Construction Equipment Operator

Total number of U.S. workers: 349,100
10-year growth projection: 23.5%
Annual salary range: $32,550 to $56,040
Typical education: high school diploma or equivalent

The nation's crumbling infrastructure is building up demand for construction workers. And equipment operators, who run everything from bulldozers to piledrivers, are expected to be in greater demand than supervisors while pulling in higher pay than laborers and helpers. The gritty duties can usually be learned on the job, but you might also seek out apprenticeships or private trade school programs.

Note: The sequestration could put a bump in the road for this career path. Budget cuts this fiscal year include about $2 billion from the Department of Transportation and $503 million specifically from national infrastructure investments. But Congress may act to ease these automatic spending reductions.