The United States has the world’s largest economy. It is dynamic and diverse. Some industries rise while others fall, and with them the job market can have ups and downs. Similarly, jobs can become more in high demand or less, and sometimes the in-demand jobs depend on the local economy.
To find the fastest growing job in each state between 2015 and 2020, 24/7 Wall St. used Bureau of Labor Statistics data from its Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics as well as the Employment Projections program. We only used occupations where the relative standard error was smaller than 10% in both years. (This city has the fastest job growth in America.)
The results are very interesting. For example, who would have guessed that New York needs atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, while neighboring New Jersey needs highway maintenance workers. Of course the New Jersey Turnpike is famous enough to have made it into the lyrics of a Simon and Garfunkel song.
Things look very different on the other side of the country. The fastest growing job in California is marriage and family therapist, which suggests not everybody there is California Dreaming. (These are the fastest growing and shrinking clean energy jobs.)
Things are a bit more predictable in the neighboring states of Nevada, where there’s a need for mining machine operators, and Oregon, where forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists are in demand. The former state has the largest mining program in the Bureau of Land Management, while the latter is known for its forestry and logging industry. In fact, forests cover almost half of Oregon’s landmass.
Click here to see fastest growing job in each state
Source: Kruck20 / iStock via Getty Images
Alabama: Property, real estate, and community association managers
> Employment growth, 2015-2020: 328.9%
> Employment, 2020: 1,930 (2015: 450)
> Median annual wages, 2020: $47,430 (2015: $103,810)
> Projected national employment growth 2020-2030: 3.1%
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Source: troutnut / iStock via Getty Images
Alaska: First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers
> Employment growth, 2015-2020: 120.0%
> Employment, 2020: 330 (2015: 150)
> Median annual wages, 2020: $87,590 (2015: $54,160)
> Projected national employment growth 2020-2030: 8.2%
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Source: Davel5957 / iStock via Getty Images
Arizona: Eligibility interviewers, government programs
> Employment growth, 2015-2020: 156.7%
> Employment, 2020: 3,620 (2015: 1,410)
> Median annual wages, 2020: $34,130 (2015: $33,300)
> Projected national employment growth 2020-2030: 3.8%
Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
Arkansas: Statisticians
> Employment growth, 2015-2020: 213.3%
> Employment, 2020: 470 (2015: 150)
> Median annual wages, 2020: $* (2015: $58,080)
> Projected national employment growth 2020-2030: 35.4%
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Source: bluejayphoto / iStock via Getty Images
California: Marriage and family therapists
> Employment growth, 2015-2020: 291.1%
> Employment, 2020: 32,620 (2015: 8,340)
> Median annual wages, 2020: $49,230 (2015: $59,600)
> Projected national employment growth 2020-2030: 16.4%
Source: Kruck20 / iStock via Getty Images
Colorado: Environmental science teachers, postsecondary
> Employment growth, 2015-2020: 216.7%
> Employment, 2020: 190 (2015: 60)
> Median annual wages, 2020: $60,250 (2015: $77,140)
> Projected national employment growth 2020-2030: 6.8%
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Source: SeanPavonePhoto / iStock via Getty Images
Connecticut: Order clerks
> Employment growth, 2015-2020: 225.8%
> Employment, 2020: 5,180 (2015: 1,590)
> Median annual wages, 2020: $36,810 (2015: $36,590)
> Projected national employment growth 2020-2030: -18.2%
Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
Delaware: Social and human service assistants
> Employment growth, 2015-2020: 54.0%
> Employment, 2020: 770 (2015: 500)
> Median annual wages, 2020: $34,730 (2015: $38,510)
> Projected national employment growth 2020-2030: 16.6%
Source: SeanPavonePhoto / iStock via Getty Images
Florida: Education administrators, postsecondary
