Career roadmaps
Compare 20 careers using the same BLS fields: national pay, outlook, entry education, and average annual openings. Each profile also lists local rules and training questions to check.
Ordered by projected employment growth, highest first.
| Career | Entry education | 2024 median pay | Growth | Annual openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wind Turbine Service Technician | Postsecondary nondegree award | $62,580 | 49.9% | 2,300 |
| Solar Photovoltaic Installer | High school diploma or equivalent | $51,860 | 42.1% | 4,100 |
| Information Security Analyst | Bachelor's degree | $124,910 | 28.5% | 16,000 |
| Industrial Machinery Mechanic | High school diploma or equivalent | $63,760 | 16.1% | 45,700 |
| Software Developer | Bachelor's degree | $133,080 | 15.8% | 115,200 |
| Medical Equipment Repairer | Associate's degree | $62,630 | 12.9% | 7,300 |
| CNC Tool Programmer | Postsecondary nondegree award | $65,670 | 12.8% | 3,100 |
| Semiconductor Processing Technician | High school diploma or equivalent | $51,180 | 10.9% | 3,900 |
| Electrician | High school diploma or equivalent | $62,350 | 9.5% | 81,000 |
| HVAC Technician | Postsecondary nondegree award | $59,810 | 8.1% | 40,100 |
| Electrical Power-Line Installer and Repairer | High school diploma or equivalent | $92,560 | 6.6% | 10,700 |
| Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanic | High school diploma or equivalent | $63,980 | 5.8% | 16,500 |
| Elevator and Escalator Installer and Repairer | High school diploma or equivalent | $106,580 | 5.0% | 2,000 |
| Plumber, Pipefitter, or Steamfitter | High school diploma or equivalent | $62,970 | 4.5% | 44,000 |
| Automotive Service Technician | Postsecondary nondegree award | $49,670 | 4.2% | 70,000 |
| Aircraft Mechanic and Service Technician | Postsecondary nondegree award | $78,680 | 4.0% | 11,300 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver | Postsecondary nondegree award | $57,440 | 4.0% | 237,600 |
| Welder, Cutter, Solderer, and Brazer | High school diploma or equivalent | $51,000 | 2.2% | 45,600 |
| Computer Network Support Specialist | Associate's degree | $73,340 | 1.8% | 9,600 |
| Machinist | High school diploma or equivalent | $56,150 | 0.0% | 29,500 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–34 projections and 2024 wages · Reviewed July 16, 2026
Choose a career to explore
Ordered by projected employment growth. Preparation times are PathGauge estimates, not official program lengths.
Wind Turbine Service Technician
Wind turbine service technicians inspect, troubleshoot, repair, and maintain utility-scale turbines, combining electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, and digital diagnostic work in a safety-critical field setting.
Solar Photovoltaic Installer
Solar photovoltaic installers assemble, mount, connect, and maintain rooftop or ground-mounted PV systems while reading plans, measuring layouts, weatherproofing penetrations, and following electrical-safety rules.
Information Security Analyst
Information security analysts monitor systems, investigate suspicious activity, assess controls, document risk, and help organizations prevent and recover from security incidents across networks, applications, and cloud services.
Industrial Machinery Mechanic
Industrial machinery mechanics keep production equipment operating by inspecting components, interpreting manuals, aligning machinery, replacing parts, and diagnosing mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, or hydraulic faults.
Software Developer
Software developers analyze needs, design and implement applications or systems, review code, test behavior, manage changes, and collaborate on maintenance throughout a product’s operating life.
Medical Equipment Repairer
Medical equipment repairers inspect, maintain, calibrate, and troubleshoot patient-care technology, combining electronics, networking, mechanical skills, documentation, and careful coordination with clinical users.
CNC Tool Programmer
CNC tool programmers translate part requirements into safe, repeatable machining instructions by selecting processes, tools, feeds, speeds, coordinates, workholding, and verification methods for computer-controlled equipment.
Semiconductor Processing Technician
Semiconductor processing technicians operate and monitor fabrication equipment, follow tightly controlled recipes, inspect results, record process data, and respond to deviations in cleanroom production environments.
Electrician
Electricians install, test, maintain, and repair wiring, controls, lighting, and electrical equipment, applying code requirements and diagnostic methods across residential, commercial, and industrial systems.
HVAC Technician
HVAC technicians install, inspect, maintain, and repair heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, and refrigeration systems using mechanical skills, electrical testing, airflow measurement, and refrigerant-handling procedures.
Electrical Power-Line Installer and Repairer
Electrical power-line installers and repairers build, maintain, and restore overhead and underground distribution or transmission systems using climbing, rigging, electrical, and utility operating procedures.
Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanic
Mobile heavy equipment mechanics diagnose, maintain, and repair construction, agricultural, rail, or other off-road machines, working across diesel engines, hydraulics, drivetrains, electrical systems, and electronic controls.
Elevator and Escalator Installer and Repairer
Elevator and escalator installers and repairers assemble, adjust, inspect, troubleshoot, and maintain vertical-transportation equipment that integrates mechanical drives, controls, wiring, doors, and safety systems.
Plumber, Pipefitter, or Steamfitter
Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters lay out, assemble, install, test, and repair piping systems, with specialties ranging from building water and drainage to industrial process and high-pressure systems.
Automotive Service Technician
Automotive service technicians inspect, maintain, diagnose, and repair cars and light trucks using mechanical procedures, scan tools, wiring information, service data, and verification road tests.
Aircraft Mechanic and Service Technician
Aircraft mechanics inspect, service, troubleshoot, and repair airframes and powerplants under aviation maintenance rules, using technical records, precision measurement, approved data, and controlled procedures.
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver
Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers move freight while inspecting vehicles, planning and documenting trips, coupling equipment, complying with operating rules, and managing cargo and delivery responsibilities.
Welder, Cutter, Solderer, and Brazer
Welders join or cut metal using processes selected for the material, position, joint, and service conditions, while interpreting drawings, preparing surfaces, controlling heat, and inspecting completed work.
Computer Network Support Specialist
Computer network support specialists analyze and resolve connectivity, device, service, and performance problems while maintaining documentation and coordinating changes across local, wide-area, wireless, and cloud-connected networks.
Machinist
Machinists produce and repair precision parts by interpreting drawings, planning setups, operating manual or computer-controlled tools, measuring features, and adjusting processes to meet tolerances.