This ranking lists the 50 fastest-growing occupations projected by the BLS Employment Projections program covering 2023 to 2033, filtered to show what North Carolina's current workforce already looks like inside each role. The number-one growth leader is Wind Turbine Service Technicians at +49.9% projected employment change over the decade, with 120 workers currently employed in the role across North Carolina. Of the 50 tracked roles, 27 are projected to grow 15% or more — what BLS classifies as "much faster than average" versus the 5% all-occupations baseline.

Growth projections rest on macroeconomic assumptions BLS updates every two years: aging demographics, healthcare demand, energy transition, automation pressure, and sector-specific labor supply. Summed across this list, the occupations represent approximately 2,708,700new positions projected nationally over the 10-year horizon. State employment figures (48 of 50 rows have North Carolina employment data published) help you see whether North Carolina is already a major employer for each growth occupation or whether growth nationally doesn't yet translate to the state.

Fast-growing occupations don't automatically mean easy entry or large absolute opportunity. A role projected at +40% growth might add only a few thousand total jobs nationally if the starting workforce is small, while a +5% occupation covering millions of workers creates far more total openings. Always pair the growth column with annual openings (which include replacements for retirements and transfers) and the state employment column to gauge how many actual North Carolina positions open per year. Also check the education column — several fast-growth occupations require specific degrees or certifications that take 2-8 years to obtain, so the growth window matters for entry timing. Each occupation row links to its full national profile with percentile pay, metro breakdowns, and 10-year outlook detail for deeper research.