Fastest Growing Careers in America: 2024-2032 Projections
Discover the careers with the highest projected growth rates through 2032, from wind turbine techs to nurse practitioners — backed by BLS data.
Salary matters, but growth rate tells you where the momentum is. A career with a modest starting salary but explosive demand can deliver better long-term outcomes than a high-paying field that is stagnating or shrinking. The Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes projections for every major occupation, forecasting how many new jobs will be created over a ten-year horizon. We analyzed the 2024 to 2032 projections to identify the fastest growing careers in America and what they mean for your career planning.
Growth rate is expressed as the percentage increase in total employment expected between the base year and the projection year. For context, the average growth rate across all occupations is about 4 percent. Any career growing at double or triple that rate represents an area of significant opportunity.
Growth Rankings: Top 10 Fastest Growing Careers
| Rank | Career | Growth Rate | Median Salary | Annual Openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wind Turbine Service Technicians | 60% | $57,000 | 2,400 |
| 2 | Solar Photovoltaic Installers | 48% | $47,000 | 3,600 |
| 3 | Nurse Practitioners | 46% | $126,000 | 30,200 |
| 4 | Data Scientists | 36% | $108,000 | 17,700 |
| 5 | Information Security Analysts | 33% | $120,000 | 16,800 |
| 6 | Physician Assistants | 28% | $126,000 | 14,200 |
| 7 | Software Developers | 25% | $132,000 | 410,000 |
| 8 | Medical and Health Services Managers | 28% | $110,000 | 59,500 |
| 9 | Epidemiologists | 27% | $78,000 | 800 |
| 10 | Actuaries | 23% | $113,000 | 2,500 |
The Top 10 Fastest Growing Careers
1. Wind Turbine Service Technicians — 60% Growth
Wind turbine technicians lead the growth charts by a wide margin. As the United States expands its wind energy capacity to meet renewable energy targets, the demand for technicians who install, maintain, and repair turbines is surging. The median salary is approximately $57,000, but the trajectory is upward as the industry matures and experienced technicians become harder to find. These professionals work at significant heights in varying weather conditions, making this a career that is virtually impossible to automate.
2. Solar Photovoltaic Installers — 48% Growth
The solar industry is booming alongside wind. Solar photovoltaic installers assemble, set up, and maintain solar panel systems on rooftops and in solar farms. Federal tax incentives and declining panel costs are driving adoption across residential and commercial sectors. The median salary is around $47,000, but lead installers and those who move into project management earn significantly more. With nearly half the current workforce expected to be added in new positions, job seekers face minimal competition for roles.
3. Nurse Practitioners — 46% Growth
Nurse practitioners combine extraordinary growth with exceptional pay. The 46 percent projected growth rate reflects a healthcare system that desperately needs more primary care providers. With a growing number of states granting NPs full practice authority, these professionals are increasingly filling the gap left by the primary care physician shortage. The median salary exceeds $126,000, making this one of the rare careers that scores at the top of both growth and compensation metrics.
4. Data Scientists — 36% Growth
Data scientists are the analytical engines behind data-driven decision making across every industry. The explosion of available data combined with advances in machine learning has created enormous demand for professionals who can build models, extract insights, and communicate findings to stakeholders. At a median salary of around $108,000, data science offers a compelling combination of growth and compensation. The career is accessible through multiple educational paths, including master's programs, bootcamps, and self-directed learning.
5. Information Security Analysts — 33% Growth
Information security analysts defend organizations against an ever-expanding landscape of cyber threats. Every major data breach and ransomware attack reinforces the critical need for skilled cybersecurity professionals. Ironically, the rise of AI is creating new categories of threats, which only accelerates demand for human defenders. The median salary is approximately $120,000, and experienced practitioners in specialized areas like penetration testing or cloud security earn considerably more.
6. Physician Assistants — 28% Growth
Physician assistants provide diagnostic and therapeutic care across medical specialties. The healthcare worker shortage, combined with the cost-effectiveness of PA-delivered care compared to physician-only models, is driving strong growth. PAs enjoy the unusual advantage of being able to switch medical specialties without retraining, providing career flexibility that few other healthcare roles offer.
