Fastest-growing jobs in Mississippi
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 Mississippi. 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 Mississippi.
#50. Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +12.5% (320 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 2,890
--- Employment in 2022: 2,570
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $45,950
#48. Butchers and meat cutters
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +12.5% (160 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,440
--- Employment in 2022: 1,280
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $28,020
#48. Buyers and purchasing agents
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +12.5% (300 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 2,700
--- Employment in 2022: 2,400
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $59,550
#47. Preschool teachers, except special education
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +12.6% (360 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 3,220
--- Employment in 2022: 2,860
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $26,720
#46. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +13.1% (750 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 6,480
--- Employment in 2022: 5,730
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $64,610
#45. Healthcare social workers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +13.1% (160 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,380
--- Employment in 2022: 1,220
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $53,130
#44. Paramedics
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +13.1% (130 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,120
--- Employment in 2022: 990
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $49,630
#43. Fast food and counter workers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +13.7% (4,120 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 34,110
--- Employment in 2022: 29,990
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $21,610
#42. Stockers and order fillers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +14.2% (3,500 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 28,170
--- Employment in 2022: 24,670
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $33,570
#41. Receptionists and information clerks
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +15.0% (940 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 7,190
--- Employment in 2022: 6,250
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $29,380
#40. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +15.3% (220 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,660
--- Employment in 2022: 1,440
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $21,900
#39. Logisticians
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +15.5% (160 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,190
--- Employment in 2022: 1,030
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $67,980
#38. Interviewers, except eligibility and loan
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +15.6% (280 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 2,080
--- Employment in 2022: 1,800
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $29,640
#37. Cooks, short order
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +15.7% (330 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 2,430
--- Employment in 2022: 2,100
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $25,020
#36. Veterinary technologists and technicians
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +16.1% (140 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,010
--- Employment in 2022: 870
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $35,080
#35. Secretaries and administrative assistants, except legal, medical, and executive
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +16.6% (2,070 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 14,520
--- Employment in 2022: 12,450
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $33,800
#34. Packaging and filling machine operators and tenders
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +17.0% (580 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 3,990
--- Employment in 2022: 3,410
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $34,780
#33. Instructional coordinators
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +17.3% (230 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,560
--- Employment in 2022: 1,330
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $62,430
#32. Painters, construction and maintenance
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +17.4% (150 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,010
--- Employment in 2022: 860
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $38,290
#31. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +17.6% (190 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,270
--- Employment in 2022: 1,080
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $27,360
#30. Computer user support specialists
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +17.7% (470 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 3,130
--- Employment in 2022: 2,660
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $45,030
#29. Coaches and scouts
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +17.9% (250 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,650
--- Employment in 2022: 1,400
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $42,940
#28. Exercise trainers and group fitness instructors
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +18.0% (230 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,510
--- Employment in 2022: 1,280
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $37,420
#27. Highway maintenance workers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +18.4% (560 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 3,600
--- Employment in 2022: 3,040
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $32,240
#26. First-line supervisors of gambling services workers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +18.5% (170 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,090
--- Employment in 2022: 920
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $53,850
#25. Software developers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +18.8% (490 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 3,090
--- Employment in 2022: 2,600
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $85,190
#24. Amusement and recreation attendants
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +19.6% (220 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,340
--- Employment in 2022: 1,120
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $21,780
#23. Chemical equipment operators and tenders
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +19.8% (200 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,210
--- Employment in 2022: 1,010
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $59,580
#22. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +19.8% (490 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 2,960
--- Employment in 2022: 2,470
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $47,340
#21. Computer numerically controlled tool operators
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +20.5% (250 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,470
--- Employment in 2022: 1,220
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $47,230
#20. Bus drivers, school
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +20.8% (690 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 4,010
--- Employment in 2022: 3,320
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $31,200
#19. Insurance claims and policy processing clerks
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +21.4% (270 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,530
--- Employment in 2022: 1,260
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $38,080
#18. Computer network support specialists
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +22.3% (210 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,150
--- Employment in 2022: 940
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $54,120
#17. Training and development specialists
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +22.9% (440 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 2,360
--- Employment in 2022: 1,920
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $51,690
#16. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +23.2% (190 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,010
--- Employment in 2022: 820
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $82,820
#15. Property, real estate, and community association managers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +23.9% (430 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 2,230
--- Employment in 2022: 1,800
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $46,330
#14. Computer occupations, all other
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +24.5% (260 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,320
--- Employment in 2022: 1,060
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $82,830
#12. Bakers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +25.0% (220 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,100
--- Employment in 2022: 880
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $31,090
#12. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +25.0% (350 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,750
--- Employment in 2022: 1,400
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $65,290
#11. Health technologists and technicians, all other
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +25.7% (350 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,710
--- Employment in 2022: 1,360
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $36,510
#10. Project management specialists
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +26.7% (560 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 2,660
--- Employment in 2022: 2,100
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $76,940
#9. Sales managers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +26.9% (350 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,650
--- Employment in 2022: 1,300
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $107,750
#8. Production workers, all other
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +27.8% (320 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,470
--- Employment in 2022: 1,150
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $31,950
#7. Psychiatric aides
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +30.2% (610 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 2,630
--- Employment in 2022: 2,020
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $29,810
#6. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +37.4% (960 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 3,530
--- Employment in 2022: 2,570
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $21,170
#5. Helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +39.7% (290 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,020
--- Employment in 2022: 730
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $31,550
#4. Residential advisors
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +40.3% (310 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,080
--- Employment in 2022: 770
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $42,750
#3. Electrical, electronic, and electromechanical assemblers, except coil winders, tapers, and finishers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +42.0% (1,310 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 4,430
--- Employment in 2022: 3,120
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $36,300
#2. Phlebotomists
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +45.2% (420 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,350
--- Employment in 2022: 930
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $32,780
#1. Eligibility interviewers, government programs
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +75.3% (730 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,700
--- Employment in 2022: 970
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $34,610
This story features data reporting and writing by Wade Zhou and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.
