The Fastest-Growing Jobs in the U.S. in the Next Decade
Which jobs will add the most openings over the next decade? This analysis uses data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to forecast the fastest-growing jobs in the U.S. through 2034, revealing surprising trends in healthcare, technology, and management roles.
Key Takeaways
- Care roles dominate job growth, with home health and personal care aides set to add nearly 740,000 jobs by 2034.
- Tech jobs offer the best growth-pay mix, led by software developers adding 268,000 roles at $133K median pay.
- Management roles pay the most, with computer and information systems managers earning $171K while adding 100K+ jobs.
Data on the Fastest-Growing Jobs to 2034
As the U.S. population continues to age, home health and personal care aides are the fastest-growing profession by far. In the span of a decade, there will be a whopping 739,800 new positions in this field added nationwide. However, it’s worth mentioning that these jobs have one of the lowest median salaries on the list at under $35,000 per year.
| Rank | Occupation | Projected New Jobs | Median Annual Pay (2024) | |------|------------|---------------------|--------------------------| | 1 | Home health and personal care aides | 739.8K | $34.9K | | 2 | Software developers | 267.7K | $133.1K | | 3 | Stockers and order fillers | 235.0K | $37.1K | | 4 | Fast food and counter workers | 233.2K | $30.5K | | 5 | Cooks, restaurant | 217.0K | $36.8K | | 6 | Registered nurses | 166.1K | $93.6K | | 7 | General and operations managers | 164.0K | $103.0K | | 8 | Medical and health services managers | 142.9K | $118.0K | | 9 | Financial managers | 128.8K | $161.7K | | 10 | Nurse practitioners | 128.4K | $129.2K | | 11 | Construction laborers | 106.5K | $46.7K | | 12 | Computer and information systems managers | 101.6K | $171.2K | | 13 | Medical assistants | 101.2K | $44.2K | | 14 | Management analysts | 94.5K | $101.2K | | 15 | Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers | 89.3K | $57.4K | | 16 | Data scientists | 82.5K | $112.6K | | 17 | Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors | 81.0K | $59.2K | | 18 | Light truck drivers | 78.9K | $44.1K | | 19 | Electricians | 77.4K | $62.4K | | 20 | First-line supervisors of food preparation and serving workers | 73.0K | $42.0K |
Tech careers, such as software developers and computer and information systems managers, also feature strongly in the mix, though it’s arguable that AI could impact some of these fields tremendously. Big tech companies famously slowed the hiring of developers in 2025.
Finally, it’s worth noting that there are some well-paying careers that make the list. In terms of jobs with median earnings well over $100,000 per year, there are a few roles that hit the spot: data scientists ($112.6K), software developers ($133.1K), computer and information systems managers ($171.2K), financial managers ($161.7K), and nurse practitioners ($129.2K) are just a few that stand out.
Understanding the Trends
The data reveals a clear divide between high-growth, lower-paying care roles and high-paying, tech-focused positions. While home health aides lead in sheer numbers, tech and management roles offer the best combination of growth and compensation. This information can help job seekers and career changers make informed decisions about where to focus their efforts in the coming years.
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