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 spread shown above is the observed range 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.
Full ranking table
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.
What does it take to make this list?
Where the cutoff sits in this ranking
Published openings/year (k) across 50 occupations on this lens
203 Top 30% higher than 70% of 50 occupations on this list
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more occupations on this list. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Read the chart as text · as of May 2025
| Band | Count | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 81–163 | 30 occupations on this list | 60% |
| 163–246 (this entry) | 8 occupations on this list | 16% |
| 246–328 | 3 occupations on this list | 6% |
| 328–410 | 3 occupations on this list | 6% |
| 410–493 | 2 occupations on this list | 4% |
| 493–575 | 2 occupations on this list | 4% |
| 575–657 | 0 occupations on this list | 0% |
| 657–740 | 0 occupations on this list | 0% |
| 740–822 | 1 occupations on this list | 2% |
| 822 and above | 1 occupations on this list | 2% |
203 · 70th percentile of 50 occupations on this list
Source Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2024-2034 · May 2025
The #15 cutoff is 202.8K, higher than 70% of the 50 occupations published on this ranking lens.
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.
How to read this ranking
Use the ranking to scope a field, then drill into a specific job
- These are occupation medians from the BLS OEWS survey: in each role, half of workers earn more and half earn less. The ranking is a starting point, not your expected pay. Browse occupations
- Pay rank shifts by location. A role near the top nationally can pay very differently in your state or metro, before you even adjust for cost of living. Compare states
- Open any occupation to see its full pay band, percentiles, and outlook, so you read the number in context. All rankings
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.