Most Popular Office Occupations in the US – Data Scientists Rank No. 1

August 28, 2025 |
  • Retail salespeople hold the top spot as the most common office-related occupation, with nearly 3.3 million workers, while mathematicians make up the smallest office-related occupation with only 630 workers.
  • Data scientists hold the position as the most popular occupation with an increase of 550% in workers since 2019.
  • Labor relations specialists saw the highest increase in salary over the five-year period (45%), while postsecondary academic educators only saw an increase of about 5.2%.
  • Chief executives stand far above the rest with an average annual salary of $243,147, while retail salespeople, the most common office-related occupation, only make $35,498 per year.

The job market in the United States is remarkably diverse, spanning careers that range from retail and technology to highly specialized academic and legal roles. Over time, some have become either more or less popular due to reasons such as technological advances, geographical influences and the evolution of society that brought along the need for some entirely new jobs. Also necessary to mention, the global COVID-19 pandemic which stirred the job market all over the globe. And while all industries were affected to some extent by this event, office jobs are still in the process of adjusting to a new, standardized normal, as their dependence on offices is now more or less necessary for most occupations.

It is for this reason that we decided to look at the most popular office occupations across the U.S. in the present. However, to best understand which jobs have evolved the most into most and least popular, we also looked at the increase and decrease in the workforce for office occupations from before the pandemic up to the present, more specifically, years 2019 and 2024. This way we can better see how the pandemic has shifted the interest of workers when it comes to office jobs. This snapshot not only highlights the most common career paths but also underscores the unique value of specialized occupations that, while smaller in number, are critical to the fabric of society.

Majority of Office Employees are Retail Salesperson

According to the latest employment data, retail salespersons hold the top spot as the most common office-related occupation, with nearly 3.3 million workers. This reflects the continuing importance of retail in the American economy, where face-to-face interactions and customer service remain central. Following closely behind are general and operations managers, with about 3 million employees. Their role in overseeing company activities, managing teams and ensuring organizational efficiency makes them indispensable across industries.

In third place are project management specialists and business operations professionals, numbering around 1.8 million. This growing field reflects the increasing demand for structured project execution and organizational improvement. The technology sector is also prominently represented: software developers and quality assurance analysts account for more than 1.5 million jobs, underscoring the digital transformation of nearly every industry.

Other significant occupations include accountants and auditors (1.2 million), sales representatives in services (990,520), management analysts (772,160), human resources specialists (770,760), market research analysts and marketing specialists (719,060) and financial managers (712,940). Together, these roles highlight the blend of technical expertise, analytical skills and leadership required in today’s economy.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, certain occupations employ only a fraction of workers. For example, just 630 mathematicians are recorded, making it the smallest office-related occupation. While small in number, mathematicians often serve highly specialized functions in academia, research and industry. Similarly rare are historians (1,030) and sociologists (1,480), professions that focus on interpreting human society and its evolution. Arbitrators, mediators and conciliators (2,260) also represent a niche but important role in resolving disputes outside the courtroom.

The most popular occupations, measured by growth in worker numbers between 2019 and 2024, reflect the accelerating demand for technology, management and analytical skills across industries, showing just how central technology and management have become in today’s workforce. At the top of the list are data scientists and mathematical science occupations, which grew at an impressive rate of 550%, underscoring the central role of data-driven decision-making in business, healthcare and government. Closely following are project management specialists and sales managers, occupations that highlight the need for both strategic leadership and revenue growth expertise, with a significant growth of 91% and 71%, respectively. Similarly, transportation, storage and distribution managers grew by 67%, highlighting the importance of logistics in an era of global supply chain disruption. Growth also extended to specialized fields like natural sciences managers (57%), information security analysts (55%) and training and development specialists (54%).

Automation, Outsourcing and Technological Occupations are Facing a Decline in Workforce Compared to Pre-Pandemic Levels

In contrast, the occupations that have seen the steepest declines paint a picture of shifting economic priorities and technological disruption. Insurance appraisers for auto damage faced the largest contraction, 66%, likely due to automation in claims processing and advances in vehicle safety. Similarly, computer programmers saw a steep decline, 40%, as coding tasks have been increasingly outsourced or automated and low-code platforms have increased in popularity, along with roles like survey researchers (-31%) and mathematicians (-25%). Traditional positions such as advertising sales agents and legislators also experienced reductions, reflecting both changes in media consumption and evolving political structures, along with technical roles including electronics engineers, chemical engineers and statisticians, which also made the list. Collectively, these figures highlight a workforce transition where specialized but narrow roles are giving way to more adaptable, tech-enabled careers, suggesting that occupations rooted in repetitive, narrowly defined or easily automated tasks are the most vulnerable in today’s evolving labor market.

