Fastest growing jobs in Massachusetts, 2024–34

Ranked by projected percent change in employment from 2024 to 2034 in Massachusetts. 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 Massachusetts'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 Massachusetts run 5.8% above the national average (2024), so a Massachusetts salary is worth about 0.95× 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 Massachusetts.

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

Find high paying jobs in Massachusetts

OccupationMedian, Massachusetts · Growth 2024–34

1Nurse Practitioners$142,440
Master's degree
$111,950 – $207,710+35.1%
2Data Scientists$131,750
Bachelor's degree
$81,030 – $206,220+25.7%
3Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators$46,850
No formal educational credential
$39,850 – $57,410+21.7%
4Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary$85,130
Doctoral or professional degree
$62,200 – $138,240+20.7%
5Information Security Analysts$136,550
Bachelor's degree
$85,790 – $226,190+20.4%
6Medical and Health Services Managers$134,360
Bachelor's degree
$84,330 – $296,030+20.4%
7Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary$134,520
Doctoral or professional degree
$65,910 – $333,290+20.4%
8Physical Therapist Assistants$79,460
Associate's degree
$62,030 – $88,280+18.5%
9Epidemiologists$115,890
Master's degree
$81,380 – $212,890+18.4%
10Physician Assistants$142,410
Master's degree
$65,220 – $204,140+18.2%
11Taxi Drivers$35,270
No formal educational credential
$32,830 – $37,440+17.5%
12Industrial Machinery Mechanics$72,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,230 – $98,350+17.1%
13Logisticians$100,360
Bachelor's degree
$67,100 – $160,320+16.6%
14Operations Research Analysts$96,500
Bachelor's degree
$71,550 – $146,000+16.6%
15Psychiatric Technicians$52,000
Postsecondary nondegree award
$40,140 – $66,330+16.3%
16Occupational Therapy Assistants$75,040
Associate's degree
$42,120 – $82,180+16.3%
17Computer and Information Research Scientists$170,510
Master's degree
$77,160 – $233,340+15.5%
18Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers$81,670
Postsecondary nondegree award
$59,710 – $102,920+15.5%
19Light Truck Drivers$48,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,700 – $75,340+14.6%
20Ophthalmic Medical Technicians$49,750
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,480 – $80,220+14.5%
21Cooks, Restaurant$45,600
No formal educational credential
$36,540 – $58,590+14.3%
22Speech-Language Pathologists$101,310
Master's degree
$71,030 – $129,730+14.2%
23Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors$59,890
Master's degree
$43,180 – $96,200+14.0%
24Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors$64,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,110 – $105,390+14.0%
25Animal Caretakers$39,650
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,910 – $64,060+13.9%
26Actuaries$126,040
Bachelor's degree
$83,660 – $179,750+13.7%
27Stockers and Order Fillers$37,540
No formal educational credential
$33,380 – $48,610+13.7%
28Couriers and Messengers$42,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,560 – $56,510+13.4%
29Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$110,210
High school diploma or equivalent
$81,470 – $127,620+13.3%
30Occupational Health and Safety Specialists$103,970
Bachelor's degree
$68,490 – $153,770+13.2%
31Home Health and Personal Care Aides$40,910
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,960 – $46,700+12.8%
32Athletic Trainers$70,010
Master's degree
$50,560 – $104,850+12.7%
33Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary$134,850
Doctoral or professional degree
$80,700 – $275,340+12.1%
34Massage Therapists$63,390
Postsecondary nondegree award
$40,420 – $104,510+12.1%
35Cargo and Freight Agents$58,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,240 – $75,860+12.0%
36Financial Examiners$111,110
Bachelor's degree
$68,520 – $187,910+11.8%
37Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs$43,590
No formal educational credential
$35,830 – $55,930+11.7%
38Occupational Therapists$100,930
Master's degree
$73,140 – $127,380+11.6%
39Electricians$79,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,990 – $128,210+11.6%
40Financial Managers$206,760
Bachelor's degree
$120,850 – $332,490+11.4%
41Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles$79,280
No formal educational credential
$61,320 – $123,030+11.3%
42Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars$81,420
Associate's degree
$63,320 – $122,980+11.2%
43Construction Managers$145,010
Bachelor's degree
$104,100 – $216,920+10.9%
44Tour and Travel Guides$37,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,510 – $50,960+10.5%
45Respiratory Therapists$102,170
Associate's degree
$80,330 – $123,930+10.4%
46Flight Attendants$61,510
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,730 – $99,390+10.2%
47Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling$89,450
Bachelor's degree
$55,540 – $132,740+10.2%
48Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$107,480
Associate's degree
$89,190 – $133,480+10.1%
49Training and Development Specialists$80,270
Bachelor's degree
$41,790 – $129,670+10.1%
50Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels$77,950
Postsecondary nondegree award
$50,960 – $127,720+10.0%

