VH-studio // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Child, Family, and School Social Workers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +14.3% (880 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 7,040
--- Employment in 2023: 6,160
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $43,950
Fastest-growing jobs in Oklahoma
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 Oklahoma. 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 Oklahoma.
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Sunshine Seeds // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Industrial Production Managers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +14.7% (240 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,870
--- Employment in 2023: 1,630
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $108,720
AlesiaKan // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Health Education Specialists
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +15.4% (140 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,050
--- Employment in 2023: 910
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $60,980
Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Social and Community Service Managers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +15.5% (200 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,490
--- Employment in 2023: 1,290
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $65,010
Hunter Bliss Images // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +15.9% (170 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,240
--- Employment in 2023: 1,070
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $45,030
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Alba_alioth // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +16.1% (270 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,950
--- Employment in 2023: 1,680
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $38,270
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +16.4% (1,000 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 7,110
--- Employment in 2023: 6,110
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $54,840
SritanaN // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Industrial Machinery Mechanics
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +16.9% (900 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 6,240
--- Employment in 2023: 5,340
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $62,530
M2020 // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Helpers--Electricians
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +17.2% (270 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,840
--- Employment in 2023: 1,570
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $44,170
Olena Yakobchuk // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +17.4% (150 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,010
--- Employment in 2023: 860
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $31,200
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Pressmaster // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Animal Caretakers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +17.4% (560 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 3,780
--- Employment in 2023: 3,220
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $28,370
Etaphop photo // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Electricians
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +18.4% (1,330 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 8,550
--- Employment in 2023: 7,220
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $60,050
Randy Hergenrether // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Construction Laborers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +18.9% (2,040 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 12,830
--- Employment in 2023: 10,790
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $40,020
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Cooks, Restaurant
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +19.0% (3,000 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 18,760
--- Employment in 2023: 15,760
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $30,610
DGLimages // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +19.8% (360 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,180
--- Employment in 2023: 1,820
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $49,030
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fizkes // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. New Accounts Clerks
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +20.1% (300 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,790
--- Employment in 2023: 1,490
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $44,740
Unai Huizi Photography // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Dental Hygienists
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +20.6% (470 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,750
--- Employment in 2023: 2,280
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $95,860
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Childcare Workers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +20.6% (1,630 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 9,550
--- Employment in 2023: 7,920
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $26,210
Avatar_023 // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +21.1% (480 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,750
--- Employment in 2023: 2,270
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $41,380
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Public Relations Specialists
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +21.2% (390 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,230
--- Employment in 2023: 1,840
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $59,990
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Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +22.4% (530 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,900
--- Employment in 2023: 2,370
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $66,840
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +22.6% (400 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,170
--- Employment in 2023: 1,770
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $79,120
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Physical Therapist Assistants
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +23.6% (370 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,940
--- Employment in 2023: 1,570
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $62,380
VH-studio // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +24.6% (1,050 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 5,320
--- Employment in 2023: 4,270
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $51,140
fizkes // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service Workers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +25.0% (260 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,300
--- Employment in 2023: 1,040
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $42,000
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Efired // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Bill and Account Collectors
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +25.0% (490 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,450
--- Employment in 2023: 1,960
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $43,800
New Africa // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +25.3% (430 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,130
--- Employment in 2023: 1,700
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $40,860
Freedomz // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +26.7% (430 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,040
--- Employment in 2023: 1,610
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $41,080
industryviews // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +27.2% (220 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,030
--- Employment in 2023: 810
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $58,640
shocky // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +27.9% (310 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,420
--- Employment in 2023: 1,110
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $35,060
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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +28.1% (1,030 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 4,690
--- Employment in 2023: 3,660
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $67,950
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Personal Financial Advisors
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +30.1% (310 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,340
--- Employment in 2023: 1,030
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $73,020
Yevgen Belich // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Gambling Cage Workers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +30.2% (390 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,680
--- Employment in 2023: 1,290
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $29,210
SviatlanaLaza // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Packers and Packagers, Hand
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +31.7% (860 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 3,570
--- Employment in 2023: 2,710
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $32,610
Chay_Tee // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Tax Preparers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +32.0% (410 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,690
--- Employment in 2023: 1,280
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $37,860
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Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +32.7% (700 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,840
--- Employment in 2023: 2,140
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $45,670
Nicola Forenza // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Lawyers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +32.9% (1,840 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 7,430
--- Employment in 2023: 5,590
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $98,870
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +37.4% (670 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,460
--- Employment in 2023: 1,790
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $44,570
PIYAWAT WONGOPASS // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Computer Programmers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +37.9% (390 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,420
--- Employment in 2023: 1,030
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $100,910
evgenii mitroshin // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +38.1% (750 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,720
--- Employment in 2023: 1,970
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $43,090
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worradirek // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +40.0% (460 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,610
--- Employment in 2023: 1,150
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $33,560
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Surveying and Mapping Technicians
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +40.5% (340 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,180
--- Employment in 2023: 840
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $44,720
DGLimages // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +41.3% (430 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,470
--- Employment in 2023: 1,040
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $43,190
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Computer Network Support Specialists
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +41.8% (610 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,070
--- Employment in 2023: 1,460
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $77,450
Roman Samborskyi // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +42.1% (510 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,720
--- Employment in 2023: 1,210
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $68,730
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Martin Smith // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Parking Attendants
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +42.5% (310 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,040
--- Employment in 2023: 730
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $26,460
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Dietitians and Nutritionists
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +48.6% (340 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,040
--- Employment in 2023: 700
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $67,430
Kzenon // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Self-Enrichment Teachers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +50.3% (800 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,390
--- Employment in 2023: 1,590
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $43,250
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +97.8% (880 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,780
--- Employment in 2023: 900
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $90,960
Kzenon // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +370.4% (1,000 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,270
--- Employment in 2023: 270
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $44,990
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Madison Troyer, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 51 states.
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