10 Jobs Most Likely to See Pay Raises in 2026

Our 2026 Wage Growth Report looks at national wage data and ranks occupations by compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in median annual pay from 2021 to 2024. We then pair this wage data with the number of jobs and projected jobs growth from 2024 to 2034, highlighting where pay is rising fastest and where demand is expected to increase in the years ahead.

Whether you’re thinking of moving on from your current job for a better salary, or researching jobs in a higher-paying career, review our list of careers and industries most likely to see pay raises in 2026.

1. Financial manager

• Median annual salary (2024): $161,700
• Annual salary growth (CAGR, 2021-2024): 7.1%
• Number of jobs (2024): 868,600
• Estimated jobs growth (2024-2034): 15%
• Typical education level: Bachelor’s degree

What they do

Financial managers oversee an organization’s money decisions. They build budgets and track performance, then translate financial results into data leadership can act on. In many workplaces, they also manage finance teams and set the guardrails for how money is planned and reported.

Why growth is strong

When the economy feels uncertain, companies tend to invest in strong financial leadership rather than cut it. The decisions made by financial managers affect profitability and long-term stability of their companies, which helps explain why salaries have climbed quickly for effective managers.

Demand is also holding up because organizations need skilled financial managers who can guide planning and support growth, especially as finance work becomes more data-driven.

2. Marketing manager

• Median annual salary (2024): $161,030
• Annual salary growth (CAGR, 2021–2024): 6.1%
• Number of jobs (2024): 407,000
• Estimated jobs growth (2024–2034): 7%
• Typical education level: Bachelor’s degree

What they do

Marketing managers figure out how to reach customers and grow revenue. They guide campaign strategy and manage budgets, also work closely with sales or product teams to decide what to promote and how. A big part of the job is measuring what’s working and adjusting plans in real time.

Why growth is strong

With marketing spend increasingly moving online, and competition increasing, employers are willing to pay a premium for leaders who can prove impact with data and tie campaigns to business results.

Hiring demand also remains steady because marketing teams are expected to do more with tighter budgets, which pushes companies toward experienced managers who can prioritize effectively and keep growth on track.

3. Information security analyst

• Median annual salary (2024): $124,910
• Annual salary growth (CAGR, 2021–2024): 6.8%
• Number of jobs (2024): 182,800
• Estimated jobs growth (2024–2034): 29%
• Typical education level: Bachelor’s degree

What they do

Information security analysts protect an organization’s systems and data from cyber threats. They monitor networks for unusual behavior and step in quickly when something looks compromised. Outside of incident response, the job often includes tightening controls and helping teams reduce everyday security risks.

Why growth is strong

Cyber threats are constantly evolving, and the cost of a breach can be enormous — which means employers are willing to pay more to reduce the risks of downtime, lawsuits, reputational damage, and the direct financial loss that could follow.

At the same time, demand for information security analysts continues to increase as more work moves into cloud systems and more data is stored online. Even “non-tech” industries now need serious security coverage, which keeps hiring pressure up.

4. Data scientist

• Median annual salary (2024): $112,590
• Annual salary growth (CAGR, 2021–2024): 3.7%
• Number of jobs (2024): 245,900
• Estimated jobs growth (2024–2034): 34%
• Typical education level: Bachelor’s degree

What they do

Data scientists use large datasets to answer questions that affect real-world decisions, from pricing and forecasting, to product strategy and development. They build models and translate results into guidance that non-technical teams can use.

Why growth is strong

As organizations invest in AI and automation, they need people who can ensure data models are accurate, explainable, useful, and clear. Pay tends to rise fastest when the work is tied directly to profit, cost control, or growth, demand remains high because more companies are looking to move these capabilities in-house.

5. Registered nurse

• Median annual salary (2024): $93,600
• Annual salary growth (CAGR, 2021–2024): 6.5%
• Number of jobs (2024): 3,391,000
• Estimated jobs growth (2024–2034): 5%
• Typical education level: Bachelor’s degree

What they do

Registered nurses provide hands-on patient care and keep treatment plans moving safely. They assess symptoms and track how patients are responding over time. Medication administration is part of the job too, along with frequent communication regarding all aspects of treatment.

