20 skilled trade jobs projected to grow this decade - most just require a high school diploma

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20 skilled trade jobs projected to grow this decade - most just require a high school diploma
  • Jobs in installation, maintenance, and repair are expected to grow in the next decade, per BLS data.
  • For instance, wind turbine service technicians are projected to grow 68% from 2020 to 2030.
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20. Tile and stone setters: Employment is projected to increase 11.5%, or by 6,200, from 2020 to 2030.

20. Tile and stone setters: Employment is projected to increase 11.5%, or by 6,200, from 2020 to 2030.
gilaxia/Getty Images

Median annual wage in 2020: $44,220

Typical required education: No formal educational credential

19. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics (except engines): Employment is projected to increase 11.7%, or by 17,800, from 2020 to 2030.

19. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics (except engines): Employment is projected to increase 11.7%, or by 17,800, from 2020 to 2030.
Richard Carson/Reuters

Median annual wage in 2020: $55,350

Typical required education: High school diploma or equivalent

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18. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians: Employment is projected to increase 11.8%, or by 15,300, from 2020 to 2030.

18. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians: Employment is projected to increase 11.8%, or by 15,300, from 2020 to 2030.
Hinterhaus Productions/Getty Images

Median annual wage in 2020: $66,440

Typical required education: Postsecondary nondegree award

17. Riggers: Employment is projected to increase 12.1%, or by 2,600, from 2020 to 2030.

17. Riggers: Employment is projected to increase 12.1%, or by 2,600, from 2020 to 2030.
King Ropes Access/Shutterstock

Median annual wage in 2020: $50,850

Typical required education: High school diploma or equivalent

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16. Mechanical door repairers: Employment is projected to increase 12.2%, or by 2,800, from 2020 to 2030.

16. Mechanical door repairers: Employment is projected to increase 12.2%, or by 2,800, from 2020 to 2030.
mokee81/Getty Images

Median annual wage in 2020: $43,220

Typical required education: High school diploma or equivalent

15. Floor layers (except carpet, wood, and hard tiles): Employment is projected to increase 12.3%, or by 2,900, from 2020 to 2030.

15. Floor layers (except carpet, wood, and hard tiles): Employment is projected to increase 12.3%, or by 2,900, from 2020 to 2030.
alexandrumagurean/Getty Images

Median annual wage in 2020: $45,520

Typical required education: No formal educational credential

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14. Motorboat mechanics and service technicians: Employment is projected to increase 13.3%, or by 2,900, from 2020 to 2030.

14. Motorboat mechanics and service technicians: Employment is projected to increase 13.3%, or by 2,900, from 2020 to 2030.
bigtunaonline/Getty Images

Median annual wage in 2020: $43,320

Typical required education: High school diploma or equivalent

13. Medical appliance technicians: Employment is projected to increase 14.4%, or by 2,100, from 2020 to 2030.

13. Medical appliance technicians: Employment is projected to increase 14.4%, or by 2,100, from 2020 to 2030.
Bernhard Lang/Getty Images

Median annual wage in 2020: $41,750

Typical required education: High school diploma or equivalent

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12. Security and fire alarm systems installers: Employment is projected to increase 16.4%, or by 12,100, from 2020 to 2030.

12. Security and fire alarm systems installers: Employment is projected to increase 16.4%, or by 12,100, from 2020 to 2030.
Fh Photo/Shutterstock

Median annual wage in 2020: $50,940

Typical required education: High school diploma or equivalent

11. Recreational vehicle service technicians: Employment is projected to increase 17.2%, or by 2,700, from 2020 to 2030.

11. Recreational vehicle service technicians: Employment is projected to increase 17.2%, or by 2,700, from 2020 to 2030.
welcomia/Getty Images

Median annual wage in 2020: $40,520

Typical required education: High school diploma or equivalent

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10. Industrial machinery mechanics: Employment is projected to increase 21.3%, or by 83,600, from 2020 to 2030.

10. Industrial machinery mechanics: Employment is projected to increase 21.3%, or by 83,600, from 2020 to 2030.
gilaxia/Getty Images

Median annual wage in 2020: $55,490

Typical required education: High school diploma or equivalent

9. Oil and gas service unit operators: Employment is projected to increase 22.9%, or by 9,800, from 2020 to 2030.

9. Oil and gas service unit operators: Employment is projected to increase 22.9%, or by 9,800, from 2020 to 2030.
Angus Mordant/Reuters

Median annual wage in 2020: $47,380

Typical required education: No formal educational credential

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8. Wood patternmakers: Employment is projected to increase 24.7%, or by 100, from 2020 to 2030.

