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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Dental Hygienists

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Dental Hygienists

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: Associate's degree

☆☆☆☆☆

Associate's degree

Median Annual Wage

$79,200

($38.08/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Strong Growth

1.0%

Avg. Annual Openings

Strong Opportunity

608

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

Occupational Therapy Assistants

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: Associate's degree

☆☆☆☆☆

Associate's degree

Median Annual Wage

$65,500

($31.49/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Very Strong Growth

2.9%

Avg. Annual Openings

Strong Opportunity

274

Physical Therapist Assistants

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: Associate's degree

☆☆☆☆☆

Associate's degree

Median Annual Wage

$61,340

($29.49/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Very Strong Growth

2.9%

Avg. Annual Openings

Strong Opportunity

563

Veterinary Technologists and Technicians

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: Associate's degree

☆☆☆☆☆

Associate's degree

Median Annual Wage

$37,450

($18.01/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Very Strong Growth

2.6%

Avg. Annual Openings

Strong Opportunity

634

Respiratory Therapists

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: Associate's degree

☆☆☆☆☆

Associate's degree

Median Annual Wage

$64,390

($30.96/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Very Strong Growth

1.8%

Avg. Annual Openings

Strong Opportunity

365

Medical Assistants

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: Postsecondary nondegree award

☆☆☆☆☆

Postsecondary nondegree award

Median Annual Wage

$37,660

($18.11/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Very Strong Growth

1.7%

Avg. Annual Openings

Very Strong Opportunity

3,945

Ophthalmic Medical Technicians

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: Postsecondary nondegree award

☆☆☆☆☆

Postsecondary nondegree award

Median Annual Wage

$36,780

($17.68/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Very Strong Growth

1.5%

Avg. Annual Openings

Strong Opportunity

485

Phlebotomists

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: Postsecondary nondegree award

☆☆☆☆☆

Postsecondary nondegree award

Median Annual Wage

$37,070

($17.82/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Strong Growth

1.3%

Avg. Annual Openings

Very Strong Opportunity

979

Nursing Assistants

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: Postsecondary nondegree award

☆☆☆☆☆

Postsecondary nondegree award

Median Annual Wage

$31,850

($15.31/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Strong Growth

1.1%

Avg. Annual Openings

Very Strong Opportunity

10,583

Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: Postsecondary nondegree award

☆☆☆☆☆

Postsecondary nondegree award

Median Annual Wage

$51,300

($24.66/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Strong Growth

1.0%

Avg. Annual Openings

Very Strong Opportunity

1,653

Surgical Technologists

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: Postsecondary nondegree award

☆☆☆☆☆

Postsecondary nondegree award

Median Annual Wage

$49,220

($23.67/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Average Growth

0.9%

Avg. Annual Openings

Strong Opportunity

320

Radiologic Technologists and Technicians

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: Associate's degree

☆☆☆☆☆

Associate's degree

Median Annual Wage

$62,460

($30.03/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Average Growth

0.9%

Avg. Annual Openings

Strong Opportunity

548

All Other Health Technologists and Technicians

Star Rating:

Education: Postsecondary nondegree award

Postsecondary nondegree award

Median Annual Wage

$38,100

($18.32/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Average Growth

0.9%

Avg. Annual Openings

Strong Opportunity

653

Dental Assistants

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: Postsecondary nondegree award

☆☆☆☆☆

Postsecondary nondegree award

Median Annual Wage

$46,140

($22.18/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Average Growth

0.9%

Avg. Annual Openings

Very Strong Opportunity

1,925

Surgical Assistants

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: Postsecondary nondegree award

☆☆☆☆☆

Postsecondary nondegree award

Median Annual Wage

$37,010

($17.79/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Average Growth

0.9%

Avg. Annual Openings

Rare Opportunity

Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: Associate's degree

☆☆☆☆☆

Associate's degree

Median Annual Wage

$61,700

($29.66/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Average Growth

0.8%

Avg. Annual Openings

Average Opportunity

123

Median Annual Wage
Education
Experience Needed
Description

Dental Hygienists

$79,200($38.08/hr)

Associate's degree

Dental Hygienists examine patients for signs of oral diseases, such as gingivitis, and provide preventive care, including oral hygiene. They also educate patients about oral health.

