Occupation ranking

Occupations with Most Projected Annual Openings

Occupations with the most projected annual openings from growth and occupational separations.

50
Occupations ranked
904.3K
Highest (Openings/Year (K))
81.0K
Lowest in list

This list, in one line

Every occupation on this list projects annual openings of 81.0K or better, led by Fast Food and Counter Workers at 904.3K - 11.2x the #50 cutoff.

904.3K
#1 - Fast Food and Counter Workers
81.0K
#50, the cutoff to make this list

Based on 50 occupations ranked by openings/year (k), BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics / Employment Projections.

This ranking surfaces 50 distinct occupations using the selected measure from Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2024-2034, each scored on the "Openings/Year (K)" dimension. The top-ranked occupation is Fast Food and Counter Workers at 904.3K, versus 81.0K at rank 50. This is the observed spread in the selected published measure and does not establish its causes. Every row links to the occupation's national profile with state and local-area wage breakdowns.

BLS projected annual openings combine openings from employment growth with openings created when workers permanently leave an occupation, either by exiting the labor force or transferring to another occupation. The measure is an annual average projection, not a live vacancy count or a probability that one applicant will be hired.

The values are published BLS estimates from the program named above, not job-board averages. Wage rankings use OEWS; growth, openings, and typical-entry education assignments use Employment Projections. Occupation profiles show OEWS wage percentiles and local-area estimates where published, plus BLS education assignments and projections where available. See our methodology for the source and field definitions.

Occupations with Most Projected Annual Openings

Projected annual openings (thousands) - top 15

K openings / yr
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS / Employment Projections As of May 2025

Full ranking table

# Occupation Openings/Year (K)
1 Fast Food and Counter Workers 904.3K
2 Home Health and Personal Care Aides 765.8K
3 Retail Salespersons 555.8K
4 Cashiers 542.6K
5 Stockers and Order Fillers 472.3K
6 Waiters and Waitresses 456.7K
7 Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand 384.3K
8 Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners 351.3K
9 Customer Service Representatives 341.7K
10 General and Operations Managers 308.7K
11 Office Clerks, General 282.4K
12 Cooks, Restaurant 250.7K
13 Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers 237.6K
14 Nursing Assistants 204.1K
15 Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive 202.8K
16 Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners 193.5K
17 Registered Nurses 189.1K
18 First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers 183.9K
19 Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary 170.4K
20 Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks 170.0K
21 Security Guards 161.0K
22 Childcare Workers 160.2K
23 Maintenance and Repair Workers, General 159.8K
24 Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers 158.2K
25 Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators 156.3K
26 Food Preparation Workers 148.0K
27 First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers 144.5K
28 Bartenders 129.6K
29 Construction Laborers 129.4K
30 Receptionists and Information Clerks 128.5K
31 First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers 125.1K
32 Accountants and Auditors 124.2K
33 Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel 123.0K
34 Light Truck Drivers 120.2K
35 Software Developers 115.2K
36 Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products 114.8K
37 Medical Assistants 112.3K
38 Business Operations Specialists, All Other 108.2K
39 Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop 107.7K
40 Managers, All Other 106.7K
41 Amusement and Recreation Attendants 102.4K
42 Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers 99.6K
43 Management Analysts 98.1K
44 Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education 91.0K
45 Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists 87.2K
46 Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants 85.9K
47 Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers 85.5K
48 Cooks, Fast Food 82.1K
49 Human Resources Specialists 81.8K
50 Electricians 81.0K

Last updated: May 2025. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2024-2034.

Percentile bands and state/local-area breakouts use BLS OEWS State and Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, May 2025.

How this list is computed: every detailed SOC occupation with a published "Openings/Year (K)" value in the BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 release is ranked directly on that value, with no editorial weighting or WageDex-imputed fill-ins for suppressed cells. The source values themselves are BLS estimates; occupations without a published value are absent.

Frequently Asked Questions

What counts as an annual opening?

BLS defines projected openings as openings from occupation growth plus separations when workers permanently leave the occupation by transferring to another occupation or exiting the labor force. The published value is an annual average for 2024–2034.

Does this ranking show current vacancies or turnover rates?

No. It shows projected annual openings under the BLS Employment Projections model. It does not publish a live vacancy count or an annual turnover percentage on this page.

Related Rankings & Nearby Pages

Jump to another ranking lens, explore the top-ranked occupation, or compare roles side-by-side.

Highest Paying Lowest Paying Fastest Growing Largest Employment Highest Hourly Fast Food and Counter Workers →
Compare Fast Food and Counter Workers side-by-side with another occupation →
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Estimates reflect the BLS May 2025 reference period and exclude self-employed workers; some small occupation-area cells are suppressed.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OES Occupational wage estimates by area and industry · 2025

Source data and WageDex calculations are identified in context on this page. Each ranking labels its BLS source in context: OEWS May 2025 for wage rankings and Employment Projections 2024–2034 for growth and openings rankings. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.

This ranking is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. National rankings reflect aggregate BLS figures and may not represent a specific employer's actual pay, consult a qualified career counselor or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.