8. Wood patternmakers: Employment is projected to increase 24.7%, or by 100, from 2020 to 2030.
Richard Drury/Getty Images

Median annual wage in 2020: $65,120

Typical required education: High school diploma or equivalent

7. Oil and gas rotary drill operators: Employment is projected to increase 26.4%, or by 4,000, from 2020 to 2030.

7. Oil and gas rotary drill operators: Employment is projected to increase 26.4%, or by 4,000, from 2020 to 2030.
Tyler Stableford/Getty Images

Median annual wage in 2020: $53,820

Typical required education: No formal educational credential

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6. Computer numerically controlled tool programmers: Employment is projected to increase 27.4%, or by 7,400, from 2020 to 2030.

6. Computer numerically controlled tool programmers: Employment is projected to increase 27.4%, or by 7,400, from 2020 to 2030.
SasinT Gallery/Getty Images

Median annual wage in 2020: $57,740

Typical required education: Postsecondary nondegree award

5. Oil and gas roustabouts: Employment is projected to increase 29.5%, or by 12,900, from 2020 to 2030.

5. Oil and gas roustabouts: Employment is projected to increase 29.5%, or by 12,900, from 2020 to 2030.
Tetra Images - Dan Bannister/Getty Images

Median annual wage in 2020: $39,420

Typical required education: No formal educational credential

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4. Oil and gas derrick operators: Employment is projected to increase 29.7%, or by 2,700, from 2020 to 2030.

4. Oil and gas derrick operators: Employment is projected to increase 29.7%, or by 2,700, from 2020 to 2030.
Shannon Stapleton/Reuters

Median annual wage in 2020: $47,920

Typical required education: No formal educational credential

3. Wood model makers: Employment is projected to increase 38.6%, or by 400, from 2020 to 2030.

3. Wood model makers: Employment is projected to increase 38.6%, or by 400, from 2020 to 2030.
Erdark/Getty Images

Median annual wage in 2020: $64,050

Typical required education: High school diploma or equivalent

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2. Solar photovoltaic installers: Employment is projected to increase 52.1%, or by 6,100, from 2020 to 2030.

2. Solar photovoltaic installers: Employment is projected to increase 52.1%, or by 6,100, from 2020 to 2030.
Luminalt solar installers Pam Quan (R) and Walter Morales (L) install solar panels on the roof of a home on May 9, 2018 in San Francisco, California. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Median annual wage in 2020: $46,470

Typical required education: High school diploma or equivalent

1. Wind turbine service technicians: Employment is projected to increase 68.2%, or by 4,700, from 2020 to 2030.

1. Wind turbine service technicians: Employment is projected to increase 68.2%, or by 4,700, from 2020 to 2030.
Mahmut Serdar Alakus/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Median annual wage in 2020: $56,230

Typical required education: Postsecondary nondegree award

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More information about the above ranking

While many Americans are quitting their jobs, demand for more skilled trade workers is growing, presenting opportunities for people who are interested in switching occupations or starting their careers strong. 

"If home trades recognize the connection between what their trades offer and what workers are seeking during the Great Resignation, we could begin to see a narrative change around trade labor and start to reverse the labor shortages that have impacted the trades for years," Angi, a marketplace for home services, wrote in a recent report.

In addition to current opportunities, employment is projected to grow in many of these jobs from 2020 to 2030, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' employment projections. 

Insider looked at what trades are projected to see the highest percent increases in employment between 2020 and 2030. We looked at trade occupations that fall into three groups on BLS: "construction and extraction occupations"; "installation, maintenance, and repair occupations"; and "production occupations."

We then sorted our list by projected percent change in employment from 2020 to 2030, with the highest percent increase as our No. 1. Based on this, wind turbine service technicians ranked at the top — employment is projected to grow 68.2%, or by 4,700 over the 10-year period.

We also included in the above ranking the median annual wage and typical education required for entering the occupation — both of which come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

BLS has eight different education levels for entry, including a high school diploma or equivalent. Another is postsecondary nondegree award, which BLS notes "these programs lead to a certificate or other award, but not a degree. The certificate is awarded by the educational institution and is the result of completing formal postsecondary schooling."

More information about how the pandemic affected the 2020 base year used to create the latest projections can be found in the Bureau of Labor Statistics' release of the employment projections.