Fastest-growing jobs in Washington DC
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 Washington D.C. 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 Washington D.C.
#50. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +5.5% (60 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,150
--- Employment in 2022: 1,090
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $67,700
#49. Teachers and instructors, all other
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +5.9% (60 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,080
--- Employment in 2022: 1,020
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $81,200
#48. Logisticians
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +5.9% (70 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,250
--- Employment in 2022: 1,180
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $105,330
#47. Medical and health services managers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +6.1% (110 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,900
--- Employment in 2022: 1,790
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $144,350
#46. Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +6.6% (90 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,460
--- Employment in 2022: 1,370
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $130,770
#45. Special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +7.0% (80 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,230
--- Employment in 2022: 1,150
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $82,040
#44. Stockers and order fillers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +7.1% (220 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 3,320
--- Employment in 2022: 3,100
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $38,670
#43. Accountants and auditors
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +7.9% (830 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 11,310
--- Employment in 2022: 10,480
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $101,940
#42. General and operations managers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +7.9% (2,540 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 34,580
--- Employment in 2022: 32,040
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $162,990
#41. Software developers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +9.1% (710 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 8,470
--- Employment in 2022: 7,760
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $140,360
#40. Network and computer systems administrators
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +11.0% (170 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,710
--- Employment in 2022: 1,540
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $110,140
#39. Child, family, and school social workers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +11.9% (310 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 2,920
--- Employment in 2022: 2,610
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $73,560
#38. Human resources managers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +11.9% (230 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 2,160
--- Employment in 2022: 1,930
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $171,220
#37. Chefs and head cooks
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +12.7% (200 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,770
--- Employment in 2022: 1,570
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $69,410
#36. Cooks, institution and cafeteria
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +12.8% (170 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,500
--- Employment in 2022: 1,330
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $43,200
#35. First-line supervisors of food preparation and serving workers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +13.4% (400 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 3,390
--- Employment in 2022: 2,990
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $57,520
#34. Computer network architects
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +13.7% (140 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,160
--- Employment in 2022: 1,020
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $133,890
#33. Carpenters
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +14.7% (150 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,170
--- Employment in 2022: 1,020
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $63,290
#32. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +15.6% (510 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 3,780
--- Employment in 2022: 3,270
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $38,890
#31. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +15.9% (2,010 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 14,640
--- Employment in 2022: 12,630
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $37,660
#30. Meeting, convention, and event planners
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +16.2% (320 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 2,300
--- Employment in 2022: 1,980
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $69,990
#29. Sales managers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +16.5% (230 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,620
--- Employment in 2022: 1,390
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $138,680
#28. Operations research analysts
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +16.8% (320 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 2,230
--- Employment in 2022: 1,910
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $109,990
#27. Preschool teachers, except special education
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +17.2% (330 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 2,250
--- Employment in 2022: 1,920
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $49,030
#26. First-line supervisors of housekeeping and janitorial workers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +17.4% (230 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,550
--- Employment in 2022: 1,320
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $52,710
#25. Fundraisers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +17.6% (360 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 2,410
--- Employment in 2022: 2,050
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $78,150
#24. Physicians, all other
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +17.8% (190 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,260
--- Employment in 2022: 1,070
--- Median annual salary in 2023: Data unavailable
#23. Education administrators, postsecondary
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +18.5% (250 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,600
--- Employment in 2022: 1,350
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $110,100
#22. Public relations managers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +20.4% (1,390 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 8,220
--- Employment in 2022: 6,830
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $183,500
#21. Marketing managers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +21.1% (580 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 3,330
--- Employment in 2022: 2,750
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $156,750
#20. Social science research assistants
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +21.3% (420 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 2,390
--- Employment in 2022: 1,970
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $65,460
#19. Cooks, fast food
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +25.6% (410 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 2,010
--- Employment in 2022: 1,600
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $35,250
#18. Legal support workers, all other
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +26.0% (390 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,890
--- Employment in 2022: 1,500
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $79,710
#17. Waiters and waitresses
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +30.6% (2,730 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 11,640
--- Employment in 2022: 8,910
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $37,390
#16. News analysts, reporters, and journalists
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +31.2% (590 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 2,480
--- Employment in 2022: 1,890
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $86,130
#15. Retail salespersons
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +33.7% (1,170 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 4,640
--- Employment in 2022: 3,470
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $37,380
#14. Middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +34.0% (330 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,300
--- Employment in 2022: 970
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $78,660
#13. Web and digital interface designers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +34.1% (310 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,220
--- Employment in 2022: 910
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $104,410
#12. Medical assistants
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +35.1% (670 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 2,580
--- Employment in 2022: 1,910
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $48,710
#11. Fast food and counter workers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +35.6% (2,210 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 8,420
--- Employment in 2022: 6,210
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $37,010
#10. Social and human service assistants
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +38.6% (340 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,220
--- Employment in 2022: 880
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $55,750
#9. Concierges
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +38.8% (810 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 2,900
--- Employment in 2022: 2,090
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $36,110
#8. Medical secretaries and administrative assistants
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +39.0% (530 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,890
--- Employment in 2022: 1,360
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $47,800
#7. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +50.0% (1,050 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 3,150
--- Employment in 2022: 2,100
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $36,010
#6. Securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +50.9% (580 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,720
--- Employment in 2022: 1,140
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $60,400
#5. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +51.8% (1,130 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 3,310
--- Employment in 2022: 2,180
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $74,270
#4. Cooks, restaurant
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +53.6% (2,430 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 6,960
--- Employment in 2022: 4,530
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $38,120
#3. Health technologists and technicians, all other
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +59.2% (450 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,210
--- Employment in 2022: 760
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $54,700
#2. Health specialties teachers, postsecondary
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +76.4% (680 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,570
--- Employment in 2022: 890
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $123,360
#1. Political science teachers, postsecondary
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +115.5% (670 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,250
--- Employment in 2022: 580
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $93,290
This story features data reporting and writing by Wade Zhou and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.