Occupational Therapy Assistants

$65,500 ($31.49/hr)

Associate's degree

None

Occupational Therapy Assistants help patients develop, recover, improve, as well as maintain the skills needed for daily living and working. They are directly involved in providing therapy to patients and work under the direction of occupational therapists.

Physical Therapist Assistants

$61,340 ($29.49/hr)

Associate's degree

None

Physical Therapist Assistants, sometimes called PTAs, work under the direction and supervision of physical therapists. They help patients who are recovering from injuries and illnesses to regain movement and manage pain. Physical therapist assistants are involved in the direct care of patients. Physical therapist aides often have tasks that are indirectly related to patient care, such as cleaning and setting up the treatment area, moving patients, and doing clerical duties.

Veterinary Technologists and Technicians

$37,450 ($18.01/hr)

Associate's degree

None

Veterinary Technologists and Technicians, supervised by licensed veterinarians, do medical tests that help diagnose animals' injuries and illnesses.

Respiratory Therapists

$64,390 ($30.96/hr)

Associate's degree

None

Respiratory Therapists care for patients who have trouble breathing; for example, because of conditions such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Their patients range from premature infants with undeveloped lungs to older adults whose lungs are diseased.

Medical Assistants

$37,660 ($18.11/hr)

Postsecondary nondegree award

None

Medical Assistants complete administrative and clinical tasks in the offices of physicians, hospitals, and other healthcare facilities. Their duties vary with the location, specialty, and size of the practice.

Ophthalmic Medical Technicians

$36,780 ($17.68/hr)

Postsecondary nondegree award

None

Ophthalmic Medical Technicians assist ophthalmologists by performing ophthalmic clinical functions. They can administer eye exams, administer eye medications, and instruct the patient in care and use of corrective lenses.

Phlebotomists

$37,070 ($17.82/hr)

Postsecondary nondegree award

None

Phlebotomists draw blood for purposes such as tests, research, or donations. They help patients or donors who are anxious before or have an adverse reaction after the blood draw.

Nursing Assistants

$31,850 ($15.31/hr)

Postsecondary nondegree award

None

Nursing Assistants, sometimes called nursing aides, provide basic care and help patients with activities of daily living.

Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses

$51,300 ($24.66/hr)

Postsecondary nondegree award

None

Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) and Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs) provide basic medical care to ill, injured, or convalescing patients or to persons with disabilities. Responsibilities for LPNs and LVNs are nearly identical; their title depends on the state in which they work.

Surgical Technologists

$49,220 ($23.67/hr)

Postsecondary nondegree award

None

Surgical Technologists help with surgical operations. Sometimes called operating room technicians, they prepare operating rooms, arrange equipment, and help doctors and first assistants during surgeries.

Radiologic Technologists and Technicians

$62,460 ($30.03/hr)

Associate's degree

None

Radiologic Technologists, also known as radiographers, perform x rays and other diagnostic imaging examinations on patients.

All Other Health Technologists and Technicians

$38,100 ($18.32/hr)

Postsecondary nondegree award

None

Health Technologists and Technicians perform laboratory tests for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease, and can assist physicians with patient care. This category includes all healthcare technologists and technicians not contained somewhere else.

Dental Assistants

$46,140 ($22.18/hr)

Postsecondary nondegree award

None

Dental Assistants have many tasks, including patient care, recordkeeping, and appointment scheduling. Their duties vary by state and by the dentists' offices in which they work.

Surgical Assistants

$37,010 ($17.79/hr)

Postsecondary nondegree award

None

Surgical assistants and technologists help with surgical operations. Surgical assistants, also called surgical first assistants, help surgeons with tasks such as making incisions, placing clamps, and closing surgical sites. Surgical technologists, also called operating room technicians, prepare operating rooms, arrange equipment, and help doctors and first assistants during surgeries.

Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians

$61,700 ($29.66/hr)

Associate's degree

None

Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians operate special equipment to create images or conduct tests. They work closely with physicians and surgeons, who view the images and test results to assess and diagnose medical conditions.

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