Pressmaster // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Public Relations Specialists
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +14.6% (380 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,980
--- Employment in 2023: 2,600
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $59,490
Fastest-growing jobs in Iowa
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis revealed that, as of September 2025, the national hiring rate has reached a decade low, with the exception of the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Associated Press reports that several factors have contributed to this, including the impact of the eleven interest rate hikes that occurred in 2022 and 2023 and the dozens of tariffs enacted by President Donald Trump since the beginning of the year.
Economists generally agree that the long-run breakeven employment growth rate (or the rate at which new jobs need to be added to keep up with population growth) is somewhere between 70,000 and 90,000 jobs per month. However, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in August 2025, just 22,000 new jobs were added. June and July saw a combined 87,000 new jobs added to the workforce.
Those numbers are bleak, to be sure, but not all employment news is bad. Certain sectors, like health care and social services, continue to see rapid growth. The Bureau of Labor Statistics said average hourly earnings for all employees are also up by 3.7% over the past 12 months. The total number of hours worked per week has been edging down for all employees, providing opportunities for much-needed work-life balance.
The employment story also looks quite different from state to state. Some places, like Utah, New Mexico, Hawai'i, and Idaho, are seeing high-percentage job growth year over year; others, like Washington D.C., Iowa, and Kansas, have actually seen a shrinkage in the overall number of job openings.
Using BLS jobs data, Stacker determined the fastest-growing jobs in Iowa. Occupations were ranked by the percentage increase in employment between 2023 and 2024. Jobs were excluded from the ranking if they had fewer than 1,000 people working in them in the state.
Keep reading to learn which jobs are growing the fastest in Iowa.
You may also like: Best public middle schools in Iowa
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Personal Financial Advisors
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +15.9% (330 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,400
--- Employment in 2023: 2,070
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $81,790
zhu difeng // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +15.9% (290 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,110
--- Employment in 2023: 1,820
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $36,830
SviatlanaLaza // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Packers and Packagers, Hand
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +16.0% (580 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 4,200
--- Employment in 2023: 3,620
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $35,650
DuxX // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Butchers and Meat Cutters
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +16.0% (570 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 4,130
--- Employment in 2023: 3,560
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $36,600
You may also like: Best counties to raise a family in Iowa
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Computer Network Support Specialists
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +16.1% (280 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,020
--- Employment in 2023: 1,740
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $63,560
Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Recreation Workers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +16.3% (360 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,570
--- Employment in 2023: 2,210
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $30,460
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Computer Network Architects
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +16.5% (170 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,200
--- Employment in 2023: 1,030
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $107,060
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Electrical Engineers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +16.8% (180 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,250
--- Employment in 2023: 1,070
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $107,270
Zivica Kerkez // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Veterinarians
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +16.8% (170 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,180
--- Employment in 2023: 1,010
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $100,910
You may also like: Coldest Octobers in Iowa since 1895
Photographee.eu // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Rehabilitation Counselors
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +17.0% (300 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,060
--- Employment in 2023: 1,760
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $38,130
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Postsecondary Teachers, All Other
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +17.0% (230 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,580
--- Employment in 2023: 1,350
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $52,250
Kzenon // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Self-Enrichment Teachers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +17.4% (450 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 3,040
--- Employment in 2023: 2,590
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $37,590
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Library Assistants, Clerical
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +17.7% (230 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,530
--- Employment in 2023: 1,300
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $28,700
New Africa // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +18.1% (340 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,220
--- Employment in 2023: 1,880
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $45,240
You may also like: Cities with the most expensive homes in Iowa
Rawpixel.com //Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +18.3% (170 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,100
--- Employment in 2023: 930
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $46,320
antoniodiaz // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Gambling Dealers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +18.6% (160 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,020
--- Employment in 2023: 860
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $22,900
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Managers, All Other
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +19.1% (540 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 3,360
--- Employment in 2023: 2,820
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $127,680
Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +19.4% (200 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,230
--- Employment in 2023: 1,030
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $51,870
Etaphop photo // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Electricians
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +19.5% (1,450 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 8,900
--- Employment in 2023: 7,450
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $62,880
You may also like: Highest-rated Class of 2026 football recruits from Iowa
Kmpzzz // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Construction and Building Inspectors
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +21.2% (220 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,260
--- Employment in 2023: 1,040
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $63,830
