Fastest-growing jobs in Missouri

Written by:
April 15, 2024
Stacker // Canva

Fastest-growing jobs in Missouri

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 Missouri. 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 Missouri.

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Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

#50. Education administrators, postsecondary

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +29.6% (790 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 3,460
--- Employment in 2022: 2,670
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $102,760

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#49. General and operations managers

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +29.6% (21,720 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 95,120
--- Employment in 2022: 73,400
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $77,030

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Natee K Jindakum // Shutterstock

#48. Financial examiners

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +30.4% (520 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 2,230
--- Employment in 2022: 1,710
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $79,530

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#47. Machine feeders and offbearers

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +31.9% (290 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,200
--- Employment in 2022: 910
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $46,090

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#46. Elementary school teachers, except special education

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +31.9% (7,880 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 32,580
--- Employment in 2022: 24,700
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $49,510

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NDAB Creativity // Shutterstock

#45. Massage therapists

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +33.1% (410 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,650
--- Employment in 2022: 1,240
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $52,770

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Virrage Images // Shutterstock

#44. Motor vehicle operators, all other

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +33.3% (330 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,320
--- Employment in 2022: 990
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $30,480

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#43. Machinists

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +33.4% (1,320 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 5,270
--- Employment in 2022: 3,950
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $48,450

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Ground Picture // Shutterstock

#42. Dietitians and nutritionists

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +33.5% (550 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 2,190
--- Employment in 2022: 1,640
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $57,720

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fizkes // Shutterstock

#41. Compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +34.0% (350 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,380
--- Employment in 2022: 1,030
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $67,830

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LightField Studios // Shutterstock

#40. Emergency medical technicians

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +34.9% (950 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 3,670
--- Employment in 2022: 2,720
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $35,680

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THICHA SATAPITANON // Shutterstock

#39. Financial risk specialists

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +35.9% (280 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,060
--- Employment in 2022: 780
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $83,520

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#38. Sales managers

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +37.6% (1,950 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 7,140
--- Employment in 2022: 5,190
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $111,400

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Dragon Images // Shutterstock

#37. Insurance underwriters

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +37.8% (540 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,970
--- Employment in 2022: 1,430
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $64,580

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#36. Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +39.3% (720 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 2,550
--- Employment in 2022: 1,830
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $26,260

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Dragon Images // Shutterstock

#35. Social and human service assistants

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +39.5% (1,310 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 4,630
--- Employment in 2022: 3,320
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $36,850

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#34. Bartenders

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +39.5% (4,740 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 16,730
--- Employment in 2022: 11,990
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $28,210

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industryviews // Shutterstock

#33. Career/technical education teachers, postsecondary

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +39.6% (400 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,410
--- Employment in 2022: 1,010
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $61,700

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#31. Slaughterers and meat packers

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +40.0% (400 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,400
--- Employment in 2022: 1,000
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $43,430

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Stokkete // Shutterstock

#31. Physician assistants

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +40.0% (440 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,540
--- Employment in 2022: 1,100
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $134,670

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Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

#30. Managers, all other

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +40.7% (2,460 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 8,510
--- Employment in 2022: 6,050
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $106,910

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Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

#29. Database architects

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +40.9% (560 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,930
--- Employment in 2022: 1,370
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $102,810

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fizkes // Shutterstock

#28. Marketing managers

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +41.8% (1,190 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 4,040
--- Employment in 2022: 2,850
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $110,420

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#27. Paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +43.6% (480 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,580
--- Employment in 2022: 1,100
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $58,340

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Alena Veasey // Shutterstock

#26. Cooks, fast food

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +45.1% (13,770 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 44,280
--- Employment in 2022: 30,510
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $28,400

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Martin Smith // Shutterstock

#25. Parking attendants

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +45.2% (470 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,510
--- Employment in 2022: 1,040
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $27,650

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#24. Preschool teachers, except special education

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +46.2% (2,590 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 8,200
--- Employment in 2022: 5,610
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $35,480

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Socrates471 // Shutterstock

#23. Audio and video technicians

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +48.5% (480 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,470
--- Employment in 2022: 990
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $51,300

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Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock

#22. Social and community service managers

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +49.7% (880 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 2,650
--- Employment in 2022: 1,770
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $59,020

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Finist4 // Shutterstock

#21. Manicurists and pedicurists

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +51.2% (440 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,300
--- Employment in 2022: 860
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $33,650

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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#20. Instructional coordinators

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +51.8% (1,170 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 3,430
--- Employment in 2022: 2,260
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $71,330

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Rawpixel.com //Shutterstock

#19. Web and digital interface designers

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +52.8% (380 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,100
--- Employment in 2022: 720
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $72,130

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PIYAWAT WONGOPASS // Shutterstock

#18. Computer programmers

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +53.4% (1,020 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 2,930
--- Employment in 2022: 1,910
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $72,330

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Joseph Sohm // Shutterstock

#17. Umpires, referees, and other sports officials

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +54.5% (360 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,020
--- Employment in 2022: 660
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $42,540

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#16. Magnetic resonance imaging technologists

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +55.7% (490 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,370
--- Employment in 2022: 880
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $79,100

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wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock

#15. Production workers, all other

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +61.3% (3,620 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 9,530
--- Employment in 2022: 5,910
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $36,350

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Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

#14. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +63.0% (2,130 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 5,510
--- Employment in 2022: 3,380
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $82,260

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#13. Tax preparers

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +63.2% (550 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,420
--- Employment in 2022: 870
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $34,360

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VGstockstudio // Shutterstock

#12. Reservation and transportation ticket agents and travel clerks

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +63.5% (660 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,700
--- Employment in 2022: 1,040
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $34,710

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michaeljung // Shutterstock

#11. Power plant operators

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +64.9% (480 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,220
--- Employment in 2022: 740
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $96,490

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#10. Couriers and messengers

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +74.3% (520 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,220
--- Employment in 2022: 700
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $37,500

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NIKCOA // Shutterstock

#9. Medical transcriptionists

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +78.3% (470 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,070
--- Employment in 2022: 600
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $29,890

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manine99 // Shutterstock

#8. Maintenance workers, machinery

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +97.0% (640 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,300
--- Employment in 2022: 660
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $57,880

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DGLimages // Shutterstock

#7. Mental health and substance abuse social workers

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +102.8% (1,480 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 2,920
--- Employment in 2022: 1,440
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $38,150

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Jason Person // Shutterstock

#6. Cooks, short order

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +107.6% (710 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,370
--- Employment in 2022: 660
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $28,630

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Viktoriia Hnatiuk // Shutterstock

#5. Travel agents

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +116.9% (1,040 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,930
--- Employment in 2022: 890
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $46,080

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PR Image Factory // Shutterstock

#4. Operations research analysts

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +122.5% (1,690 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 3,070
--- Employment in 2022: 1,380
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $53,600

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LightField Studios // Shutterstock

#3. Special education teachers, preschool

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +154.7% (990 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,630
--- Employment in 2022: 640
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $58,480

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#2. Continuous mining machine operators

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +230.3% (760 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,090
--- Employment in 2022: 330
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $43,370

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Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

#1. Food processing workers, all other

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +315.6% (1,010 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,330
--- Employment in 2022: 320
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $37,510

This story features data reporting and writing by Wade Zhou and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.

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