Compare

Projected change

Every occupation in the United States

Projected employment change: by trade nationally from BLS Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035; by state, and by trade within a state, from the state long-term projection round, 2024 to 2034. The forward-looking companion to the growth ranking.

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Labor Shortage Index Employment growth Median pay Age distribution Projected change

Projected to shrinkProjected to grow

1Solar photovoltaic installers

+36.3%

2Wind turbine service technicians

+29.7%

3Industrial machinery mechanics

+17.7%

4HVAC mechanics and installers

+10.9%

5Power-line installers

+10.3%

6Precision instrument repairers

+10.1%

7Electricians

+9.2%

8Avionics technicians

+9.1%

9Other rail transportation workers

+9.1%

10Septic and sewer servicers

+7.8%

11Heavy equipment technicians

+7.1%

12Plumbers and pipefitters

+6.8%

13Alarm system installers

+6.7%

14Auto glass installers

+5.8%

15Molders and casters, other materials

+5.8%

16Elevator installers

+5.7%

17Mobile home installers

+5.7%

18Fence erectors

+5.6%

19Aircraft mechanics

+5.4%

20Repair helpers

+5.3%

21Roofers

+5.2%

22Control and valve installers

+5.2%

23Construction supervisors

+5.0%

24Auto service technicians

+5.0%

25Commercial divers

+5.0%

26Electronics assemblers

+4.6%

27Electronics repairers, transport equipment

+4.5%

28AV equipment installers

+4.5%

29Electric motor and tool repairers

+4.3%

30Floor and tile installers

+4.2%

31General maintenance workers

+4.2%

32Construction equipment operators

+4.1%

33Mechanics and repair supervisors

+4.1%

34Riggers

+4.0%

35Carpenters

+3.9%

36Ship and boat captains

+3.9%

37Other construction workers

+3.7%

38Auto body repairers

+3.7%

39Crane and tower operators

+3.7%

40Earth drillers, except oil and gas

+3.6%

41Diesel mechanics

+3.6%

42Insulation workers

+3.5%

43Roustabouts, oil and gas

+3.5%

44Highway maintenance workers

+3.4%

45Other vehicle and equipment mechanics

+3.4%

46Other engineering techs

+3.4%

47Sailors and marine oilers

+3.3%

48Stationary engineers

+3.2%

49Plasterers and stucco masons

+3.1%

50Structural iron and steel workers

+3.1%

51Small engine mechanics

+3.1%

52Painters and paperhangers

+3.0%

53Other extraction workers

+3.0%

54Furnace and kiln operators

+2.8%

55Other repair workers

+2.6%

56Sheet metal workers

+2.5%

57Industrial electronics repairers

+2.5%

58Production inspectors and testers

+2.5%

59Welders and solderers

+2.4%

60Painting workers

+2.4%

61Electrical engineering techs

+2.4%

62Ship engineers

+2.3%

63Home appliance repairers

+2.0%

64Transportation inspectors

+2.0%

65Drywall installers and tapers

+1.9%

66Glaziers

+1.9%

67Production supervisors

+1.8%

68Rail-track equipment operators

+1.7%

69Cement masons and concrete finishers

+1.5%

70Hazmat removal workers

+1.5%

71Extruding and forming machine operators

+1.5%

72Forklift and industrial truck operators

+1.5%

73Oil and gas drill operators

+1.3%

74Other assemblers and fabricators

+1.1%

75Machinists

+1.0%

76Tire builders

+1.0%

77Locomotive engineers and operators

+1.0%

78Excavating machine operators

+0.9%

79Adhesive bonding operators

+0.8%

80Railroad conductors

+0.8%

81Millwrights

+0.7%

82Chemical processing operators

+0.7%

83Brickmasons and stonemasons

+0.3%

84Building inspectors

0.0%

85Explosives workers and blasters

0.0%

86Hoist and conveyor operators

0.0%

87Boilermakers

-1.0%

88Wood sawing machine operators

-1.0%

89Etchers and engravers

-1.1%

90Maintenance workers, machinery

-1.8%

91Other woodworkers

-1.9%

92Dental and medical appliance technicians

-2.0%

93Woodworking machine operators

-2.5%

94Other plant operators

-2.7%

95Other metal and plastic workers

-2.8%

96Cabinetmakers

-2.9%

97Pipelayers

-3.0%

98Telecom equipment installers

-3.0%

99Jewelers

-3.0%

100Office machine repairers

