Fastest growing jobs in Washington, 2024–34

Ranked by projected percent change in employment from 2024 to 2034 in Washington. 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 Washington'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 Washington run 7.0% above the national average (2024), so a Washington salary is worth about 0.93× 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 Washington.

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

Find high paying jobs in Washington

OccupationMedian, Washington · Growth 2024–34

1Nurse Practitioners$156,100
Master's degree
$122,420 – $187,240+37.2%
2Occupational Therapy Assistants$77,590
Associate's degree
$62,960 – $88,250+30.8%
3Massage Therapists$87,360
Postsecondary nondegree award
$61,850 – $115,800+29.7%
4Information Security Analysts$154,940
Bachelor's degree
$96,730 – $211,720+29.4%
5Medical and Health Services Managers$145,290
Bachelor's degree
$88,970 – $282,250+28.3%
6Private Detectives and Investigators$64,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,060 – $104,220+27.9%
7Physician Assistants$164,360
Master's degree
$125,580 – $218,150+26.9%
8Ophthalmic Medical Technicians$48,840
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,840 – $79,300+24.5%
9Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$121,340
Associate's degree
$61,840 – $156,860+23.8%
10Physical Therapist Assistants$66,450
Associate's degree
$36,610 – $93,140+23.5%
11Personal Financial Advisors$114,050
Bachelor's degree
$58,650 – $344,850+22.6%
12Security Guards$47,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,720 – $68,390+22.5%
13Physical Therapists$105,950
Doctoral or professional degree
$78,300 – $137,560+22.0%
14Optometrists$157,560
Doctoral or professional degree
$103,880 – $217,900+21.5%
15Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers$72,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,050 – $99,350+21.5%
16Occupational Therapists$107,670
Master's degree
$83,110 – $135,290+21.4%
17Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other$64,340
Bachelor's degree
$42,640 – $99,340+20.7%
18Chiropractors$104,070
Doctoral or professional degree
$62,630 – $137,480+20.5%
19Athletic Trainers$63,750
Master's degree
$49,290 – $88,610+20.2%
20Veterinary Technologists and Technicians$59,740
Associate's degree
$46,390 – $77,300+20.1%
21Medical Assistants$59,290
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,540 – $74,200+20.0%
22Gambling Surveillance Officers and Gambling Investigators$45,740
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,650 – $62,190+19.9%
23Respiratory Therapists$101,130
Associate's degree
$76,080 – $127,520+19.8%
24Gambling Cage Workers$41,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,410 – $55,900+19.5%
25Gambling Dealers$58,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,700 – $132,370+19.4%
26Food Servers, Nonrestaurant$38,870
No formal educational credential
$35,050 – $50,910+19.2%
27Nursing Assistants$49,180
Postsecondary nondegree award
$42,500 – $62,660+19.0%
28Computer and Information Systems Managers$209,370
Bachelor's degree
$130,010 – $327,300+18.7%
29Fundraisers$79,000
Bachelor's degree
$51,110 – $120,060+18.7%
30First-Line Supervisors of Gambling Services Workers$77,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,610 – $102,010+18.6%
31Clergy$80,830
Bachelor's degree
$45,630 – $108,200+18.5%
32Financial Clerks, All Other$58,970
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,880 – $76,100+18.5%
33Epidemiologists$108,240
Master's degree
$82,980 – $159,730+18.4%
34Surgical Technologists$77,270
Postsecondary nondegree award
$55,270 – $103,690+17.7%
35Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$83,790
Associate's degree
$56,310 – $150,130+17.7%
36Community Health Workers$57,070
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,820 – $80,680+17.7%
37Medical Equipment Preparers$58,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,210 – $79,880+17.5%
38Registered Nurses$124,200
Bachelor's degree
$89,630 – $161,910+17.5%
39Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors$50,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,960 – $93,450+17.4%
40Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers$44,150
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,470 – $55,050+17.3%
41Recreational Therapists$77,860
Bachelor's degree
$61,070 – $108,200+17.3%
42Social and Community Service Managers$103,000
Bachelor's degree
$71,270 – $156,990+17.2%
43Personal Care and Service Workers, All Other$41,020
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,020 – $69,060+17.2%
44Gambling Change Persons and Booth Cashiers$38,640
No formal educational credential
$35,660 – $58,890+17.2%
45Dietitians and Nutritionists$84,220
Bachelor's degree
$62,100 – $108,010+17.2%
46Recreation Workers$44,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,660 – $59,790+17.1%
47Dental Hygienists$131,160
Associate's degree
$107,090 – $162,050+17.0%
48Veterinarians$160,510
Doctoral or professional degree
$97,140 – $265,600+16.4%
49Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Workers, All Other$80,730
Postsecondary nondegree award
$60,880 – $138,180+16.4%
50Crossing Guards and Flaggers$48,940
No formal educational credential
$40,280 – $78,430+16.2%