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

#	Occupation	MedianMassachusetts	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Growth 2024–34
1	Nurse PractitionersMaster's degree	$142,440	$111,950 – $207,710	+35.1%
2	Data ScientistsBachelor's degree	$131,750	$81,030 – $206,220	+25.7%
3	Industrial Truck and Tractor OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$46,850	$39,850 – $57,410	+21.7%
4	Nursing Instructors and Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$85,130	$62,200 – $138,240	+20.7%
5	Information Security AnalystsBachelor's degree	$136,550	$85,790 – $226,190	+20.4%
6	Medical and Health Services ManagersBachelor's degree	$134,360	$84,330 – $296,030	+20.4%
7	Health Specialties Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$134,520	$65,910 – $333,290	+20.4%
8	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$79,460	$62,030 – $88,280	+18.5%
9	EpidemiologistsMaster's degree	$115,890	$81,380 – $212,890	+18.4%
10	Physician AssistantsMaster's degree	$142,410	$65,220 – $204,140	+18.2%
11	Taxi DriversNo formal educational credential	$35,270	$32,830 – $37,440	+17.5%
12	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,840	$49,230 – $98,350	+17.1%
13	LogisticiansBachelor's degree	$100,360	$67,100 – $160,320	+16.6%
14	Operations Research AnalystsBachelor's degree	$96,500	$71,550 – $146,000	+16.6%
15	Psychiatric TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$52,000	$40,140 – $66,330	+16.3%
16	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$75,040	$42,120 – $82,180	+16.3%
17	Computer and Information Research ScientistsMaster's degree	$170,510	$77,160 – $233,340	+15.5%
18	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool ProgrammersPostsecondary nondegree award	$81,670	$59,710 – $102,920	+15.5%
19	Light Truck DriversHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,110	$34,700 – $75,340	+14.6%
20	Ophthalmic Medical TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$49,750	$38,480 – $80,220	+14.5%
21	Cooks, RestaurantNo formal educational credential	$45,600	$36,540 – $58,590	+14.3%
22	Speech-Language PathologistsMaster's degree	$101,310	$71,030 – $129,730	+14.2%
23	Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health CounselorsMaster's degree	$59,890	$43,180 – $96,200	+14.0%
24	Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness InstructorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,620	$36,110 – $105,390	+14.0%
25	Animal CaretakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$39,650	$32,910 – $64,060	+13.9%
26	ActuariesBachelor's degree	$126,040	$83,660 – $179,750	+13.7%
27	Stockers and Order FillersNo formal educational credential	$37,540	$33,380 – $48,610	+13.7%
28	Couriers and MessengersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$42,380	$35,560 – $56,510	+13.4%
29	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$110,210	$81,470 – $127,620	+13.3%
30	Occupational Health and Safety SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$103,970	$68,490 – $153,770	+13.2%
31	Home Health and Personal Care AidesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$40,910	$36,960 – $46,700	+12.8%
32	Athletic TrainersMaster's degree	$70,010	$50,560 – $104,850	+12.7%
33	Engineering Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$134,850	$80,700 – $275,340	+12.1%
34	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,390	$40,420 – $104,510	+12.1%
35	Cargo and Freight AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,680	$49,240 – $75,860	+12.0%
36	Financial ExaminersBachelor's degree	$111,110	$68,520 – $187,910	+11.8%
37	Shuttle Drivers and ChauffeursNo formal educational credential	$43,590	$35,830 – $55,930	+11.7%
38	Occupational TherapistsMaster's degree	$100,930	$73,140 – $127,380	+11.6%
39	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,420	$46,990 – $128,210	+11.6%
40	Financial ManagersBachelor's degree	$206,760	$120,850 – $332,490	+11.4%
41	Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard TilesNo formal educational credential	$79,280	$61,320 – $123,030	+11.3%
42	Health Information Technologists and Medical RegistrarsAssociate's degree	$81,420	$63,320 – $122,980	+11.2%
43	Construction ManagersBachelor's degree	$145,010	$104,100 – $216,920	+10.9%
44	Tour and Travel GuidesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$37,840	$33,510 – $50,960	+10.5%
45	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$102,170	$80,330 – $123,930	+10.4%
46	Flight AttendantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,510	$31,730 – $99,390	+10.2%
47	Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except GamblingBachelor's degree	$89,450	$55,540 – $132,740	+10.2%
48	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$107,480	$89,190 – $133,480	+10.1%
49	Training and Development SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$80,270	$41,790 – $129,670	+10.1%
50	Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water VesselsPostsecondary nondegree award	$77,950	$50,960 – $127,720	+10.0%

More for Massachusetts

Metro areas in Massachusetts

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

By field in Massachusetts

Without a degree

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

Fastest growing jobs in Massachusetts, 2024–34

More for Massachusetts

Metro areas in Massachusetts

By field in Massachusetts

Without a degree

Fastest growing jobs in each state, 2024–34