Fastest-growing jobs in Michigan

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 Michigan. 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 Michigan.

#50. Special education teachers, secondary school

– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +28.7% (510 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 2,290
— Employment in 2022: 1,780
— Median annual salary in 2023: $70,700

#49. Grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic

– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +28.8% (1,240 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 5,540
— Employment in 2022: 4,300
— Median annual salary in 2023: $42,970

#48. Slaughterers and meat packers

– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +29.5% (310 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 1,360
— Employment in 2022: 1,050
— Median annual salary in 2023: $39,790

#47. Psychology teachers, postsecondary

– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +29.9% (230 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 1,000
— Employment in 2022: 770
— Median annual salary in 2023: $96,330

#46. Clinical and counseling psychologists

– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +29.9% (580 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 2,520
— Employment in 2022: 1,940
— Median annual salary in 2023: $77,530

#45. Educational instruction and library workers, all other

– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +30.0% (850 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 3,680
— Employment in 2022: 2,830
— Median annual salary in 2023: $46,540

#44. Civil engineering technologists and technicians

– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +30.1% (550 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 2,380
— Employment in 2022: 1,830
— Median annual salary in 2023: $56,330

#43. News analysts, reporters, and journalists

– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +30.8% (240 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 1,020
— Employment in 2022: 780
— Median annual salary in 2023: $46,030

#42. Tax preparers

– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +32.0% (630 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 2,600
— Employment in 2022: 1,970
— Median annual salary in 2023: $57,080

#41. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products

– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +32.9% (1,960 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 7,920
— Employment in 2022: 5,960
— Median annual salary in 2023: $116,940

#40. Computer network support specialists

– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +34.0% (700 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 2,760
— Employment in 2022: 2,060
— Median annual salary in 2023: $63,550

#39. Advertising sales agents

– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +34.2% (930 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 3,650
— Employment in 2022: 2,720
— Median annual salary in 2023: $63,920

#38. Farm equipment mechanics and service technicians

– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +34.6% (280 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 1,090
— Employment in 2022: 810
— Median annual salary in 2023: $48,220

#37. Metal-refining furnace operators and tenders

– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +36.0% (320 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 1,210
— Employment in 2022: 890
— Median annual salary in 2023: $41,710

#36. Gambling dealers

– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +37.0% (780 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 2,890
— Employment in 2022: 2,110
— Median annual salary in 2023: $38,750

#35. Lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic

– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +37.1% (660 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 2,440
— Employment in 2022: 1,780
— Median annual salary in 2023: $46,800

#34. Manicurists and pedicurists

– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +39.2% (310 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 1,100
— Employment in 2022: 790
— Median annual salary in 2023: $32,460

#33. Sales and related workers, all other

– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +39.6% (610 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 2,150
— Employment in 2022: 1,540
— Median annual salary in 2023: $36,520

#32. Skincare specialists

– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +39.8% (450 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 1,580
— Employment in 2022: 1,130
— Median annual salary in 2023: $50,600

#31. Milling and planing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic

– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +40.6% (560 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 1,940
— Employment in 2022: 1,380
— Median annual salary in 2023: $40,630

#30. Interior designers

– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +40.6% (650 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 2,250
— Employment in 2022: 1,600
— Median annual salary in 2023: $62,500

#29. Library technicians

– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +40.8% (690 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 2,380
— Employment in 2022: 1,690
— Median annual salary in 2023: $31,540

#28. Computer hardware engineers

– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +42.3% (470 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 1,580
— Employment in 2022: 1,110
— Median annual salary in 2023: $115,610

#27. Separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders

– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +44.6% (500 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 1,620
— Employment in 2022: 1,120
— Median annual salary in 2023: $42,970

#26. Sales engineers

– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +44.9% (970 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 3,130
— Employment in 2022: 2,160
— Median annual salary in 2023: $100,920

#25. Logisticians

– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +45.6% (3,620 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 11,560
— Employment in 2022: 7,940
— Median annual salary in 2023: $77,810

#24. Paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators

– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +47.9% (790 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 2,440
— Employment in 2022: 1,650
— Median annual salary in 2023: $50,490

#23. Family medicine physicians

– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +48.1% (1,110 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 3,420
— Employment in 2022: 2,310
— Median annual salary in 2023: $162,940

#22. Rehabilitation counselors

– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +48.4% (1,320 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 4,050
— Employment in 2022: 2,730
— Median annual salary in 2023: $39,590

#21. Cooks, fast food

– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +50.3% (3,650 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 10,910
— Employment in 2022: 7,260
— Median annual salary in 2023: $28,400

#20. Career/technical education teachers, postsecondary

– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +51.9% (1,120 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 3,280
— Employment in 2022: 2,160
— Median annual salary in 2023: $60,300

#19. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door

– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +52.2% (1,070 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 3,120
— Employment in 2022: 2,050
— Median annual salary in 2023: $82,100

#18. Kindergarten teachers, except special education

– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +52.9% (550 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 1,590
— Employment in 2022: 1,040
— Median annual salary in 2023: $61,680

#17. Brickmasons and blockmasons

– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +53.3% (960 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 2,760
— Employment in 2022: 1,800
— Median annual salary in 2023: $61,290

#16. Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers

– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +55.0% (660 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 1,860
— Employment in 2022: 1,200
— Median annual salary in 2023: $26,070

#15. Glaziers

– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +56.7% (550 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 1,520
— Employment in 2022: 970
— Median annual salary in 2023: $51,190

#14. Septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners

– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +58.9% (530 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 1,430
— Employment in 2022: 900
— Median annual salary in 2023: $47,460

#13. Medical scientists, except epidemiologists

– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +61.9% (1,330 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 3,480
— Employment in 2022: 2,150
— Median annual salary in 2023: $80,370

#12. Health education specialists

– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +64.2% (790 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 2,020
— Employment in 2022: 1,230
— Median annual salary in 2023: $49,590

#11. Food preparation and serving related workers, all other

– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +64.9% (480 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 1,220
— Employment in 2022: 740
— Median annual salary in 2023: $32,570

#10. Gambling change persons and booth cashiers

– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +66.2% (470 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 1,180
— Employment in 2022: 710
— Median annual salary in 2023: $35,750

#9. Career/technical education teachers, secondary school

– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +68.4% (540 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 1,330
— Employment in 2022: 790
— Median annual salary in 2023: $76,200

#8. Psychiatric technicians

– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +69.0% (2,200 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 5,390
— Employment in 2022: 3,190
— Median annual salary in 2023: $37,240

#7. Welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders

– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +74.6% (1,560 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 3,650
— Employment in 2022: 2,090
— Median annual salary in 2023: $40,680

#6. Cooks, short order

– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +74.7% (710 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 1,660
— Employment in 2022: 950
— Median annual salary in 2023: $28,110

#5. Mechanical door repairers

– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +75.4% (460 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 1,070
— Employment in 2022: 610
— Median annual salary in 2023: $45,970

#4. Cleaning, washing, and metal pickling equipment operators and tenders

– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +75.9% (440 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 1,020
— Employment in 2022: 580
— Median annual salary in 2023: $40,960

#3. Craft artists

– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +98.2% (560 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 1,130
— Employment in 2022: 570
— Median annual salary in 2023: $25,620

#2. Special education teachers, all other

– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +119.2% (1,550 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 2,850
— Employment in 2022: 1,300
— Median annual salary in 2023: $78,920

#1. Tree trimmers and pruners

– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +124.1% (1,750 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 3,160
— Employment in 2022: 1,410
— Median annual salary in 2023: $47,590

This story features data reporting and writing by Wade Zhou and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.