Fastest-growing jobs in Texas
Stacker // Canva
Fastest-growing jobs in Texas
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 Texas. 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 Texas.
Roman023_photography // Shutterstock
#50. Riggers
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +39.7% (1,580 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 5,560
— Employment in 2022: 3,980
— Median annual salary in 2023: $49,880
DenisKlimov // Shutterstock
#49. Aircraft cargo handling supervisors
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +40.7% (480 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 1,660
— Employment in 2022: 1,180
— Median annual salary in 2023: $53,770
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
#48. Production workers, all other
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +41.7% (3,130 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 10,640
— Employment in 2022: 7,510
— Median annual salary in 2023: $35,640
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
#47. Financial clerks, all other
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +41.9% (1,990 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 6,740
— Employment in 2022: 4,750
— Median annual salary in 2023: $49,600
Canva
#46. Occupational therapy assistants
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +42.4% (1,810 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 6,080
— Employment in 2022: 4,270
— Median annual salary in 2023: $75,000
Canva
#45. Bus drivers, transit and intercity
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +42.5% (3,270 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 10,970
— Employment in 2022: 7,700
— Median annual salary in 2023: $47,980
ded pixto // Shutterstock
#44. Wellhead pumpers
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +42.8% (3,460 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 11,550
— Employment in 2022: 8,090
— Median annual salary in 2023: $74,970
fizkes // Shutterstock
#43. Management analysts
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +45.2% (15,840 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 50,900
— Employment in 2022: 35,060
— Median annual salary in 2023: $95,760
Goldsithney // Shutterstock
#42. Psychiatric technicians
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +45.3% (3,060 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 9,820
— Employment in 2022: 6,760
— Median annual salary in 2023: $37,070
Canva
#41. Anesthesiologists
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +45.7% (430 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 1,370
— Employment in 2022: 940
— Median annual salary in 2023: $186,430
Roschetzky Photography // Shutterstock
#40. Food cooking machine operators and tenders
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +45.9% (1,110 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 3,530
— Employment in 2022: 2,420
— Median annual salary in 2023: $30,010
KSai23 // Shutterstock
#39. Chiropractors
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +46.2% (1,080 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 3,420
— Employment in 2022: 2,340
— Median annual salary in 2023: $77,770
Stock Rocket // Shutterstock
#38. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +48.9% (17,940 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 54,660
— Employment in 2022: 36,720
— Median annual salary in 2023: $84,480
LaKirr // Shutterstock
#37. Extraction workers, all other
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +49.2% (580 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 1,760
— Employment in 2022: 1,180
— Median annual salary in 2023: $44,570
Chaay_Tee // Shutterstock
#36. Data scientists
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +49.2% (6,780 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 20,560
— Employment in 2022: 13,780
— Median annual salary in 2023: $100,100
DGLimages // Shutterstock
#35. Special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +50.0% (8,000 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 23,990
— Employment in 2022: 15,990
— Median annual salary in 2023: $63,300
Milton Rodriguez // Shutterstock
#34. Prepress technicians and workers
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +50.4% (590 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 1,760
— Employment in 2022: 1,170
— Median annual salary in 2023: $38,070
THINK A // Shutterstock
#33. Building cleaning workers, all other
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +51.5% (350 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 1,030
— Employment in 2022: 680
— Median annual salary in 2023: $38,470
Canva
#32. Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +51.9% (3,830 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 11,210
— Employment in 2022: 7,380
— Median annual salary in 2023: $26,300
Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock
#31. Electronic equipment installers and repairers, motor vehicles
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +54.9% (390 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 1,100
— Employment in 2022: 710
— Median annual salary in 2023: $48,730
Canva
#30. Camera operators, television, video, and film
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +55.2% (530 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 1,490
— Employment in 2022: 960
— Median annual salary in 2023: $62,700
rezoff // Shutterstock
#29. Plant and system operators, all other
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +57.5% (1,450 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 3,970
— Employment in 2022: 2,520
— Median annual salary in 2023: $43,990
Anze Furlan // Shutterstock
#28. Morticians, undertakers, and funeral arrangers
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +59.7% (430 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 1,150
— Employment in 2022: 720
— Median annual salary in 2023: $29,320
Stoyan Yotov // Shutterstock
#27. Coil winders, tapers, and finishers
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +60.0% (450 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 1,200
— Employment in 2022: 750
— Median annual salary in 2023: $35,290
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
#26. Cooks, all other
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +65.9% (830 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 2,090
— Employment in 2022: 1,260
— Median annual salary in 2023: $30,420