-3.1%

101Metal forming machine operators

-3.3%

102Telecom line installers

-3.4%

103Vending machine servicers

-3.5%

104Metal furnace operators

-3.7%

105Furniture finishers

-3.8%

106Mining machine operators

-4.0%

107Molding machine operators

-4.9%

108Power plant operators

-5.1%

109Reinforcing iron and rebar workers

-5.4%

110Aircraft assemblers

-5.5%

111Water treatment operators

-5.7%

112Metal fabricators

-6.3%

113CNC operators & programmers

-7.2%

114Printing press operators

-8.8%

115Tool and die makers

-9.2%

116Press and cutting machine operators

-10.5%

117Grinding and polishing machine operators

-10.8%

118Locksmiths and safe repairers

-11.8%

119Other machine tool operators

-11.8%

120Vehicle electronics installers

-14.0%

121Prepress technicians and workers

-15.4%

122Engine assemblers

-17.0%

123Grinding & blending workers

-19.4%

124Model makers and patternmakers

-19.5%

124 of 124 occupations shown. table view

Occupation	Projected change	Workers
Solar photovoltaic installers	+36.3%	26,790
Wind turbine service technicians	+29.7%	9,200
Industrial and refractory machinery mechanics	+17.7%	440,280
Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers	+10.9%	409,690
Electrical power-line installers and repairers	+10.3%	131,080
Precision instrument and equipment repairers	+10.1%	80,170
Electricians	+9.2%	757,240
Avionics technicians	+9.1%	17,400
Other rail transportation workers	+9.1%	640
Septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners	+7.8%	30,310
Heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians and mechanics	+7.1%	234,180
Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters	+6.8%	465,820
Security and fire alarm systems installers	+6.7%	86,330
Automotive glass installers and repairers	+5.8%	20,110
Molders, shapers, and casters, except metal and plastic	+5.8%	32,990
Elevator and escalator installers and repairers	+5.7%	22,030
Manufactured building and mobile home installers	+5.7%	1,900
Fence erectors	+5.6%	21,100
Aircraft mechanics and service technicians	+5.4%	138,030
Helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers	+5.3%	95,560
Roofers	+5.2%	135,490
Control and valve installers and repairers	+5.2%	74,220
First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers	+5.0%	812,230
Automotive service technicians and mechanics	+5.0%	704,640
Commercial divers	+5.0%	1,460
Electrical, electronics, and electromechanical assemblers	+4.6%	259,580
Electrical and electronics installers and repairers, transportation equipment	+4.5%	5,930
Audiovisual equipment installers and repairers	+4.5%	17,490
Electric motor, power tool, and related repairers	+4.3%	13,810
Carpet, floor, and tile installers and finishers	+4.2%	72,830
Maintenance and repair workers, general	+4.2%	1,529,700
Construction equipment operators	+4.1%	520,860
First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers	+4.1%	617,470
Riggers	+4.0%	22,100
Carpenters	+3.9%	670,080
Ship and boat captains and operators	+3.9%	36,630
Miscellaneous construction and related workers	+3.7%	27,710
Automotive body and related repairers	+3.7%	149,310
Crane and tower operators	+3.7%	41,870
Earth drillers, except oil and gas	+3.6%	19,350
Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists	+3.6%	289,940
Insulation workers	+3.5%	67,710
Roustabouts, oil and gas	+3.5%	44,170
Highway maintenance workers	+3.4%	154,860
Miscellaneous vehicle and mobile equipment mechanics, installers, and repairers	+3.4%	137,220
Other engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters	+3.4%	220,030
Sailors and marine oilers	+3.3%	31,550
Stationary engineers and boiler operators	+3.2%	28,260
Plasterers and stucco masons	+3.1%	17,930
Structural iron and steel workers	+3.1%	67,530
Small engine mechanics	+3.1%	71,870
Painters and paperhangers	+3.0%	226,090
Other extraction workers	+3.0%	13,200
Furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders	+2.8%	14,240
Other installation, maintenance, and repair workers	+2.6%	183,330
