
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.
#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
#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
#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

#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

#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

#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

#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
#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

#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

#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

#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

#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

#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

#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

#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

#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

#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
#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

#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

#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
#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

#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
#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

#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
#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

#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

#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

#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

#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

#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

#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
#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

#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
#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

#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

#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

#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
#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
#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
#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
#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
#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

#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
#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

#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

#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

#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

#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
#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

#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.