Fastest-growing jobs in Kentucky
With the country eager to put the pandemic firmly in the rear-view mirror, the American economy continued to boom in 2023. The national unemployment rate remained around 3.6%, while the total number of people employed grew to roughly 152 million, up from 148 million in 2022.
The economy has seen several significant changes in recent years. Many people are leaving expensive coastal states such as California and New York and moving to more affordable places in the Mountain West region and the South, buoyed by companies that have embraced remote work. What's more, in a reversal of past trends, wages grew the fastest for lower-earning workers.
Stacker analyzed jobs data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics to determine the fastest-growing jobs in Kentucky. Occupations were ranked by the percentage increase in employment between 2022 and 2023. 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 Kentucky.
#50. Court, municipal, and license clerks
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +19.6% (540 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 3,300
--- Employment in 2022: 2,760
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $37,440
#49. Residential advisors
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +20.4% (410 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 2,420
--- Employment in 2022: 2,010
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $26,870
#48. Computer network architects
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +20.4% (190 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,120
--- Employment in 2022: 930
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $102,780
#47. Amusement and recreation attendants
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +21.6% (460 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 2,590
--- Employment in 2022: 2,130
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $22,770
#46. Animal caretakers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +22.5% (1,320 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 7,180
--- Employment in 2022: 5,860
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $29,370
#45. Customer service representatives
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +22.6% (8,110 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 43,940
--- Employment in 2022: 35,830
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $36,330
#44. Interviewers, except eligibility and loan
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +22.7% (340 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,840
--- Employment in 2022: 1,500
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $37,170
#43. Captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +23.0% (290 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,550
--- Employment in 2022: 1,260
--- Median annual salary in 2023: Data unavailable
#42. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +23.1% (770 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 4,100
--- Employment in 2022: 3,330
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $70,380
#41. Automotive service technicians and mechanics
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +23.1% (1,990 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 10,590
--- Employment in 2022: 8,600
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $38,080
#40. Sewing machine operators
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +23.4% (460 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 2,430
--- Employment in 2022: 1,970
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $26,510
#39. Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +24.0% (1,260 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 6,500
--- Employment in 2022: 5,240
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $50,540
#38. Eligibility interviewers, government programs
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +24.8% (300 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,510
--- Employment in 2022: 1,210
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $47,760
#37. Management analysts
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +25.1% (850 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 4,230
--- Employment in 2022: 3,380
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $82,130
#36. Paramedics
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +25.3% (480 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 2,380
--- Employment in 2022: 1,900
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $51,790
#35. Training and development specialists
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +26.5% (980 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 4,680
--- Employment in 2022: 3,700
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $55,030
#34. Dental assistants
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +29.5% (980 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 4,300
--- Employment in 2022: 3,320
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $38,530
#33. Correctional officers and jailers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +30.8% (1,490 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 6,330
--- Employment in 2022: 4,840
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $36,940
#32. Electrical engineers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +31.7% (450 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,870
--- Employment in 2022: 1,420
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $83,190
#31. Billing and posting clerks
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +32.5% (1,600 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 6,530
--- Employment in 2022: 4,930
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $38,470
#30. Computer numerically controlled tool operators
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +32.5% (510 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 2,080
--- Employment in 2022: 1,570
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $47,410
#29. Food batchmakers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +32.6% (910 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 3,700
--- Employment in 2022: 2,790
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $44,340
#28. Welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +34.1% (780 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 3,070
--- Employment in 2022: 2,290
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $51,830
#27. Self-enrichment teachers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +34.9% (450 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,740
--- Employment in 2022: 1,290
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $37,300
#26. First-line supervisors of entertainment and recreation workers, except gambling services
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +35.6% (320 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,220
--- Employment in 2022: 900
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $41,170
#25. Chefs and head cooks
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +37.6% (560 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 2,050
--- Employment in 2022: 1,490
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $36,770
#24. Preschool teachers, except special education
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +38.2% (1,040 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 3,760
--- Employment in 2022: 2,720
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $33,940
#23. Cutting and slicing machine setters, operators, and tenders
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +38.5% (300 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,080
--- Employment in 2022: 780
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $40,900
#22. Paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +40.7% (590 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 2,040
--- Employment in 2022: 1,450
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $50,980
#21. Extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +41.8% (380 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,290
--- Employment in 2022: 910
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $41,690
#20. Meeting, convention, and event planners
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +42.7% (320 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,070
--- Employment in 2022: 750
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $45,660
#19. Automotive body and related repairers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +43.8% (560 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,840
--- Employment in 2022: 1,280
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $47,160
#18. Insurance claims and policy processing clerks
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +47.8% (990 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 3,060
--- Employment in 2022: 2,070
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $46,560
#17. Information security analysts
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +49.6% (600 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,810
--- Employment in 2022: 1,210
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $92,580
#16. Mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenders
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +50.8% (630 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,870
--- Employment in 2022: 1,240
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $47,010
#15. Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +52.3% (450 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,310
--- Employment in 2022: 860
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $23,270
#14. Financial and investment analysts
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +52.9% (810 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 2,340
--- Employment in 2022: 1,530
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $61,590
#13. Health information technologists and medical registrars
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +59.7% (460 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,230
--- Employment in 2022: 770
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $55,350
#12. Ophthalmic medical technicians
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +59.8% (610 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,630
--- Employment in 2022: 1,020
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $37,010
#11. Food service managers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +65.7% (880 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 2,220
--- Employment in 2022: 1,340
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $61,260
#10. Multiple machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +68.3% (1,680 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 4,140
--- Employment in 2022: 2,460
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $45,410
#9. Health specialties teachers, postsecondary
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +69.2% (540 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,320
--- Employment in 2022: 780
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $82,420
#8. Engine and other machine assemblers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +69.3% (1,240 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 3,030
--- Employment in 2022: 1,790
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $45,870
#7. Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +71.6% (530 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,270
--- Employment in 2022: 740
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $78,190
#6. Architectural and civil drafters
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +73.0% (460 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,090
--- Employment in 2022: 630
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $53,760
#5. Postsecondary teachers, all other
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +81.7% (1,870 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 4,160
--- Employment in 2022: 2,290
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $77,640
#4. Fast food and counter workers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +101.3% (21,710 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 43,150
--- Employment in 2022: 21,440
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $23,510
#3. Bakers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +128.2% (1,000 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,780
--- Employment in 2022: 780
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $33,350
#2. Molders, shapers, and casters, except metal and plastic
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +172.7% (950 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,500
--- Employment in 2022: 550
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $38,010
#1. Cooks, short order
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +480.0% (1,200 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,450
--- Employment in 2022: 250
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $30,880
This story features data reporting and writing by Wade Zhou and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.
