Quick answer: The fastest-growing blue collar careers through 2035 are solar photovoltaic installers (+36.5%), wind turbine service technicians (+29.5%) and industrial machinery mechanics (+17.8%), based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics projections released August 27, 2026. HVAC technicians (+10.9%), electrical power-line installers (+10.3%) and electricians (+9.2%) come next. Eleven of the twelve careers on this list grow faster than the 3.5% projected for all occupations. Welders, at 2.4%, are the one exception.

Last updated: October 26, 2026. Growth rates are BLS projections for 2025 to 2035. Pay is the BLS median for May 2025.

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The 12 Fastest-Growing Blue Collar Careers for 2027

Ranked by projected U.S. job growth from 2025 to 2035, using the BLS Employment Projections released August 27, 2026. Pay is the May 2025 median wage.

1. Solar Photovoltaic Installer

Projected growth: 36.5% by 2035. Median pay: $53,140 a year. BLS ranks solar installers as the second fastest-growing occupation in the country, behind nurse practitioners. Crews assemble and maintain solar systems on rooftops and at utility sites, and the entry requirement is a high school diploma or equivalent.

2. Wind Turbine Service Technician

Projected growth: 29.5% by 2035. Median pay: $64,120 a year. Wind turbine technicians climb, inspect and repair turbines, so the work suits people who are comfortable with heights. BLS counted about 13,600 of them in 2024, which makes it a small field.

3. Industrial Machinery Mechanic

Projected growth: 17.8% by 2035. Median pay: $64,520 a year. Plants and factories need mechanics who keep production lines running. BLS projects about 51,900 openings a year for industrial machinery mechanics and millwrights combined.

4. HVAC Mechanic and Installer

Projected growth: 10.9% by 2035. Median pay: $61,010 a year. BLS projects about 40,600 openings a year and links the growth to commercial construction, including data centers, plus residential building and more complex climate-control systems. Most HVAC technicians complete a postsecondary nondegree program or learn through long-term on-the-job training.

5. Electrical Power-Line Installer and Repairer

Projected growth: 10.3% by 2035. Median pay: $95,320 a year. Grid upgrades keep line crews busy, and the pay beats almost every trade on this list. BLS projects about 10,900 openings a year. Entry requires a high school diploma or equivalent, followed by long-term on-the-job training.

6. Electrician

Projected growth: 9.2% by 2035. Median pay: $63,190 a year. BLS expects data center demand and grid upgrades to create work for electricians and projects about 72,700 openings a year. Most electricians learn through a 4 or 5 year apprenticeship that includes about 2,000 paid on-the-job hours each year.

7. Construction Laborer

Projected growth: 7.3% by 2035. Median pay: $46,680 a year (laborers and helpers). BLS projects about 120,000 openings a year and lists no formal credential as the entry requirement, which makes this the easiest way in on the list. Many laborers move into a specialized trade later.

8. Plumber, Pipefitter, and Steamfitter

Projected growth: 6.8% by 2035. Median pay: $63,800 a year. BLS expects employment to rise from 510,600 jobs in 2025 to 545,200 in 2035, with about 42,000 openings a year. Demand comes from new construction and from repairing plumbing in existing buildings. Most plumbers learn through an apprenticeship, and most states require a license.

9. Elevator and Escalator Installer and Repairer

Projected growth: 5.7% by 2035. Median pay: $109,910 a year. This is a small trade with about 1,900 openings a year, and it has the highest median pay on this list. Apprenticeships are competitive and hard to get into.

10. Carpenter

Projected growth: 3.9% by 2035. Median pay: $60,580 a year. BLS projects about 62,800 openings a year. Framing, finish work and remodeling keep carpenters busy in both new construction and renovation.

11. Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver

Projected growth: 3.8% by 2035. Median pay: $58,640 a year. BLS projects about 214,500 openings a year, the most of any career on this list. Entry usually means commercial driver license training, which BLS classes as a postsecondary nondegree award.

12. Welder, Cutter, Solderer, and Brazer

Projected growth: 2.4% by 2035. Median pay: $53,750 a year. Growth is the slowest on this list, but BLS still projects about 40,300 openings a year as workers retire or change careers.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025 to 2035 (released August 27, 2026) and the Occupational Outlook Handbook. Median wages are May 2025 estimates. Annual openings include job growth and the replacement of workers who leave the occupation.

Fast Growth Versus Real Hiring Volume

A high growth rate on a small base adds few jobs. Solar installers and wind technicians grow fastest in percentage terms, while electricians, laborers and truck drivers have far more openings each year. Use both columns when you decide where to apply.

Career	Growth, 2025 to 2035	Openings per year
Heavy truck drivers	3.8%	214,500
Construction laborers	7.3%	120,000
Electricians	9.2%	72,700
Carpenters	3.9%	62,800
Plumbers and pipefitters	6.8%	42,000
HVAC technicians	10.9%	40,600
Welders	2.4%	40,300
Electrical power-line installers	10.3%	10,900
Elevator installers and repairers	5.7%	1,900

Fastest-Growing Blue Collar Careers: Quick Answers

What is the fastest-growing blue collar job?

Solar photovoltaic installer is the fastest-growing blue collar job, with BLS projecting 36.5% growth from 2025 to 2035 and a median pay of $53,140. Wind turbine service technician is next at 29.5% growth and $64,120 median pay.

Which fast-growing blue collar career pays the most?

Among the 12 careers on this list, elevator and escalator installers and repairers earn the most, with a BLS median of $109,910. Electrical power-line installers follow at $95,320. The two fastest-growing careers pay $53,140 (solar installers) and $64,120 (wind turbine technicians).

What blue collar career can I switch into from an office job?

Construction laborers need no formal credential, solar installers need a high school diploma or equivalent, and electricians and plumbers enter through paid apprenticeships, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

How long does it take to start a blue collar career?

Electricians typically complete a 4 or 5 year paid apprenticeship, and plumbers also learn through apprenticeships. Construction laborers and solar installers can start with a high school diploma or less and learn on the job.

Which blue collar careers have the most job openings?

BLS projects about 214,500 openings a year for heavy truck drivers, 120,000 for construction laborers and 72,700 for electricians through 2035.

If pay is what is driving your switch, start with our full list of high paying blue collar jobs.

Next step: Explore virtual trade school training, search blue collar jobs near you and read how The Blue Collar Recruiter supports new tradespeople.