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
Compare Occupations

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Occupational Therapists

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Occupational Therapists

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: Master's degree

☆☆☆☆☆

Master's degree

Median Annual Wage

$83,560

($40.17/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Very Strong Growth

1.7%

Avg. Annual Openings

Strong Opportunity

308

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

Speech-Language Pathologists

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: Master's degree

☆☆☆☆☆

Master's degree

Median Annual Wage

$75,530

($36.31/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Very Strong Growth

2.4%

Avg. Annual Openings

Strong Opportunity

534

Orthotists and Prosthetists

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: Master's degree

☆☆☆☆☆

Master's degree

Median Annual Wage

$66,170

($31.81/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Very Strong Growth

2.1%

Avg. Annual Openings

Few Opportunities

Athletic Trainers

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: Master's degree

☆☆☆☆☆

Master's degree

Median Annual Wage

$48,400

Annual Growth Rate

Very Strong Growth

2.1%

Avg. Annual Openings

Average Opportunity

131

Postsecondary Nursing Instructors and Teachers

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: Doctoral or professional degree

☆☆☆☆☆

Doctoral or professional degree

Median Annual Wage

$66,200

Annual Growth Rate

Very Strong Growth

1.9%

Avg. Annual Openings

Average Opportunity

226

Marriage and Family Therapists

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: Master's degree

☆☆☆☆☆

Master's degree

Median Annual Wage

$47,180

($22.68/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Very Strong Growth

1.6%

Avg. Annual Openings

Average Opportunity

100

All Other Special Education Teachers

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: Bachelor's degree

☆☆☆☆☆

Bachelor's degree

Median Annual Wage

$46,350

Annual Growth Rate

Very Strong Growth

1.4%

Avg. Annual Openings

Rare Opportunity

Child, Family, and School Social Workers

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: Bachelor's degree

☆☆☆☆☆

Bachelor's degree

Median Annual Wage

$48,510

($23.32/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Strong Growth

1.3%

Avg. Annual Openings

Very Strong Opportunity

1,387

Exercise Physiologists

Star Rating:

Education: Bachelor's degree

Bachelor's degree

Median Annual Wage

$49,780

($23.93/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Strong Growth

1.2%

Avg. Annual Openings

Average Opportunity

Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: Master's degree

☆☆☆☆☆

Master's degree

Median Annual Wage

$52,010

($25.00/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Strong Growth

1.2%

Avg. Annual Openings

Average Opportunity

201

Healthcare Social Workers

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: Master's degree

☆☆☆☆☆

Master's degree

Median Annual Wage

$60,710

($29.19/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Strong Growth

1.2%

Avg. Annual Openings

Strong Opportunity

376

Rehabilitation Counselors

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: Master's degree

☆☆☆☆☆

Master's degree

Median Annual Wage

$38,440

($18.48/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Strong Growth

1.2%

Avg. Annual Openings

Strong Opportunity

295

Health Education Specialists

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: Bachelor's degree

☆☆☆☆☆

Bachelor's degree

Median Annual Wage

$52,170

($25.08/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Strong Growth

1.1%

Avg. Annual Openings

Average Opportunity

118

Dietitians and Nutritionists

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: Bachelor's degree

☆☆☆☆☆

Bachelor's degree

Median Annual Wage

$60,110

($28.90/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Strong Growth

1.1%

Avg. Annual Openings

Average Opportunity

213

Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: Master's degree

☆☆☆☆☆

Master's degree

Median Annual Wage

$50,820

($24.43/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Strong Growth

1.0%

Avg. Annual Openings

Very Strong Opportunity

810

Preschool Special Education Teachers

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: Bachelor's degree

☆☆☆☆☆

Bachelor's degree

Median Annual Wage

$50,400

Annual Growth Rate

Average Growth

0.8%

Avg. Annual Openings

Few Opportunities

Acupuncturists

Star Rating:

Education: Master's degree

Master's degree

Median Annual Wage

$$$

No Data Available

Annual Growth Rate

Slow Growth

0.6%

Avg. Annual Openings

Few Opportunities

Secondary School Special Education Teachers

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: Bachelor's degree

☆☆☆☆☆

Bachelor's degree

Median Annual Wage

$49,940

Annual Growth Rate

Slow Growth

0.6%

Avg. Annual Openings

Strong Opportunity

302

Middle School Special Education Teachers

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: Bachelor's degree

☆☆☆☆☆

Bachelor's degree

Median Annual Wage

$51,310

Annual Growth Rate

Slow Growth

0.6%

Avg. Annual Openings

Average Opportunity

232

School Psychologists

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: Master's degree

☆☆☆☆☆

Master's degree

Median Annual Wage

$63,330

($30.45/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Slow Growth

0.6%

Avg. Annual Openings

Average Opportunity

Recreational Therapists

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: Bachelor's degree

☆☆☆☆☆

Bachelor's degree

Median Annual Wage

$48,560

($23.35/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Slow Growth

0.5%

Avg. Annual Openings

Few Opportunities

Median Annual Wage
Education
Experience Needed
Description

Occupational Therapists

$83,560($40.17/hr)

Master's degree

Occupational Therapists evaluate and treat people who have injuries, illnesses, or disabilities. They help clients meet goals to develop, recover, improve, and maintain skills needed for daily living and working.