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

#	Occupation	MedianWashington	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Growth 2024–34
1	Nurse PractitionersMaster's degree	$156,100	$122,420 – $187,240	+37.2%
2	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$77,590	$62,960 – $88,250	+30.8%
3	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$87,360	$61,850 – $115,800	+29.7%
4	Information Security AnalystsBachelor's degree	$154,940	$96,730 – $211,720	+29.4%
5	Medical and Health Services ManagersBachelor's degree	$145,290	$88,970 – $282,250	+28.3%
6	Private Detectives and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,080	$43,060 – $104,220	+27.9%
7	Physician AssistantsMaster's degree	$164,360	$125,580 – $218,150	+26.9%
8	Ophthalmic Medical TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$48,840	$39,840 – $79,300	+24.5%
9	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$121,340	$61,840 – $156,860	+23.8%
10	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$66,450	$36,610 – $93,140	+23.5%
11	Personal Financial AdvisorsBachelor's degree	$114,050	$58,650 – $344,850	+22.6%
12	Security GuardsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,100	$37,720 – $68,390	+22.5%
13	Physical TherapistsDoctoral or professional degree	$105,950	$78,300 – $137,560	+22.0%
14	OptometristsDoctoral or professional degree	$157,560	$103,880 – $217,900	+21.5%
15	Security and Fire Alarm Systems InstallersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,950	$48,050 – $99,350	+21.5%
16	Occupational TherapistsMaster's degree	$107,670	$83,110 – $135,290	+21.4%
17	Community and Social Service Specialists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$64,340	$42,640 – $99,340	+20.7%
18	ChiropractorsDoctoral or professional degree	$104,070	$62,630 – $137,480	+20.5%
19	Athletic TrainersMaster's degree	$63,750	$49,290 – $88,610	+20.2%
20	Veterinary Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$59,740	$46,390 – $77,300	+20.1%
21	Medical AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award	$59,290	$46,540 – $74,200	+20.0%
22	Gambling Surveillance Officers and Gambling InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,740	$37,650 – $62,190	+19.9%
23	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$101,130	$76,080 – $127,520	+19.8%
24	Gambling Cage WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$41,720	$36,410 – $55,900	+19.5%
25	Gambling DealersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,700	$34,700 – $132,370	+19.4%
26	Food Servers, NonrestaurantNo formal educational credential	$38,870	$35,050 – $50,910	+19.2%
27	Nursing AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award	$49,180	$42,500 – $62,660	+19.0%
28	Computer and Information Systems ManagersBachelor's degree	$209,370	$130,010 – $327,300	+18.7%
29	FundraisersBachelor's degree	$79,000	$51,110 – $120,060	+18.7%
30	First-Line Supervisors of Gambling Services WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,350	$57,610 – $102,010	+18.6%
31	ClergyBachelor's degree	$80,830	$45,630 – $108,200	+18.5%
32	Financial Clerks, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,970	$48,880 – $76,100	+18.5%
33	EpidemiologistsMaster's degree	$108,240	$82,980 – $159,730	+18.4%
34	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$77,270	$55,270 – $103,690	+17.7%
35	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$83,790	$56,310 – $150,130	+17.7%
36	Community Health WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,070	$43,820 – $80,680	+17.7%
37	Medical Equipment PreparersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,830	$41,210 – $79,880	+17.5%
38	Registered NursesBachelor's degree	$124,200	$89,630 – $161,910	+17.5%
39	Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness InstructorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,830	$38,960 – $93,450	+17.4%
40	Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal CaretakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,150	$38,470 – $55,050	+17.3%
41	Recreational TherapistsBachelor's degree	$77,860	$61,070 – $108,200	+17.3%
42	Social and Community Service ManagersBachelor's degree	$103,000	$71,270 – $156,990	+17.2%
43	Personal Care and Service Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$41,020	$41,020 – $69,060	+17.2%
44	Gambling Change Persons and Booth CashiersNo formal educational credential	$38,640	$35,660 – $58,890	+17.2%
45	Dietitians and NutritionistsBachelor's degree	$84,220	$62,100 – $108,010	+17.2%
46	Recreation WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,890	$35,660 – $59,790	+17.1%
47	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$131,160	$107,090 – $162,050	+17.0%
48	VeterinariansDoctoral or professional degree	$160,510	$97,140 – $265,600	+16.4%
49	Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Workers, All OtherPostsecondary nondegree award	$80,730	$60,880 – $138,180	+16.4%
50	Crossing Guards and FlaggersNo formal educational credential	$48,940	$40,280 – $78,430	+16.2%

More for Washington

Metro areas in Washington

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

By field in Washington

Without a degree

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

Fastest growing jobs in Washington, 2024–34

More for Washington

Metro areas in Washington

By field in Washington

Without a degree

Fastest growing jobs in each state, 2024–34