The Fastest-Growing Jobs in Construction

Editor’s Note: This story originally appeared on Construction Coverage.

Despite recent inflation, high interest rates, and persistent recession fears, the outlook for the construction industry in the next few years appears positive.

High demand for construction across the board has helped boost the industry over the past three years and could help construction companies weather a potential recession.

Heightened demand and investment in the construction industry has translated to strong employment numbers.

As the industry changes and modernizes, many of the professions set for the greatest rate of growth are in fact jobs not commonly associated with construction.

The following is a breakdown of the fastest-growing jobs in the construction industry.

The analysis was conducted by researchers at Construction Coverage using the latest data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. For more information on how each metric was calculated, refer to the methodology section at the end.

15. Market research analysts and marketing specialists

• 10-year projected employment growth (percent): +8.0%
• 10-year projected employment growth (total): +1,300
• Total employment (current): 16,300
• Median annual wage (current): $59,270

14. Electricians

• 10-year projected employment growth (percent): +8.5%
• 10-year projected employment growth (total): +46,400
• Total employment (current): 544,500
• Median annual wage (current): $59,300

13. Telecommunications line installers and repairers

• 10-year projected employment growth (percent): +9.3%
• 10-year projected employment growth (total): +2,900
• Total employment (current): 31,500
• Median annual wage (current): $47,840

12. Mechanical engineers

• 10-year projected employment growth (percent): +9.9%
• 10-year projected employment growth (total): +400
• Total employment (current): 4,400
• Median annual wage (current): $81,380

11. Industrial engineers

• 10-year projected employment growth (percent): +10.3%
• 10-year projected employment growth (total): +200
• Total employment (current): 1,800
• Median annual wage (current): $82,160

10. Floor layers, except carpet, wood, and hard tiles

• 10-year projected employment growth (percent): +10.6%
• 10-year projected employment growth (total): +1,800
• Total employment (current): 17,200
• Median annual wage (current): $48,110

9. Tile and stone setters

• 10-year projected employment growth (percent): +10.6%
• 10-year projected employment growth (total): +3,600
• Total employment (current): 34,000
• Median annual wage (current): $49,340

8. Financial managers

• 10-year projected employment growth (percent): +10.9%
• 10-year projected employment growth (total): +1,900
• Total employment (current): 17,500
• Median annual wage (current): $129,750

7. Occupational health and safety specialists

• 10-year projected employment growth (percent): +11.9%
• 10-year projected employment growth (total): +1,900
• Total employment (current): 15,600
• Median annual wage (current): $78,060

6. Logisticians

• 10-year projected employment growth (percent): +12.1%
• 10-year projected employment growth (total): +200
• Total employment (current): 2,000
• Median annual wage (current): $70,490

5. Mechanical door repairers

• 10-year projected employment growth (percent): +12.5%
• 10-year projected employment growth (total): +2,500
• Total employment (current): 20,200
• Median annual wage (current): $47,530

4. Radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers

• 10-year projected employment growth (percent): +13.6%
• 10-year projected employment growth (total): +300
• Total employment (current): 2,300
• Median annual wage (current): $50,020

3. Software developers

• 10-year projected employment growth (percent): +14.0%
• 10-year projected employment growth (total): +400
• Total employment (current): 2,600
• Median annual wage (current): $100,220

2. Solar photovoltaic installers

• 10-year projected employment growth (percent): +29.0%
• 10-year projected employment growth (total): +4,800
• Total employment (current): 16,500
• Median annual wage (current): $48,270

1. Wind turbine service technicians

• 10-year projected employment growth (percent): +50.8%
• 10-year projected employment growth (total): +900
• Total employment (current): 1,800
• Median annual wage (current): $54,480

Methodology

The data used in this analysis is from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics “Employment Projections Survey.”

To identify the fastest-growing jobs in construction, researchers at Construction Coverage calculated the projected change in employment between 2022 and 2032 for all detailed occupations with at least 1,000 employees in the construction industry in 2022.

All data reported at the occupation level — including projected employment and current employment — are specific to the construction industry. In the event of a tie, the occupation with the larger total employment in 2022 was ranked higher.