Wages for the top 10 fastest-growing jobs rose by 13 to 20 per cent this year, surpassing inflation and indicating shifting demands in the U.S. labour market, according to a report released Wednesday by Payscale Inc.
Customer service team leaders topped the list with a 20-per-cent increase in pay, followed by child care workers, content strategists, urban planners, operations team leaders, and business operations managers. Insurance sales agents, crew leaders, hotel general managers, and mental health counsellors rounded out the top 10.
“As a new administration takes office in 2025 with policies that could impact inflation, wages, and the labour market, tensions between employees and employers are likely to shift, and could even intensify,” said Lexi Clarke, chief people officer at Payscale.
The 2024 End-of-Year Report drew on data from more than 1.6 million U.S. workers. It found that wage growth remained above inflation both annually and cumulatively since 2020. Still, the 13- to 20-per-cent gains recorded by the top 10 jobs this year were lower than the 18 to 24 per cent seen last year.
Many of the top wage-growth roles require balancing the needs of multiple stakeholders under challenging conditions. The report noted that more child care workers and customer service team leaders plan to quit, putting pressure on employers to raise wages to retain staff.
No technology roles appeared on this year’s list, according to the report, as employers in tech continue to prioritize efficiency over growth. Positions requiring specialized skills, including health care and operations, saw the most intense focus on higher pay.
“In 2025, employees — especially those that feel undervalued — will no longer be willing to accept anything less than fair and transparent pay, which means organizations will need to clean up their pay structures and tackle inequality head-on,” said Ruth Thomas, pay equity strategist at Payscale.
The report also found that health care workers and teachers remain among those most likely to leave their jobs, while employers are recruiting heavily for roles that call for specialized knowledge in areas like computer science, survey research, and copywriting.
The top 10
| Rank | Job Title | Wage Growth | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Customer Service Team Leader | 20% | High demand due to growing e-commerce and customer expectations. |
| 2 | Child Care/Day Care Worker | 18% | Increased political attention and workforce shortages driving growth. |
| 3 | Content Strategist | 16% | Growing demand for skills in generative AI and SEO strategies. |
| 4 | Urban Planner | 14% | Focus on suburban development and infrastructure improvements. |
| 5 | Operations Team Leader | 14% | Essential for improving productivity and navigating supply chain challenges. |
| 6 | Business Operations Manager | 14% | Increased demand for strategic planning and digital expertise. |
| 7 | Insurance Sales Agent | 14% | Rising insurance rates and workload leading to wage increases. |
| 8 | Crew Leader | 13% | Labour shortages in construction and logistics driving higher pay. |
| 9 | General Manager, Hotel | 13% | Recovery in the travel industry boosting demand for experienced managers. |
| 10 | Mental Health Counsellor | 13% | Increased demand for mental health services driving wage growth. |