
Fastest-growing jobs in North Carolina
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 North Carolina. 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 North Carolina.
#50. Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +25.5% (400 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,970
--- Employment in 2023: 1,570
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $66,090

#49. Health Education Specialists
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +26.2% (380 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,830
--- Employment in 2023: 1,450
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $54,720

#48. Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +27.7% (260 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,200
--- Employment in 2023: 940
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $34,460
#47. Network and Computer Systems Administrators
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +27.9% (2,850 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 13,080
--- Employment in 2023: 10,230
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $97,590
#46. Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +28.2% (2,020 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 9,190
--- Employment in 2023: 7,170
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $26,300

#45. Hazardous Materials Removal Workers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +28.7% (270 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,210
--- Employment in 2023: 940
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $41,550
#44. Financial Clerks, All Other
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +29.1% (230 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,020
--- Employment in 2023: 790
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $54,220
#43. Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +29.7% (1,020 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 4,450
--- Employment in 2023: 3,430
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $57,190
#42. Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +30.4% (1,510 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 6,480
--- Employment in 2023: 4,970
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $34,570
#41. Motor Vehicle Operators, All Other
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +30.5% (460 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,970
--- Employment in 2023: 1,510
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $28,700

#40. Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +31.0% (2,360 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 9,970
--- Employment in 2023: 7,610
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $45,080
#39. Community Health Workers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +31.1% (380 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,600
--- Employment in 2023: 1,220
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $46,930

#38. Maintenance Workers, Machinery
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +32.1% (950 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 3,910
--- Employment in 2023: 2,960
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $59,390

#37. Life Scientists, All Other
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +32.5% (260 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,060
--- Employment in 2023: 800
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $123,500

#36. Commercial and Industrial Designers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +32.6% (300 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,220
--- Employment in 2023: 920
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $74,330

#35. Food Servers, Nonrestaurant
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +32.7% (1,510 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 6,130
--- Employment in 2023: 4,620
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $30,560
#34. Rehabilitation Counselors
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +34.5% (890 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 3,470
--- Employment in 2023: 2,580
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $46,670

#33. Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine Repairers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +34.9% (950 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 3,670
--- Employment in 2023: 2,720
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $45,410

#32. Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +35.6% (480 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,830
--- Employment in 2023: 1,350
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $39,160

#31. Skincare Specialists
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +36.5% (580 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,170
--- Employment in 2023: 1,590
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $46,120
#30. Audio and Video Technicians
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +36.8% (460 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,710
--- Employment in 2023: 1,250
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $43,870
#29. Production Workers, All Other
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +40.7% (5,140 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 17,760
--- Employment in 2023: 12,620
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $37,200
#28. Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +43.1% (560 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,860
--- Employment in 2023: 1,300
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $48,460

#27. Tire Repairers and Changers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +43.2% (960 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 3,180
--- Employment in 2023: 2,220
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $34,570

#26. Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +44.8% (14,100 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 45,540
--- Employment in 2023: 31,440
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $39,930

#25. Chief Executives
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +45.3% (780 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,500
--- Employment in 2023: 1,720
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $239,200+
#24. Engineers, All Other
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +46.4% (1,340 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 4,230
--- Employment in 2023: 2,890
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $106,960
#23. Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +48.4% (880 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,700
--- Employment in 2023: 1,820
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $56,730

#22. Couriers and Messengers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +49.8% (1,250 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 3,760
--- Employment in 2023: 2,510
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $38,260
#21. Data Scientists
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +52.7% (3,500 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 10,140
--- Employment in 2023: 6,640
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $115,380
#20. School Psychologists
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +53.3% (730 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,100
--- Employment in 2023: 1,370
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $70,090
#19. Microbiologists
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +53.5% (460 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,320
--- Employment in 2023: 860
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $82,170
#18. Social and Human Service Assistants
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +55.3% (2,950 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 8,280
--- Employment in 2023: 5,330
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $40,470

#17. Computer Occupations, All Other
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +55.8% (4,890 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 13,660
--- Employment in 2023: 8,770
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $106,240

#16. Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +57.8% (480 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,310
--- Employment in 2023: 830
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $47,620

#15. Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +58.1% (3,460 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 9,420
--- Employment in 2023: 5,960
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $36,650
#14. Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +58.7% (1,830 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 4,950
--- Employment in 2023: 3,120
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $27,320

#13. Private Detectives and Investigators
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +63.1% (530 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,370
--- Employment in 2023: 840
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $55,190

#12. Machine Feeders and Offbearers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +65.0% (780 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,980
--- Employment in 2023: 1,200
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $36,120

#11. Dietetic Technicians
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +72.9% (620 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,470
--- Employment in 2023: 850
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $29,520
#10. Teachers and Instructors, All Other
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +74.8% (1,040 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,430
--- Employment in 2023: 1,390
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $48,550

#9. Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +75.3% (1,280 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,980
--- Employment in 2023: 1,700
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $33,690

#8. New Accounts Clerks
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +76.5% (750 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,730
--- Employment in 2023: 980
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $48,840
#7. Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +79.8% (750 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,690
--- Employment in 2023: 940
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $61,080
#6. Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +88.1% (520 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,110
--- Employment in 2023: 590
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $72,910

#5. Crossing Guards and Flaggers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +107.1% (1,050 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,030
--- Employment in 2023: 980
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $35,290
#4. Marriage and Family Therapists
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +134.4% (1,210 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,110
--- Employment in 2023: 900
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $53,910

#3. Chemical Plant and System Operators
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +135.4% (650 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,130
--- Employment in 2023: 480
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $56,630

#2. Lodging Managers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +154.0% (970 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,600
--- Employment in 2023: 630
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $60,640

#1. Postsecondary Teachers, All Other
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +200.0% (1,300 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,950
--- Employment in 2023: 650
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $64,700
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Madison Troyer, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 51 states.