Fastest-growing jobs in Utah
With the country eager to put the pandemic firmly in the rear-view mirror, the American economy continued to boom in 2023. The national unemployment rate remained around 3.6%, while the total number of people employed grew to roughly 152 million, up from 148 million in 2022.
The economy has seen several significant changes in recent years. Many people are leaving expensive coastal states such as California and New York and moving to more affordable places in the Mountain West region and the South, buoyed by companies that have embraced remote work. What's more, in a reversal of past trends, wages grew the fastest for lower-earning workers.
Stacker analyzed jobs data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics to determine the fastest-growing jobs in Utah. Occupations were ranked by the percentage increase in employment between 2022 and 2023. 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 Utah.
#50. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +18.1% (210 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,370
--- Employment in 2022: 1,160
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $30,550
#49. Cement masons and concrete finishers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +18.2% (750 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 4,880
--- Employment in 2022: 4,130
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $52,690
#48. Instructional coordinators
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +18.4% (480 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 3,090
--- Employment in 2022: 2,610
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $59,780
#47. Construction managers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +18.4% (570 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 3,660
--- Employment in 2022: 3,090
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $95,960
#46. Driver/sales workers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +19.2% (510 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 3,170
--- Employment in 2022: 2,660
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $32,550
#45. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +20.1% (430 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 2,570
--- Employment in 2022: 2,140
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $62,030
#44. Physicians, all other
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +20.7% (510 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 2,970
--- Employment in 2022: 2,460
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $172,530
#43. First-line supervisors of entertainment and recreation workers, except gambling services
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +21.2% (220 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,260
--- Employment in 2022: 1,040
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $46,380
#42. Waiters and waitresses
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +21.5% (3,080 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 17,400
--- Employment in 2022: 14,320
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $31,860
#41. Computer and information systems managers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +21.5% (1,310 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 7,400
--- Employment in 2022: 6,090
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $164,670
#40. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +21.8% (1,190 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 6,650
--- Employment in 2022: 5,460
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $57,790
#39. Interior designers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +22.0% (200 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,110
--- Employment in 2022: 910
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $56,050
#38. Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +22.2% (700 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 3,850
--- Employment in 2022: 3,150
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $62,870
#37. Paramedics
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +22.6% (190 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,030
--- Employment in 2022: 840
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $59,940
#36. Education administrators, postsecondary
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +22.7% (480 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 2,590
--- Employment in 2022: 2,110
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $104,680
#35. Healthcare social workers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +22.8% (370 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,990
--- Employment in 2022: 1,620
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $67,880
#34. Firefighters
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +23.3% (520 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 2,750
--- Employment in 2022: 2,230
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $46,180
#33. Social and community service managers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +23.6% (300 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,570
--- Employment in 2022: 1,270
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $66,040
#32. Financial specialists, all other
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +24.4% (290 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,480
--- Employment in 2022: 1,190
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $63,180
#31. Human resources managers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +24.5% (370 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,880
--- Employment in 2022: 1,510
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $115,400
#30. Child, family, and school social workers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +25.4% (360 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,780
--- Employment in 2022: 1,420
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $47,010
#29. Food preparation workers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +26.1% (1,490 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 7,190
--- Employment in 2022: 5,700
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $31,590
#28. Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +26.5% (390 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,860
--- Employment in 2022: 1,470
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $62,840
#27. Dentists, general
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +26.6% (330 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,570
--- Employment in 2022: 1,240
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $127,570
#26. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +28.6% (480 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 2,160
--- Employment in 2022: 1,680
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $65,780
#25. Managers, all other
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +28.7% (1,120 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 5,020
--- Employment in 2022: 3,900
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $118,320
#24. Extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +32.1% (260 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,070
--- Employment in 2022: 810
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $41,620
#23. Slaughterers and meat packers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +32.2% (280 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,150
--- Employment in 2022: 870
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $36,820
#22. Recreation workers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +32.8% (1,350 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 5,470
--- Employment in 2022: 4,120
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $30,850
#21. Marketing managers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +33.5% (1,710 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 6,820
--- Employment in 2022: 5,110
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $128,760
#20. Natural sciences managers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +34.5% (300 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,170
--- Employment in 2022: 870
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $106,740
#19. Mental health and substance abuse social workers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +36.6% (370 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,380
--- Employment in 2022: 1,010
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $46,040
#18. Amusement and recreation attendants
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +36.9% (1,520 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 5,640
--- Employment in 2022: 4,120
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $26,640
#17. Tutors
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +39.1% (450 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,600
--- Employment in 2022: 1,150
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $34,800
#16. Architectural and engineering managers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +40.2% (660 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 2,300
--- Employment in 2022: 1,640
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $144,180
#15. Career/technical education teachers, postsecondary
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +46.2% (790 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 2,500
--- Employment in 2022: 1,710
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $51,170
#14. Print binding and finishing workers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +47.1% (320 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,000
--- Employment in 2022: 680
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $36,310
#13. Emergency medical technicians
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +47.7% (520 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,610
--- Employment in 2022: 1,090
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $37,250
#12. Industrial engineers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +49.1% (1,420 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 4,310
--- Employment in 2022: 2,890
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $102,770
#11. Advertising sales agents
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +49.3% (340 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,030
--- Employment in 2022: 690
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $59,030
#10. Exercise trainers and group fitness instructors
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +49.7% (1,730 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 5,210
--- Employment in 2022: 3,480
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $47,840
#9. Financial and investment analysts
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +58.3% (1,610 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 4,370
--- Employment in 2022: 2,760
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $82,050
#8. Public relations specialists
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +60.4% (960 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 2,550
--- Employment in 2022: 1,590
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $51,170
#7. Plasterers and stucco masons
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +63.2% (600 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,550
--- Employment in 2022: 950
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $50,480
#6. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +64.2% (1,580 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 4,040
--- Employment in 2022: 2,460
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $27,760
#5. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +65.3% (2,450 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 6,200
--- Employment in 2022: 3,750
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $55,850
#4. Special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +78.7% (1,070 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 2,430
--- Employment in 2022: 1,360
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $55,640
#3. Compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +79.8% (710 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,600
--- Employment in 2022: 890
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $52,660
#2. Dietitians and nutritionists
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +89.9% (620 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,310
--- Employment in 2022: 690
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $57,870
#1. Office and administrative support workers, all other
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +138.0% (1,090 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,880
--- Employment in 2022: 790
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $34,160
This story features data reporting and writing by Wade Zhou and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.