The fastest-growing jobs in the United States over the next decade are concentrated in health care, technology and clean energy, according to the latest Employment Projections from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Released on August 27, 2026, the projections cover 2025 to 2035 and estimate how employment in more than 800 occupations is expected to change.
This guide lists the 20 fastest-growing occupations exactly as BLS publishes them, with projected growth rates and 2025 median pay, then explains what the numbers mean, where they fall short and how to use the Occupational Outlook Handbook to research a career.
Key takeaways
- BLS projects nurse practitioners to be the fastest-growing occupation, with employment up 41.0 percent from 2025 to 2035.
- Total U.S. employment is projected to grow 3.5 percent over the decade, from 170.3 million to 176.2 million jobs.
- Health care roles fill much of the top 20 list, alongside data science, cybersecurity and renewable energy jobs.
- Fast growth in percentage terms does not always mean many new jobs. Small occupations can grow quickly while adding relatively few positions.
The 20 fastest-growing jobs, according to BLS
The table below comes from BLS Table 1.3, Fastest growing occupations, and the matching Occupational Outlook Handbook list. Growth is the projected percent change in employment from 2025 to 2035. Median pay is the median annual wage in 2025.
| Rank | Occupation | Projected growth, 2025–35 | Median annual wage, 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nurse practitioners | 41.0% | $132,300 |
| 2 | Solar photovoltaic installers | 36.5% | $53,140 |
| 3 | Data scientists | 34.6% | $120,230 |
| 4 | Wind turbine service technicians | 29.5% | $64,120 |
| 5 | Medical and health services managers | 24.2% | $123,860 |
| 6 | Physical therapist assistants | 23.0% | $68,380 |
| 7 | Psychiatric technicians | 22.3% | $45,130 |
| 8 | Computer and information research scientists | 21.8% | $140,300 |
| 9 | Occupational therapy assistants | 21.5% | $72,300 |
| 10 | Ophthalmic medical technicians | 21.4% | $45,570 |
| 11 | Physician assistants | 21.1% | $135,880 |
| 12 | Information security analysts | 21.0% | $129,180 |
| 13 | Occupational health and safety technicians | 19.4% | $61,560 |
| 14 | Hearing aid specialists | 19.4% | $65,160 |
| 15 | Epidemiologists | 18.7% | $87,220 |
| 16 | Occupational health and safety specialists | 18.5% | $90,150 |
| 17 | Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors | 18.4% | $59,350 |
| 18 | Home health and personal care aides | 18.1% | $35,800 |
| 19 | Health specialties teachers, postsecondary | 17.9% | $107,310 |
| 20 | Industrial machinery mechanics | 17.8% | $64,520 |
For comparison, BLS projects total employment across all occupations to grow 3.5 percent over the same period, and the median annual wage for all occupations was $50,980 in 2025. The Occupational Outlook Handbook rounds the growth rates to whole numbers (for example, 37 percent for solar photovoltaic installers), so you may see slightly different figures depending on which BLS page you read.
Why these jobs are projected to grow fastest
The BLS Employment Projections news release points to a few broad forces behind the list.
An aging population and health needs
BLS attributes much of the growth in health care to an aging population, which increases demand for health care and social services, and to the prevalence of chronic diseases and behavioral health disorders. Healthcare support occupations (13.3 percent) and healthcare practitioners and technical occupations (8.0 percent) are the fastest-growing of the 22 major occupational groups. Together, BLS says, they account for almost one-third of all new jobs projected through 2035. Among detailed industries, services for the elderly and persons with disabilities is projected to add 625,400 jobs, the most of any detailed industry.
Digital tools, AI and data
BLS attributes growth in computer and mathematical occupations mainly to the spread of digital tools and artificial intelligence. That helps explain why data scientists, information security analysts and computer and information research scientists all appear in the top 20. On the industry side, computing infrastructure providers, data processing, web hosting and related services are projected to grow 25.1 percent, adding 120,400 jobs.
Rising electricity demand
The release cites rising electricity demand, including power needs for AI and data centers, as a driver of growth in utilities and electrical work. Utilities is projected to be the fastest-growing industry sector at 9.8 percent, though it adds only 58,800 jobs.
Fastest-growing is not the same as most new jobs
A high growth rate can come from a small base. Wind turbine service technicians are projected to grow 29.5 percent, but BLS Table 1.3 shows that equals about 3,500 additional jobs, from roughly 11,800 to 15,300. Home health and personal care aides grow at a lower rate, 18.1 percent, yet are projected to add about 847,300 jobs because the occupation is so large.
