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 Rhode Island. 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 Rhode Island.
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
#50. Substitute teachers, short-term
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +3.6% (40 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 1,140
— Employment in 2022: 1,100
— Median annual salary in 2023: $41,530
Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock
#48. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +3.8% (90 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 2,430
— Employment in 2022: 2,340
— Median annual salary in 2023: $77,750
fizkes // Shutterstock
#48. Management analysts
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +3.8% (150 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 4,050
— Employment in 2022: 3,900
— Median annual salary in 2023: $84,990
sculpies // Shutterstock
#47. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +4.7% (100 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 2,230
— Employment in 2022: 2,130
— Median annual salary in 2023: $93,470
Kzenon // Shutterstock
#46. Training and development specialists
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +4.7% (50 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 1,110
— Employment in 2022: 1,060
— Median annual salary in 2023: $69,720
GLRL // Shutterstock
#45. Buyers and purchasing agents
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +4.7% (70 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 1,550
— Employment in 2022: 1,480
— Median annual salary in 2023: $77,570
ALPA PROD // Shutterstock
#44. Medical secretaries and administrative assistants
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +4.8% (80 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 1,760
— Employment in 2022: 1,680
— Median annual salary in 2023: $47,000
4 PM production // Shutterstock
#43. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +4.8% (70 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 1,530
— Employment in 2022: 1,460
— Median annual salary in 2023: $77,810
Canva
#42. Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +4.8% (350 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 7,640
— Employment in 2022: 7,290
— Median annual salary in 2023: $37,760
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
#41. Public relations specialists
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +5.7% (70 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 1,290
— Employment in 2022: 1,220
— Median annual salary in 2023: $68,730
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
#40. Miscellaneous assemblers and fabricators
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +5.8% (150 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 2,730
— Employment in 2022: 2,580
— Median annual salary in 2023: $37,050
Canva
#39. Firefighters
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +6.1% (100 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 1,730
— Employment in 2022: 1,630
— Median annual salary in 2023: $65,590
Canva
#38. Home health and personal care aides
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +6.2% (470 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 8,040
— Employment in 2022: 7,570
— Median annual salary in 2023: $37,960
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
#37. Maids and housekeeping cleaners
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +6.7% (180 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 2,860
— Employment in 2022: 2,680
— Median annual salary in 2023: $34,440
Canva
#36. Cooks, institution and cafeteria
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +6.8% (70 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 1,100
— Employment in 2022: 1,030
— Median annual salary in 2023: $44,220
Canva
#35. Maintenance and repair workers, general
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +7.0% (320 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 4,900
— Employment in 2022: 4,580
— Median annual salary in 2023: $50,280
Vitpho // Shutterstock
#34. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +7.3% (230 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 3,370
— Employment in 2022: 3,140
— Median annual salary in 2023: $58,700
Canva
#33. Dishwashers
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +7.4% (150 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 2,190
— Employment in 2022: 2,040
— Median annual salary in 2023: $33,280
pio3 // Shutterstock
#32. Police and sheriff’s patrol officers
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +7.4% (130 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 1,890
— Employment in 2022: 1,760
— Median annual salary in 2023: $76,060
Canva
#31. Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +7.4% (90 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 1,300
— Employment in 2022: 1,210
— Median annual salary in 2023: $111,070
Canva
#30. Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +8.1% (150 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 2,000
— Employment in 2022: 1,850
— Median annual salary in 2023: $58,980
Canva
#29. Stockers and order fillers
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +8.3% (540 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 7,010
— Employment in 2022: 6,470
— Median annual salary in 2023: $36,920
Shift Drive // Shutterstock
#28. Computer user support specialists
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +8.7% (180 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 2,250
— Employment in 2022: 2,070
— Median annual salary in 2023: $62,130
Canva
#27. General and operations managers
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +9.5% (670 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 7,710
— Employment in 2022: 7,040
— Median annual salary in 2023: $122,240
Canva
#26. Painters, construction and maintenance
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +9.8% (90 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 1,010
— Employment in 2022: 920
— Median annual salary in 2023: $48,060
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
#25. Paralegals and legal assistants
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +9.8% (130 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 1,450
