Fastest-growing jobs in Louisiana
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 Louisiana. 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 Louisiana.
#50. Food processing workers, all other
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +17.5% (430 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 2,890
--- Employment in 2022: 2,460
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $29,310
#49. Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +20.0% (7,500 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 45,040
--- Employment in 2022: 37,540
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $31,990
#48. Mental health and substance abuse social workers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +20.2% (180 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,070
--- Employment in 2022: 890
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $44,300
#47. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +20.5% (240 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,410
--- Employment in 2022: 1,170
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $73,090
#46. Self-enrichment teachers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +20.5% (300 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,760
--- Employment in 2022: 1,460
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $36,800
#45. Parking attendants
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +20.9% (280 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,620
--- Employment in 2022: 1,340
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $24,030
#44. Special education teachers, all other
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +20.9% (180 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,040
--- Employment in 2022: 860
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $59,090
#43. Administrative services managers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +21.8% (490 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 2,740
--- Employment in 2022: 2,250
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $87,200
#42. Medical secretaries and administrative assistants
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +22.3% (400 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 2,190
--- Employment in 2022: 1,790
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $34,450
#41. Civil engineers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +23.1% (550 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 2,930
--- Employment in 2022: 2,380
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $105,830
#40. Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +23.2% (910 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 4,830
--- Employment in 2022: 3,920
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $53,660
#39. Correctional officers and jailers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +23.7% (1,330 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 6,950
--- Employment in 2022: 5,620
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $39,420
#38. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +23.9% (330 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,710
--- Employment in 2022: 1,380
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $87,920
#37. Project management specialists
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +24.3% (1,170 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 5,990
--- Employment in 2022: 4,820
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $79,280
#36. Office and administrative support workers, all other
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +25.1% (980 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 4,880
--- Employment in 2022: 3,900
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $41,880
#35. Multiple machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +25.3% (210 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,040
--- Employment in 2022: 830
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $51,170
#34. Educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +25.7% (1,270 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 6,210
--- Employment in 2022: 4,940
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $64,440
#33. Packaging and filling machine operators and tenders
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +26.1% (310 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,500
--- Employment in 2022: 1,190
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $34,800
#32. Financial and investment analysts
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +26.9% (360 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,700
--- Employment in 2022: 1,340
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $52,010
#31. Psychiatric technicians
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +27.2% (340 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,590
--- Employment in 2022: 1,250
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $29,780
#30. Roustabouts, oil and gas
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +27.6% (600 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 2,770
--- Employment in 2022: 2,170
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $44,250
#29. Food service managers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +28.7% (410 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,840
--- Employment in 2022: 1,430
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $59,200
#28. Cooks, short order
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +29.5% (1,140 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 5,000
--- Employment in 2022: 3,860
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $22,900
#27. Coaches and scouts
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +30.1% (550 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 2,380
--- Employment in 2022: 1,830
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $45,290
#26. Paramedics
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +30.4% (450 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,930
--- Employment in 2022: 1,480
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $53,370
#25. Legal support workers, all other
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +35.1% (270 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,040
--- Employment in 2022: 770
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $53,440
#24. Software developers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +35.2% (1,030 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 3,960
--- Employment in 2022: 2,930
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $104,840
#23. Chemical plant and system operators
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +35.2% (1,110 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 4,260
--- Employment in 2022: 3,150
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $95,120
#22. Fast food and counter workers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +38.6% (10,750 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 38,580
--- Employment in 2022: 27,830
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $22,340
#21. Financial clerks, all other
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +40.5% (340 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,180
--- Employment in 2022: 840
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $38,360
#20. Environmental scientists and specialists, including health
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +42.1% (400 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,350
--- Employment in 2022: 950
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $67,000
#19. Tax preparers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +42.5% (310 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,040
--- Employment in 2022: 730
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $36,450
#18. Service unit operators, oil and gas
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +45.7% (1,000 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 3,190
--- Employment in 2022: 2,190
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $60,600
#17. Dentists, general
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +46.7% (430 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,350
--- Employment in 2022: 920
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $159,460
#16. Computer programmers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +47.4% (540 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,680
--- Employment in 2022: 1,140
--- Median annual salary in 2023: Data unavailable
#15. Pharmacy aides
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +51.2% (420 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,240
--- Employment in 2022: 820
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $28,000
#14. Life, physical, and social science technicians, all other
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +51.4% (570 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,680
--- Employment in 2022: 1,110
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $46,720
#13. Protective service workers, all other
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +57.9% (880 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 2,400
--- Employment in 2022: 1,520
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $36,400
#12. Health specialties teachers, postsecondary
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +62.4% (880 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 2,290
--- Employment in 2022: 1,410
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $81,010
#11. Architectural and civil drafters
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +65.8% (520 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,310
--- Employment in 2022: 790
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $74,030
#10. Structural metal fabricators and fitters
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +66.3% (550 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,380
--- Employment in 2022: 830
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $52,990
#9. Chemical equipment operators and tenders
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +66.4% (2,210 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 5,540
--- Employment in 2022: 3,330
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $80,840
#8. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +77.8% (560 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,280
--- Employment in 2022: 720
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $67,810
#7. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +85.1% (2,460 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 5,350
--- Employment in 2022: 2,890
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $59,640
#6. Amusement and recreation attendants
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +95.9% (930 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,900
--- Employment in 2022: 970
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $22,620
#5. Eligibility interviewers, government programs
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +118.0% (590 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,090
--- Employment in 2022: 500
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $41,600
#4. Real estate sales agents
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +123.3% (1,110 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 2,010
--- Employment in 2022: 900
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $39,570
#3. Hazardous materials removal workers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +186.1% (670 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,030
--- Employment in 2022: 360
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $36,260
#2. Substitute teachers, short-term
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +188.9% (680 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,040
--- Employment in 2022: 360
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $28,470
#1. Bus drivers, transit and intercity
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +203.2% (1,260 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,880
--- Employment in 2022: 620
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $46,070
This story features data reporting and writing by Wade Zhou and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.