Sheet metal workers	+2.5%	119,680
Electrical and electronics repairers, industrial and utility	+2.5%	84,440
Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers	+2.5%	597,390
Welding, soldering, and brazing workers	+2.4%	416,160
Painting workers	+2.4%	164,640
Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians	+2.4%	95,110
Ship engineers	+2.3%	7,760
Home appliance repairers	+2.0%	31,340
Transportation inspectors	+2.0%	23,160
Drywall installers, ceiling tile installers, and tapers	+1.9%	94,410
Glaziers	+1.9%	58,460
First-line supervisors of production and operating workers	+1.8%	673,440
Rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators	+1.7%	17,560
Cement masons, concrete finishers, and terrazzo workers	+1.5%	206,260
Hazardous materials removal workers	+1.5%	51,670
Extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders	+1.5%	58,530
Industrial truck and tractor operators	+1.5%	774,060
Derrick, rotary drill, and service unit operators, oil and gas	+1.3%	64,900
Other assemblers and fabricators	+1.1%	1,405,050
Machinists	+1.0%	287,050
Tire builders	+1.0%	12,280
Locomotive engineers and operators	+1.0%	28,820
Excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining	+0.9%	33,590
Adhesive bonding machine operators and tenders	+0.8%	11,310
Railroad conductors and yardmasters	+0.8%	36,030
Millwrights	+0.7%	39,610
Chemical processing machine setters, operators, and tenders	+0.7%	199,540
Brickmasons, blockmasons, and stonemasons	+0.3%	57,230
Construction and building inspectors	0.0%	146,760
Explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters	0.0%	3,830
Conveyor, dredge, and hoist and winch operators	0.0%	250
Boilermakers	-1.0%	8,920
Sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, wood	-1.0%	40,790
Etchers and engravers	-1.1%	7,170
Maintenance workers, machinery	-1.8%	59,630
Other woodworkers	-1.9%	4,340
Dental and ophthalmic laboratory technicians and medical appliance technicians	-2.0%	62,140
Woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing	-2.5%	61,380
Miscellaneous plant and system operators	-2.7%	79,710
Other metal workers and plastic workers	-2.8%	195,060
Cabinetmakers and bench carpenters	-2.9%	77,060
Pipelayers	-3.0%	32,370
Radio and telecommunications equipment installers and repairers	-3.0%	150,890
Jewelers and precious stone and metal workers	-3.0%	22,350
Computer, automated teller, and office machine repairers	-3.1%	65,550
Forming machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	-3.3%	93,040
Telecommunications line installers and repairers	-3.4%	97,760
Coin, vending, and amusement machine servicers and repairers	-3.5%	26,240
Metal furnace operators, tenders, pourers, and casters	-3.7%	20,500
Furniture finishers	-3.8%	14,390
Underground mining machine operators	-4.0%	20,260
Molders and molding machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	-4.9%	162,880
Power plant operators, distributors, and dispatchers	-5.1%	29,900
Reinforcing iron and rebar workers	-5.4%	11,950
Aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers	-5.5%	32,310
Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators	-5.7%	127,680
Structural metal fabricators and fitters	-6.3%	50,200
Computer numerically controlled tool operators and programmers	-7.2%	197,800
Printing press operators	-8.8%	144,290
Tool and die makers	-9.2%	56,900
Cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	-10.5%	171,100
Grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	-10.8%	66,940
Locksmiths and safe repairers	-11.8%	14,910
Other machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	-11.8%	32,160
Electronic equipment installers and repairers, motor vehicles	-14.0%	7,520
Prepress technicians and workers	-15.4%	23,690
Engine and other machine assemblers	-17.0%	28,300
Crushing, grinding, polishing, mixing, and blending workers	-19.4%	10,130
Model makers and patternmakers, metal and plastic	-19.5%	2,990

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