Supply and demand is a basic economic principle that applies to almost any type of market, and the labor market is no exception. Simply put, you could be the best mime who ever lived, but you’re probably not going to pull down as much as an average NBA player. If the demand doesn’t exist for your particular skill set, it’s unlikely that employers will offer as much in salary or benefits — especially when they need those resources to attract top candidates in other fields where they’re scrambling to fill openings. And that’s something you definitely need to keep in mind when considering a profession. Sure, it’s a consideration alongside things like your personal passion or abilities, but it’s one you shouldn’t overlook lest you end up working too hard for too little for years to come.
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That’s why GOBankingRates used data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics to conduct a study of the most in-demand professions in each state. By pairing the projected growth rate of positions in that state with the average annual salary for the position, the study whittled it down to the one job in each state that’s currently growing the fastest and paying the most. That combination means that each of these positions isn’t just one where there’s a lot of new openings, but one where employers are also throwing more money into snapping up the best candidates.
So, here’s a closer look at the most wanted job in every state, ranked by how each state’s most wanted job ranks compared to those elsewhere.
Last updated: Sept. 1, 2020
50. Alabama
Most wanted job: Information security analyst
Average annual salary: $92,500
Projected job growth from 2006-2026: 37.2%
Number of jobs in 2018: 112,300
Typical entry-level education: Bachelor’s degree
49. Oklahoma
Most wanted job: Home health aide
Average annual salary: $23,380
Projected job growth from 2006-2026: 36.8%
Number of jobs in 2018: 3,253,000
Typical entry-level education: High school or equivalent
48. Maryland
Most wanted job: Photographer
Average annual salary: $39,640
Projected job growth from 2006-2026: 75.3%
Number of jobs in 2018: 132,100
Typical entry-level education: High school or equivalent
47. Idaho
Most wanted job: Respiratory therapist
Average annual salary: $57,700
Projected job growth from 2006-2026: 51.7%
Number of jobs in 2018: 134,000
Typical entry-level education: Associate’s degree
46. South Dakota
Most wanted job: Software developer, applications
Average annual salary: $75,000
Projected job growth from 2006-2026: 29.1%
Number of jobs in 2018: 1,365,504
Typical entry-level education: Bachelor’s degree
45. Hawaii
Most wanted job: Software developer, applications
Average annual salary: $84,340
Projected job growth from 2006-2026: 27.7%
Number of jobs in 2018: 1,365,500
Typical entry-level education: Bachelor’s degree
44. Mississippi
Most wanted job: Software developer, applications
Average annual salary: $85,470
Projected job growth from 2006-2026: 27.8%
Number of jobs in 2018: 1,365,502
Typical entry-level education: Bachelor’s degree
43. Kansas
Most wanted job: Information security analyst
Average annual salary: $86,160
Projected job growth from 2006-2026: 30.3%
Number of jobs in 2018: 112,300
Typical entry-level education: Bachelor’s degree
42. Pennsylvania
Most wanted job: Statistician
Average annual salary: $85,180
Projected job growth from 2006-2026: 33.1%
Number of jobs in 2018: 47,300
Typical entry-level education: Master’s degree
41. Colorado
Most wanted job: Interpreter and translator
Average annual salary: $70,050
Projected job growth from 2006-2026: 54.1%
Number of jobs in 2018: 76,100
Typical entry-level education: Bachelor’s degree
40. North Dakota
Most wanted job: Rotary drill operator, oil and gas
Methodology: For every state, GOBankingRates found the 10 occupations with the highest projected growth rate between 2016 and 2026, according to Projections Central (funded by the U.S. Department of Labor). To screen out niche occupations, GOBankingRates excluded all occupations with fewer than 500 employed in 2016. Then, each occupation was scored against the others in its state on its: 1) projected growth rate and 2) average annual wage as of May 2018, according to the BLS. Each occupation was then assigned a total score (the sum of its score in the two categories above). The “most wanted” job in each state was determined to be the occupation with the best total score. To be included in the ranking, occupations had to have information available on both their projected growth rate and average annual wage. All data was compiled on and up-to-date as of Feb. 4, 2020.
