Fastest Growing Jobs (2024-2034)

Occupations with the highest projected employment growth over the next decade, based on BLS Employment Projections.

Best Careers: High Growth + High Pay

Jobs growing fast that also pay well (median above $60K). The sweet spot for career decisions.

#	Occupation	Growth	Median Pay	Openings/yr
1	Nurse Practitioners Master's degree	+40.1%	$132,300	29,500
2	Data Scientists Bachelor's degree	+33.5%	$120,230	23,400
3	Information Security Analysts Bachelor's degree	+28.5%	$129,180	16,000
4	Wind Turbine Service Technicians Postsecondary nondegree award	+49.9%	$64,120	2,300
5	Medical and Health Services Managers Bachelor's degree	+23.2%	$123,860	62,100
6	Actuaries Bachelor's degree	+21.8%	$130,000	2,400
7	Physician Assistants Master's degree	+20.4%	$135,880	12,000
8	Computer and Information Research Scientists Master's degree	+19.7%	$140,300	3,200
9	Computer and Information Systems Managers Bachelor's degree	+15.2%	$175,140	55,600
10	Financial Managers Bachelor's degree	+14.8%	$166,570	74,600
11	Software Developers Bachelor's degree	+15.8%	$135,980	115,200
12	Dermatologists Doctoral or professional degree	+6.4%	$328,730	400
13	Nurse Anesthetists Master's degree	+8.6%	$236,590	2,700
14	Cardiologists Doctoral or professional degree	+4.1%	$496,010	600
15	Operations Research Analysts Bachelor's degree	+21.5%	$88,940	9,600

All Fastest Growing Jobs (by % growth)

575 occupations ranked by projected growth rate. National average growth is +3.1%.

