Dragon Images // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +18.2% (180 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,170
--- Employment in 2023: 990
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $48,590
Fastest-growing jobs in Alabama
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 Alabama. 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 Alabama.
Nejron Photo // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +18.4% (1,080 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 6,940
--- Employment in 2023: 5,860
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $31,180
guruXOX // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Producers and Directors
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +18.4% (160 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,030
--- Employment in 2023: 870
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $63,920
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Teachers and Instructors, All Other
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +18.9% (310 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,950
--- Employment in 2023: 1,640
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $63,350
Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +18.9% (550 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 3,460
--- Employment in 2023: 2,910
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $56,190
fizkes // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +19.2% (190 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,180
--- Employment in 2023: 990
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $52,470
dokurose // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Sales Managers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +20.0% (730 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 4,380
--- Employment in 2023: 3,650
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $108,740
santypan // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Bartenders
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +20.1% (980 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 5,850
--- Employment in 2023: 4,870
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $22,670
Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Amusement and Recreation Attendants
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +20.3% (1,130 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 6,690
--- Employment in 2023: 5,560
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $21,930
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +21.6% (1,560 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 8,780
--- Employment in 2023: 7,220
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $55,390
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +21.7% (260 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,460
--- Employment in 2023: 1,200
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $65,750
Lopolo // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +23.4% (2,080 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 10,950
--- Employment in 2023: 8,870
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $59,900
Undrey // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Financial and Investment Analysts
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +23.6% (530 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,780
--- Employment in 2023: 2,250
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $94,660
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +24.1% (210 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,080
--- Employment in 2023: 870
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $21,570
Avatar_023 // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +24.5% (580 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,950
--- Employment in 2023: 2,370
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $48,730
BalanceFormCreative // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Information Security Analysts
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +25.1% (660 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 3,290
--- Employment in 2023: 2,630
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $111,110
Alba_alioth // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +25.5% (1,260 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 6,200
--- Employment in 2023: 4,940
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $37,000
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +25.7% (520 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,540
--- Employment in 2023: 2,020
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $37,850
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Paramedics
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +26.0% (390 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,890
--- Employment in 2023: 1,500
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $45,020
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Food Service Managers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +26.9% (1,080 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 5,090
--- Employment in 2023: 4,010
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $59,920
anyaivanova // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +27.5% (420 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,950
--- Employment in 2023: 1,530
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $78,520
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Physical Therapist Assistants
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +28.1% (560 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,550
--- Employment in 2023: 1,990
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $60,890
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Librarians and Media Collections Specialists
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +28.3% (720 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 3,260
--- Employment in 2023: 2,540
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $62,240
M2020 // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Helpers--Electricians
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +28.3% (490 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,220
--- Employment in 2023: 1,730
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $35,860
DC Studio // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Database Administrators
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +28.4% (440 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,990
--- Employment in 2023: 1,550
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $88,560
Standret // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Counter and Rental Clerks
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +29.1% (1,680 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 7,460
--- Employment in 2023: 5,780
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $30,750
VGstockstudio // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Food Servers, Nonrestaurant
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +29.4% (740 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 3,260
--- Employment in 2023: 2,520
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $27,810
Paul.J.West // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +29.9% (2,300 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 10,000
--- Employment in 2023: 7,700
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $22,790
Hitdelight // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Architectural and Civil Drafters
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +31.1% (320 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,350
--- Employment in 2023: 1,030
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $56,030
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Instructional Coordinators
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +31.2% (480 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,020
--- Employment in 2023: 1,540
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $65,880
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +31.6% (300 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,250
--- Employment in 2023: 950
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $46,230
N_Sakarin // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Structural Iron and Steel Workers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +31.8% (280 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,160
--- Employment in 2023: 880
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $51,410
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Computer Network Support Specialists
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +32.5% (250 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,020
--- Employment in 2023: 770
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $58,740
Kzenon // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Self-Enrichment Teachers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +35.6% (630 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,400
--- Employment in 2023: 1,770
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $37,200
fizkes // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +35.9% (280 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,060
--- Employment in 2023: 780
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $56,720
brizmaker // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Roofers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +36.5% (270 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,010
--- Employment in 2023: 740
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $45,220
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +36.9% (520 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,930
--- Employment in 2023: 1,410
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $39,940
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Paralegals and Legal Assistants
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +37.0% (1,480 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 5,480
--- Employment in 2023: 4,000
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $46,060
Vagengeim // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Dental Laboratory Technicians
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +38.0% (300 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,090
--- Employment in 2023: 790
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $40,980
Goldsithney // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Psychiatric Technicians
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +40.2% (820 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,860
--- Employment in 2023: 2,040
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $35,200
Chaay_Tee // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Data Scientists
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +44.6% (500 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,620
--- Employment in 2023: 1,120
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $105,410
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +47.9% (340 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,050
--- Employment in 2023: 710
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $27,790
Umomos // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +51.0% (520 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,540
--- Employment in 2023: 1,020
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $37,310
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +51.2% (630 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,860
--- Employment in 2023: 1,230
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $75,140
ALPA PROD // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +59.0% (5,530 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 14,900
--- Employment in 2023: 9,370
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $36,310
Akimov Igor // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +59.4% (410 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,100
--- Employment in 2023: 690
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $49,010
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Chefs and Head Cooks
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +62.0% (490 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,280
--- Employment in 2023: 790
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $62,670
Gorgev // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +73.1% (490 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,160
--- Employment in 2023: 670
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $46,360
Martin Smith // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Parking Attendants
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +76.9% (500 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,150
--- Employment in 2023: 650
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $28,250
Kuznetsov Dmitriy // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +90.0% (540 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,140
--- Employment in 2023: 600
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $36,240
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Madison Troyer, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 51 states.