Labor Relations Specialists See Financial Growth, While Education Administrators Make Roughly the Same

The occupation that experienced the greatest increase in income between 2019 and 2024 is Labor Relations Specialists. Their earnings rose by nearly 45% over the five-year period, marking them as the standout winners in income growth. Several factors may have contributed to this sharp rise, including the growing demand for professionals skilled in mediating disputes, navigating labor laws and managing employer-employee relations in a workforce that has become increasingly dynamic and complex post-pandemic. With unionization efforts on the rise and companies placing greater emphasis on compliance and equitable workplace practices, labor relations specialists have become more valuable, driving up compensation levels significantly compared to other professions.

On the other hand, the occupation facing the lowest income increase is Education Administrators, Postsecondary, who saw only about a 5.2% increase in average income from 2019 to 2024. This positions them as the relative “losers” in terms of wage growth. The sluggish income rise in this field could be attributed to budgetary constraints within higher education institutions, the financial pressures many universities face due to declining enrollment rates and the growing reliance on adjunct and contract staff rather than investing heavily in administrative salary growth. Despite the importance of their roles in managing and directing postsecondary institutions, their compensation has not kept pace with inflation, or the significant wage growth seen in other fields, leaving them at the bottom of the list for income gains.

Most and Least Paid Office Occupations

Among the highest paid office occupations, chief executives stand far above the rest with an average annual salary of $243,147, reflecting their critical role in shaping company strategy and overseeing organizational performance. Next are architectural and engineering managers, earning $158,556, whose expertise in leading complex technical projects commands a premium. Computer and information systems managers follow closely at $153,503, demonstrating the immense value of managing digital infrastructure and technology strategy. In fourth place, financial managers bring in $149,438, driven by their responsibility for maintaining fiscal health and guiding investment decisions. Completing the top five are compensation and benefits managers, who average $145,091 annually, reflecting the importance of designing competitive pay structures and employee benefit programs in today’s talent-driven market.

By contrast, the lowest paid occupations highlight a stark disparity in earnings. At the bottom, retail salespersons earn an average of just $35,498, who happen to hold the position for the most popular occupation by the number of employees, underscoring the relatively low wages common in customer-facing service roles. Slightly higher are travel agents at $50,015, a role that has been reshaped and diminished by the rise of digital booking platforms. Tax preparers, averaging $54,037, also fall within the bottom tier, as seasonal demand and automation reduce overall earning potential. Similarly, community and social service specialists earn $54,553, highlighting how socially essential roles often fail to command high salaries. Rounding out the list are credit counselors, who average $55,307, providing vital financial guidance but without the compensation levels seen in corporate financial management roles.

Data across the Midwest highlights how specialized, knowledge-based roles have emerged as the most popular occupations in terms of growth and total employment. In Chicago, IL, data scientists and mathematical science occupations grew by 3.7% since 2019, reaching a workforce of 121,110, making it the largest and fastest-growing group in the metro. Legal support workers also saw notable expansion, increasing by 3.3% to 102,320 employees. Meanwhile, Detroit, MI experienced a significant rise in data scientists as well, with a 5.1% increase to 48,560 employees, underscoring the demand for analytical and technical skills. Supporting roles like drafters (37,250 employees) and tax preparers (23,890 employees) also saw steady growth, showing how traditional technical and financial occupations remain essential.

Other metros revealed diverse trends shaped by local industries. In Indianapolis, IN, electrical and electronics drafters grew by 3.0%, now employing 28,710 workers, while actuaries and computer network support specialists each surpassed 10,000 employees, reflecting the city’s focus on finance and IT services. In Minneapolis, MN, the strongest increase came from social workers, who grew by 7.4% to 47,320 employees, highlighting the metro’s emphasis on community and social services. Data scientists also thrived here, rising to 47,000 workers with a 4.0% increase. Finally, St. Louis, MO showed its strength in science and engineering, where data scientists grew by 5.3% to 45,370 employees and bioengineers reached 28,680 workers. These trends suggest a clear regional shift toward specialized technical and analytical roles, with healthcare, engineering and social services also playing vital roles in shaping the Midwest’s labor market.

In the West region, data shows that data scientists and mathematical science occupations also have become the standout winners across nearly every metro. In Los Angeles, CA, this field grew by an impressive 9.4% from 2019 to 2024, reaching a massive workforce of 122,120 employees, the largest of any occupation in the region. Technical writers also made strong gains, climbing to 102,370 workers with a 3.6% increase, followed closely by social science research assistants, who now total 93,790 employees. Meanwhile, in Phoenix, AZ, the demand for technical expertise also stands out, with 73,000 data scientists marking a 2.9% increase and 30,050 computer hardware engineers adding steady growth. Social workers remain a major part of the metro’s workforce as well, totaling 64,030 employees, suggesting that the human services sector is balancing out the rise of STEM roles.

