Africa Studio // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +16.5% (800 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 5,660
--- Employment in 2023: 4,860
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $29,430
Fastest-growing jobs in Wisconsin
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 Wisconsin. 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 Wisconsin.
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Rido // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Opticians, Dispensing
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +16.8% (220 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,530
--- Employment in 2023: 1,310
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $43,320
Jason Person // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Cooks, Short Order
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +17.0% (430 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,960
--- Employment in 2023: 2,530
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $27,300
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +17.2% (1,390 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 9,450
--- Employment in 2023: 8,060
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $62,470
Sunshine Seeds // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Industrial Production Managers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +17.5% (1,170 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 7,850
--- Employment in 2023: 6,680
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $117,720
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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Lodging Managers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +17.7% (170 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,130
--- Employment in 2023: 960
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $64,890
Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +17.7% (360 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,390
--- Employment in 2023: 2,030
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $62,500
Chaay_Tee // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Data Scientists
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +17.8% (550 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 3,640
--- Employment in 2023: 3,090
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $100,020
Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Amusement and Recreation Attendants
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +18.0% (690 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 4,530
--- Employment in 2023: 3,840
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $28,390
Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +18.1% (390 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,540
--- Employment in 2023: 2,150
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $104,420
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BigPixel Photo // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Machinists
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +18.3% (1,940 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 12,530
--- Employment in 2023: 10,590
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $52,030
Olena Yakobchuk // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +18.7% (360 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,290
--- Employment in 2023: 1,930
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $36,210
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Library Assistants, Clerical
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +19.5% (260 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,590
--- Employment in 2023: 1,330
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $38,170
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +20.6% (730 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 4,280
--- Employment in 2023: 3,550
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $46,680
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +21.3% (480 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,730
--- Employment in 2023: 2,250
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $49,150
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industryviews // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +21.6% (290 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,630
--- Employment in 2023: 1,340
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $66,820
goodluz // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +22.4% (710 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 3,880
--- Employment in 2023: 3,170
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $95,860
ALPA PROD // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +22.5% (530 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,890
--- Employment in 2023: 2,360
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $48,840
Virrage Images // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +23.1% (250 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,330
--- Employment in 2023: 1,080
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $60,390
Kanghophoto // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Financial Managers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +23.3% (2,600 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 13,750
--- Employment in 2023: 11,150
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $137,530
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wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Production Workers, All Other
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +23.4% (1,320 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 6,970
--- Employment in 2023: 5,650
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $40,770
DC Studio // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Database Administrators
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +24.3% (270 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,380
--- Employment in 2023: 1,110
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $98,920
Photographee.eu // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Interior Designers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +24.5% (230 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,170
--- Employment in 2023: 940
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $61,360
Chay_Tee // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Tax Preparers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +24.7% (220 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,110
--- Employment in 2023: 890
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $46,010
Finist4 // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Manicurists and Pedicurists
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +24.9% (440 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,210
--- Employment in 2023: 1,770
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $34,180
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Nomad_Soul // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Bakers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +24.9% (870 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 4,360
--- Employment in 2023: 3,490
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $36,620
Noin90650 // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine Repairers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +25.3% (220 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,090
--- Employment in 2023: 870
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $42,930
Indypendenz // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +25.8% (320 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,560
--- Employment in 2023: 1,240
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $36,500
worradirek // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Helpers--Production Workers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +27.2% (920 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 4,300
--- Employment in 2023: 3,380
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $43,690
M2020 // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Helpers--Electricians
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +28.4% (250 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,130
--- Employment in 2023: 880
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $45,750
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encierro // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +28.9% (240 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,070
--- Employment in 2023: 830
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $36,100
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Managers, All Other
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +30.9% (3,280 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 13,910
--- Employment in 2023: 10,630
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $105,690
dokurose // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Sales Managers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +31.9% (2,020 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 8,360
--- Employment in 2023: 6,340
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $134,560
PIYAWAT WONGOPASS // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Computer Programmers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +32.5% (740 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 3,020
--- Employment in 2023: 2,280
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $109,580
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +32.6% (440 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,790
--- Employment in 2023: 1,350
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $27,600
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Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +32.9% (2,260 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 9,120
--- Employment in 2023: 6,860
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $78,510
Jat306 // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Millwrights
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +32.9% (260 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,050
--- Employment in 2023: 790
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $76,730
zhu difeng // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +33.9% (830 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 3,280
--- Employment in 2023: 2,450
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $36,240
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +34.5% (300 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,170
--- Employment in 2023: 870
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $49,930
Aleksandar Karanov // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Occupational Health and Safety Specialists
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +34.8% (490 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,900
--- Employment in 2023: 1,410
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $79,560
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Dagmara_K // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +35.8% (380 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,440
--- Employment in 2023: 1,060
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $57,990
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Phlebotomists
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +35.9% (1,010 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 3,820
--- Employment in 2023: 2,810
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $45,230
fizkes // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. New Accounts Clerks
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +37.8% (540 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,970
--- Employment in 2023: 1,430
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $47,150
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Material Moving Workers, All Other
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +40.0% (340 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,190
--- Employment in 2023: 850
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $30,620
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Food Service Managers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +40.3% (1,690 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 5,880
--- Employment in 2023: 4,190
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $56,510
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Toa55 // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Occupational Therapy Assistants
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +40.7% (330 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,140
--- Employment in 2023: 810
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $58,400
fizkes // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Marketing Managers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +43.1% (1,100 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 3,650
--- Employment in 2023: 2,550
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $131,110
M2020 // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +124.2% (820 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,480
--- Employment in 2023: 660
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $79,440
Atstock Productions // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Telemarketers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +178.2% (1,390 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,170
--- Employment in 2023: 780
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $32,280
Alena Veasey // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Cooks, Fast Food
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +300.9% (7,070 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 9,420
--- Employment in 2023: 2,350
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $28,400
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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