Career Momentum Score™
WageVista's proprietary ranking combines wage growth and employment growth to identify careers with the strongest forward momentum. Higher scores indicate careers that are both paying more AND hiring more workers.
How It Works
Momentum Score = (Wage Growth × 60%) + (Employment Growth × 40%)
We weight wage growth slightly higher because salary increases directly impact workers' lives. Employment growth shows market demand. Together, they reveal which careers have true upward momentum.
Top 10 Highest Momentum Careers
Careers with the strongest combined wage and employment growth (2019-2024)
Top 100 Careers by Momentum Score
| Rank | Occupation | Momentum Score | Wage Growth | Employment Growth | 2024 Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Models | 182.7 | +217.4% | +130.6% | $89,990 |
| 2 | Solar Photovoltaic Installers | 71.4 | +15.5% | +155.2% | $51,860 |
| 3 | Cooks, Private Household | 62.9 | +17.6% | +130.8% | $44,530 |
| 4 | Mathematical Science Occupations | 53.0 | +15.7% | +108.9% | $104,620 |
| 5 | Entertainment Attendants and Related Workers, All Other | 50.0 | +30.6% | +79.1% | $34,550 |
| 6 | Farm Labor Contractors | 49.7 | -21.4% | +156.2% | $48,690 |
| 7 | Aircraft Pilots and Flight Engineers | 47.3 | +63.1% | +23.5% | $198,100 |
| 8 | Wind Turbine Service Technicians | 46.3 | +18.3% | +88.3% | $62,580 |
| 9 | Psychiatric Technicians | 45.1 | +26.1% | +73.7% | $42,590 |
| 10 | Commercial Pilots | 40.3 | +42.5% | +37.0% | $122,670 |
| 11 | Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | --.- | +--.-% | +--.-% | $---,--- |
| 12 | Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors | --.- | +--.-% | +--.-% | $---,--- |
| 13 | Food Processing Workers, All Other | --.- | +--.-% | +--.-% | $---,--- |
About the Career Momentum Score
The Career Momentum Score is WageVista's proprietary metric that identifies careers with the strongest growth trajectory. Unlike simple salary rankings, this score captures both:
- Wage Growth (60% weight) - How much salaries increased from 2019 to 2024
- Employment Growth (40% weight) - How much hiring demand increased
A high momentum score indicates a career where workers are getting paid more AND employers are hiring more people - the ideal combination for job seekers and career changers.