— Employment in 2022: 1,320
— Median annual salary in 2023: $68,190
Canva
#24. Bakers
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +12.3% (150 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 1,370
— Employment in 2022: 1,220
— Median annual salary in 2023: $31,250
New Africa // Shutterstock
#23. Receptionists and information clerks
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +12.5% (610 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 5,500
— Employment in 2022: 4,890
— Median annual salary in 2023: $37,710
nullplus // Shutterstock
#22. Light truck drivers
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +12.7% (420 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 3,720
— Employment in 2022: 3,300
— Median annual salary in 2023: $42,600
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
#21. Project management specialists
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +12.7% (390 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 3,450
— Employment in 2022: 3,060
— Median annual salary in 2023: $99,330
VH-studio // Shutterstock
#20. Educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +13.3% (140 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 1,190
— Employment in 2022: 1,050
— Median annual salary in 2023: $65,040
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
#19. Waiters and waitresses
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +16.0% (1,300 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 9,430
— Employment in 2022: 8,130
— Median annual salary in 2023: $31,940
ALPA PROD // Shutterstock
#18. First-line supervisors of transportation and material moving workers, except aircraft cargo handling supervisors
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +17.6% (220 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 1,470
— Employment in 2022: 1,250
— Median annual salary in 2023: $62,980
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
#17. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +18.1% (170 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 1,110
— Employment in 2022: 940
— Median annual salary in 2023: $76,840
Rido // Shutterstock
#16. Human resources specialists
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +19.1% (490 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 3,060
— Employment in 2022: 2,570
— Median annual salary in 2023: $65,000
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
#15. Medical and health services managers
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +20.1% (310 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 1,850
— Employment in 2022: 1,540
— Median annual salary in 2023: $122,940
Paul.J.West // Shutterstock
#14. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +21.8% (740 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 4,130
— Employment in 2022: 3,390
— Median annual salary in 2023: $37,500
BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock
#13. Fast food and counter workers
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +22.1% (2,470 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 13,660
— Employment in 2022: 11,190
— Median annual salary in 2023: $28,810
Canva
#12. Mechanical engineers
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +23.8% (290 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 1,510
— Employment in 2022: 1,220
— Median annual salary in 2023: $100,190
VH-studio // Shutterstock
#11. Child, family, and school social workers
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +25.3% (430 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 2,130
— Employment in 2022: 1,700
— Median annual salary in 2023: $64,920
Canva
#10. Packers and packagers, hand
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +34.6% (550 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 2,140
— Employment in 2022: 1,590
— Median annual salary in 2023: $30,150
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
#9. Dental assistants
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +35.0% (280 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 1,080
— Employment in 2022: 800
— Median annual salary in 2023: $47,120
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
#8. Insurance sales agents
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +38.0% (620 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 2,250
— Employment in 2022: 1,630
— Median annual salary in 2023: $77,120
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
#7. Childcare workers
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +40.1% (970 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 3,390
— Employment in 2022: 2,420
— Median annual salary in 2023: $35,170
Kzenon // Shutterstock
#6. Self-enrichment teachers
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +44.0% (440 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 1,440
— Employment in 2022: 1,000
— Median annual salary in 2023: $44,760
Aykut Erdogdu // Shutterstock
#5. Physical therapists
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +45.9% (390 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 1,240
— Employment in 2022: 850
— Median annual salary in 2023: $95,490
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
#4. Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +45.9% (450 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 1,430
— Employment in 2022: 980
— Median annual salary in 2023: $46,030
Canva
#3. Bartenders
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +47.1% (1,050 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 3,280
— Employment in 2022: 2,230
— Median annual salary in 2023: $28,600
Arjuna Kodisinghe // Shutterstock
#2. Computer network support specialists
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +62.1% (590 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 1,540
— Employment in 2022: 950
— Median annual salary in 2023: $138,570
Richard Thornton // Shutterstock
#1. School bus monitors
– Increase in employment 2022-2023: +85.0% (680 employees)
— Employment in 2023: 1,480
— Employment in 2022: 800
— Median annual salary in 2023: $42,590
This story features data reporting and writing by Wade Zhou and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.
