Fastest-Growing Careers

Data Source: California Employment Development Department

California Occupational Employment Projections 2004-2014*
Occupational Title	Annual Average Employment		Percent Change	Median Hourly Wage [1]	Education & Training Levels [3]
Occupational Title	Annual Average Employment for 2004	Annual Average Employment for 2014	Percent Change	Median Hourly Wage [1]	Education & Training Levels [3]
Network Systems and Data Communications Analysts	24,200	38,500	59.1	$32.74	BA/BS Degree (5)
Home Health Aides	41,200	60,900	47.8	$9.12	30-Day OJT (11)
Computer Software Engineers, Applications	84,400	123,600	46.4	$42.84	BA/BS Degree (5)
Computer Software Engineers, Systems Software	51,100	74,500	45.8	$44.28	BA/BS Degree (5)
Network and Computer Systems Administrators	29,600	42,000	41.9	$33.11	BA/BS Degree (5)
Dental Hygienists	19,900	28,200	41.7	$38.93	AA Degree (6)
Database Administrators	11,300	16,000	41.6	$34.88	BA/BS Degree (5)
Dental Assistants	41,300	58,200	40.9	$15.38	1-12 Month OJT (10)
Gaming Dealers	9,100	12,600	38.5	$8.10	Post-Secondary Voc-Ed (7)
Physician Assistants	5,900	8,100	37.3	$39.72	BA/BS Degree (5)
Special Education Teachers, Preschool, Kindergarten, and Elementary School	16,900	23,200	37.3	[2]	BA/BS Degree (5)
Medical Assistants	51,000	69,200	35.7	$13.34	1-12 Month OJT (10)
Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists	15,500	21,000	35.5	$34.05	PhD Degree (2)
Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes	5,900	7,900	33.9	$27.61	BA/BS + Experience (4)
Special Education Teachers, Middle School	6,800	9,100	33.8	[2]	BA/BS Degree (5)
Employment, Recruitment, and Placement Specialists	16,300	21,800	33.7	$23.75	BA/BS Degree (5)
Graduate Teaching Assistants	20,600	27,500	33.5	[2]	BA/BS Degree (5)
Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary	7,300	9,700	32.9	[2]	MA/MS Degree (3)
Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary	5,900	7,800	32.2	[2]	MA/MS Degree (3)
Computer Systems Analysts	55,400	72,800	31.4	$35.14	BA/BS Degree (5)
Tile and Marble Setters	17,400	22,800	31.0	$19.89	12-Month OJT (9)
Veterinary Technologists and Technicians	6,600	8,600	30.3	$14.79	AA Degree (6)
Occupational Therapists	6,700	8,700	29.9	$34.42	BA/BS Degree (5)
Physical Therapists	13,400	17,300	29.1	$34.55	MA/MS Degree (3)
Special Education Teachers, Secondary School	9,700	12,500	28.9	[2]	BA/BS Degree (5)
Social and Human Service Assistants	27,800	35,800	28.8	$13.99	1-12 Month OJT (10)
Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education	14,300	18,400	28.7	[2]	BA/BS Degree (5)
Paralegals and Legal Assistants	25,600	32,900	28.5	$23.90	AA Degree (6)
Computer and Information Systems Managers	34,900	44,700	28.1	$54.31	BA/BS + Experience (4)
Fitness Trainers and Aerobics Instructors	26,800	34,200	27.6	$17.24	Post-Secondary Voc-Ed (7)
Compensation and Benefits Managers	5,800	7,400	27.6	$36.68	BA/BS + Experience (4)
Vocational Education Teachers, Postsecondary	13,100	16,700	27.5	$25.17	Post-Secondary Voc-Ed (7)
Fence Erectors	5,500	7,000	27.3	$13.29	1-12 Month OJT (10)
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers	17,500	22,200	26.9	$22.24	12-Month OJT (9)
Cost Estimators	22,500	28,500	26.7	$27.67	BA/BS Degree (5)
Sales Engineers	12,400	15,700	26.6	$43.37	BA/BS Degree (5)
Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics	11,700	14,800	26.5	$12.08	Post-Secondary Voc-Ed (7)
Registered Nurses	230,300	291,200	26.4	$33.85	AA Degree (6)
Customer Service Representatives	199,300	252,000	26.4	$15.17	1-12 Month OJT (10)
Pharmacy Technicians	23,900	30,200	26.4	$16.08	1-12 Month OJT (10)
Fire Fighters	26,300	33,200	26.2	$27.17	12-Month OJT (9)
Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors	9,600	12,100	26.0	$15.38	MA/MS Degree (3)
Highway Maintenance Workers	5,000	6,300	26.0	$20.25	1-12 Month OJT (10)
Medical Records and Health Information Technicians	13,900	17,500	25.9	$14.56	AA Degree (6)
Computer Support Specialists	58,300	73,200	25.6	$21.98	AA Degree (6)
Crossing Guards	5,100	6,400	25.5	$9.20	30-Day OJT (11)
Construction and Building Inspectors	11,000	13,800	25.5	$29.63	Work Experience (8)
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education	174,900	219,300	25.4	[2]	BA/BS Degree (5)
Instructional Coordinators	13,200	16,500	25.0	$27.42	MA/MS Degree (3)
Cutters and Trimmers, Hand	6,400	8,000	25.0	$9.05	30-Day OJT (11)

*March 2005 Benchmark
Table includes the self-employed, unpaid family workers, private household workers and farm employment.
N/A - Information is not available
Excludes "All Other" Categories
Occupations with employment below 5,000 are excluded.

[1] Median Hourly 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 the median wage. The wages are from the first quarter of 2006.
[2] In occupations where workers do not work full-time, or year-round, it is not possible to calculate an hourly wage.
[3] Education & Training Levels:
      ( 1) LLD/MD Degree=First Professional Degree
      ( 2) PhD Degree=Doctoral Degree
      ( 3) MA/MS Degree=Master's Degree
      ( 4) BA/BS + Experience=Bachelor's Degree or Higher and Some Work Experience
      ( 5) BA/BS Degree=Bachelor's Degree
      ( 6) AA Degree=Associate Degree
      ( 7) Post-Secondary Voc-Ed=Post-Secondary Vocational Education
      ( 8) Work Experience=Work Experience in a Related Occupation
      ( 9) 12-Month OJT=Long-Term On-the-Job Training
      (10) 1-12 Month OJT=Moderate-Term On-the-Job Training
      (11) 30-Day OJT=Short-Term On-the-Job Training