How We Rank the Top 5
The methodology behind Under the Radar's career opportunity rankings
Bottom Line: Each opportunity is scored on a 100-point scale across five weighted factors. This isn't arbitrary—it's how we separate real opportunities from hype cycles and ensure you're seeing paths with actual traction.
Scoring Factors
Weight: 30%
Are companies actually hiring for this right now? We track real job postings, contract listings, and verified hiring activity.
Active job postings (Indeed, LinkedIn)
Freelance contract volume
Month-over-month growth
Weight: 25%
How quickly can you start earning? We prioritize paths that don't require 18 months of preparation.
Time to first paid work
Training/certification requirements
Barrier to entry (cost, prerequisites)
Weight: 25%
What can you realistically earn? We track actual reported wages, not promotional claims.
Entry-level salary ranges
Income ceiling potential
Verified earnings reports
Weight: 15%
Will this opportunity still exist in 3-5 years? We assess automation risk and market sustainability.
Automation threat assessment
Market growth projections
Skill transferability
Weight: 5%
How safe is this path? We flag exploitative practices, payment issues, and common scams.
Community fraud reports
Payment reliability
Exploitative practice indicators
How Scoring Works
| Factor |
Points Available |
What Gets High Scores |
| Market Demand |
30 points |
500+ active listings, growing weekly |
| Entry Speed |
25 points |
Start earning within 30 days, minimal cost |
| Income Potential |
25 points |
Entry: $45k+, Ceiling: $80k+ |
| Future Viability |
15 points |
Low automation risk, transferable skills |
| Scam/Risk Factor |
5 points |
No fraud reports, legitimate payment history |
Example: Voice AI Implementation Specialist
Here's how we calculated its score of 89/100:
Market Demand: 28/30 points (2,400+ listings, growing 15% monthly)
Entry Speed: 22/25 points (30-60 days with online courses)
Income Potential: 24/25 points ($55k-$85k range, scalable)
Future Viability: 12/15 points (Human judgment still essential)
Scam/Risk Factor: 3/5 points (Some "certification" scams emerging)
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Total Score: 89/100 points
Why these weights?
Market Demand and Entry Speed get the highest weights because they matter most when you need income NOW. A "perfect" career path that takes 2 years to access isn't helpful if you're facing a layoff in 3 months.
Movement tracking: Rankings shift weekly based on real-time data. When an opportunity moves up or down, we show you exactly which factors changed and why.
Transparency matters. Every claim in Under the Radar includes source links. If we can't verify it, we don't publish it.