Further south in Riverside, CA, data scientists once again dominate, rising 15.8% to 38,030 employees, the fastest growth rate in the West metros. Counseling professions have also surged, with counselors reaching 22,610 employees after a 5.4% increase, reflecting heightened demand for mental health and social services. In San Francisco, CA, the tech-heavy labor market remains evident, with 84,810 data scientists growing by 5.7%, while occupations such as media and communication workers (42,330 employees) and health and safety engineers (26,820 employees) provide important support roles for the Bay Area’s innovation economy. Finally, in Seattle, WA, tech and travel go hand in hand, with data scientists climbing to 80,030 workers (5.1% increase) and travel agents growing by 2.9% to 61,220 employees. The region also shows a creative edge with 48,310 art directors, while interpreters and community service specialists highlight the metro’s cultural diversity and social needs.

In the Northeast, the dominance of data science is unmistakable, with every metro showing this occupation as the fastest-growing by number of workers. Boston, MA leads with a dramatic 14.9% increase, bringing the total number of data scientists and related roles to 76,980 employees in 2024. The region also demonstrates strong demand for specialized academic and research-focused fields, with 62,540 sociologists and 53,900 computer and information research scientists adding to Boston’s reputation as a hub of higher education and innovation. Meanwhile, New York, NY boasts the largest overall workforce in the region, with 212,470 data scientists after a 6.4% increase and an equally impressive 187,400 psychologists, reflecting the city’s dual focus on technology and mental health services. Complementing these sectors, traditional roles like 132,750 drafters and 114,300 marketing managers continue to employ substantial numbers of workers.

Other Northeast metros show a balance between high-tech and leadership-oriented roles. In Philadelphia, PA, data scientists expanded by 7.3% to reach 68,020 employees, while 64,820 designers and 34,100 chief executives highlight the metro’s blend of creative and executive talent. Pittsburgh, PA demonstrates steady growth in both technical and social fields, with 30,170 data scientists and 29,130 community and social service specialists, underscoring the city’s dual commitment to technology and human-centered services. Meanwhile, Providence, RI—though smaller in scale—posted significant relative growth, with 19,420 data scientists after an 8.2% increase, alongside notable expansions in real estate (14,290 agents) and biomedical engineering (6,370 employees). Taken together, the Northeast reveals an occupational landscape driven by technology, research and leadership, but also grounded in psychology, social services and community-focused roles.

In the South, data science and related mathematical occupations once again stand out as the fastest-growing and most employed field across all major metros. Dallas, TX leads with 132,030 data scientists in 2024 after a 9.9% increase, making it the largest concentration in the region. Houston, TX follows closely with 105,830 employees in data science roles, alongside 75,920 computer and information research scientists, highlighting the metro’s technology-driven workforce growth. Atlanta, GA also shows impressive momentum, with 83,160 data scientists supported by large numbers of 72,120 life, physical and social science technicians and 68,560 project management specialists, reflecting its diversified economy. In Miami, FL, data science roles grew by 6.5% to reach 90,630 employees, complemented by a surge in media and communication workers at 74,070, underscoring the metro’s growing role as a hub for both technology and cultural industries.

Meanwhile, Washington, DC illustrates the balance of science, technology and policy-related work. The metro employs 120,510 data scientists after a 5.7% increase but also maintains a strong presence in supporting research roles with 108,510 life, physical and social science technicians. Additionally, 76,950 project management specialists and 68,900 database administrators and architects reveal the area’s reliance on organizational and information management expertise, crucial to its position as a federal and regulatory hub. Across the South, the common thread is clear: data science and technical occupations dominate growth, but metros also sustain large workforces in management, communications and social service fields, reflecting the region’s combination of business leadership, innovation and public service.

Conclusion

Taken together, the analyses make one trend impossible to ignore: the future of office work in America is increasingly being reshaped by technology-driven and knowledge-based occupations. Data scientists and mathematical science professionals dominate growth charts, while roles tied to management, research and communications continue to expand their influence across metro areas. Yet at the same time, the enduring presence of fields like community services, design and social sciences reminds us that the job market is not simply tilting toward algorithms and code—it is also being redefined by the human skills and leadership needed to apply these advances in real-world contexts.

Ultimately, the picture that emerges is one of both opportunity and urgency. The pandemic accelerated a reconfiguration of work that was already underway, and the five-year snapshot from 2019 to 2024 illustrates how quickly entire sectors can rise or fade in relevance. The challenge now lies in how businesses, workers and policymakers respond: whether by embracing reskilling, rethinking workplace structures or rebalancing investments in technology and people. What is clear is that the “new normal” of office occupations will not be a return to the past—it will be defined by adaptability, specialization and the capacity to thrive in a labor market that is more dynamic, and less predictable, than ever before.

Methodology

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