Fastest-growing jobs in Colorado
Stacker // Canva
Fastest-growing jobs in Colorado
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 Colorado. 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 Colorado.
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
#50. Medical and health services managers
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +18.0% (1,250 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 8,180
— Employment in 2022: 6,930
— Median annual salary in 2023: $125,840
Canva
#49. Automotive and watercraft service attendants
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +18.1% (410 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 2,680
— Employment in 2022: 2,270
— Median annual salary in 2023: $36,240
Canva
#48. Photographers
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +18.1% (190 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 1,240
— Employment in 2022: 1,050
— Median annual salary in 2023: $43,980
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
#47. Installation, maintenance, and repair workers, all other
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +18.2% (580 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 3,770
— Employment in 2022: 3,190
— Median annual salary in 2023: $47,630
fizkes // Shutterstock
#46. Compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +18.3% (260 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 1,680
— Employment in 2022: 1,420
— Median annual salary in 2023: $80,340
Roman Samborskyi // Shutterstock
#45. Software quality assurance analysts and testers
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +18.4% (1,000 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 6,430
— Employment in 2022: 5,430
— Median annual salary in 2023: $115,940
Motortion Films // Shutterstock
#44. Personal care and service workers, all other
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +18.6% (160 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 1,020
— Employment in 2022: 860
— Median annual salary in 2023: $40,620
Hitdelight // Shutterstock
#43. Architectural and civil drafters
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +18.7% (510 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 3,240
— Employment in 2022: 2,730
— Median annual salary in 2023: $71,120
SritanaN // Shutterstock
#42. Industrial machinery mechanics
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +19.1% (890 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 5,560
— Employment in 2022: 4,670
— Median annual salary in 2023: $68,380
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
#41. Securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +19.8% (1,730 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 10,450
— Employment in 2022: 8,720
— Median annual salary in 2023: $76,480
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#40. Dishwashers
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +19.9% (1,440 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 8,680
— Employment in 2022: 7,240
— Median annual salary in 2023: $35,820
fizkes // Shutterstock
#39. Management analysts
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +19.9% (2,180 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 13,130
— Employment in 2022: 10,950
— Median annual salary in 2023: $94,750
4 PM production // Shutterstock
#38. Flight attendants
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +20.0% (1,010 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 6,070
— Employment in 2022: 5,060
— Median annual salary in 2023: $50,120
ALPA PROD // Shutterstock
#37. Medical secretaries and administrative assistants
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +20.0% (1,960 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 11,750
— Employment in 2022: 9,790
— Median annual salary in 2023: $40,210
aboutsung // Shutterstock
#36. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +20.9% (1,300 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 7,530
— Employment in 2022: 6,230
— Median annual salary in 2023: $33,800
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
#35. First-line supervisors of entertainment and recreation workers, except gambling services
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +21.6% (530 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 2,980
— Employment in 2022: 2,450
— Median annual salary in 2023: $49,960
G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock
#34. Production, planning, and expediting clerks
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +22.1% (990 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 5,470
— Employment in 2022: 4,480
— Median annual salary in 2023: $59,360
goodluz // Shutterstock
#33. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +22.4% (360 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 1,970
— Employment in 2022: 1,610
— Median annual salary in 2023: $120,290
LuckView // Shutterstock
#32. Cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +22.4% (300 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 1,640
— Employment in 2022: 1,340
— Median annual salary in 2023: $45,440
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
#31. Purchasing managers
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +23.8% (200 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 1,040
— Employment in 2022: 840
— Median annual salary in 2023: $153,980
Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock
#30. Amusement and recreation attendants
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +24.7% (1,860 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 9,380
— Employment in 2022: 7,520
— Median annual salary in 2023: $33,440
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
#29. Office and administrative support workers, all other
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +24.8% (330 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 1,660
— Employment in 2022: 1,330
— Median annual salary in 2023: $44,630
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
#28. Financial clerks, all other
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +25.0% (390 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 1,950
— Employment in 2022: 1,560
— Median annual salary in 2023: $49,910
fizkes // Shutterstock
#27. First-line supervisors of personal service workers
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +25.2% (600 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 2,980
— Employment in 2022: 2,380
— Median annual salary in 2023: $46,680
Nature’s Charm // Shutterstock
#26. Food preparation and serving related workers, all other
