Fastest growing jobs in District of Columbia, 2024–34

Ranked by projected percent change in employment from 2024 to 2034 in District of Columbia. Percent growth favours small occupations, so the openings column is often the more useful number — a fast-growing job with few openings is harder to enter than a flat one with many.

State projections are produced by District of Columbia's own workforce agency and collected by Projections Central — the Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes projections only at the national level. Methodology varies by state, so these are not directly comparable with the national figures. Wages remain BLS OEWS.

Cost of living: prices in District of Columbia run 9.9% above the national average (2024), so a District of Columbia salary is worth about 0.91× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order. To see where a job pays a real premium, use jobs that pay more in District of Columbia.

Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Cost of living: BEA regional price parities, 2024

Find high paying jobs in District of Columbia

OccupationMedian, District of Columbia · Growth 2024–34

1Nurse Practitioners$135,880
Master's degree
$115,200 – $180,300+42.7%
2Physician Assistants$135,140
Master's degree
$84,520 – $213,560+25.5%
3Medical and Health Services Managers$155,140
Bachelor's degree
$95,860 – $227,270+22.5%
4Occupational Therapists$109,170
Master's degree
$81,760 – $129,810+21.6%
5Data Scientists$126,490
Bachelor's degree
$89,750 – $209,730+21.5%
6Home Health and Personal Care Aides$42,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,290 – $45,840+20.0%
7Physical Therapists$101,640
Doctoral or professional degree
$85,620 – $129,470+18.1%
8Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary$167,520
Doctoral or professional degree
$66,810 – $304,510+17.8%
9Medical Assistants$51,050
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,620 – $76,900+17.8%
10Stockers and Order Fillers$39,640
No formal educational credential
$37,800 – $50,010+16.3%
11Substitute Teachers, Short-Term$49,790
Bachelor's degree
$46,450 – $51,090+16.2%
12Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors$39,210
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,080 – $80,610+16.1%
13Cooks, Restaurant$46,130
No formal educational credential
$36,440 – $53,020+15.7%
14Operations Research Analysts$96,030
Bachelor's degree
$65,550 – $195,190+13.0%
15Electricians$78,970
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,950 – $125,790+12.5%
16Special Education Teachers, Secondary School$99,670
Bachelor's degree
$80,640 – $127,940+12.3%
17Information Security Analysts$135,090
Bachelor's degree
$86,280 – $189,510+12.3%
18Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$96,580
Bachelor's degree
$63,950 – $128,370+12.3%
19Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$79,900
Bachelor's degree
$59,860 – $108,730+12.3%
20Personal Financial Advisors$104,990
Bachelor's degree
$58,790 – $370,880+12.2%
21Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors$60,450
Master's degree
$43,060 – $107,980+12.1%
22Construction Managers$126,430
Bachelor's degree
$80,620 – $209,680+12.1%
23Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary$137,470
Master's degree
$100,350 – $176,490+11.9%
24Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors$80,470
Master's degree
$50,900 – $113,620+11.9%
25Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School$97,910
Bachelor's degree
$65,450 – $128,370+11.7%
26Driver/Sales Workers$41,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,400 – $57,650+11.6%
27Motor Vehicle Operators, All Other$69,870
No formal educational credential
$55,140 – $72,220+11.2%
28Construction Laborers$50,020
No formal educational credential
$37,190 – $72,320+10.9%
29Coaches and Scouts$65,360
Bachelor's degree
$36,400 – $136,000+10.6%
30General Internal Medicine Physicians$223,250
Doctoral or professional degree
$48,710 – $513,990+10.4%
31Crossing Guards and Flaggers$40,800
No formal educational credential
$36,400 – $47,210+10.3%
32Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education$62,150
Associate's degree
$40,240 – $108,270+10.1%
33Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary$46,920
Some college, no degree
$38,370 – $58,100+9.9%
34Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers$73,310
Master's degree
$57,940 – $115,500+9.6%
35Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$82,750
Bachelor's degree
$50,750 – $128,170+9.6%
36Food Service Managers$81,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$74,000 – $134,630+9.3%
37Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists$54,570
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,400 – $130,950+9.1%
38Social and Human Service Assistants$59,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,930 – $86,090+8.8%
39Training and Development Specialists$80,980
Bachelor's degree
$38,570 – $135,040+8.8%
40Bakers$44,040
No formal educational credential
$38,720 – $51,430+8.6%
41Child, Family, and School Social Workers$73,550
Bachelor's degree
$53,020 – $113,440+8.5%
42First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$86,520
High school diploma or equivalent
$64,310 – $127,920+8.2%
43Chefs and Head Cooks$76,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,570 – $104,660+8.0%
44Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$75,740
Postsecondary nondegree award
$62,880 – $87,470+7.9%
45Healthcare Social Workers$94,100
Master's degree
$60,970 – $124,230+7.8%
46Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers$39,080
No formal educational credential
$36,400 – $58,830+7.7%
47First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$57,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,360 – $77,630+7.6%
48Business Teachers, Postsecondary$128,370
Doctoral or professional degree
$62,930 – $265,940+7.6%
49Self-Enrichment Teachers$66,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,470 – $96,380+7.4%
50Social and Community Service Managers$106,700
Bachelor's degree
$67,380 – $162,000+7.4%

Bars run from the 10th to the 90th percentile; the middle half is shaded darker, and the tick is the median.