> Employment growth, 2015-2020: 718.5%
> Employment, 2020: 9,740 (2015: 1,190)
> Median annual wages, 2020: $83,700 (2015: $75,870)
> Projected national employment growth 2020-2030: 7.5%
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Source: Kruck20 / iStock via Getty Images
Georgia: Educational instruction and library workers, all other
> Employment growth, 2015-2020: 802.6%
> Employment, 2020: 10,380 (2015: 1,150)
> Median annual wages, 2020: $24,990 (2015: $28,860)
> Projected national employment growth 2020-2030: 8.0%
Source: okimo / iStock via Getty Images
Hawaii: Production, planning, and expediting clerks
> Employment growth, 2015-2020: 86.5%
> Employment, 2020: 970 (2015: 520)
> Median annual wages, 2020: $53,540 (2015: $72,110)
> Projected national employment growth 2020-2030: 7.6%
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Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
Idaho: Industrial engineering technologists and technicians
> Employment growth, 2015-2020: 142.9%
> Employment, 2020: 340 (2015: 140)
> Median annual wages, 2020: $61,790 (2015: $26,360)
> Projected national employment growth 2020-2030: 4.4%
Source: Gian Lorenzo Ferretti Photography / E+ via Getty Images
Illinois: Fundraisers
> Employment growth, 2015-2020: 116.9%
> Employment, 2020: 2,950 (2015: 1,360)
> Median annual wages, 2020: $57,460 (2015: $28,550)
> Projected national employment growth 2020-2030: 15.9%
Source: Davel5957 / E+ via Getty Images
Indiana: Psychiatric technicians
> Employment growth, 2015-2020: 75.6%
> Employment, 2020: 2,740 (2015: 1,560)
> Median annual wages, 2020: $30,310 (2015: $34,920)
> Projected national employment growth 2020-2030: 12.8%
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Source: pabradyphoto / iStock via Getty Images
Iowa: Legal support workers, all other
> Employment growth, 2015-2020: 240.9%
> Employment, 2020: 750 (2015: 220)
> Median annual wages, 2020: $50,540 (2015: $32,150)
> Projected national employment growth 2020-2030: 0.5%
Source: TriggerPhoto / iStock via Getty Images
Kansas: Bailiffs
> Employment growth, 2015-2020: 875.0%
> Employment, 2020: 390 (2015: 40)
> Median annual wages, 2020: $55,910 (2015: $31,830)
> Projected national employment growth 2020-2030: 0.4%
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Source: alexeys / iStock via Getty Images
Kentucky: Area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary
> Employment growth, 2015-2020: 120.0%
> Employment, 2020: 110 (2015: 50)
> Median annual wages, 2020: $55,790 (2015: $18,380)
> Projected national employment growth 2020-2030: 8.8%
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Source: felixmizioznikov / iStock via Getty Images
Louisiana: Urban and regional planners
> Employment growth, 2015-2020: 188.9%
> Employment, 2020: 260 (2015: 90)
> Median annual wages, 2020: $69,260 (2015: $56,780)
> Projected national employment growth 2020-2030: 6.8%
Source: SeanPavonePhoto / iStock via Getty Images
Maine: Milling and planing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
> Employment growth, 2015-2020: 700.0%
> Employment, 2020: 320 (2015: 40)
> Median annual wages, 2020: $48,550 (2015: $39,410)
> Projected national employment growth 2020-2030: -15.1%
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Source: ChrisBoswell / iStock via Getty Images
Maryland: Bailiffs
> Employment growth, 2015-2020: 307.7%
> Employment, 2020: 530 (2015: 130)
> Median annual wages, 2020: $42,720 (2015: $25,280)
> Projected national employment growth 2020-2030: 0.4%
Source: SeanPavonePhoto / iStock via Getty Images
Massachusetts: Flight attendants
> Employment growth, 2015-2020: 94.7%
> Employment, 2020: 2,920 (2015: 1,500)
> Median annual wages, 2020: $59,720 (2015: $61,350)
> Projected national employment growth 2020-2030: 30.4%
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Source: pawel.gaul / E+ via Getty Images
Michigan: Psychiatric technicians
> Employment growth, 2015-2020: 220.2%
> Employment, 2020: 2,690 (2015: 840)
> Median annual wages, 2020: $33,790 (2015: $30,370)
> Projected national employment growth 2020-2030: 12.8%
Source: Gian Lorenzo Ferretti Photography / E+ via Getty Images
Minnesota: Court, municipal, and license clerks
> Employment growth, 2015-2020: 228.8%
