Fastest-growing jobs in Wisconsin
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 Wisconsin. 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 Wisconsin.
#50. Career/technical education teachers, secondary school
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +18.6% (210 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,340
--- Employment in 2022: 1,130
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $68,350
#49. Farm equipment mechanics and service technicians
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +19.0% (230 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,440
--- Employment in 2022: 1,210
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $52,010
#48. First-line supervisors of personal service workers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +19.5% (830 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 5,080
--- Employment in 2022: 4,250
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $44,400
#47. Helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +20.3% (260 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,540
--- Employment in 2022: 1,280
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $34,500
#46. Kindergarten teachers, except special education
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +20.5% (400 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 2,350
--- Employment in 2022: 1,950
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $58,750
#45. School psychologists
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +20.7% (240 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,400
--- Employment in 2022: 1,160
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $80,000
#44. Fast food and counter workers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +21.0% (11,510 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 66,280
--- Employment in 2022: 54,770
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $27,860
#43. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +22.1% (880 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 4,860
--- Employment in 2022: 3,980
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $28,960
#42. Teachers and instructors, all other
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +22.3% (270 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,480
--- Employment in 2022: 1,210
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $59,990
#41. Financial managers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +22.5% (2,050 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 11,150
--- Employment in 2022: 9,100
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $133,430
#40. Education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycare
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +24.2% (230 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,180
--- Employment in 2022: 950
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $49,800
#39. Managers, all other
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +25.5% (2,160 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 10,630
--- Employment in 2022: 8,470
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $106,610
#38. Payroll and timekeeping clerks
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +25.7% (640 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 3,130
--- Employment in 2022: 2,490
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $51,050
#37. Bus drivers, transit and intercity
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +26.8% (560 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 2,650
--- Employment in 2022: 2,090
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $49,390
#36. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +28.1% (390 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,780
--- Employment in 2022: 1,390
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $95,740
#35. Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +28.2% (720 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 3,270
--- Employment in 2022: 2,550
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $60,780
#34. Industrial engineering technologists and technicians
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +28.4% (590 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 2,670
--- Employment in 2022: 2,080
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $61,680
#33. Operations research analysts
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +28.9% (800 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 3,570
--- Employment in 2022: 2,770
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $78,320
#32. Surgeons, all other
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +28.9% (240 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,070
--- Employment in 2022: 830
--- Median annual salary in 2023: Data unavailable
#31. Machinists
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +29.0% (2,380 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 10,590
--- Employment in 2022: 8,210
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $47,200
#30. Architects, except landscape and naval
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +29.8% (370 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,610
--- Employment in 2022: 1,240
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $88,340
#29. Medical equipment preparers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +30.1% (280 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,210
--- Employment in 2022: 930
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $44,880
#28. Special education teachers, middle school
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +30.3% (460 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,980
--- Employment in 2022: 1,520
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $60,930
#27. Real estate sales agents
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +30.3% (980 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 4,210
--- Employment in 2022: 3,230
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $48,040
#26. General internal medicine physicians
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +30.6% (330 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,410
--- Employment in 2022: 1,080
--- Median annual salary in 2023: Data unavailable
#25. Sales engineers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +32.1% (420 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,730
--- Employment in 2022: 1,310
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $104,310
#24. Microbiologists
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +34.1% (280 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,100
--- Employment in 2022: 820
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $70,180
#23. Training and development specialists
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +34.2% (2,350 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 9,230
--- Employment in 2022: 6,880
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $62,440
#22. Massage therapists
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +34.4% (440 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,720
--- Employment in 2022: 1,280
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $55,950
#21. Legal secretaries and administrative assistants
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +34.5% (390 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,520
--- Employment in 2022: 1,130
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $46,030
#20. Coaches and scouts
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +35.5% (1,400 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 5,340
--- Employment in 2022: 3,940
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $39,790
#19. Compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +35.5% (590 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 2,250
--- Employment in 2022: 1,660
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $61,200
#18. Skincare specialists
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +37.2% (350 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,290
--- Employment in 2022: 940
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $30,700
#17. Software quality assurance analysts and testers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +38.8% (990 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 3,540
--- Employment in 2022: 2,550
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $82,100
#16. Tutors
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +40.6% (520 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,800
--- Employment in 2022: 1,280
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $33,370
#15. Sheet metal workers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +41.3% (930 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 3,180
--- Employment in 2022: 2,250
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $63,190
#14. Computer occupations, all other
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +41.6% (1,930 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 6,570
--- Employment in 2022: 4,640
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $81,660
#13. Budget analysts
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +41.9% (310 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,050
--- Employment in 2022: 740
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $76,590
#12. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +42.0% (1,940 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 6,560
--- Employment in 2022: 4,620
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $22,460
#11. Occupational health and safety specialists
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +42.4% (420 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,410
--- Employment in 2022: 990
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $78,790
#10. Biological technicians
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +44.0% (480 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,570
--- Employment in 2022: 1,090
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $48,910
#9. First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +46.8% (370 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,160
--- Employment in 2022: 790
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $80,510
#8. Chefs and head cooks
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +50.7% (690 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 2,050
--- Employment in 2022: 1,360
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $59,160
#7. Ophthalmic medical technicians
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +50.9% (550 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,630
--- Employment in 2022: 1,080
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $48,220
#6. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +52.9% (360 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,040
--- Employment in 2022: 680
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $56,470
#5. Emergency medicine physicians
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +53.4% (550 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,580
--- Employment in 2022: 1,030
--- Median annual salary in 2023: Data unavailable
#4. Tree trimmers and pruners
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +56.2% (500 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,390
--- Employment in 2022: 890
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $46,800
#3. Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +59.0% (590 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,590
--- Employment in 2022: 1,000
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $79,500
#2. Security and fire alarm systems installers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +83.3% (500 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,100
--- Employment in 2022: 600
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $57,450
#1. Cargo and freight agents
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +83.7% (720 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,580
--- Employment in 2022: 860
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $51,380
This story features data reporting and writing by Wade Zhou and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.
