
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.

#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

#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

#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

#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

#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

#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
#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

#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
#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
#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
#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

#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

#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

#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
#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
#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
#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
#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

#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
#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

#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

#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

#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

#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
#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

#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

#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

#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

#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

#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

#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

#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
#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
#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

#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

#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

#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+

#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

#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

#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

#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

#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
#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
#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
#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

#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
#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
#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

#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

#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.