
Fastest-growing jobs in Pennsylvania
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 Pennsylvania. 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 Pennsylvania.
#50. Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel Clerks
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +30.2% (810 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 3,490
--- Employment in 2023: 2,680
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $37,190

#49. Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +30.7% (310 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,320
--- Employment in 2023: 1,010
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $28,830
#48. Court, Municipal, and License Clerks
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +32.1% (790 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 3,250
--- Employment in 2023: 2,460
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $46,500

#47. Maintenance Workers, Machinery
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +32.3% (310 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,270
--- Employment in 2023: 960
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $62,970

#46. Biochemists and Biophysicists
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +32.5% (620 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,530
--- Employment in 2023: 1,910
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $112,850
#45. Psychiatric Technicians
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +32.5% (1,910 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 7,790
--- Employment in 2023: 5,880
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $40,850

#44. Chefs and Head Cooks
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +32.7% (1,740 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 7,060
--- Employment in 2023: 5,320
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $59,630
#43. Metal Workers and Plastic Workers, All Other
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +33.3% (320 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,280
--- Employment in 2023: 960
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $43,100

#42. Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +34.2% (920 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 3,610
--- Employment in 2023: 2,690
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $67,200

#41. Fundraising Managers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +35.0% (420 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,620
--- Employment in 2023: 1,200
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $104,400
#40. Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +35.3% (2,600 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 9,970
--- Employment in 2023: 7,370
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $45,700

#39. Biological Scientists, All Other
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +35.4% (680 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,600
--- Employment in 2023: 1,920
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $95,640

#38. Self-Enrichment Teachers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +35.6% (3,660 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 13,940
--- Employment in 2023: 10,280
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $37,000

#37. Food Service Managers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +35.9% (2,090 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 7,910
--- Employment in 2023: 5,820
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $62,250

#36. Tire Repairers and Changers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +37.5% (980 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 3,590
--- Employment in 2023: 2,610
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $37,710

#35. Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +38.0% (380 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,380
--- Employment in 2023: 1,000
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $52,000

#34. Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +38.6% (2,150 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 7,720
--- Employment in 2023: 5,570
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $50,780
#33. Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +38.7% (5,560 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 19,940
--- Employment in 2023: 14,380
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $28,650
#32. Data Scientists
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +39.3% (2,940 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 10,430
--- Employment in 2023: 7,490
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $100,320

#31. Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +41.8% (410 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,390
--- Employment in 2023: 980
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $109,660

#30. Glaziers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +43.4% (460 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,520
--- Employment in 2023: 1,060
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $57,880
#29. Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +43.7% (660 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,170
--- Employment in 2023: 1,510
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $49,930

#28. Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +46.4% (710 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,240
--- Employment in 2023: 1,530
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $60,200
#27. Social and Community Service Managers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +46.8% (2,700 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 8,470
--- Employment in 2023: 5,770
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $74,290

#26. Couriers and Messengers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +47.3% (980 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 3,050
--- Employment in 2023: 2,070
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $37,590

#25. Surveying and Mapping Technicians
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +48.6% (510 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,560
--- Employment in 2023: 1,050
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $56,400
#24. Chemists
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +49.9% (3,020 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 9,070
--- Employment in 2023: 6,050
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $63,450

#23. Financial Examiners
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +52.6% (720 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,090
--- Employment in 2023: 1,370
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $84,910

#22. Postsecondary Teachers, All Other
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +53.4% (1,790 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 5,140
--- Employment in 2023: 3,350
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $76,510

#21. Construction Managers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +54.6% (1,940 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 5,490
--- Employment in 2023: 3,550
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $103,990

#20. Conservation Scientists
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +54.9% (500 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,410
--- Employment in 2023: 910
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $53,110

#19. Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +57.7% (410 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,120
--- Employment in 2023: 710
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $55,940

#18. Skincare Specialists
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +58.1% (1,220 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 3,320
--- Employment in 2023: 2,100
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $43,920

#17. Real Estate Brokers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +59.4% (410 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,100
--- Employment in 2023: 690
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $74,990
#16. Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +60.5% (460 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,220
--- Employment in 2023: 760
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $61,450

#15. Web and Digital Interface Designers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +60.6% (1,540 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 4,080
--- Employment in 2023: 2,540
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $61,030

#14. Tree Trimmers and Pruners
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +67.8% (1,030 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,550
--- Employment in 2023: 1,520
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $49,280

#13. Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +69.4% (1,500 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 3,660
--- Employment in 2023: 2,160
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $36,940

#12. Credit Counselors
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +71.1% (590 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,420
--- Employment in 2023: 830
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $49,040
#11. Financial Risk Specialists
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +76.4% (970 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,240
--- Employment in 2023: 1,270
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $100,190

#10. Database Administrators
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +77.3% (2,180 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 5,000
--- Employment in 2023: 2,820
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $107,800

#9. Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +90.7% (490 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,030
--- Employment in 2023: 540
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $46,530

#8. Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +95.9% (4,180 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 8,540
--- Employment in 2023: 4,360
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $99,440

#7. Slaughterers and Meat Packers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +100.0% (1,850 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 3,700
--- Employment in 2023: 1,850
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $36,450
#6. Production Workers, All Other
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +111.6% (5,780 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 10,960
--- Employment in 2023: 5,180
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $39,370
#5. Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +113.6% (1,590 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,990
--- Employment in 2023: 1,400
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $54,450
#4. Cooks, Short Order
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +151.7% (2,290 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 3,800
--- Employment in 2023: 1,510
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $18,400

#3. Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +187.0% (1,010 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,550
--- Employment in 2023: 540
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $32,630
#2. Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Workers, All Other
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +275.3% (2,010 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,740
--- Employment in 2023: 730
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $43,840

#1. Social Science Research Assistants
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +370.4% (1,000 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,270
--- Employment in 2023: 270
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $54,940
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Madison Troyer, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 51 states.