
Fastest-growing jobs in Illinois
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 Illinois. 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 Illinois.
#50. Sewing Machine Operators
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +21.5% (730 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 4,120
--- Employment in 2023: 3,390
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $35,540
#49. Production Workers, All Other
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +22.7% (2,320 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 12,540
--- Employment in 2023: 10,220
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $39,770

#48. Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +23.5% (3,460 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 18,170
--- Employment in 2023: 14,710
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $59,570
#47. Food Processing Workers, All Other
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +23.8% (490 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,550
--- Employment in 2023: 2,060
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $40,310

#46. Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service Technicians
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +24.8% (400 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,010
--- Employment in 2023: 1,610
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $59,650

#45. Healthcare Social Workers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +25.1% (1,050 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 5,240
--- Employment in 2023: 4,190
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $68,710

#44. Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +25.2% (3,640 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 18,100
--- Employment in 2023: 14,460
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $50,290

#43. Electrical Engineers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +25.4% (1,180 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 5,820
--- Employment in 2023: 4,640
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $104,000

#42. Food Batchmakers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +27.9% (2,920 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 13,400
--- Employment in 2023: 10,480
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $48,440

#41. Fundraising Managers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +28.0% (610 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,790
--- Employment in 2023: 2,180
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $101,000

#40. Power Plant Operators
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +28.3% (360 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,630
--- Employment in 2023: 1,270
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $103,020

#39. Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +28.9% (330 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,470
--- Employment in 2023: 1,140
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $74,010

#38. Special Education Teachers, Middle School
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +29.1% (990 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 4,390
--- Employment in 2023: 3,400
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $71,790
#37. Financial Risk Specialists
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +29.5% (640 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,810
--- Employment in 2023: 2,170
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $98,410

#36. Cooks, Fast Food
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +29.9% (3,760 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 16,320
--- Employment in 2023: 12,560
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $31,580

#35. Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +30.1% (580 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,510
--- Employment in 2023: 1,930
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $75,350
#34. Mathematical Science Occupations, All Other
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +30.3% (460 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,980
--- Employment in 2023: 1,520
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $78,790

#33. Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +30.6% (850 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 3,630
--- Employment in 2023: 2,780
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $48,580

#32. Urban and Regional Planners
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +30.8% (280 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,190
--- Employment in 2023: 910
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $80,140

#31. Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +30.8% (240 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,020
--- Employment in 2023: 780
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $35,100

#30. Amusement and Recreation Attendants
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +30.9% (2,810 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 11,910
--- Employment in 2023: 9,100
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $30,980

#29. Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +31.4% (550 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,300
--- Employment in 2023: 1,750
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $75,090

#28. Chemical Technicians
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +31.8% (340 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,410
--- Employment in 2023: 1,070
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $61,830

#27. Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +33.4% (1,080 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 4,310
--- Employment in 2023: 3,230
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $39,420

#26. Medical Equipment Preparers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +35.5% (750 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,860
--- Employment in 2023: 2,110
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $47,100
#25. Interpreters and Translators
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +35.8% (490 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,860
--- Employment in 2023: 1,370
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $53,870

#24. Labor Relations Specialists
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +37.3% (1,010 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 3,720
--- Employment in 2023: 2,710
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $95,080

#23. Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +38.1% (320 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,160
--- Employment in 2023: 840
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $45,720
#22. Insurance Underwriters
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +39.2% (2,390 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 8,480
--- Employment in 2023: 6,090
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $84,580

#21. Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +40.9% (360 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,240
--- Employment in 2023: 880
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $47,410

#20. Biological Scientists, All Other
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +41.6% (320 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,090
--- Employment in 2023: 770
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $78,600

#19. Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +42.6% (1,040 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 3,480
--- Employment in 2023: 2,440
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $36,940
#18. Recreation Workers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +43.8% (4,920 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 16,150
--- Employment in 2023: 11,230
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $33,830
#17. Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +46.3% (1,050 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 3,320
--- Employment in 2023: 2,270
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $65,400

#16. Dental Laboratory Technicians
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +48.5% (470 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,440
--- Employment in 2023: 970
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $50,500

#15. Tire Repairers and Changers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +53.7% (1,460 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 4,180
--- Employment in 2023: 2,720
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $37,050

#14. Real Estate Brokers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +54.3% (570 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,620
--- Employment in 2023: 1,050
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $55,290
#13. Office and Administrative Support Workers, All Other
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +68.6% (1,770 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 4,350
--- Employment in 2023: 2,580
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $34,990

#12. Gambling Dealers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +69.2% (900 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,200
--- Employment in 2023: 1,300
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $30,230
#11. Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +75.9% (1,230 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,850
--- Employment in 2023: 1,620
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $40,050

#10. Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +76.2% (480 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,110
--- Employment in 2023: 630
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $66,110

#9. Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine Repairers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +78.5% (1,720 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 3,910
--- Employment in 2023: 2,190
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $46,260

#8. Demonstrators and Product Promoters
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +78.7% (1,330 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 3,020
--- Employment in 2023: 1,690
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $33,750

#7. Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +79.4% (3,440 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 7,770
--- Employment in 2023: 4,330
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $99,270

#6. Physicists
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +84.4% (760 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,660
--- Employment in 2023: 900
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $131,260

#5. Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +87.1% (810 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,740
--- Employment in 2023: 930
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $30,690

#4. Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +94.0% (2,330 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 4,810
--- Employment in 2023: 2,480
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $78,430
#3. Parking Attendants
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +110.8% (2,560 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 4,870
--- Employment in 2023: 2,310
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $37,320

#2. Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +144.4% (650 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,100
--- Employment in 2023: 450
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $98,240

#1. Tree Trimmers and Pruners
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +153.5% (660 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,090
--- Employment in 2023: 430
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $64,550
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Madison Troyer, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 51 states.