Fastest-Growing Careers
Data Source: California Employment Development Department
| California Occupational Employment Projections 2002-2012 Occupations With the Fastest Growth [1] |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Occupation | Annual Averages (Number of openings) |
Percent Change (Number of openings) |
Median Annual Salary | Education/ Experience  BLS Training Level |
|
| Annual Averages (Number of openings) for 2002 [3] |
Annual Averages (Number of openings) for 2012 |
||||
| Dental Hygienists | 16,600 | 26,200 | 57.8% | $85,316 | Associate Degree |
| Dental Assistants | 42,700 | 67,100 | 57.1% | $33,408 | Moderate-Term OJT |
| Tapers | 9,200 | 14,400 | 56.5% | $43,973 | Moderate-Term OJT |
| Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers | 26,800 | 41,800 | 56.0% | $42,261 | Moderate-Term OJT |
| Tile and Marble Setters | 8,600 | 13,400 | 55.8% | $40,069 | Long-Term OJT |
| Network Systems and Data Communications Analysts | 20,300 | 31,600 | 55.7% | $66,273 | BA/BS Degree |
| Fitness Trainers and Aerobics Instructors | 24,000 | 35,700 | 48.8% | $30,798 | Post-Sec. VocEd |
| Self-Enrichment Education Teachers | 24,200 | 35,800 | 47.9% | $32,260 | Work Experience |
| Medical Assistants | 50,700 | 74,000 | 46.0% | $26,747 | Moderate-Term OJT |
| Helpers—Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons | 6,300 | 9,100 | 44.4% | $18,938 | Short-Term OJT |
| Home Health Aides | 38,300 | 55,300 | 44.4% | $18,855 | Short-Term OJT |
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | 6,100 | 8,800 | 44.3% | [2] | Master's Degree |
| Plasterers and Stucco Masons | 16,500 | 23,700 | 43.6% | $34,890 | Long-Term OJT |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 5,100 | 7,300 | 43.1% | [2] | Master's Degree |
| Computer Software Engineers, Systems Software | 52,100 | 74,500 | 43.0% | $88,072 | BA/BS Degree |
| Physical Therapists | 11,200 | 16,000 | 42.9% | $68,173 | Master's Degree |
| Database Administrators | 13,600 | 19,300 | 41.9% | $66,023 | BA/BS Degree |
| English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary | 5,300 | 7,500 | 41.5% | [2] | Doctoral Degree |
| Medical Records and Health Information Technicians | 15,000 | 21,200 | 41.3% | $28,084 | Associate Degree |
| Vocational Education Teachers, Postsecondary | 17,500 | 24,700 | 41.1% | $50,175 | Work Experience |
| Occupational Therapists | 6,100 | 8,600 | 41.0% | $63,392 | BA/BS Degree |
| Personal Financial Advisors | 12,300 | 17,300 | 40.7% | $63,559 | BA/BS Degree |
| Carpet Installers | 9,400 | 13,200 | 40.4% | $34,640 | Moderate-Term OJT |
| Respiratory Therapists | 9,400 | 13,100 | 39.4% | $48,671 | Associate Degree |
| Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers | 11,700 | 16,300 | 39.3% | $43,368 | Long-Term OJT |
| Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers | 23,800 | 33,100 | 39.1% | $39,609 | Long-Term OJT |
| Graduate Teaching Assistants | 26,800 | 37,200 | 38.8% | NA | BA/BS Degree |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | 37,400 | 51,900 | 38.8% | $31,821 | Moderate-Term OJT |
| Computer Software Engineers, Applications | 79,100 | 108,900 | 37.7% | $85,524 | BA/BS Degree |
| Fence Erectors | 5,600 | 7,700 | 37.5% | $21,277 | Moderate-Term OJT |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | 33,500 | 45,900 | 37.0% | $63,809 | BA/BS Degree |
| Personal and Home Care Aides | 31,600 | 43,000 | 36.1% | $18,019 | Short-Term OJT |
| Surgical Technologists | 8,600 | 11,700 | 36.1% | $37,187 | Post-Sec. VocEd |
| Special Education Teachers, Middle School | 5,600 | 7,600 | 35.7% | [2] | BA/BS Degree |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | 36,000 | 48,700 | 35.3% | $104,964 | BA/BS + Experience |
| Social and Human Service Assistants | 27,300 | 36,800 | 34.8% | $28,230 | Moderate-Term OJT |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | 9,800 | 13,200 | 34.7% | $64,540 | Doctoral Degree |
| Special Education Teachers, Secondary School | 9,900 | 13,300 | 34.3% | [2] | BA/BS Degree |
| Management Analysts | 53,300 | 71,600 | 34.3% | $69,384 | BA/BS + Experience |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | 75,500 | 101,400 | 34.3% | $62,932 | Long-Term OJT |
| Sales Managers | 41,000 | 55,000 | 34.2% | $93,146 | BA/BS + Experience |
| Electricians | 53,700 | 72,000 | 34.1% | $46,437 | Long-Term OJT |
| Computer Systems Analysts | 52,800 | 70,600 | 33.7% | $69,092 | BA/BS Degree |
| Pharmacists | 20,700 | 27,500 | 32.9% | $94,294 | Professional Degree |
| Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics | 13,700 | 18,100 | 32.1% | $25,390 | Post-Sec. VocEd |
| Special Education Teachers, Preschool, Kindergarten, and Elementary School | 15,800 | 20,800 | 31.7% | [2] | BA/BS Degree |
| Pharmacy Technicians | 18,600 | 24,400 | 31.2% | $32,364 | Moderate-Term OJT |
| Carpenters | 114,200 | 149,500 | 30.9% | $43,451 | Long-Term OJT |
| Painters, Transportation Equipment | 6,500 | 8,500 | 30.8% | $39,943 | Moderate-Term OJT |
| Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education | 15,700 | 20,500 | 30.6% | [2] | BA/BS Degree |
[1] Excludes "All Other" categories and occupations with employment less than 5,000 in 2002.
[2] For some occupations, workers may not work full-time all year round. For these occupations it is not feasible to calculate an hourly wage.
[3] March 2003 Benchmark
NA = Data not available.
* Median Annual Wage is the estimated 50th percentile of the distribution of wages; 50 percent of workers in an occupation earn wages below, and 50 percent earn wages above.
[2] For some occupations, workers may not work full-time all year round. For these occupations it is not feasible to calculate an hourly wage.
[3] March 2003 Benchmark
NA = Data not available.
* Median Annual Wage is the estimated 50th percentile of the distribution of wages; 50 percent of workers in an occupation earn wages below, and 50 percent earn wages above.
