Career Tree | NC Careers.org

Career Plan Builder Landing Image NCcareers.org now offers you a personal career GPS! Map your path to success with our Career Plan Builder. This personalized platform assesses your unique skills and aspirations, providing a step-by-step roadmap to your dream career. Update your goals, track your progress, and access targeted resources - all in one place.

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Is it too early to think about careers?

Middle and High School is the perfect time to start thinking about careers. Learn about the advantages of thinking about careers at a young age.

Why should I see my Career Development Coordinator (CDC)?

Career development and Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses help you plan and gain skills for success in your future career. Learn about CTE, Internships, and more from your CDC.

Why should I see my school counselor?

Learn about the services and assistance your school counselor provides and how they can help you with your career planning.

What is Career and Technical Education (CTE)?

Gain skills and career experience through CTE. Learn about courses, clusters, work-based learning, student organizations (CTSOs), NTHS, industry credentials, free college courses and more.

Why should I see my NC Career Coach?

Learn about how these NC Community College staff members can help.

Can I talk to a career counselor if I’m not in school?

NCWorks has programs that can help with career planning and more…

Next Step

Start building your future career today.

By Education

Use your education as a starting point in your journey. Choose a type of education and search for a program to see which occupations best match your education. Click the add education button if you want to include additional education types.

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By Current Occupation

Use your current job or any occupation you desire as the starting point in your career journey. Type in an occupation name to learn what is next in line on your career journey.

By Goal Career

This tool can help you understand a potential pathway to a goal career. First start with your goal career. Next, add a starting education or occupation. Now start building. You'll then be presented below with jobs that have similar job skills or job duties to your dream job but typically pay less.

First Step

Your Journey Overview
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Environmental Engineers

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Environmental Engineers

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: Bachelor's degree

☆☆☆☆☆

Bachelor's degree

Median Annual Wage

$93,470

($44.94/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Strong Growth

1.1%

Avg. Annual Openings

Average Opportunity

Choose your next step from the list below.

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Star
Rating

Education
Requirement

Median
Annual Wage

Annual
Growth Rate

Avg. Annual
Openings

Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics

Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: Bachelor's degree

☆☆☆☆☆

Bachelor's degree

Median Annual Wage

$83,470

($40.13/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Very Strong Growth

2.2%

Avg. Annual Openings

Few Opportunities

Mining and Geological Engineers

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: Bachelor's degree

☆☆☆☆☆

Bachelor's degree

Median Annual Wage

$67,720

($32.56/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Very Strong Growth

1.9%

Avg. Annual Openings

Rare Opportunity

Soil and Plant Scientists

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: Bachelor's degree

☆☆☆☆☆

Bachelor's degree

Median Annual Wage

$73,000

($35.10/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Very Strong Growth

1.5%

Avg. Annual Openings

Strong Opportunity

274

Civil Engineers

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: Bachelor's degree

☆☆☆☆☆

Bachelor's degree

Median Annual Wage

$81,230

($39.05/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Very Strong Growth

1.5%

Avg. Annual Openings

Very Strong Opportunity

1,107

Environmental Science and Protection Technicians

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: Associate's degree

☆☆☆☆☆

Associate's degree

Median Annual Wage

$45,830

($22.03/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Strong Growth

1.3%

Avg. Annual Openings

Average Opportunity

118

Mechanical Engineers

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: Bachelor's degree

☆☆☆☆☆

Bachelor's degree

Median Annual Wage

$84,330

($40.55/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Strong Growth

1.3%

Avg. Annual Openings

Strong Opportunity

711

Environmental Scientists and Specialists

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: Bachelor's degree

☆☆☆☆☆

Bachelor's degree

Median Annual Wage

$64,530

($31.02/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Strong Growth

1.2%

Avg. Annual Openings

Strong Opportunity

446

Geoscientists

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: Bachelor's degree

☆☆☆☆☆

Bachelor's degree

Median Annual Wage

$78,210

($37.60/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Strong Growth

1.2%

Avg. Annual Openings

Few Opportunities

Conservation Scientists

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: Bachelor's degree

☆☆☆☆☆

Bachelor's degree

Median Annual Wage

$60,110

($28.90/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Strong Growth

1.2%

Avg. Annual Openings

Few Opportunities

Compliance Officers

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: Bachelor's degree

☆☆☆☆☆

Bachelor's degree

Median Annual Wage

$65,970

($31.72/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Strong Growth

1.1%

Avg. Annual Openings

Very Strong Opportunity

869

All Other Business Operations Specialists

Star Rating:

Education: Bachelor's degree

Bachelor's degree

Median Annual Wage

$68,380

($32.87/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Strong Growth

1.1%

Avg. Annual Openings

Very Strong Opportunity

3,686

Postsecondary Environmental Science Teachers

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: Doctoral or professional degree

☆☆☆☆☆

Doctoral or professional degree

Median Annual Wage

$84,430

Annual Growth Rate

Strong Growth

1.1%

Avg. Annual Openings

Few Opportunities

Chemists

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: Bachelor's degree

☆☆☆☆☆

Bachelor's degree

Median Annual Wage

$75,390

($36.24/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Strong Growth

1.0%

Avg. Annual Openings

Strong Opportunity

472

Occupational Health and Safety Specialists

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: Bachelor's degree

☆☆☆☆☆

Bachelor's degree

Median Annual Wage

$74,530

($35.83/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Average Growth

0.9%

Avg. Annual Openings

Strong Opportunity

369

Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: Associate's degree

☆☆☆☆☆

Associate's degree

Median Annual Wage

$47,730

($22.95/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Average Growth

0.8%

Avg. Annual Openings

Rare Opportunity

Forest and Conservation Technicians

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: Associate's degree

☆☆☆☆☆

Associate's degree

Median Annual Wage

$41,700

($20.05/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Slow Growth

0.5%

Avg. Annual Openings

Average Opportunity

100

Hydrologic Technicians

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: Associate's degree

☆☆☆☆☆

Associate's degree

Median Annual Wage

$44,780

($21.53/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Slow Growth

0.4%

Avg. Annual Openings

Rare Opportunity

Hydrologists

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: Bachelor's degree

☆☆☆☆☆

Bachelor's degree

Median Annual Wage

$64,750

($31.13/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Slow Growth

0.3%

Avg. Annual Openings

Rare Opportunity

Median Annual Wage
Education
Experience Needed
Description

Environmental Engineers

$93,470($44.94/hr)

