
Fastest-growing jobs in Iowa
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 Iowa. 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 Iowa.
#50. Public Relations Specialists
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +14.6% (380 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,980
--- Employment in 2023: 2,600
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $59,490

#49. Personal Financial Advisors
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +15.9% (330 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,400
--- Employment in 2023: 2,070
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $81,790
#48. Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +15.9% (290 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,110
--- Employment in 2023: 1,820
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $36,830

#47. Packers and Packagers, Hand
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +16.0% (580 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 4,200
--- Employment in 2023: 3,620
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $35,650

#46. Butchers and Meat Cutters
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +16.0% (570 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 4,130
--- Employment in 2023: 3,560
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $36,600
#45. Computer Network Support Specialists
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +16.1% (280 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,020
--- Employment in 2023: 1,740
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $63,560
#44. Recreation Workers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +16.3% (360 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,570
--- Employment in 2023: 2,210
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $30,460

#43. Computer Network Architects
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +16.5% (170 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,200
--- Employment in 2023: 1,030
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $107,060

#42. Electrical Engineers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +16.8% (180 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,250
--- Employment in 2023: 1,070
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $107,270

#41. Veterinarians
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +16.8% (170 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,180
--- Employment in 2023: 1,010
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $100,910
#40. Rehabilitation Counselors
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +17.0% (300 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,060
--- Employment in 2023: 1,760
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $38,130

#39. Postsecondary Teachers, All Other
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +17.0% (230 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,580
--- Employment in 2023: 1,350
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $52,250

#38. Self-Enrichment Teachers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +17.4% (450 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 3,040
--- Employment in 2023: 2,590
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $37,590

#37. Library Assistants, Clerical
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +17.7% (230 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,530
--- Employment in 2023: 1,300
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $28,700
#36. First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +18.1% (340 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,220
--- Employment in 2023: 1,880
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $45,240

#35. Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +18.3% (170 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,100
--- Employment in 2023: 930
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $46,320

#34. Gambling Dealers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +18.6% (160 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,020
--- Employment in 2023: 860
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $22,900
#33. Managers, All Other
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +19.1% (540 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 3,360
--- Employment in 2023: 2,820
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $127,680

#32. First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +19.4% (200 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,230
--- Employment in 2023: 1,030
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $51,870

#31. Electricians
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +19.5% (1,450 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 8,900
--- Employment in 2023: 7,450
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $62,880

#30. Construction and Building Inspectors
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +21.2% (220 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,260
--- Employment in 2023: 1,040
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $63,830
#29. Logisticians
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +22.2% (430 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,370
--- Employment in 2023: 1,940
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $79,730
#28. Office and Administrative Support Workers, All Other
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +22.4% (450 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,460
--- Employment in 2023: 2,010
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $49,500

#27. Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +23.0% (260 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,390
--- Employment in 2023: 1,130
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $85,010
#26. Court, Municipal, and License Clerks
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +23.1% (450 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,400
--- Employment in 2023: 1,950
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $48,710

#25. Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +24.1% (210 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,080
--- Employment in 2023: 870
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $76,640

#24. Sheet Metal Workers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +24.2% (310 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,590
--- Employment in 2023: 1,280
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $61,620
#23. Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +25.3% (250 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,240
--- Employment in 2023: 990
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $49,990
#22. First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +26.1% (240 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,160
--- Employment in 2023: 920
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $41,080

#21. Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +26.9% (250 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,180
--- Employment in 2023: 930
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $48,950

#20. Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +27.1% (450 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,110
--- Employment in 2023: 1,660
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $60,600
#19. Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +27.3% (270 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,260
--- Employment in 2023: 990
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $50,340

#18. Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +27.6% (450 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,080
--- Employment in 2023: 1,630
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $55,030

#17. Food Service Managers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +32.4% (350 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,430
--- Employment in 2023: 1,080
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $65,600
#16. Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +33.0% (300 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,210
--- Employment in 2023: 910
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $52,890
#15. Interviewers, Except Eligibility and Loan
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +34.3% (490 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,920
--- Employment in 2023: 1,430
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $38,360

#14. Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +35.1% (260 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,000
--- Employment in 2023: 740
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $45,910

#13. Painters, Construction and Maintenance
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +35.2% (450 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,730
--- Employment in 2023: 1,280
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $48,780
#12. Production Workers, All Other
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +39.4% (1,260 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 4,460
--- Employment in 2023: 3,200
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $46,380

#11. Food Servers, Nonrestaurant
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +44.1% (1,580 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 5,160
--- Employment in 2023: 3,580
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $29,270

#10. Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +49.2% (650 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,970
--- Employment in 2023: 1,320
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $40,110

#9. Special Education Teachers, Middle School
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +50.0% (350 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,050
--- Employment in 2023: 700
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $59,490
#8. Parking Attendants
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +60.8% (480 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,270
--- Employment in 2023: 790
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $29,300
#7. Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +78.8% (1,450 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 3,290
--- Employment in 2023: 1,840
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $44,390

#6. Locomotive Engineers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +83.1% (690 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,520
--- Employment in 2023: 830
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $87,550
#5. Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All Other
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +108.1% (670 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,290
--- Employment in 2023: 620
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $46,810
#4. Telemarketers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +126.5% (1,050 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,880
--- Employment in 2023: 830
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $29,060

#3. Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +149.4% (1,180 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,970
--- Employment in 2023: 790
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $60,210

#2. Cooks, Fast Food
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +174.4% (3,750 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 5,900
--- Employment in 2023: 2,150
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $28,770
#1. Engineers, All Other
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +190.5% (800 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,220
--- Employment in 2023: 420
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $100,200
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Madison Troyer, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 51 states.