Finding a job in New Jersey has gotten easier. Finding a job that pays a living wage is still a struggle.

Employment has grown 6.8% in New Jersey between 2012 and 2018, according to recently released data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Companies began hiring as the economy grew past the recession.

But the median annual salary has grown just 2.3% over that same time period when adjusted for inflation, showing that employers are still reluctant to raise wages to attract new applicants.

The jobs that have gained the most workers in the past seven years include a mix of science, healthcare, and professional occupations for educated workers, and retail and trucking jobs for less-skilled workers. But not every occupation that’s hiring has also started paying more.

We looked at jobs with more than 5,000 workers in New Jersey to find the fastest-growing jobs that residents are flocking to. But there’s one small job that’s grown so fast it’s worth mentioning: Solar power installers. The tiny occupation, employing 760 in 2018, grew nearly 1000 percent from 2012.

A note about the data: Source is the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics for 2012 and 2018. Some occupations were excluded because they did not exist in 2012. We limited the analysis to jobs with 5,000 workers or more.

25. Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers

Employment (% Change): 7760 (37.59%)

Median Annual Salary (% Change): $23,820 (-3.81%)

BLS Job description: Operate or tend washing or dry-cleaning machines to wash or dry-clean industrial or household articles, such as cloth garments, suede, leather, furs, blankets, draperies, linens, rugs, and carpets. Includes spotters and dyers of these articles.

24. Computer Network Support Specialists

Employment (% Change): 6300 (38.16%)

Median Annual Salary (% Change): $84,890 (16.28%)

BLS Job description: Analyze, test, troubleshoot, and evaluate existing network systems, such as local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), and Internet systems or a segment of a network system. Perform network maintenance to ensure networks operate correctly with minimal interruption.

23. Medical and Health Services Managers

Employment (% Change): 11260 (38.67%)

Median Annual Salary (% Change): $116,750 (1.68%)

BLS Job description: Plan, direct, or coordinate medical and health services in hospitals, clinics, managed care organizations, public health agencies, or similar organizations.

22. Physicians and Surgeons, All Other

Employment (% Change): 15380 (40.07%)

Median Annual Salary (% Change): $208,820 (0%)

BLS Job description: All physicians and surgeons not listed separately.

21. Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers

Employment (% Change): 13570 (42.24%)

Median Annual Salary (% Change): $42,770 (2.73%)

BLS Job description: Inspect, test, sort, sample, or weigh nonagricultural raw materials or processed, machined, fabricated, or assembled parts or products for defects, wear, and deviations from specifications. May use precision measuring instruments and complex test equipment.

20. Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists

Employment (% Change): 19330 (42.66%)

Median Annual Salary (% Change): $87,210 (4.34%)

BLS Job description: Research market conditions in local, regional, or national areas, or gather information to determine potential sales of a product or service, or create a marketing campaign. May gather information on competitors, prices, sales, and methods of marketing and distribution.

19. Compliance Officers

Employment (% Change): 12340 (44.84%)

Median Annual Salary (% Change): $83,210 (0.5%)

BLS Job description: Examine, evaluate, and investigate eligibility for or conformity with laws and regulations governing contract compliance of licenses and permits, and perform other compliance and enforcement inspection and analysis activities not classified elsewhere.

18. Special Education Teachers, Middle School

Employment (% Change): 6850 (45.13%)

Median Annual Salary (% Change): $71,850 (3.77%)

BLS Job description: Teach middle school subjects to educationally and physically handicapped students. Includes teachers who specialize and work with audibly and visually handicapped students and those who teach basic academic and life processes skills to the mentally impaired.

17. Human Resources Specialists

Employment (% Change): 17510 (47.64%)

Median Annual Salary (% Change): $75,360 (2.44%)

BLS Job description: Perform activities in the human resource area. Includes employment specialists who screen, recruit, interview, and place workers.

16. Light Truck or Delivery Services Drivers

Employment (% Change): 32310 (49.93%)

Median Annual Salary (% Change): $38,220 (2.56%)

BLS Job description: Drive a light vehicle, such as a truck or van, with a capacity of less than 26,000 pounds Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW), primarily to deliver or pick up merchandise or to deliver packages. May load and unload vehicle.

15. Food Preparation Workers

Employment (% Change): 32960 (51.96%)

Median Annual Salary (% Change): $24,450 (5.05%)

BLS Job description: Perform a variety of food preparation duties other than cooking, such as preparing cold foods and shellfish, slicing meat, and brewing coffee or tea.

14. Occupational Therapists

Employment (% Change): 5380 (56.85%)

Median Annual Salary (% Change): $96,600 (2.64%)

BLS Job description: Assess, plan, organize, and participate in rehabilitative programs that help build or restore vocational, homemaking, and daily living skills, as well as general independence, to persons with disabilities or developmental delays.