Bachelor's degree

Environmental Engineers use the principles of engineering, soil science, biology, and chemistry to develop solutions to environmental problems. They work to improve recycling, waste disposal, public health, and water and air pollution control. They also address global issues, such as unsafe drinking water, climate change, and environmental sustainability.

Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers

$83,470 ($40.13/hr)

Bachelor's degree

None

Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers combine engineering principles with sciences to design and create equipment, devices, computer systems, and software.

Mining and Geological Engineers

$67,720 ($32.56/hr)

Bachelor's degree

None

Mining and Geological Engineers design mines to safely and efficiently remove minerals such as coal and metals for use in manufacturing and utilities.

Soil and Plant Scientists

$73,000 ($35.10/hr)

Bachelor's degree

None

Soil and Plant Scientists conduct research in breeding, physiology, production, yield, and management of crops, trees, shrubs, and nursery stock. They study the chemical composition of soils as they relate to plant or crop growth.

Civil Engineers

$81,230 ($39.05/hr)

Bachelor's degree

None

Civil Engineers conceive, design, build, supervise, operate, construct and maintain infrastructure projects and systems in the public and private sector, including roads, buildings, airports, tunnels, dams, bridges, and systems for water supply and sewage treatment. Many civil engineers work in planning, design, construction, research, and education.

Environmental Science and Protection Technicians

$45,830 ($22.03/hr)

Associate's degree

None

Environmental Science and Protection Technicians monitor the environment and investigate sources of pollution and contamination, including those affecting public health.

Mechanical Engineers

$84,330 ($40.55/hr)

Bachelor's degree

None

Mechanical Engineers research, design, develop, build, and test mechanical and thermal sensors and devices, including tools, engines, and machines.

Environmental Scientists and Specialists

$64,530 ($31.02/hr)

Bachelor's degree

None

Environmental Scientists and Specialists use their knowledge of the natural sciences to protect the environment and human health. They may clean up polluted areas, advise policymakers, or work with industry to reduce waste.

Geoscientists

$78,210 ($37.60/hr)

Bachelor's degree

None

Geoscientists study the physical aspects of the Earth, such as its composition, structure, and processes, to learn about its past and present and to predict future events.

Conservation Scientists

$60,110 ($28.90/hr)

Bachelor's degree

None

Conservation Scientists manage the land quality of forests, parks, rangelands, and other natural resources.

Compliance Officers

$65,970 ($31.72/hr)

Bachelor's degree

None

Compliance Officers examine, evaluate, and investigate eligibility for or conformity with laws and regulations governing contract compliance of licenses and permits, and perform other compliance and enforcement inspection and analysis activities not classified elsewhere.

All Other Business Operations Specialists

$68,380 ($32.87/hr)

Bachelor's degree

None

Business Operations Specialists are consultants who offer knowledge to help a business improve its operations. This category includes all business operations specialists not contained somewhere else.

Postsecondary Environmental Science Teachers

$84,430 ( - /hr)

Doctoral or professional degree

None

Postsecondary Environmental Science Teachers instruct students in a variety of environmental science related subjects beyond the high school level. They may also conduct research and publish scholarly papers and books.

Chemists

$75,390 ($36.24/hr)

Bachelor's degree

None

Chemists research and analyze the chemical properties of substances to develop new materials, products, or knowledge.

Occupational Health and Safety Specialists

$74,530 ($35.83/hr)

Bachelor's degree

None

Occupational Health and Safety Specialists collect data on, analyze, and design improvements to many types of work environments and procedures. They inspect workplaces and enforce adherence to regulations on safety, health, and the environment.

Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians

$47,730 ($22.95/hr)

Associate's degree

None

Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians carry out the plans that environmental engineers develop.

Forest and Conservation Technicians

$41,700 ($20.05/hr)

Associate's degree

None

Forest and Conservation Technicians provide technical assistance regarding the conservation of soil, water, forests, or related natural resources. They compile data pertaining to size, content, condition, and other characteristics of forest tracts under the direction of foresters, or train and lead forest workers in forest propagation and fire prevention and suppression. They may assist conservation scientists in managing, improving, and protecting rangelands and wildlife habitats.

Hydrologic Technicians

$44,780 ($21.53/hr)

Associate's degree

None

Hydrologic Technicians support scientists and engineers in exploring, extracting, and monitoring natural resources, such as soil, natural gas, and water.

Hydrologists

$64,750 ($31.13/hr)

Bachelor's degree

None

Hydrologists study how water moves across and through the Earth's crust. They study how rain, snow, and other forms of precipitation impact river flows or groundwater levels, and how surface water and groundwater evaporate back into the atmosphere or eventually reach the oceans. Hydrologists analyze how water influences the surrounding environment and how changes to the environment influence the quality and quantity of water. They use their expertise to solve problems concerning water quality and availability.

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