PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Fundraising Managers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +29.0% (1,310 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 5,820
--- Employment in 2023: 4,510
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $131,950
Fastest-growing jobs in California
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 California. 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 California.
You may also like: Biggest comeback wins in Los Angeles Rams history
YAKOBCHUK VIACHESLAV // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Forensic Science Technicians
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +29.7% (710 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 3,100
--- Employment in 2023: 2,390
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $96,850
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Psychologists, All Other
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +29.9% (410 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,780
--- Employment in 2023: 1,370
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $147,650
BearFotos // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +31.6% (1,660 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 6,920
--- Employment in 2023: 5,260
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $36,190
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Epidemiologists
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +32.5% (390 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,590
--- Employment in 2023: 1,200
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $100,410
You may also like: Coldest Februarys in California since 1895
Aleksandar Malivuk // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Mechanical Door Repairers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +32.6% (770 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 3,130
--- Employment in 2023: 2,360
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $58,640
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +32.8% (5,590 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 22,630
--- Employment in 2023: 17,040
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $36,740
Khromova Anna // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Fence Erectors
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +33.0% (1,020 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 4,110
--- Employment in 2023: 3,090
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $53,800
Halfpoint // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +33.1% (1,520 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 6,110
--- Employment in 2023: 4,590
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $64,720
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Cooks, All Other
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +33.5% (1,110 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 4,420
--- Employment in 2023: 3,310
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $39,430
You may also like: California's Halloween sweet tooth: 2025 candy and decor trends from Instacart data
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Teachers and Instructors, All Other
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +34.3% (8,780 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 34,370
--- Employment in 2023: 25,590
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $89,010
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +35.0% (780 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 3,010
--- Employment in 2023: 2,230
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $125,410
Pixel B // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +35.0% (490 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,890
--- Employment in 2023: 1,400
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $54,960
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +36.1% (750 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,830
--- Employment in 2023: 2,080
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $137,340
Virrage Images // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Motor Vehicle Operators, All Other
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +36.2% (1,120 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 4,210
--- Employment in 2023: 3,090
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $41,340
You may also like: Record snowfalls in California history
Jason Person // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Cooks, Short Order
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +36.2% (9,170 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 34,490
--- Employment in 2023: 25,320
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $39,010
Motortion Films // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Personal Care and Service Workers, All Other
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +36.7% (1,500 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 5,590
--- Employment in 2023: 4,090
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $37,440
possohh // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Emergency Management Directors
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +36.7% (290 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,080
--- Employment in 2023: 790
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $126,210
totojang1977 // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Orthotists and Prosthetists
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +37.0% (370 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,370
--- Employment in 2023: 1,000
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $91,870
zhu difeng // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +40.0% (7,040 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 24,660
--- Employment in 2023: 17,620
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $42,530
You may also like: Countries to which California exports the most goods
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Substitute Teachers, Short-Term
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +41.9% (30,500 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 103,210
--- Employment in 2023: 72,710
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $57,260
MarijaBazarova // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Skincare Specialists
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +42.6% (4,130 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 13,820
--- Employment in 2023: 9,690
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $36,390
Elizaveta Galitckaia // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +42.7% (380 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,270
--- Employment in 2023: 890
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $51,350
Nomad_Soul // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Bakers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +42.9% (9,650 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 32,140
--- Employment in 2023: 22,490
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $39,570
Allexxandar // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Agricultural Technicians
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +43.5% (940 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 3,100
--- Employment in 2023: 2,160
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $58,330
You may also like: California frozen pizza trends, according to Instacart data
Dusan Petkovic // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +45.9% (560 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,780
--- Employment in 2023: 1,220
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $45,140
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +46.0% (4,090 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 12,980
--- Employment in 2023: 8,890
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $162,740
funnyangel // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Fire Inspectors and Investigators
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +46.5% (400 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,260
--- Employment in 2023: 860
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $96,180
chalermphon_tiam // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +48.1% (520 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,600
--- Employment in 2023: 1,080
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $70,310
dokurose // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Actuaries
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +51.7% (450 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,320
--- Employment in 2023: 870
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $124,240
You may also like: Most popular diamond shapes in the West
SGr // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Machine Feeders and Offbearers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +54.7% (2,440 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 6,900
--- Employment in 2023: 4,460
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $38,960
David Pereiras // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Psychiatric Aides
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +54.9% (1,010 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,850
--- Employment in 2023: 1,840
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $42,970
rezoff // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Plant and System Operators, All Other
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +56.2% (720 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,000
--- Employment in 2023: 1,280
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $73,950
ALPA PROD // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +57.8% (1,780 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 4,860
--- Employment in 2023: 3,080
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $44,970
AlesiaKan // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Health Education Specialists
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +58.2% (5,390 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 14,650
--- Employment in 2023: 9,260
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $60,150
You may also like: Highest-rated specialty museums in California by visitors
Magsi // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers, Transportation Equipment
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +58.2% (460 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,250
--- Employment in 2023: 790
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $86,640
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Pediatricians, General
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +60.0% (2,610 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 6,960
--- Employment in 2023: 4,350
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $239,200+
Roman023_photography // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Riggers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +61.4% (1,320 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 3,470
--- Employment in 2023: 2,150
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $83,320
industryviews // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +62.1% (1,310 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 3,420
--- Employment in 2023: 2,110
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $81,860
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +63.1% (8,410 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 21,730
--- Employment in 2023: 13,320
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $42,520
You may also like: How California ranks for most motorcycle fatalities
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Social Science Research Assistants
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +63.1% (2,170 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 5,610
--- Employment in 2023: 3,440
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $48,720
Jat306 // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Millwrights
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +64.9% (980 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,490
--- Employment in 2023: 1,510
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $78,810
Nagy-Bagoly Arpad // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +67.2% (880 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,190
--- Employment in 2023: 1,310
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $44,620
Akimov Igor // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +74.6% (470 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,100
--- Employment in 2023: 630
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $44,340
THINK A // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Building Cleaning Workers, All Other
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +82.1% (1,470 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 3,260
--- Employment in 2023: 1,790
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $44,130
You may also like: San Francisco 49ers seasons that exceeded expectations the most
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Special Education Teachers, Preschool
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +83.0% (1,560 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 3,440
--- Employment in 2023: 1,880
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $55,890
Natee K Jindakum // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Physicians, Pathologists
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +84.7% (1,000 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,180
--- Employment in 2023: 1,180
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $165,940
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Technical Writers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +120.5% (7,220 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 13,210
--- Employment in 2023: 5,990
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $100,440
Nagy-Bagoly Arpad // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Insulation Workers, Mechanical
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +152.0% (760 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,260
--- Employment in 2023: 500
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $119,890
encierro // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +152.6% (3,480 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 5,760
--- Employment in 2023: 2,280
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $35,310
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Madison Troyer, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 51 states.
You may also like: The most popular grocery items for Christmas in California, according to Instacart