#	Occupation	MedianDistrict of Columbia	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Growth 2024–34
1	Nurse PractitionersMaster's degree	$135,880	$115,200 – $180,300	+42.7%
2	Physician AssistantsMaster's degree	$135,140	$84,520 – $213,560	+25.5%
3	Medical and Health Services ManagersBachelor's degree	$155,140	$95,860 – $227,270	+22.5%
4	Occupational TherapistsMaster's degree	$109,170	$81,760 – $129,810	+21.6%
5	Data ScientistsBachelor's degree	$126,490	$89,750 – $209,730	+21.5%
6	Home Health and Personal Care AidesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$42,700	$38,290 – $45,840	+20.0%
7	Physical TherapistsDoctoral or professional degree	$101,640	$85,620 – $129,470	+18.1%
8	Health Specialties Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$167,520	$66,810 – $304,510	+17.8%
9	Medical AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award	$51,050	$39,620 – $76,900	+17.8%
10	Stockers and Order FillersNo formal educational credential	$39,640	$37,800 – $50,010	+16.3%
11	Substitute Teachers, Short-TermBachelor's degree	$49,790	$46,450 – $51,090	+16.2%
12	Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness InstructorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$39,210	$37,080 – $80,610	+16.1%
13	Cooks, RestaurantNo formal educational credential	$46,130	$36,440 – $53,020	+15.7%
14	Operations Research AnalystsBachelor's degree	$96,030	$65,550 – $195,190	+13.0%
15	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,970	$51,950 – $125,790	+12.5%
16	Special Education Teachers, Secondary SchoolBachelor's degree	$99,670	$80,640 – $127,940	+12.3%
17	Information Security AnalystsBachelor's degree	$135,090	$86,280 – $189,510	+12.3%
18	Elementary School Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$96,580	$63,950 – $128,370	+12.3%
19	Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$79,900	$59,860 – $108,730	+12.3%
20	Personal Financial AdvisorsBachelor's degree	$104,990	$58,790 – $370,880	+12.2%
21	Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health CounselorsMaster's degree	$60,450	$43,060 – $107,980	+12.1%
22	Construction ManagersBachelor's degree	$126,430	$80,620 – $209,680	+12.1%
23	Education Administrators, Kindergarten through SecondaryMaster's degree	$137,470	$100,350 – $176,490	+11.9%
24	Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and AdvisorsMaster's degree	$80,470	$50,900 – $113,620	+11.9%
25	Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary SchoolBachelor's degree	$97,910	$65,450 – $128,370	+11.7%
26	Driver/Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$41,600	$36,400 – $57,650	+11.6%
27	Motor Vehicle Operators, All OtherNo formal educational credential	$69,870	$55,140 – $72,220	+11.2%
28	Construction LaborersNo formal educational credential	$50,020	$37,190 – $72,320	+10.9%
29	Coaches and ScoutsBachelor's degree	$65,360	$36,400 – $136,000	+10.6%
30	General Internal Medicine PhysiciansDoctoral or professional degree	$223,250	$48,710 – $513,990	+10.4%
31	Crossing Guards and FlaggersNo formal educational credential	$40,800	$36,400 – $47,210	+10.3%
32	Preschool Teachers, Except Special EducationAssociate's degree	$62,150	$40,240 – $108,270	+10.1%
33	Teaching Assistants, Except PostsecondarySome college, no degree	$46,920	$38,370 – $58,100	+9.9%
34	Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social WorkersMaster's degree	$73,310	$57,940 – $115,500	+9.6%
35	Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$82,750	$50,750 – $128,170	+9.6%
36	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,680	$74,000 – $134,630	+9.3%
37	Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and CosmetologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$54,570	$36,400 – $130,950	+9.1%
38	Social and Human Service AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,460	$40,930 – $86,090	+8.8%
39	Training and Development SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$80,980	$38,570 – $135,040	+8.8%
40	BakersNo formal educational credential	$44,040	$38,720 – $51,430	+8.6%
41	Child, Family, and School Social WorkersBachelor's degree	$73,550	$53,020 – $113,440	+8.5%
42	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$86,520	$64,310 – $127,920	+8.2%
43	Chefs and Head CooksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,420	$56,570 – $104,660	+8.0%
44	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$75,740	$62,880 – $87,470	+7.9%
45	Healthcare Social WorkersMaster's degree	$94,100	$60,970 – $124,230	+7.8%
46	Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender HelpersNo formal educational credential	$39,080	$36,400 – $58,830	+7.7%
47	First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,170	$40,360 – $77,630	+7.6%
48	Business Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$128,370	$62,930 – $265,940	+7.6%
49	Self-Enrichment TeachersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,430	$49,470 – $96,380	+7.4%
50	Social and Community Service ManagersBachelor's degree	$106,700	$67,380 – $162,000	+7.4%

More for District of Columbia

Metro areas in District of Columbia

Pay varies more between metros than between states — the spread inside one state is often wider than the gap between two.

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria

By field in District of Columbia

Without a degree

The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in District of Columbia to rank honestly.

Fastest growing jobs in District of Columbia, 2024–34

More for District of Columbia

Metro areas in District of Columbia

By field in District of Columbia

Without a degree

Fastest growing jobs in each state, 2024–34