7. Software Developers — 25% Growth
Software developers continue to be foundational to the digital economy. While AI coding assistants are changing how software is written, they are expanding the scope of what developers can build rather than reducing the need for human developers. The median salary of approximately $132,000 combined with 25 percent growth makes this one of the most reliable career paths in the economy. The sheer volume of new positions being created, roughly 410,000 over the projection period, means job opportunities are abundant.
8. Medical and Health Services Managers — 28% Growth
Medical and health services managers are the administrators and leaders who run hospitals, clinics, and health systems. As healthcare spending grows and regulations become more complex, organizations need skilled managers to navigate the business side of medicine. The median salary exceeds $110,000, and the work requires the kind of strategic thinking and interpersonal leadership that resists automation.
9. Epidemiologists — 27% Growth
The pandemic underscored the critical importance of epidemiologists, and the lasting impact is visible in hiring data. These professionals study the patterns, causes, and effects of health conditions in populations. Federal, state, and local health agencies are all expanding their epidemiology teams, and the private sector is increasingly hiring these professionals for pharmaceutical research and health analytics roles.
10. Actuaries — 23% Growth
Actuaries analyze financial risk using mathematics, statistics, and financial theory. The insurance industry is the traditional employer, but actuarial skills are increasingly valued in consulting, investment banking, and corporate risk management. The career requires passing a series of professional exams, but credentialed actuaries enjoy exceptional job security and a median salary of approximately $113,000.
Honorable Mentions: Careers Growing Faster Than Average
Several additional careers deserve attention for their strong growth rates and favorable conditions:
- Operations research analysts (23 percent growth) use advanced analytical methods to help organizations solve complex problems and make better decisions.
- Financial managers (17 percent growth) continue to see strong demand as businesses navigate increasingly complex financial landscapes.
- Industrial machinery mechanics (16 percent growth) benefit from the reshoring of manufacturing and the increasing complexity of automated production systems.
- Electricians (11 percent growth) are seeing demand fueled by clean energy installations, EV charging infrastructure, and data center construction.
- Physical therapists (15 percent growth) serve an aging population with growing needs for rehabilitation and mobility services.
What Drives Career Growth?
Understanding why certain careers are growing helps you evaluate whether the trend will continue. The fastest growing careers on this list are driven by three structural forces:
The Energy Transition
Wind turbine technicians and solar installers top the growth charts because of a massive, multi-decade shift toward renewable energy. Federal policy, state mandates, and declining technology costs are all aligned to sustain this demand for decades. Careers tied to the energy transition are not riding a short-term trend; they are positioned on the right side of a structural economic transformation.
The Healthcare Shortage
Nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and health services managers are growing because America does not have enough healthcare providers. An aging population requires more care, while a wave of provider retirements reduces supply. This gap will take decades to close, ensuring sustained demand.
The Digital Transformation
Software developers, data scientists, and information security analysts are growing because every industry is becoming more technology-intensive. AI is not eliminating these roles; it is expanding the scope of problems they can solve and creating entirely new categories of work.
How to Position Yourself for a Growing Career
Growth projections tell you where the jobs will be, but landing one still requires preparation. Here are three strategies:
- Start building relevant skills now. For technology careers, free and low-cost learning resources are abundant. For healthcare careers, identify prerequisite courses and clinical experience requirements early.
- Target geographic hotspots. Growth is not evenly distributed. Renewable energy jobs cluster in states with strong wind and solar resources. Healthcare demand is highest in rural areas and aging communities. Use regional data to find where your target career has the most opportunity.
- Combine growth with personal fit. A career growing at 50 percent is worthless if you dislike the work. Use growth data to narrow your options, then evaluate each career on day-to-day responsibilities, work environment, and alignment with your strengths.
The Takeaway
The fastest growing careers in America are concentrated in three sectors: clean energy, healthcare, and technology. These are not cyclical trends; they are structural shifts driven by demographics, policy, and technological change. Whether you are entering the workforce, considering a career change, or advising someone else, growth data should be a core input in your decision-making process. Explore detailed career profiles on RankMyCareer to see how growth rates combine with salary, education requirements, and automation risk to form the complete picture.