Fastest-growing jobs in Virginia

LightField Studios // Shutterstock

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +20.0% (350 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 2,100
--- Employment in 2022: 1,750
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $74,030

#49. Interpreters and translators
Gerain0812 // Shutterstock

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +20.0% (370 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 2,220
--- Employment in 2022: 1,850
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $62,880

#49. Surgical technologists
Canva

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +20.2% (850 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 5,050
--- Employment in 2022: 4,200
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $36,100

#48. Helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers
Africa Studio // Shutterstock

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +20.8% (330 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,920
--- Employment in 2022: 1,590
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $76,940

#47. Writers and authors
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +21.9% (3,670 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 20,390
--- Employment in 2022: 16,720
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $37,400

#46. Substitute teachers, short-term
GaudiLab // Shutterstock

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +22.1% (510 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 2,820
--- Employment in 2022: 2,310
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $45,300

#45. First-line supervisors of entertainment and recreation workers, except gambling services
Canva

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +22.3% (880 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 4,830
--- Employment in 2022: 3,950
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $32,730

#44. Bakers
Kzenon // Shutterstock

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +22.3% (270 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,480
--- Employment in 2022: 1,210
--- Median annual salary in 2023: Data unavailable

#43. Optometrists
Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +23.3% (1,450 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 7,670
--- Employment in 2022: 6,220
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $32,760

#42. Recreation workers
Canva

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +23.7% (1,410 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 7,350
--- Employment in 2022: 5,940
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $106,740

#41. Construction managers
alexkich // Shutterstock

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +24.1% (260 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,340
--- Employment in 2022: 1,080
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $43,710

#40. Outdoor power equipment and other small engine mechanics
Canva

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +25.2% (300 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,490
--- Employment in 2022: 1,190
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $61,280

#39. Civil engineering technologists and technicians
Pressmaster // Shutterstock

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +25.4% (330 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,630
--- Employment in 2022: 1,300
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $45,720

#38. Title examiners, abstractors, and searchers
Canva

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +25.5% (540 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 2,660
--- Employment in 2022: 2,120
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $33,120

#37. Library assistants, clerical
fizkes // Shutterstock

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +26.2% (1,460 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 7,040
--- Employment in 2022: 5,580
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $172,320

#36. Marketing managers
ALPA PROD // Shutterstock

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +26.5% (3,240 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 15,450
--- Employment in 2022: 12,210
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $41,440

#35. Medical secretaries and administrative assistants
DGLimages // Shutterstock

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +26.8% (340 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,610
--- Employment in 2022: 1,270
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $43,010

#34. Healthcare support workers, all other
Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +27.1% (1,020 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 4,780
--- Employment in 2022: 3,760
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $67,230

#33. Telecommunications line installers and repairers
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +27.2% (1,120 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 5,240
--- Employment in 2022: 4,120
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $76,360

#32. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +27.6% (690 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 3,190
--- Employment in 2022: 2,500
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $61,770

#31. Fundraisers
Chad McDermott // Shutterstock

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +28.1% (320 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,460
--- Employment in 2022: 1,140
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $79,090

#30. Urban and regional planners
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +28.2% (8,570 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 38,990
--- Employment in 2022: 30,420
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $108,750

#29. Project management specialists
Kitreel // Shutterstock

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +29.1% (690 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 3,060
--- Employment in 2022: 2,370
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $40,460

#28. Food batchmakers
LStockStudio // Shutterstock

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +29.2% (330 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,460
--- Employment in 2022: 1,130
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $53,480

#27. Brokerage clerks
Canva

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +31.2% (340 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,430
--- Employment in 2022: 1,090
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $34,700

#26. Demonstrators and product promoters
Canva

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +31.8% (270 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,120
--- Employment in 2022: 850
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $89,440

#25. Biological scientists, all other
Canva

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +33.0% (2,720 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 10,960
--- Employment in 2022: 8,240
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $44,960

#24. Exercise trainers and group fitness instructors
NDAB Creativity // Shutterstock

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +33.5% (620 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 2,470
--- Employment in 2022: 1,850
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $52,030

#23. Massage therapists
Anna Jurkovska // Shutterstock

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +34.9% (370 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,430
--- Employment in 2022: 1,060
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $34,590

#22. Orderlies
Freedomz // Shutterstock

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +35.4% (1,070 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 4,090
--- Employment in 2022: 3,020
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $46,910

#21. Health technologists and technicians, all other
4 PM production // Shutterstock

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +36.0% (1,000 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 3,780
--- Employment in 2022: 2,780
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $64,130

#20. Flight attendants
Canva

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +37.3% (500 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,840
--- Employment in 2022: 1,340
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $82,580

#19. Postsecondary teachers, all other
zhu difeng // Shutterstock

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +38.1% (1,800 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 6,520
--- Employment in 2022: 4,720
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $35,640

#18. Merchandise displayers and window trimmers
Petekub // Shutterstock

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +42.1% (320 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,080
--- Employment in 2022: 760
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $141,190

#17. Economists
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +43.6% (720 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 2,370
--- Employment in 2022: 1,650
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $39,140

#16. Library technicians
Canva

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +44.4% (320 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,040
--- Employment in 2022: 720
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $48,550

#14. Miscellaneous construction and related workers
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +44.4% (400 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,300
--- Employment in 2022: 900
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $45,750

#14. Chemical equipment operators and tenders
Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +45.9% (1,530 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 4,860
--- Employment in 2022: 3,330
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $73,110

#13. Property, real estate, and community association managers
Canva

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +49.8% (1,140 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 3,430
--- Employment in 2022: 2,290
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $59,940

#12. Tax preparers
Peakstock // Shutterstock

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +53.7% (940 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 2,690
--- Employment in 2022: 1,750
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $40,350

#11. Ophthalmic medical technicians
Canva

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +54.9% (620 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,750
--- Employment in 2022: 1,130
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $48,740

#10. Excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining
LuckView // Shutterstock

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +56.9% (870 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 2,400
--- Employment in 2022: 1,530
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $44,110

#9. Cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
David Pereiras // Shutterstock

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +62.0% (440 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,150
--- Employment in 2022: 710
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $34,650

#8. Psychiatric aides
Canva

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +67.2% (920 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 2,290
--- Employment in 2022: 1,370
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $39,760

#7. Couriers and messengers
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +87.4% (1,600 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 3,430
--- Employment in 2022: 1,830
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $33,460

#6. Production workers, all other
Lighthunter // Shutterstock

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +87.5% (980 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 2,100
--- Employment in 2022: 1,120
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $49,900

#5. Medical equipment repairers
Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +118.8% (1,200 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 2,210
--- Employment in 2022: 1,010
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $50,270

#4. Life, physical, and social science technicians, all other
Canva

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +120.8% (640 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,170
--- Employment in 2022: 530
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $202,850

#3. Nurse anesthetists
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +146.1% (1,110 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,870
--- Employment in 2022: 760
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $35,710

#2. Food processing workers, all other
Canva

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +165.0% (660 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,060
--- Employment in 2022: 400
--- Median annual salary in 2023: Data unavailable

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

#1. Chemical engineers
Stacker // Canva