five of the fastest growing occupations, in terms of numbers hired, through 2016.