Pakorn Khantiyaporn // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Logisticians
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +22.2% (430 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,370
--- Employment in 2023: 1,940
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $79,730
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Office and Administrative Support Workers, All Other
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +22.4% (450 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,460
--- Employment in 2023: 2,010
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $49,500
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +23.0% (260 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,390
--- Employment in 2023: 1,130
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $85,010
Lee Charlie // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Court, Municipal, and License Clerks
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +23.1% (450 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,400
--- Employment in 2023: 1,950
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $48,710
You may also like: Counties with the most veterans in Iowa
APChanel // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +24.1% (210 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,080
--- Employment in 2023: 870
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $76,640
Vera Larina // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Sheet Metal Workers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +24.2% (310 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,590
--- Employment in 2023: 1,280
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $61,620
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +25.3% (250 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,240
--- Employment in 2023: 990
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $49,990
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +26.1% (240 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,160
--- Employment in 2023: 920
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $41,080
RossHelen // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +26.9% (250 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,180
--- Employment in 2023: 930
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $48,950
You may also like: Highest-rated beer in Iowa
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +27.1% (450 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,110
--- Employment in 2023: 1,660
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $60,600
DGLimages // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +27.3% (270 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,260
--- Employment in 2023: 990
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $50,340
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +27.6% (450 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,080
--- Employment in 2023: 1,630
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $55,030
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Food Service Managers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +32.4% (350 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,430
--- Employment in 2023: 1,080
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $65,600
Dragon Images // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +33.0% (300 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,210
--- Employment in 2023: 910
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $52,890
You may also like: The 30 cities in Iowa where homes are selling the fastest
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Interviewers, Except Eligibility and Loan
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +34.3% (490 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,920
--- Employment in 2023: 1,430
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $38,360
Roschetzky Photography // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +35.1% (260 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,000
--- Employment in 2023: 740
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $45,910
Oleksandr Berezko // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Painters, Construction and Maintenance
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +35.2% (450 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,730
--- Employment in 2023: 1,280
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $48,780
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Production Workers, All Other
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +39.4% (1,260 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 4,460
--- Employment in 2023: 3,200
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $46,380
VGstockstudio // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Food Servers, Nonrestaurant
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +44.1% (1,580 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 5,160
--- Employment in 2023: 3,580
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $29,270
You may also like: Hottest Januarys in Iowa since 1895
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +49.2% (650 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,970
--- Employment in 2023: 1,320
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $40,110
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Special Education Teachers, Middle School
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +50.0% (350 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,050
--- Employment in 2023: 700
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $59,490
Martin Smith // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Parking Attendants
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +60.8% (480 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,270
--- Employment in 2023: 790
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $29,300
evgenii mitroshin // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +78.8% (1,450 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 3,290
--- Employment in 2023: 1,840
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $44,390
APChanel // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Locomotive Engineers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +83.1% (690 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,520
--- Employment in 2023: 830
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $87,550
You may also like: Counties with the oldest homes in Iowa
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All Other
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +108.1% (670 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,290
--- Employment in 2023: 620
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $46,810
Atstock Productions // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Telemarketers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +126.5% (1,050 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,880
--- Employment in 2023: 830
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $29,060
Nikita M production // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +149.4% (1,180 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,970
--- Employment in 2023: 790
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $60,210
Alena Veasey // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Cooks, Fast Food
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +174.4% (3,750 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 5,900
--- Employment in 2023: 2,150
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $28,770
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Engineers, All Other
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +190.5% (800 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,220
--- Employment in 2023: 420
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $100,200
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Madison Troyer, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 51 states.
You may also like: Best NFL players born in Iowa