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +25.3% (500 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 2,480
— Employment in 2022: 1,980
— Median annual salary in 2023: $35,250
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
#25. Lodging managers
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +25.3% (210 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 1,040
— Employment in 2022: 830
— Median annual salary in 2023: $97,760
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#24. Drywall and ceiling tile installers
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +26.8% (380 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 1,800
— Employment in 2022: 1,420
— Median annual salary in 2023: $60,130
Stock Rocket // Shutterstock
#23. Life, physical, and social science technicians, all other
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +27.5% (280 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 1,300
— Employment in 2022: 1,020
— Median annual salary in 2023: $58,870
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
#22. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +28.8% (960 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 4,290
— Employment in 2022: 3,330
— Median annual salary in 2023: $37,190
Sunshine Seeds // Shutterstock
#21. Industrial production managers
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +29.0% (360 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 1,600
— Employment in 2022: 1,240
— Median annual salary in 2023: $135,370
Quality Stock Arts // Shutterstock
#20. Facilities managers
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +31.0% (450 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 1,900
— Employment in 2022: 1,450
— Median annual salary in 2023: $109,060
Martin Smith // Shutterstock
#19. Parking attendants
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +33.3% (440 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 1,760
— Employment in 2022: 1,320
— Median annual salary in 2023: $36,180
Canva
#18. Psychology teachers, postsecondary
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +33.8% (260 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 1,030
— Employment in 2022: 770
— Median annual salary in 2023: $77,180
Canva
#17. Exercise trainers and group fitness instructors
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +34.1% (2,520 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 9,910
— Employment in 2022: 7,390
— Median annual salary in 2023: $46,800
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
#16. Phlebotomists
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +34.6% (560 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 2,180
— Employment in 2022: 1,620
— Median annual salary in 2023: $45,450
Canva
#15. Mechanical engineers
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +35.0% (1,840 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 7,100
— Employment in 2022: 5,260
— Median annual salary in 2023: $101,700
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
#14. Fundraisers
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +35.5% (710 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 2,710
— Employment in 2022: 2,000
— Median annual salary in 2023: $68,990
aappp // Shutterstock
#13. Aircraft service attendants
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +35.8% (340 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 1,290
— Employment in 2022: 950
— Median annual salary in 2023: $43,510
Rido // Shutterstock
#12. Social workers, all other
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +36.1% (690 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 2,600
— Employment in 2022: 1,910
— Median annual salary in 2023: $52,150
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
#11. Childcare workers
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +37.6% (3,010 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 11,010
— Employment in 2022: 8,000
— Median annual salary in 2023: $37,690
Jason Person // Shutterstock
#10. Cooks, short order
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +38.0% (600 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 2,180
— Employment in 2022: 1,580
— Median annual salary in 2023: $34,980
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
#9. Paramedics
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +38.7% (670 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 2,400
— Employment in 2022: 1,730
— Median annual salary in 2023: $62,290
Gerain0812 // Shutterstock
#8. Surgical technologists
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +38.9% (650 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 2,320
— Employment in 2022: 1,670
— Median annual salary in 2023: $63,430
Undrey // Shutterstock
#7. Financial and investment analysts
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +39.8% (2,410 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 8,460
— Employment in 2022: 6,050
— Median annual salary in 2023: $97,570
DGLimages // Shutterstock
#6. Community and social service specialists, all other
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +40.7% (1,320 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 4,560
— Employment in 2022: 3,240
— Median annual salary in 2023: $51,200
Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock
#5. Social and community service managers
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +41.6% (670 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 2,280
— Employment in 2022: 1,610
— Median annual salary in 2023: $95,050
Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock
#4. Telecommunications line installers and repairers
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +47.9% (570 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 1,760
— Employment in 2022: 1,190
— Median annual salary in 2023: $62,650
Atstock Productions // Shutterstock
#3. Telemarketers
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +48.6% (540 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 1,650
— Employment in 2022: 1,110
— Median annual salary in 2023: $44,910
Chaay_Tee // Shutterstock
#2. Data scientists
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +66.9% (2,370 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 5,910
— Employment in 2022: 3,540
— Median annual salary in 2023: $111,970
Canva
#1. Semiconductor processing technicians
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +67.6% (460 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 1,140
— Employment in 2022: 680
— Median annual salary in 2023: $48,090
This story features data reporting and writing by Wade Zhou and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.
