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Employment projections by occupational group 2014–24
December 30, 2015
Between 2014 and 2024, U.S. employment is projected to increase by about 9.8 million – equal to a growth rate of 6.5 percent. Healthcare support occupations and healthcare practitioners and technical occupations are projected to be the two fastest growing occupational groups, adding a combined 2.3 million jobs, about 1 in 4 new jobs. Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations are expected to grow 16.4 percent adding 1,348,100 jobs over the 10-year span. They also were among the highest paying occupations with 2014 median annual wages of $61,710. Healthcare support occupations are expected to add 974,200 jobs (+23.0 percent) and had a 2014 median wage of $26,440.
Projected change in employment and median annual wage by occupational group, 2014–24
Occupational Group
Projected employment percent change, 2014–24
Median annual wage, 2014
Projected employment change, 2014–24
Management
5.5%
$97,230
505,400
Business and financial operations
8.4
64,790
632,400
Computer and mathematical
13.1
79,420
531,400
Architecture and engineering
2.7
75,780
67,200
Life, physical, and social science
7.4
61,450
97,600
Community and social service
10.5
41,290
257,700
Legal
5.1
76,860
64,600
Education, training, and library
7.6
46,660
697,600
Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media
4.1
45,180
107,500
Healthcare practitioners and technical
16.4
61,710
1,348,100
Healthcare support
23.0
26,440
974,200
Protective service
4.5
37,180
153,900
Food preparation and serving related
6.5
19,130
812,900
Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance
6.2
23,270
349,800
Personal care and service
13.2
21,260
792,100
Sales and related
5.0
25,360
778,000
Office and administrative support
2.0
32,520
466,500
Farming, fishing, and forestry
-5.9
20,250
-57,200
Construction and extraction
10.1
41,380
659,000
Installation, maintenance, and repair
6.4
42,110
365,500
Production
-3.1
31,720
-282,100
Transportation and material moving
4.8
29,530
466,800
In 2014, management occupations were the highest paying occupational group with a median annual wage of $97,230. These occupations are expected to add 505,400 jobs (+5.5 percent) over the next 10 years. Computer and mathematical occupations were the next highest paying group with a median wage of $79,420. They are also projected to be among the largest sources of job growth, adding 531,400 jobs from 2014 to 2024, an increase of 13.1 percent. Food preparation and serving related occupations ($19,130) and personal care and service occupations ($21,260) were the lowest paying occupational groups. Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations (-5.9 percent) and production occupations (-3.1 percent) are the only occupational groups projected to lose jobs. Both of these groups also had median wages that were lower than the median wage of $35,540 for all workers in 2014.
United States Department of Labor
