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Employment Projections
Bureau of Labor Statistics > Employment Projections > Data

Top skills for fastest growing occupations

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Table 6.3 Top skills for fastest growing occupations and 2024–34 employment projections (Employment in thousands)
2024 National Employment Matrix title 2024 National Employment Matrix code Employment, 2024 Employment, 2034 Employment change, numeric,
2024–34		 Employment change, percent,
2024–34		 Percent self employed, 2024 Occupational openings,
2024–34 annual average		 Median annual wage, dollars, 2024[1] Typical education needed for entry Top highest skill Second highest skill Third highest skill Related Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH) content html

Total, all occupations

 00-0000 169,956.1 175,167.9 5,211.8 3.1 5.8 18,863.3 49,500 — Adaptability Detail oriented Interpersonal —

Wind turbine service technicians

 49-9081 13.6 20.5 6.8 49.9 16.7 2.3 62,580 Postsecondary nondegree award Detail oriented Mechanical Adaptability OOH Content

Solar photovoltaic installers

 47-2231 28.6 40.6 12.0 42.1 — 4.1 51,860 High school diploma or equivalent Detail oriented Adaptability Problem solving and decision making OOH Content

Nurse practitioners

 29-1171 320.4 448.8 128.4 40.1 1.0 29.5 129,210 Master's degree Adaptability Interpersonal Problem solving and decision making OOH Content

Data scientists

 15-2051 245.9 328.3 82.5 33.5 1.8 23.4 112,590 Bachelor's degree Mathematics Computers and information technology Writing and reading OOH Content

Information security analysts

 15-1212 182.8 234.9 52.1 28.5 0.6 16.0 124,910 Bachelor's degree Computers and information technology Adaptability Writing and reading OOH Content

Medical and health services managers

 11-9111 616.2 759.1 142.9 23.2 5.1 62.1 117,960 Bachelor's degree Adaptability Leadership Critical and analytical thinking OOH Content

Physical therapist assistants

 31-2021 111.5 136.0 24.5 22.0 0.7 19.8 65,510 Associate's degree Interpersonal Adaptability Problem solving and decision making OOH Content

Actuaries

 15-2011 33.6 40.9 7.3 21.8 — 2.4 125,770 Bachelor's degree Mathematics Critical and analytical thinking Writing and reading OOH Content

Operations research analysts

 15-2031 112.1 136.2 24.1 21.5 — 9.6 91,290 Bachelor's degree Mathematics Critical and analytical thinking Writing and reading OOH Content

Physician assistants

 29-1071 162.7 195.8 33.2 20.4 1.5 12.0 133,260 Master's degree Adaptability Interpersonal Detail oriented OOH Content

Psychiatric technicians

 29-2053 144.5 173.3 28.9 20.0 — 15.9 42,590 Postsecondary nondegree award Interpersonal Adaptability Writing and reading OOH Content

Ophthalmic medical technicians

 29-2057 78.8 94.4 15.6 19.8 0.7 12.5 44,080 Postsecondary nondegree award Adaptability Detail oriented Interpersonal —

Computer and information research scientists

 15-1221 40.3 48.3 7.9 19.7 0.9 3.2 140,910 Master's degree Computers and information technology Critical and analytical thinking Problem solving and decision making OOH Content

Occupational therapy assistants

 31-2011 49.2 58.7 9.5 19.2 — 7.2 68,340 Associate's degree Interpersonal Adaptability Problem solving and decision making OOH Content

Financial examiners

 13-2061 65.1 77.2 12.1 18.5 0.4 5.7 90,400 Bachelor's degree Critical and analytical thinking Writing and reading Adaptability OOH Content

Hearing aid specialists

 29-2092 10.7 12.6 2.0 18.4 0.5 1.0 61,560 High school diploma or equivalent Adaptability Customer service Interpersonal —

Health specialties teachers, postsecondary

 25-1071 289.6 339.7 50.1 17.3 0.3 27.4 105,620 Doctoral or professional degree Adaptability Writing and reading Speaking and listening OOH Content

Home health and personal care aides

 31-1120 4,347.7 5,087.5 739.8 17.0 2.8 765.8 34,900 High school diploma or equivalent Interpersonal Adaptability Detail oriented OOH Content

Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary

 25-1072 91.6 106.9 15.3 16.8 0.4 8.6 79,940 Doctoral or professional degree Adaptability Interpersonal Writing and reading OOH Content

Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors

 21-1018 483.5 564.6 81.0 16.8 5.9 48.3 59,190 Master's degree Interpersonal Adaptability Writing and reading OOH Content

Logisticians

 13-1081 241.0 281.3 40.3 16.7 0.3 26.4 80,880 Bachelor's degree Adaptability Critical and analytical thinking Problem solving and decision making OOH Content

Epidemiologists

 19-1041 12.3 14.3 2.0 16.2 — 0.8 83,980 Master's degree Writing and reading Critical and analytical thinking Problem solving and decision making OOH Content

Industrial machinery mechanics

 49-9041 439.6 510.3 70.7 16.1 1.7 45.7 63,760 High school diploma or equivalent Fine motor Mechanical Adaptability OOH Content

Software developers

 15-1252 1,693.8 1,961.4 267.7 15.8 1.6 115.2 133,080 Bachelor's degree Computers and information technology Critical and analytical thinking Writing and reading OOH Content

Massage therapists

 31-9011 168.0 193.9 25.9 15.4 41.9 24.7 57,950 Postsecondary nondegree award Interpersonal Adaptability Problem solving and decision making OOH Content

Computer and information systems managers

 11-3021 667.1 768.7 101.6 15.2 0.9 55.6 171,200 Bachelor's degree Computers and information technology Problem solving and decision making Adaptability OOH Content

Speech-language pathologists

 29-1127 187.4 215.5 28.2 15.0 3.3 13.3 95,410 Master's degree Adaptability Interpersonal Writing and reading OOH Content

Cooks, restaurant

 35-2014 1,460.2 1,677.2 217.0 14.9 — 250.7 36,830 No formal educational credential Adaptability Detail oriented Leadership OOH Content

Financial managers

 11-3031 868.6 997.4 128.8 14.8 2.4 74.6 161,700 Bachelor's degree Leadership Adaptability Problem solving and decision making OOH Content

Health information technologists and medical registrars

 29-9021 41.9 48.1 6.2 14.7 7.8 3.2 67,310 Associate's degree Computers and information technology Writing and reading Adaptability OOH Content

Footnotes:

[1] Data are from the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Wage data cover non-farm wage and salary workers and do not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, or household workers.

Note: Data is unavailable for values denoted with a "—".

Source: Employment Projections program, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Last Modified Date: August 28, 2025