13. Software Developers, Applications

Employment (% Change): 46930 (63.23%)

Median Annual Salary (% Change): $107,640 (1.28%)

BLS Job description: Develop, create, and modify general computer applications software or specialized utility programs. Analyze user needs and develop software solutions. Design software or customize software for client use with the aim of optimizing operational efficiency. May analyze and design databases within an application area, working individually or coordinating database development as part of a team. May supervise computer programmers.

12. Biochemists and Biophysicists

Employment (% Change): 6350 (63.24%)

Median Annual Salary (% Change): $145,180 (15.78%)

BLS Job description: Study the chemical composition or physical principles of living cells and organisms, their electrical and mechanical energy, and related phenomena. May conduct research to further understanding of the complex chemical combinations and reactions involved in metabolism, reproduction, growth, and heredity. May determine the effects of foods, drugs, serums, hormones, and other substances on tissues and vital processes of living organisms.

11. Electricians

Employment (% Change): 18020 (63.97%)

Median Annual Salary (% Change): $71,660 (1.63%)

BLS Job description: Install, maintain, and repair electrical wiring, equipment, and fixtures. Ensure that work is in accordance with relevant codes. May install or service street lights, intercom systems, or electrical control systems.

10. Social and Human Service Assistants

Employment (% Change): 27220 (68.75%)

Median Annual Salary (% Change): $36,470 (5.19%)

BLS Job description: Assist in providing client services in a wide variety of fields, such as psychology, rehabilitation, or social work, including support for families. May assist clients in identifying and obtaining available benefits and social and community services. May assist social workers with developing, organizing, and conducting programs to prevent and resolve problems relevant to substance abuse, human relationships, rehabilitation, or dependent care.

9. Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers

Employment (% Change): 13310 (73.08%)

Median Annual Salary (% Change): $24,160 (11.72%)

BLS Job description: Facilitate food service. Clean tables, remove dirty dishes, replace soiled table linens; set tables; replenish supply of clean linens, silverware, glassware, and dishes; supply service bar with food; and serve items such as water, condiments, and coffee to patrons.

8. First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives

Employment (% Change): 5650 (82.26%)

Median Annual Salary (% Change): $130,490 (-0.79%)

BLS Job description: Directly supervise and coordinate activities of members of police force.

7. Coaches and Scouts

Employment (% Change): 8720 (82.81%)

Median Annual Salary (% Change): $51,290 (28.11%)

BLS Job description: Instruct or coach groups or individuals in the fundamentals of sports. Demonstrate techniques and methods of participation. May evaluate athletes’ strengths and weaknesses as possible recruits or to improve the athletes’ technique to prepare them for competition. Those required to hold teaching degrees should be reported in the appropriate teaching category.

6. Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand

Employment (% Change): 141660 (88.91%)

Median Annual Salary (% Change): $30,280 (2.7%)

BLS Job description: Manually move freight, stock, or other materials or perform other general labor. Includes all manual laborers not elsewhere classified.

5. Cooks, Short Order

Employment (% Change): 10760 (94.22%)

Median Annual Salary (% Change): $25,030 (0.11%)

BLS Job description: Prepare and cook to order a variety of foods that require only a short preparation time. May take orders from customers and serve patrons at counters or tables.

4. Counter Attendants, Cafeteria, Food Concession, and Coffee Shop

Employment (% Change): 35460 (104.26%)

Median Annual Salary (% Change): $21,800 (3.53%)

BLS Job description: Serve food to diners at counter or from a steam table.

3. Logisticians

Employment (% Change): 7530 (119.53%)

Median Annual Salary (% Change): $84,240 (-4.16%)

BLS Job description: Analyze and coordinate the logistical functions of a firm or organization. Responsible for the entire life cycle of a product, including acquisition, distribution, internal allocation, delivery, and final disposal of resources.

2. Nurse Practitioners

Employment (% Change): 5900 (128.68%)

Median Annual Salary (% Change): $122,100 (7.18%)

BLS Job description: Diagnose and treat acute, episodic, or chronic illness, independently or as part of a healthcare team. May focus on health promotion and disease prevention. May order, perform, or interpret diagnostic tests such as lab work and x rays. May prescribe medication. Must be registered nurses who have specialized graduate education.

1. Protective Service Workers, All Other

Employment (% Change): 5970 (171.36%)

Median Annual Salary (% Change): $31,730 (-2.92%)

BLS Job description: All protective service workers not listed separately.

Note: Other protective service workers include police officers, firefighters, security guards and correctional officers.

Erin Petenko may be reached at epetenko@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @EPetenko. Find NJ.com on Facebook.