Why growth is strong

Wages have climbed because many healthcare employers are still competing to keep units staffed amid shortages. Demand stays steady as patient needs grow, especially in hospitals and outpatient care settings. In roles where experience directly affects outcomes, employers tend to pay more to retain it — especially in patient-facing settings that are unlikely to be affected by AI for the time being.

6. Electrical power-line installer and repairer

• Median annual salary (2024): $92,560
• Annual salary growth (CAGR, 2021–2024): 5.7%
• Number of jobs (2024): 127,400
• Estimated jobs growth (2024–2034): 7%
• Typical education level: High school diploma or equivalent

What they do

These professionals maintain the infrastructure that delivers electricity to homes and businesses. They repair damaged lines and often work overtime to restore service after outages caused by storms or other unexpected events. Because the work can be hazardous, training and safety procedures play a central role in every position.

Why growth is strong

The high pay this role offers reflects the risks involved, and the difficulty of staffing crews with the right training. Demand holds up as utility companies modernize the grid and expand capacity, particularly with the increased electricity demand caused by AI data centers. Severe weather can also drive urgent repair work, which increases hiring pressure and supports higher wages and overtime opportunities.

7. Aircraft mechanic and service technician

• Median annual salary (2024): $78,680
• Annual salary growth (CAGR, 2021–2024): 6.4%
• Number of jobs (2024): 139,400
• Estimated jobs growth (2024–2034): 4%
• Typical education level: Postsecondary nondegree award

What they do

Aircraft mechanics keep planes safe to operate by performing inspections and completing repairs. They troubleshoot mechanical issues, then document work to meet strict safety requirements. The role rewards precision because compliance is non-negotiable, and airline profit margins depend on efficiency and turnaround time.

Why growth is strong

Busy fleets and airplane delivery delays create constant maintenance needs on aging fleets, and employers compete for certified technicians who can work independently. Pay rises because the training pipeline is limited and the stakes are high. Even if headcount growth is modest, replacement hiring can keep demand tight — air demand travel shows no sign of slowing down any time soon, providing excellent job security and career prospects.

8. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurse

• Median annual salary (2024): $62,340
• Annual salary growth (CAGR, 2021–2024): 7.6%
• Number of jobs (2024): 498,100
• Estimated jobs growth (2024–2034): 4%
• Typical education level: Postsecondary nondegree award

What they do

Commonly known as LPNs and LVNs, they provide basic nursing care under the supervision of registered nurses and physicians, including supporting patients with daily needs and reporting changes in condition to the care team. These roles are especially common in long-term care settings.

Why growth is strong

Many long-term care employers have struggled to keep shifts filled, which pushes wages up. Demand remains steady because hands-on care needs are rising as the population ages. Since the role requires training and licensure, staffing can’t ramp up instantly when shortages hit, giving employees increased negotiation power.

9. Construction equipment operator

• Median annual salary (2024): $58,320
• Annual salary growth (CAGR, 2021–2024): 6.5%
• Number of jobs (2024): 539,500
• Estimated jobs growth (2024–2034): 4%
• Typical education level: High school diploma or equivalent

What they do

Construction equipment operators run heavy machines that move material and shape job sites. They work from plans and coordinate closely with crews to keep work moving safely and efficiently. Experience matters because job conditions can change quickly, and machinery requires training to operate in compliance with safety regulations.

Why growth is strong

When construction activity is steady, employers compete for operators who can step in with minimal training. Pay rises because safety and productivity depend on skill, not just labor. Ever-growing infrastructure projects and ongoing development help keep demand from dropping sharply, and on-site construction is a role unlikely to be impacted by AI-related job cuts anytime soon.

