Fastest Growing Careers
Top occupations by projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034 (BLS projections). This is a projection of jobs, not a measurement of pay: for what pay actually did, see observed pay changes.
This ranking shows the 50 detailed occupations with the largest published BLS projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections and OEWS releases used by WageDex, Each row pairs an occupation-level growth projection with annual openings, a national wage estimate, and the BLS typical-entry education category. A projection is not a promise of an opening, an individual's hiring outcome, or future pay. Use it to compare the published outlook, then check local demand, licensing, and employer requirements separately.
| # | Occupation | Growth | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wind Turbine Service Technicians Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations | +50% | $64,120 |
| 2 | Solar Photovoltaic Installers Construction and Extraction Occupations | +42% | $53,140 |
| 3 | Nurse Practitioners Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations | +40% | $132,300 |
| 4 | Data Scientists Computer and Mathematical Occupations | +34% | $120,230 |
| 5 | Information Security Analysts Computer and Mathematical Occupations | +29% | $129,180 |
| 6 | Medical and Health Services Managers Management Occupations | +23% | $123,860 |
| 7 | Physical Therapist Assistants Healthcare Support Occupations | +22% | $68,380 |
| 8 | Actuaries Computer and Mathematical Occupations | +22% | $130,000 |
| 9 | Operations Research Analysts Computer and Mathematical Occupations | +22% | $88,940 |
| 10 | Physician Assistants Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations | +20% | $135,880 |
| 11 | Psychiatric Technicians Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations | +20% | $45,130 |
| 12 | Ophthalmic Medical Technicians Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations | +20% | $45,570 |
| 13 | Computer and Information Research Scientists Computer and Mathematical Occupations | +20% | $140,300 |
| 14 | Occupational Therapy Assistants Healthcare Support Occupations | +19% | $72,300 |
| 15 | Financial Examiners Business and Financial Operations Occupations | +19% | $94,160 |
| 16 | Hearing Aid Specialists Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations | +18% | $65,160 |
| 17 | Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary Educational Instruction and Library Occupations | +17% | $107,310 |
| 18 | Home Health and Personal Care Aides Healthcare Support Occupations | +17% | $35,800 |
| 19 | Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors Community and Social Service Occupations | +17% | $59,350 |
| 20 | Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary Educational Instruction and Library Occupations | +17% | $80,250 |
| 21 | Logisticians Business and Financial Operations Occupations | +17% | $82,320 |
| 22 | Epidemiologists Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations | +16% | $87,220 |
| 23 | Industrial Machinery Mechanics Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations | +16% | $64,520 |
| 24 | Software Developers Computer and Mathematical Occupations | +16% | $135,980 |
| 25 | Massage Therapists Healthcare Support Occupations | +15% | $58,450 |
| 26 | Computer and Information Systems Managers Management Occupations | +15% | $175,140 |
| 27 | Speech-Language Pathologists Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations | +15% | $97,870 |
| 28 | Cooks, Restaurant Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations | +15% | $37,390 |
| 29 | Financial Managers Management Occupations | +15% | $166,570 |
| 30 | Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations | +15% | $68,020 |
| 31 | Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists Protective Service Occupations | +15% | $56,870 |
| 32 | Occupational Therapists Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations | +14% | $100,330 |
| 33 | Orthotists and Prosthetists Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations | +13% | $81,110 |
| 34 | Diagnostic Medical Sonographers Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations | +13% | $96,590 |
| 35 | Medical Equipment Repairers Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations | +13% | $61,660 |
| 36 | Forensic Science Technicians Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations | +13% | $72,060 |
| 37 | Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers Production Occupations | +13% | $68,120 |
| 38 | Marriage and Family Therapists Community and Social Service Occupations | +13% | $66,940 |
| 39 | Counselors, All Other Community and Social Service Occupations | +13% | $50,860 |
| 40 | Occupational Health and Safety Specialists Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations | +13% | $90,150 |
| 41 | Medical Assistants Healthcare Support Occupations | +13% | $45,690 |
| 42 | Respiratory Therapists Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations | +12% | $82,280 |
| 43 | Animal Caretakers Personal Care and Service Occupations | +12% | $35,360 |
| 44 | Computer Network Architects Computer and Mathematical Occupations | +12% | $134,050 |
| 45 | Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors Personal Care and Service Occupations | +12% | $47,160 |
| 46 | Therapists, All Other Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations | +12% | $77,930 |
| 47 | Recreational Vehicle Service Technicians Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations | +12% | $52,000 |
| 48 | Mechanical Door Repairers Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations | +11% | $55,720 |
| 49 | Community Health Workers Community and Social Service Occupations | +11% | $51,850 |
| 50 | Clinical and Counseling Psychologists Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations | +11% | $100,580 |
Last updated: 2024–2034 projections cycle. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2024-2034.