Nurse practitioners stand out on both measures, with a projected increase of about 137,800 jobs over the decade. When you compare careers, look at both the percent change and the number of new jobs.
The projections also show declines. BLS expects office and administrative support occupations to shrink 4.0 percent, losing 752,100 jobs, the most of any major group. The release links this to automation, including AI-powered tools.
What the projections can and cannot tell you
BLS projections are a useful guide to long-term direction, but they are not guarantees about any individual career. Keep these limits in mind:
- They are long-range estimates. BLS notes that the precision of its figures does not reflect the uncertainty of predicting a decade ahead. The direction and relative size of changes matter more than the exact percentages.
- New developments may be missing. According to the release, the effects of emerging technologies and new legislation may not appear in historical data, and BLS generally adjusts for them conservatively, for example when there is convincing evidence of a long-term structural change.
- They are national. The OOH FAQ explains that BLS projections cover the country as a whole. State projections come from state agencies and are available through Projections Central.
- Pay figures are medians. Half of workers in an occupation earn more and half earn less. Wages come from the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program and do not cover the self-employed.
- They are not personal advice. BLS states that it does not provide individual career guidance.
How to use the Occupational Outlook Handbook
The Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH) is BLS’s career guide. According to the OOH FAQ, it has detailed profiles for about 600 occupations, grouped into more than 300 profiles, covering about 4 out of 5 jobs in the economy. Job outlook and wage data are updated each year.
Find an occupation
The OOH teacher’s guide describes several ways to search:
- Search box: Type a job title into “Search Handbook.”
- Occupation groups: Browse clusters of similar jobs from the left side of the homepage.
- Occupation Finder: Filter by entry-level education, on-the-job training, projected growth rate, number of new jobs and median pay.
- A–Z index: Pick a letter and choose an occupation.
- Browse lists: See the highest-paying, fastest-growing and most-new-jobs lists.
Read a profile
Each profile is organized into tabs: Summary, What They Do, Work Environment, How to Become One, Pay, Job Outlook, State and Area Data, Similar Occupations and More Info. The “How to Become One” tab is especially helpful because it explains the typical education, training and licenses needed. The “State and Area Data” tab links to local wage and projection data.
Understand the outlook terms
The OOH uses standard phrases to describe projected growth for 2025–35:
| OOH phrase | Projected employment change, 2025–35 |
|---|---|
| Much faster than average | 7% or more |
| Faster than average | 5% to 6% |
| About as fast as average | 3% to 4% |
| Slower than average | 1% to 2% |
| Little or no change | Less than 1% increase to less than 1% decrease |
| Decline | 1% or more decrease |
Turning the data into a career plan
Once you have a shortlist, compare the education each job requires with what you can afford and how long you can train. The “How to Become One” tab of each OOH profile shows the typical entry-level education, so you can see which jobs on the list require a graduate degree and which have shorter training paths. Our guide to community college vs. four-year college costs can help you weigh training paths, and if you plan to borrow or apply for aid, start with our guide on how to fill out the FAFSA.
If you are interested in public service, our guide on how to apply for federal jobs on USAJOBS explains the process.
Note: This article is general information, not career or financial advice. Projections and wage data are estimates and can change with each BLS release, so confirm details with the official source. See our Disclaimer.
Frequently asked questions
What is the fastest-growing job according to BLS?
In the 2025–35 Employment Projections, nurse practitioners have the fastest projected growth, at 41.0 percent. BLS reports their median annual wage was $132,300 in 2025.
What years do the latest BLS projections cover?
The current projections, released August 27, 2026, cover 2025 to 2035. Employment figures are for 2025 and projected 2035, and median wages are for 2025.
How fast is total employment expected to grow?
BLS projects total employment to grow 3.5 percent from 2025 to 2035, adding 5.9 million jobs. The release describes this as slower than the 10.9 percent growth recorded from 2015 to 2025.
Does BLS publish state-level projections?
No. BLS projections are national. According to the OOH FAQ, state occupational projections are produced by state employment agencies and are available through Projections Central.
How often is the Occupational Outlook Handbook updated?
BLS updates the OOH’s job outlook and wage data annually. Other profile details are updated on a rolling basis as new research becomes available.
Official sources
- Table 1.3 Fastest growing occupations, 2025 and projected 2035 – U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Fastest Growing Occupations – Occupational Outlook Handbook, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Employment Projections — 2025–2035 news release – U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- OOH FAQs – U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Teacher’s Guide to the OOH – U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Last checked: November 6, 2026. We review this guide when the official rules change.