
Fastest-growing jobs in Colorado
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 Colorado. 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 Colorado.
#50. Budget Analysts
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +18.9% (230 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,450
--- Employment in 2023: 1,220
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $96,680

#49. Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +19.7% (1,460 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 8,870
--- Employment in 2023: 7,410
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $63,420

#48. Crossing Guards and Flaggers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +19.9% (310 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,870
--- Employment in 2023: 1,560
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $37,660

#47. Demonstrators and Product Promoters
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +20.2% (170 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,010
--- Employment in 2023: 840
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $34,710
#46. Social and Community Service Managers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +20.2% (460 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,740
--- Employment in 2023: 2,280
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $96,480

#45. Purchasing Managers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +20.2% (210 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,250
--- Employment in 2023: 1,040
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $163,610

#44. Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +20.4% (390 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,300
--- Employment in 2023: 1,910
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $61,750

#43. Chiropractors
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +22.3% (230 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,260
--- Employment in 2023: 1,030
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $80,900

#42. Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +22.4% (500 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,730
--- Employment in 2023: 2,230
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $59,780
#41. Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +22.5% (670 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 3,650
--- Employment in 2023: 2,980
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $41,660

#40. Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +22.8% (610 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 3,290
--- Employment in 2023: 2,680
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $38,420

#39. Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +22.9% (550 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,950
--- Employment in 2023: 2,400
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $39,480

#38. Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +23.2% (230 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,220
--- Employment in 2023: 990
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $61,150
#37. Personal Care and Service Workers, All Other
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +23.5% (240 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,260
--- Employment in 2023: 1,020
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $39,200
#36. Data Entry Keyers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +23.6% (390 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,040
--- Employment in 2023: 1,650
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $45,560

#35. Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +23.7% (1,250 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 6,530
--- Employment in 2023: 5,280
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $75,120
#34. Physicians, All Other
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +24.2% (430 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,210
--- Employment in 2023: 1,780
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $239,200+
#33. Flight Attendants
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +24.2% (1,470 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 7,540
--- Employment in 2023: 6,070
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $61,050

#32. Food Service Managers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +25.0% (370 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,850
--- Employment in 2023: 1,480
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $82,270

#31. Electrical Engineers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +25.2% (960 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 4,770
--- Employment in 2023: 3,810
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $112,880

#30. Tax Preparers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +26.0% (500 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,420
--- Employment in 2023: 1,920
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $62,860

#29. Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +26.9% (660 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 3,110
--- Employment in 2023: 2,450
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $76,770

#28. Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +27.0% (580 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,730
--- Employment in 2023: 2,150
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $38,870

#27. Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +27.3% (710 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 3,310
--- Employment in 2023: 2,600
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $61,310
#26. Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +27.7% (360 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,660
--- Employment in 2023: 1,300
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $62,180

#25. Medical Equipment Preparers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +27.7% (330 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,520
--- Employment in 2023: 1,190
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $46,870
#24. Protective Service Workers, All Other
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +27.7% (1,090 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 5,020
--- Employment in 2023: 3,930
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $42,510

#23. Glaziers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +30.6% (440 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,880
--- Employment in 2023: 1,440
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $61,340

#22. Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +31.2% (240 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,010
--- Employment in 2023: 770
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $62,940
#21. Cartographers and Photogrammetrists
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +31.4% (330 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,380
--- Employment in 2023: 1,050
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $78,030
#20. Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +31.8% (1,200 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 4,970
--- Employment in 2023: 3,770
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $49,260

#19. Brickmasons and Blockmasons
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +32.1% (250 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,030
--- Employment in 2023: 780
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $63,480
#18. Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +32.5% (1,480 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 6,040
--- Employment in 2023: 4,560
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $56,700

#17. Ophthalmic Medical Technicians
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +32.8% (390 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,580
--- Employment in 2023: 1,190
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $44,820
#16. Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +33.8% (500 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,980
--- Employment in 2023: 1,480
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $65,080

#15. Healthcare Social Workers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +35.5% (1,060 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 4,050
--- Employment in 2023: 2,990
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $62,740
#14. Motor Vehicle Operators, All Other
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +37.5% (960 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 3,520
--- Employment in 2023: 2,560
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $37,950

#13. Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +38.0% (2,080 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 7,550
--- Employment in 2023: 5,470
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $63,230

#12. Sales Engineers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +39.5% (770 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,720
--- Employment in 2023: 1,950
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $136,080

#11. Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +40.6% (410 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,420
--- Employment in 2023: 1,010
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $41,230
#10. Teachers and Instructors, All Other
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +41.9% (490 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,660
--- Employment in 2023: 1,170
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $77,810

#9. Medical Equipment Repairers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +42.0% (370 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,250
--- Employment in 2023: 880
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $72,800

#8. Cargo and Freight Agents
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +47.9% (340 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,050
--- Employment in 2023: 710
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $51,430
#7. Psychiatric Technicians
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +53.5% (530 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,520
--- Employment in 2023: 990
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $48,320
#6. Clinical and Counseling Psychologists
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +57.7% (710 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,940
--- Employment in 2023: 1,230
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $126,260
#5. First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +59.5% (470 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,260
--- Employment in 2023: 790
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $56,860

#4. Cooks, Fast Food
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +61.2% (3,630 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 9,560
--- Employment in 2023: 5,930
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $35,140

#3. Miscellaneous Construction and Related Workers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +63.2% (430 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,110
--- Employment in 2023: 680
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $52,970

#2. Miscellaneous Construction and Related Workers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +63.2% (430 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,110
--- Employment in 2023: 680
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $52,970
#1. Plant and System Operators, All Other
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +65.9% (540 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,360
--- Employment in 2023: 820
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $52,210
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Madison Troyer, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 51 states.