
Fastest-growing jobs in Nebraska
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 Nebraska. 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 Nebraska.
#50. Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +10.9% (100 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,020
--- Employment in 2023: 920
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $44,480

#49. Pharmacists
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +11.7% (240 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,290
--- Employment in 2023: 2,050
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $133,340

#48. Training and Development Specialists
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +11.8% (320 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 3,040
--- Employment in 2023: 2,720
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $64,520

#47. Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +11.8% (400 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 3,800
--- Employment in 2023: 3,400
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $44,760

#46. First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +12.4% (220 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,990
--- Employment in 2023: 1,770
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $80,410

#45. Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +12.7% (160 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,420
--- Employment in 2023: 1,260
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $62,320

#44. Food Servers, Nonrestaurant
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +13.1% (460 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 3,980
--- Employment in 2023: 3,520
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $30,930

#43. Parts Salespersons
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +13.9% (290 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,380
--- Employment in 2023: 2,090
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $44,280

#42. Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +14.8% (170 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,320
--- Employment in 2023: 1,150
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $96,310

#41. Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +15.1% (260 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,980
--- Employment in 2023: 1,720
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $64,410

#40. Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +15.6% (170 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,260
--- Employment in 2023: 1,090
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $88,910

#39. Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +15.7% (1,040 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 7,660
--- Employment in 2023: 6,620
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $47,900

#38. Bartenders
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +15.9% (890 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 6,500
--- Employment in 2023: 5,610
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $29,400

#37. Stockers and Order Fillers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +17.3% (2,770 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 18,800
--- Employment in 2023: 16,030
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $36,200

#36. Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +17.6% (510 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 3,410
--- Employment in 2023: 2,900
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $48,070
#35. Administrative Services Managers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +17.8% (380 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,510
--- Employment in 2023: 2,130
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $101,970

#34. Substitute Teachers, Short-Term
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +17.8% (660 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 4,370
--- Employment in 2023: 3,710
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $43,620
#33. Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +18.3% (210 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,360
--- Employment in 2023: 1,150
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $33,280
#32. First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +18.4% (190 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,220
--- Employment in 2023: 1,030
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $48,760

#31. Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +18.5% (360 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,310
--- Employment in 2023: 1,950
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $30,540

#30. Butchers and Meat Cutters
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +18.6% (240 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,530
--- Employment in 2023: 1,290
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $36,680

#29. Food Preparation Workers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +18.8% (1,300 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 8,210
--- Employment in 2023: 6,910
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $32,420

#28. Amusement and Recreation Attendants
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +20.3% (470 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,790
--- Employment in 2023: 2,320
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $25,610
#27. Facilities Managers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +20.7% (250 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,460
--- Employment in 2023: 1,210
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $99,320

#26. Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +20.9% (180 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,040
--- Employment in 2023: 860
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $57,640
#25. Tellers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +21.9% (810 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 4,510
--- Employment in 2023: 3,700
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $37,480

#24. Advertising Sales Agents
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +22.4% (220 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,200
--- Employment in 2023: 980
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $60,570

#23. Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +22.5% (780 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 4,240
--- Employment in 2023: 3,460
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $62,880

#22. Self-Enrichment Teachers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +24.1% (600 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 3,090
--- Employment in 2023: 2,490
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $36,530

#21. Information Security Analysts
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +24.4% (220 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,120
--- Employment in 2023: 900
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $95,470

#20. Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +24.4% (210 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,070
--- Employment in 2023: 860
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $50,270

#19. Computer Network Architects
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +24.8% (280 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,410
--- Employment in 2023: 1,130
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $109,590

#18. Physical Therapist Assistants
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +25.0% (230 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,150
--- Employment in 2023: 920
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $60,430

#17. Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +26.0% (1,540 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 7,460
--- Employment in 2023: 5,920
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $45,450

#16. Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +26.0% (1,540 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 7,460
--- Employment in 2023: 5,920
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $45,450

#15. Nurse Practitioners
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +26.5% (450 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,150
--- Employment in 2023: 1,700
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $127,930

#14. Electrical Engineers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +27.1% (230 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,080
--- Employment in 2023: 850
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $103,720
#13. Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +28.3% (580 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,630
--- Employment in 2023: 2,050
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $47,510
#12. Occupational Therapists
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +30.4% (350 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,500
--- Employment in 2023: 1,150
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $87,010
#11. Child, Family, and School Social Workers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +31.0% (1,090 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 4,610
--- Employment in 2023: 3,520
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $47,400
#10. Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +32.7% (730 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,960
--- Employment in 2023: 2,230
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $27,320

#9. First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +33.3% (260 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,040
--- Employment in 2023: 780
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $52,920
#8. Data Entry Keyers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +33.7% (280 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,110
--- Employment in 2023: 830
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $36,330

#7. Food Service Managers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +36.2% (470 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,770
--- Employment in 2023: 1,300
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $60,600
#6. Physical Therapists
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +44.2% (730 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,380
--- Employment in 2023: 1,650
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $96,540

#5. Personal Financial Advisors
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +56.1% (600 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,670
--- Employment in 2023: 1,070
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $74,040

#4. Real Estate Sales Agents
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +59.0% (620 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,670
--- Employment in 2023: 1,050
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $48,550

#3. Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +61.1% (440 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,160
--- Employment in 2023: 720
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $27,550

#2. Food Batchmakers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +98.8% (800 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,610
--- Employment in 2023: 810
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $38,810

#1. Conveyor Operators and Tenders
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +102.0% (520 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,030
--- Employment in 2023: 510
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $39,650
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Madison Troyer, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 51 states.