Speech-Language Pathologists

$75,530 ($36.31/hr)

Master's degree

None

Speech-language Pathologists (sometimes called speech therapists) assess and treat people who have speech, language, voice, and fluency disorders. They also treat clients who have problems swallowing.

Orthotists and Prosthetists

$66,170 ($31.81/hr)

Master's degree

None

Orthotists and Prosthetists design and fabricate medical supportive devices and measure and fit patients for them. These devices include artificial limbs (arms, hands, legs, and feet), braces, and other medical or surgical devices.

Athletic Trainers

$48,400 ( - /hr)

Master's degree

None

Athletic Trainers specialize in preventing, diagnosing, and treating muscle and bone injuries and illnesses.

Postsecondary Nursing Instructors and Teachers

$66,200 ( - /hr)

Doctoral or professional degree

None

Postsecondary Nursing Instructors and Teachers instruct students in a variety of nursing related subjects beyond the high school level. They may also conduct research and publish scholarly papers and books.

Marriage and Family Therapists

$47,180 ($22.68/hr)

Master's degree

None

Marriage and Family therapists help people manage problems with their family and other relationships.

All Other Special Education Teachers

$46,350 ( - /hr)

Bachelor's degree

None

Special Education Teachers work with students who have learning, mental, emotional, or physical disabilities. They adapt general education lessons and teach various subjects to students with mild to moderate disabilities. They also teach basic skills to students with severe disabilities. This category includes special education teachers not included in other categories.

Child, Family, and School Social Workers

$48,510 ($23.32/hr)

Bachelor's degree

None

Child, Family, and School Social Workers help individuals, groups, and families prevent and cope with problems in their everyday lives.

Exercise Physiologists

$49,780 ($23.93/hr)

Bachelor's degree

None

Exercise Physiologists develop fitness and exercise programs that help patients recover from chronic diseases and improve cardiovascular function, body composition, and flexibility.

Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers

$52,010 ($25.00/hr)

Master's degree

None

Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers help individuals, groups, and families prevent and cope with problems in their everyday lives. Clinical social workers diagnose and treat mental, behavioral, and emotional problems.

Healthcare Social Workers

$60,710 ($29.19/hr)

Master's degree

None

Healthcare Social Workers help individuals, groups, and families prevent and cope with problems in their everyday lives.

Rehabilitation Counselors

$38,440 ($18.48/hr)

Master's degree

None

Rehabilitation Counselors help people with physical, mental, developmental, or emotional disabilities live independently. They work with clients to overcome or manage the personal, social, or psychological effects of disabilities on employment or independent living.

Health Education Specialists

$52,170 ($25.08/hr)

Bachelor's degree

None

Health Education Specialists teach people about behaviors that promote wellness. They develop strategies to improve the well-being of individuals and communities. Community health workers advocate for residents' needs with healthcare providers and social service organizations. They implement wellness strategies by collecting data and discussing health concerns with members of specific populations. Although the two occupations often work together, the responsibilities of health education specialists and community health workers are distinct.

Dietitians and Nutritionists

$60,110 ($28.90/hr)

Bachelor's degree

None

Dietitians and Nutritionists are experts in the use of food and nutrition to promote health and manage disease. They plan and conduct food service or nutritional programs to help people lead healthy lives.

Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors

$50,820 ($24.43/hr)

Master's degree

None

Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors counselors help students develop academic and social skills and plans for after graduation. Career counselors and advisors help students and other clients develop skills, explore an occupation, or choose an educational program that will lead to a career.

Preschool Special Education Teachers

$50,400 ( - /hr)

Bachelor's degree

None

Preschool Special Education Teachers work with students who have learning, mental, emotional, or physical disabilities. They adapt general education lessons and teach various subjects to students with mild to moderate disabilities. They also teach basic skills to students with severe disabilities.

Acupuncturists

- ( - /hr)

Master's degree

None

Acupuncturists diagnose, treat, and prevent disorders by stimulating specific acupuncture points within the body using acupuncture needles. They may also use cups, nutritional supplements, therapeutic massage, acupressure, and other alternative health therapies.

Secondary School Special Education Teachers

$49,940 ( - /hr)

Bachelor's degree

None

Secondary School Special Education Teachers work with students who have learning, mental, emotional, or physical disabilities. They adapt general education lessons and teach various subjects to students with mild to moderate disabilities. They also teach basic skills to students with severe disabilities.

Middle School Special Education Teachers

$51,310 ( - /hr)

Bachelor's degree

None

Middle School Special Education Teachers work with students who have learning, mental, emotional, or physical disabilities. They adapt general education lessons and teach various subjects to students with mild to moderate disabilities. They also teach basic skills to students with severe disabilities.

School Psychologists

$63,330 ($30.45/hr)

Master's degree

None

School Psychologists diagnose and implement individual or schoolwide interventions or strategies to address educational, behavioral, or developmental issues that adversely impact educational functioning in a school.

Recreational Therapists

$48,560 ($23.35/hr)

Bachelor's degree

None

Recreational Therapists plan, direct, and coordinate recreation-based medical treatment programs to help maintain or improve patients' physical, social, and emotional well-being. These therapists use a variety of techniques, including art expression, drama, music, dance, sports and games, aquatics, and community outings.

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