10. Truck driver

• Median annual salary (2024): $57,440
• Annual salary growth (CAGR, 2021–2024): 5.9%
• Number of jobs (2024): 2,235,100
• Estimated jobs growth (2024–2034): 4%
• Typical education level: Postsecondary nondegree award

What they do

Truck drivers transport goods between distribution hubs and retail destinations, often on long routes. They’re responsible for inspections and compliance requirements that come with commercial driving. Schedules can be demanding, especially when deliveries are time-sensitive.

Why growth is strong

Turnover is high, so employers raise pay to keep routes covered. Licensing requirements narrow the pool of candidates, and the lifestyle isn’t for everyone. With freight demand staying consistent, companies have strong incentives to compete for reliable drivers, especially with the importance of just-in-time delivery making reliability and efficiency key for profit margins.

Industries where pay is rising fastest

Wage growth isn’t just happening job by job. Some industries have been lifting pay across a wide range of roles, which can be a useful signal for where employers are feeling the most hiring pressure.

Leisure and hospitality (6.1% wage CAGR)

• Average hourly earnings (2024): $22.04
• Jobs (2024): 16.8 million
• Projected job growth (2024–2034): 4.1%

Leisure and hospitality covers much of the service economy, including restaurants and hotels, plus entertainment venues. Wage growth here tends to spike when turnover is high and staffing gaps are hard to close. Employers have been raising pay to stabilize schedules and retain experienced workers, especially in customer-facing roles where service quality directly affects revenue.

Transportation and warehousing (5.2% wage CAGR)

• Average hourly earnings (2024): $30.63
• Jobs (2024): 7.2 million
• Projected job growth (2024–2034): 3.1%

Transportation reflects the “everything has to move” part of the economy — shipping, storage, delivery networks, plus utilities operations. Pay has been climbing as employers compete for workers who can handle safety-sensitive environments or operate specialized equipment. Demand also stays resilient because logistics is a backbone function, and many roles are difficult to staff quickly when volume increases.

Construction (5.1% wage CAGR)

• Average hourly earnings (2024): $38.22
• Jobs (2024): 8.2 million
• Projected job growth (2024–2034): 4.4%

Construction wage growth often reflects a simple reality: experienced tradespeople are becoming less common, and projects can’t move forward without them. When hiring is tight, companies raise pay to attract workers who can step onto a site and perform safely with minimal ramp-up time. The steady outlook for job growth also supports higher wages, since contractors need to keep crews staffed across long project timelines.

Professional and business services (5.0% wage CAGR)

• Average hourly earnings (2024): $42.25
• Jobs (2024): 22.6 million
• Projected job growth (2024–2034): 4.6%

This is a broad category that includes services businesses rely on to run — everything from administrative support to professional expertise. Wage growth here is often driven by competition for skilled talent, especially in roles tied to compliance, finance operations, and specialized business functions. When companies outsource work or expand internal teams, pay can rise quickly for experienced workers who can deliver results without extensive training.

Manufacturing (4.6% wage CAGR)

• Average hourly earnings (2024): $33.97
• Jobs (2024): 12.8 million
• Projected job growth (2024–2034): 0.0%

Manufacturing stands out as an example where pay growth is strong, even when headcount growth is flat. Employers often raise wages to hold onto experienced workers, particularly in plants where training takes time and turnover is costly. In many regions, manufacturers also compete with other industries for the same labor pool, which puts upward pressure on pay even without major job expansion.

Methodology

We used U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data to find occupations with the fastest national median wage growth over the most recent multi-year window available (2021 to 2024). For each occupation, we pulled the median annual wage from BLS wage data for 2021 and 2024, then calculated wage growth using compound annual growth rate (CAGR) to make jobs comparable even when total dollar increases differ, and to reduce the impact of any year-on-year volatility by using a compound formula.

To keep the list focused on large, growing careers, we applied additional filters before ranking results: only occupations with more than 100,000 jobs in 2024, a 2024 median wage above the national median ($49,500), and positive projected employment growth from 2024–2034 were included. Employment counts and growth projections came from the BLS employment projections dataset.

Sources

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook

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