Nature’s Charm // Shutterstock
#25. Food preparation and serving related workers, all other
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +66.2% (3,190 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 8,010
— Employment in 2022: 4,820
— Median annual salary in 2023: $26,520
Komsan Loonprom // Shutterstock
#24. Cardiologists
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +66.7% (460 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 1,150
— Employment in 2022: 690
— Median annual salary in 2023: Data unavailable
Igor Kardasov // Shutterstock
#23. Captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +69.8% (1,780 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 4,330
— Employment in 2022: 2,550
— Median annual salary in 2023: $116,960
Canva
#22. Education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycare
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +70.7% (2,680 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 6,470
— Employment in 2022: 3,790
— Median annual salary in 2023: $47,820
Martynova Anna // Shutterstock
#21. Career/technical education teachers, middle school
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +71.7% (1,090 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 2,610
— Employment in 2022: 1,520
— Median annual salary in 2023: $63,010
Andrei Agape // Shutterstock
#20. Avionics technicians
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +72.3% (860 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 2,050
— Employment in 2022: 1,190
— Median annual salary in 2023: $78,640
APChanel // Shutterstock
#19. Transportation workers, all other
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +72.7% (480 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 1,140
— Employment in 2022: 660
— Median annual salary in 2023: $33,080
Olena Yakobchuk // Shutterstock
#18. Airfield operations specialists
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +75.0% (900 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 2,100
— Employment in 2022: 1,200
— Median annual salary in 2023: $78,810
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
#17. Actors
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +78.6% (440 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 1,000
— Employment in 2022: 560
— Median annual salary in 2023: Data unavailable
Suteren // Shutterstock
#16. Dietetic technicians
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +86.4% (760 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 1,640
— Employment in 2022: 880
— Median annual salary in 2023: $28,970
Canva
#15. Nurse anesthetists
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +87.2% (2,510 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 5,390
— Employment in 2022: 2,880
— Median annual salary in 2023: $196,540
Motortion Films // Shutterstock
#14. Entertainment and recreation managers, except gambling
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +88.1% (1,040 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 2,220
— Employment in 2022: 1,180
— Median annual salary in 2023: $72,690
Canva
#13. Semiconductor processing technicians
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +88.2% (3,360 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 7,170
— Employment in 2022: 3,810
— Median annual salary in 2023: $35,960
Canva
#12. Barbers
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +97.8% (1,320 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 2,670
— Employment in 2022: 1,350
— Median annual salary in 2023: $36,670
Motortion Films // Shutterstock
#11. Personal care and service workers, all other
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +107.1% (750 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 1,450
— Employment in 2022: 700
— Median annual salary in 2023: $28,330
Nagy-Bagoly Arpad // Shutterstock
#10. Insulation workers, floor, ceiling, and wall
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +108.8% (2,470 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 4,740
— Employment in 2022: 2,270
— Median annual salary in 2023: $45,590
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
#9. Food processing workers, all other
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +132.9% (3,680 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 6,450
— Employment in 2022: 2,770
— Median annual salary in 2023: $37,460
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
#8. Exercise physiologists
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +144.4% (650 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 1,100
— Employment in 2022: 450
— Median annual salary in 2023: $64,090
Canva
#7. Athletes and sports competitors
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +148.6% (1,650 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 2,760
— Employment in 2022: 1,110
— Median annual salary in 2023: $193,000
aappp // Shutterstock
#6. Aircraft service attendants
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +159.1% (1,480 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 2,410
— Employment in 2022: 930
— Median annual salary in 2023: $37,710
curraheeshutter // Shutterstock
#5. Ship engineers
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +170.5% (750 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 1,190
— Employment in 2022: 440
— Median annual salary in 2023: $118,490
Canva
#4. Sailors and marine oilers
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +173.9% (3,460 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 5,450
— Employment in 2022: 1,990
— Median annual salary in 2023: $61,660
Canva
#3. Passenger attendants
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +179.8% (2,320 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 3,610
— Employment in 2022: 1,290
— Median annual salary in 2023: $33,200
Dmytro Sheremeta // Shutterstock
#2. Locker room, coatroom, and dressing room attendants
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +290.0% (870 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 1,170
— Employment in 2022: 300
— Median annual salary in 2023: $18,000
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
#1. Material moving workers, all other
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +357.1% (1,750 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 2,240
— Employment in 2022: 490
— Median annual salary in 2023: $37,440
This story features data reporting and writing by Wade Zhou and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.
