Targeted Occupations
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funds are used to fund the cost of training
that prepares individuals to work in occupations that are critical to the growth and
competitiveness of the targeted industries. Training is funded through Individual Training
Accounts to assist with the cost of tuition, fees, books, and other training-related costs.
Occupations selected for targeting meet the following criteria:
- The occupation is a key occupation that supports at least one of the targeted industries.
- The entry-level wage is greater than the Board’s Self-Sufficiency Wage (SSW) Standard.
- The occupation will add more than 100 jobs between 2018 and 2028.
- The occupation will grow at a rate of 10% or more between 2018 and 2028.
- The Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that formal training is needed to enter the occupation.
Exceptions may be made in cases where sufficient data does not exist to support targeting but
input from employers or other relevant sources establishes that training funds are needed to
address a significant skills shortage or skills gap.
| Occupational Title | Annual Average Employment 2018 | Annual Average Employment 2028 | Number Change 2018-2028 | Percent Growth 2018-2028 | Average Annual Wage 2019 | Total Annual Average Openings* | Typical Education Needed for Entry into Occupation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Automotive Service Technicians & Mechanics | 1,089 | 1,158 | 69 | 6.3% | $50,542 | 116 | Postsecondary non-degree award |
| Bus & Truck Mechanics & Diesel Engine Specialists | 582 | 658 | 76 | 13.1% | $44,116 | 65 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Computer User Support Specialists | 741 | 905 | 164 | 22.1% | $44,388 | 83 | Some college, no degree |
| Dental Assistants | 430 | 533 | 103 | 24% | $34,478 | 64 | Postsecondary non-degree award |
| Medical Assistants | 729 | 954 | 225 | 30.9% | $28,890 | 115 | Postsecondary non-degree award |
| Billing and Posting Clerks | 674 | 781 | 107 | 15.9% | $35,525 | 90 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Software Developers, Applications | 264 | 415 | 151 | 57.2% | $74,087 | 39 | Bachelor's degree |
| Emergency Medical Technicians & Paramedics | 481 | 549 | 68 | 14.1% | $36,638 | 41 | Postsecondary non-degree award |
| Heating, AC, & Refrigeration Mechanics & Installers | 427 | 490 | 63 | 14.8% | $46,711 | 50 | Postsecondary non-degree award |
| Respiratory Therapists | 221 | 285 | 64 | 29% | $56,407 | 19 | Associate's degree |
| Medical Secretaries | 1,500 | 1,878 | 378 | 25.2% | $30,019 | 227 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Maintenance & Repair Workers, General | 1,602 | 1,802 | 200 | 12.5% | $35,535 | 185 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Pharmacy Technicians | 591 | 697 | 106 | 17.9% | $34,269 | 63 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, & Steamfitters | 928 | 1,093 | 165 | 17.8% | $49,434 | 128 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Licensed Practical & Licensed Vocational Nurses | 1,967 | 2,049 | 82 | 4.2% | $46,585 | 161 | Postsecondary non-degree award |
| Registered Nurses | 4,152 | 4,791 | 639 | 15.4% | $68,852 | 303 | Bachelor's degree |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 2,012 | 2,242 | 230 | 11.4% | $44,675 | 265 | Postsecondary non-degree award |
| Radiologic Technologists | 453 | 535 | 82 | 18.1% | $55,859 | 35 | Associate's degree |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, & Brazers | 583 | 669 | 86 | 14.8% | $35,977 | 78 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | 1,143 | 1,263 | 120 | 10.5% | $57,849 | 97 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Machinists | 244 | 275 | 31 | 12.7% | $41,130 | 30 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Construction Laborers | 2,876 | 3,213 | 337 | 11.7% | $31,370 | 373 | No formal educational credential |
| General & Operations Managers | 2,719 | 3,093 | 374 | 13.8% | $94,364 | 289 | Bachelor's Degree |
| Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education | 739 | 854 | 115 | 15.6% | $29,326 | 92 | Associate's degree |
| Office Clerk, General | 5,162 | 5,301 | 139 | 2.7% | $36,244 | 640 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | 1,679 | 2,059 | 380 | 22.6% | $32,720 | 323 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Electricians | 838 | 965 | 127 | 15.2% | $49,052 | 118 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Medical & Health Services Managers | 573 | 749 | 176 | 30.7% | $104,827 | 70 | Bachelor's Degree |
| Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors | 360 | 477 | 117 | 32.5% | $35,740 | 70 | No formal educational credential |
| Service Unit Operators, Oil, Gas, and Mining | 1,146 | 1,338 | 192 | 16.8% | $53,931 | 194 | No formal educational credential |
| Wind Turbine Service Technicians* | 2,038 | 3,728 | 1,690 | 82.9% | $53,178 | 479 | Postsecondary non-degree award |
