22.8% projected growth rate [Mountain West Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE), LMI Gateway]
Approximately 1,300 annual job openings [CDLE Occupational Employment Projections]
Median salary: $57,380/year [U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2023 State Occupational Employment]
Electricians
22.8% projected growth rate [Mountain West Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE), LMI Gateway]
Approximately 1,300 annual job openings [CDLE Occupational Employment Projections]
Median salary: $57,380/year [U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2023 State Occupational Employment]
Plumbers
22.8% projected growth rate [Mountain West Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE), LMI Gateway]
Approximately 1,300 annual job openings [CDLE Occupational Employment Projections]
Median salary: $57,380/year [U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2023 State Occupational Employment]
Market Drivers
Five large “mega‑metropolitan” areas of the Intermountain West are expected to add ~12.7 million residents and 8 million+ jobs by 2040, meaning the region’s population base could nearly double (≈ +91%) from 2005 levels. [Brookings Institution]
40% of current trade professionals expected to retire within 10 years [U.S. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook]
Private manufacturing construction in the Mountain West region was ~$26.5 billion in 2022 — up from ~$4.2 billion in 2017 (roughly a six‑fold increase) [KPCW.org]
Green energy initiatives creating additional demand across trades [Colorado Energy Office]
Entry‑level HVAC technician pay is projected to rise around 20% between 2025 and 2030. [U.S. Department of Energy, 2025]
Residential construction employment is notably higher in the Mountain division. As of 2023 three states in the Mountain division had 5.5 % (Idaho), 5.1 % (Montana), and 4.9 % (Utah) of their employed labour force working in home building — well above the U.S. national average of ~2.9%. [National Association of Home Builders]
The construction sector is projected to grow faster than the average for all occupations from 2024 to 2034, with about 649,300 openings projected each year due to employment growth and the need to replace workers who leave the occupations permanently. [Bureau of Labor Statistics]
Note: Statistics should be verified and updated with the most current data from:
