Yardi Kube’s latest analysis of office occupations in the U.S. The study, comparing 2019 with 2024, highlights the fastest-growing office jobs, steepest declines, and top-paying jobs across major metros. In Los Angeles, data scientists recorded the largest job gain in the West, rising 945% to 10,030 employees, while in San Francisco, computer and information systems managers earn $238,050 annually, the metro’s highest office salary. Meanwhile, in Phoenix, the demand for technical expertise also stands out, with 3,210 data scientists marking a 291% increase and 3,200 computer hardware engineers adding steady growth.

Other key takeaways: 

  • In Riverside, data scientists increased 1,580% to 840 employees, the steepest proportional gain in the metro 
  • In Phoenix, insurance appraisers for auto damage declined 94%, the sharpest occupational drop in the West 
  • In San Francisco, chief executives earn $319,950 annually, the metro’s highest-paid office occupation 
  • In Seattle, data scientists and mathematical science occupations grew 514%, the fastest-rising service job in the metro 

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, occupations have shifted in popularity as technology, geography and the evolution of society introduced new roles. 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. 

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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. 

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 551%, 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%). 

Most Popular Occupation in the West

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 945% from 2019 to 2024, reaching a massive workforce of 10,030 employees, the largest of any occupation in the region. Technical writers also made strong gains, climbing to 8,600 workers with a 360% increase, followed closely by social science research assistants, who now total 2,140 employees. Meanwhile, in Phoenix, AZ, the demand for technical expertise also stands out, with 3,210 data scientists marking a 291% increase and 3,200 computer hardware engineers adding steady growth. Social workers remain a major part of the metro’s workforce as well, totaling 1,870 employees, suggesting that the human services sector is balancing out the rise of STEM roles.