> Employment, 2020: 7,660 (2015: 2,330)
> Median annual wages, 2020: $47,410 (2015: $28,600)
> Projected national employment growth 2020-2030: 5.8%
Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
Mississippi: Market research analysts and marketing specialists
> Employment growth, 2015-2020: 99.2%
> Employment, 2020: 2,410 (2015: 1,210)
> Median annual wages, 2020: $40,160 (2015: $50,690)
> Projected national employment growth 2020-2030: 22.1%
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Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
Missouri: First-line supervisors of correctional officers
> Employment growth, 2015-2020: 361.5%
> Employment, 2020: 600 (2015: 130)
> Median annual wages, 2020: $47,600 (2015: $95,240)
> Projected national employment growth 2020-2030: -2.8%
Source: peeterv / iStock via Getty Images
Montana: Medical secretaries and administrative assistants
> Employment growth, 2015-2020: 116.0%
> Employment, 2020: 3,910 (2015: 1,810)
> Median annual wages, 2020: $32,880 (2015: $27,690)
> Projected national employment growth 2020-2030: 10.6%
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Source: Davel5957 / iStock via Getty Images
Nebraska: Chief executives
> Employment growth, 2015-2020: 150.8%
> Employment, 2020: 1,580 (2015: 630)
> Median annual wages, 2020: $187,180 (2015: $35,520)
> Projected national employment growth 2020-2030: -5.7%
Source: 4kodiak / iStock via Getty Images
Nevada: Continuous mining machine operators
> Employment growth, 2015-2020: 133.3%
> Employment, 2020: 2,730 (2015: 1,170)
> Median annual wages, 2020: $67,130 (2015: $19,710)
> Projected national employment growth 2020-2030: 5.7%
Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
New Hampshire: Packers and packagers, hand
> Employment growth, 2015-2020: 174.3%
> Employment, 2020: 4,170 (2015: 1,520)
> Median annual wages, 2020: $24,210 (2015: $35,240)
> Projected national employment growth 2020-2030: 0.2%
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Source: Ultima_Gaina / iStock via Getty Images
New Jersey: Highway maintenance workers
> Employment growth, 2015-2020: 176.0%
> Employment, 2020: 4,140 (2015: 1,500)
> Median annual wages, 2020: $48,140 (2015: $40,990)
> Projected national employment growth 2020-2030: 6.0%
Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
New Mexico: Judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates
> Employment growth, 2015-2020: 209.1%
> Employment, 2020: 340 (2015: 110)
> Median annual wages, 2020: $96,300 (2015: $173,320)
> Projected national employment growth 2020-2030: 3.4%
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Source: TomasSereda / iStock via Getty Images
New York: Atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary
> Employment growth, 2015-2020: 211.8%
> Employment, 2020: 2,370 (2015: 760)
> Median annual wages, 2020: $108,370 (2015: $59,190)
> Projected national employment growth 2020-2030: 6.4%
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Source: Kruck20 / iStock via Getty Images
North Carolina: Crossing guards and flaggers
> Employment growth, 2015-2020: 261.9%
> Employment, 2020: 1,520 (2015: 420)
> Median annual wages, 2020: $28,100 (2015: $85,660)
> Projected national employment growth 2020-2030: 13.4%
Source: rruntsch / iStock via Getty Images
North Dakota: Health specialties teachers, postsecondary
> Employment growth, 2015-2020: 221.4%
> Employment, 2020: 450 (2015: 140)
> Median annual wages, 2020: $93,580 (2015: $72,700)
> Projected national employment growth 2020-2030: 24.3%
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Source: Nicholas Smith / iStock via Getty Images
Ohio: Conservation scientists
> Employment growth, 2015-2020: 135.3%
> Employment, 2020: 800 (2015: 340)
> Median annual wages, 2020: $56,650 (2015: $39,440)
> Projected national employment growth 2020-2030: 6.1%
Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
Oklahoma: Interviewers, except eligibility and loan
> Employment growth, 2015-2020: 227.5%
> Employment, 2020: 2,260 (2015: 690)
> Median annual wages, 2020: $31,310 (2015: $43,530)
> Projected national employment growth 2020-2030: -6.5%
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Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