#	Occupation	Growth	Median Pay	Openings/yr	Education
1	Wind Turbine Service Technicians	+49.9%	$64,120	2,300	Postsecondary nondegree award
2	Solar Photovoltaic Installers	+42.1%	$53,140	4,100	High school diploma or equivalent
3	Nurse Practitioners	+40.1%	$132,300	29,500	Master's degree
4	Data Scientists	+33.5%	$120,230	23,400	Bachelor's degree
5	Information Security Analysts	+28.5%	$129,180	16,000	Bachelor's degree
6	Medical and Health Services Managers	+23.2%	$123,860	62,100	Bachelor's degree
7	Physical Therapist Assistants	+22%	$68,380	19,800	Associate's degree
8	Actuaries	+21.8%	$130,000	2,400	Bachelor's degree
9	Operations Research Analysts	+21.5%	$88,940	9,600	Bachelor's degree
10	Physician Assistants	+20.4%	$135,880	12,000	Master's degree
11	Psychiatric Technicians	+20%	$45,130	15,900	Postsecondary nondegree award
12	Ophthalmic Medical Technicians	+19.8%	$45,570	12,500	Postsecondary nondegree award
13	Computer and Information Research Scientists	+19.7%	$140,300	3,200	Master's degree
14	Occupational Therapy Assistants	+19.2%	$72,300	7,200	Associate's degree
15	Financial Examiners	+18.5%	$94,160	5,700	Bachelor's degree
16	Hearing Aid Specialists	+18.4%	$65,160	1,000	High school diploma or equivalent
17	Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary	+17.3%	$107,310	27,400	Doctoral or professional degree
18	Home Health and Personal Care Aides	+17%	$35,800	765,800	High school diploma or equivalent
19	Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary	+16.8%	$80,250	8,600	Doctoral or professional degree
20	Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors	+16.8%	$59,350	48,300	Master's degree
21	Logisticians	+16.7%	$82,320	26,400	Bachelor's degree
22	Epidemiologists	+16.2%	$87,220	800	Master's degree
23	Industrial Machinery Mechanics	+16.1%	$64,520	45,700	High school diploma or equivalent
24	Software Developers	+15.8%	$135,980	115,200	Bachelor's degree
25	Massage Therapists	+15.4%	$58,450	24,700	Postsecondary nondegree award
26	Computer and Information Systems Managers	+15.2%	$175,140	55,600	Bachelor's degree
27	Speech-Language Pathologists	+15%	$97,870	13,300	Master's degree
28	Cooks, Restaurant	+14.9%	$37,390	250,700	No formal educational credential
29	Financial Managers	+14.8%	$166,570	74,600	Bachelor's degree
30	Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars	+14.7%	$68,020	3,200	Associate's degree
31	Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists	+14.6%	$56,870	300	High school diploma or equivalent
32	Occupational Therapists	+13.8%	$100,330	10,200	Master's degree
33	Orthotists and Prosthetists	+13.3%	$81,110	900	Master's degree
34	Diagnostic Medical Sonographers	+13%	$96,590	5,800	Associate's degree
35	Medical Equipment Repairers	+12.9%	$61,660	7,300	Associate's degree
36	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers	+12.8%	$68,120	3,100	Postsecondary nondegree award
37	Forensic Science Technicians	+12.8%	$72,060	2,900	Bachelor's degree
38	Counselors, All Other	+12.6%	$50,860	7,400	Master's degree
39	Marriage and Family Therapists	+12.6%	$66,940	7,700	Master's degree
40	Medical Assistants	+12.5%	$45,690	112,300	Postsecondary nondegree award
41	Occupational Health and Safety Specialists	+12.5%	$90,150	14,900	Bachelor's degree
42	Animal Caretakers	+12.1%	$35,360	74,600	High school diploma or equivalent
43	Respiratory Therapists	+12.1%	$82,280	8,800	Associate's degree
44	Computer Network Architects	+11.9%	$134,050	11,200	Bachelor's degree
45	Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors	+11.9%	$47,160	74,200	High school diploma or equivalent
46	Recreational Vehicle Service Technicians	+11.5%	$52,000	2,800	High school diploma or equivalent
47	Therapists, All Other	+11.5%	$77,930	4,100	Bachelor's degree
48	Mechanical Door Repairers	+11.4%	$55,720	2,700	High school diploma or equivalent
49	Community Health Workers	+11.3%	$51,850	7,800	High school diploma or equivalent
50	Clinical and Counseling Psychologists	+11.2%	$100,580	4,800	Doctoral or professional degree
51	Athletic Trainers	+11.1%	$62,520	2,400	Master's degree
52	Nurse Midwives	+11.1%	$134,040	500	Master's degree
53	Taxi Drivers	+11.1%	$42,100	22,600	No formal educational credential
54	Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service Technicians	+11%	$56,550	3,700	High school diploma or equivalent
55	Industrial Engineers	+11%	$102,440	25,200	Bachelor's degree
56	Physical Therapists	+10.9%	$102,760	13,200	Doctoral or professional degree
57	Semiconductor Processing Technicians	+10.9%	$51,430	3,900	High school diploma or equivalent
58	Training and Development Specialists	+10.8%	$69,280	43,900	Bachelor's degree
59	Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers	+10.4%	$60,070	9,400	High school diploma or equivalent
60	Tile and Stone Setters	+10.1%	$55,690	4,200	No formal educational credential
61	Medical Equipment Preparers	+10%	$47,700	10,900	High school diploma or equivalent
62	Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers	+10%	$104,300	14,000	Bachelor's degree
63	Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers	+9.7%	$60,280	13,500	Master's degree
64	Personal Financial Advisors	+9.6%	$105,070	24,100	Bachelor's degree
65	Veterinarians	+9.6%	$130,100	3,000	Doctoral or professional degree
66	Audiologists	+9.5%	$95,780	700	Doctoral or professional degree
67	Chiropractors	+9.5%	$79,200	2,800	Doctoral or professional degree
68	Electricians	+9.5%	$63,190	81,000	High school diploma or equivalent
69	Exercise Physiologists	+9.5%	$59,460	1,700	Bachelor's degree
70	Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles	+9.5%	$56,460	2,700	No formal educational credential
71	Genetic Counselors	+9.3%	$100,040	300	Master's degree
72	Flight Attendants	+9.2%	$63,580	19,800	High school diploma or equivalent
73	Mechanical Engineers	+9.1%	$104,110	18,100	Bachelor's degree
74	Veterinary Technologists and Technicians	+9.1%	$47,380	14,300	Associate's degree
75	Driver/Sales Workers	+8.8%	$38,770	51,300	High school diploma or equivalent
76	Management Analysts	+8.8%	$101,860	98,100	Bachelor's degree
77	Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes	+8.7%	$82,890	2,200	Bachelor's degree
78	Computer Systems Analysts	+8.7%	$105,850	34,200	Bachelor's degree
79	Construction Managers	+8.7%	$114,990	46,800	Bachelor's degree
80	Database Architects	+8.7%	$139,500	4,000	Bachelor's degree
81	Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists	+8.7%	$103,410	9,600	Doctoral or professional degree
82	Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers	+8.7%	$38,150	22,200	High school diploma or equivalent
83	Nurse Anesthetists	+8.6%	$236,590	2,700	Master's degree
84	Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers	+8.6%	$63,520	1,200	Associate's degree
85	Cargo and Freight Agents	+8.5%	$52,260	8,800	High school diploma or equivalent
86	Commercial Divers	+8.5%	$72,990	400	Postsecondary nondegree award
87	Occupational Health and Safety Technicians	+8.5%	$61,560	3,400	High school diploma or equivalent
88	Statisticians	+8.5%	$105,650	2,000	Master's degree
89	Stockers and Order Fillers	+8.5%	$37,330	472,300	No formal educational credential
90	Avionics Technicians	+8.2%	$82,280	1,800	Postsecondary nondegree award
91	Computer Occupations, All Other	+8.2%	$116,580	31,300	Bachelor's degree
92	Couriers and Messengers	+8.2%	$39,200	27,900	High school diploma or equivalent
93	Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians	+8.1%	$82,890	900	Associate's degree
94	Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary	+8.1%	$109,270	4,100	Doctoral or professional degree
95	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers	+8.1%	$61,010	40,100	Postsecondary nondegree award
96	Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance	+8.1%	$97,150	1,100	Postsecondary nondegree award
97	Tour and Travel Guides	+8.1%	$38,120	13,000	High school diploma or equivalent
98	Optometrists	+8%	$136,570	2,400	Doctoral or professional degree
99	Agricultural Equipment Operators	+7.7%	$41,730	10,500	No formal educational credential
100	Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling	+7.7%	$79,520	5,500	Bachelor's degree

How to use this data

High growth doesn't always mean high pay. A job growing 30% that pays $35K might be less attractive than one growing 10% that pays $120K. Check the “Best Careers” table above for jobs that score well on BOTH growth and salary.

“Annual openings” includes both new positions from growth AND replacements (retirements, people leaving). High openings = easier to find a job.

Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2024-2034. National average growth: +3.1%.