Oregon: Forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists
> Employment growth, 2015-2020: 200.0%
> Employment, 2020: 120 (2015: 40)
> Median annual wages, 2020: $56,080 (2015: $42,810)
> Projected national employment growth 2020-2030: 23.9%
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Source: Ultima_Gaina / iStock via Getty Images
Pennsylvania: Nurse practitioners
> Employment growth, 2015-2020: 86.1%
> Employment, 2020: 8,150 (2015: 4,380)
> Median annual wages, 2020: $104,020 (2015: $24,090)
> Projected national employment growth 2020-2030: 52.2%
Source: SeanPavonePhoto / iStock via Getty Images
Rhode Island: Social sciences teachers, postsecondary, all other
> Employment growth, 2015-2020: 275.0%
> Employment, 2020: 150 (2015: 40)
> Median annual wages, 2020: $* (2015: $38,220)
> Projected national employment growth 2020-2030: 4.3%
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Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
South Carolina: Highway maintenance workers
> Employment growth, 2015-2020: 915.4%
> Employment, 2020: 2,640 (2015: 260)
> Median annual wages, 2020: $31,200 (2015: $29,680)
> Projected national employment growth 2020-2030: 6.0%
Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
South Dakota: Shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks
> Employment growth, 2015-2020: 133.3%
> Employment, 2020: 2,310 (2015: 990)
> Median annual wages, 2020: $34,980 (2015: $45,680)
> Projected national employment growth 2020-2030: -5.5%
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Source: WerksMedia / iStock via Getty Images
Tennessee: Fish and game wardens
> Employment growth, 2015-2020: 169.2%
> Employment, 2020: 350 (2015: 130)
> Median annual wages, 2020: $68,470 (2015: $52,460)
> Projected national employment growth 2020-2030: 0.2%
Source: f11photo / iStock via Getty Images
Texas: Sales and related workers, all other
> Employment growth, 2015-2020: 244.1%
> Employment, 2020: 21,060 (2015: 6,120)
> Median annual wages, 2020: $28,830 (2015: $27,670)
> Projected national employment growth 2020-2030: 1.7%
Source: DenisTangneyJr / E+ via Getty Images
Utah: Engineers, all other
> Employment growth, 2015-2020: 200.0%
> Employment, 2020: 1,680 (2015: 560)
> Median annual wages, 2020: $90,900 (2015: $18,090)
> Projected national employment growth 2020-2030: 2.7%
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Source: haveseen / iStock via Getty Images
Vermont: Chief executives
> Employment growth, 2015-2020: 125.0%
> Employment, 2020: 630 (2015: 280)
> Median annual wages, 2020: $131,090 (2015: $52,710)
> Projected national employment growth 2020-2030: -5.7%
Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
Virginia: Architecture teachers, postsecondary
> Employment growth, 2015-2020: 137.5%
> Employment, 2020: 190 (2015: 80)
> Median annual wages, 2020: $84,240 (2015: $36,300)
> Projected national employment growth 2020-2030: 8.3%
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Source: aiisha5 / iStock via Getty Images
Washington: Avionics technicians
> Employment growth, 2015-2020: 168.3%
> Employment, 2020: 3,730 (2015: 1,390)
> Median annual wages, 2020: $92,980 (2015: $23,700)
> Projected national employment growth 2020-2030: 9.7%
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Source: ChrisBoswell / iStock via Getty Images
West Virginia: Psychologists, all other
> Employment growth, 2015-2020: 240.0%
> Employment, 2020: 340 (2015: 100)
> Median annual wages, 2020: $37,430 (2015: $75,750)
> Projected national employment growth 2020-2030: 2.0%
Source: Ron and Patty Thomas / E+ via Getty Images
Wisconsin: Psychiatric technicians
> Employment growth, 2015-2020: 143.2%
> Employment, 2020: 3,600 (2015: 1,480)
> Median annual wages, 2020: $36,690 (2015: $90,830)
> Projected national employment growth 2020-2030: 12.8%
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Source: DenisTangneyJr / E+ via Getty Images
Wyoming: Chemical equipment operators and tenders
> Employment growth, 2015-2020: 287.5%
> Employment, 2020: 310 (2015: 80)
> Median annual wages, 2020: $91,800 (2015: $26,920)
> Projected national employment growth 2020-2030: -5.3%
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