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.
Sign in and start building your Career Plan now!
Start Planning
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.
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.
Learn about the services and assistance your school counselor provides and how they can help you with your career planning.
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.
Learn about how these NC Community College staff members can help.
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.
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
Education: High school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
Median Annual Wage
$68,390
($32.88/hr)
Annual Growth Rate
Strong Growth
1.0%
Avg. Annual Openings
Very Strong Opportunity
2,223
Choose your next step from the list below.
Sort By
51
Education
Requirement
Requirement
Median
Annual Wage
Annual Wage
Annual
Growth Rate
Growth Rate
Avg. Annual
Openings
Openings
Education: Postsecondary nondegree award
Postsecondary nondegree award
Median Annual Wage
$59,020
($28.37/hr)
Annual Growth Rate
Very Strong Growth
3.1%
Avg. Annual Openings
Average Opportunity
75
Education: High school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
Median Annual Wage
$56,260
($27.05/hr)
Annual Growth Rate
Very Strong Growth
2.3%
Avg. Annual Openings
Very Strong Opportunity
1,810
Education: High school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
Median Annual Wage
$36,440
($17.52/hr)
Annual Growth Rate
Very Strong Growth
2.0%
Avg. Annual Openings
Very Strong Opportunity
8,821
Education: Associate's degree
Associate's degree
Median Annual Wage
$60,650
($29.16/hr)
Annual Growth Rate
Very Strong Growth
2.0%
Avg. Annual Openings
Few Opportunities
66
Education: High school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
Median Annual Wage
$37,420
($17.99/hr)
Annual Growth Rate
Very Strong Growth
1.8%
Avg. Annual Openings
Average Opportunity
131
Education: High school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
Median Annual Wage
$39,800
($19.14/hr)
Annual Growth Rate
Very Strong Growth
1.8%
Avg. Annual Openings
Strong Opportunity
521
Education: Postsecondary nondegree award
Postsecondary nondegree award
Median Annual Wage
$59,080
($28.40/hr)
Annual Growth Rate
Very Strong Growth
1.7%
Avg. Annual Openings
Very Strong Opportunity
851
Education: High school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
Median Annual Wage
$40,780
($19.60/hr)
Annual Growth Rate
Very Strong Growth
1.7%
Avg. Annual Openings
Strong Opportunity
584
Education: High school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
Median Annual Wage
$53,720
($25.83/hr)
Annual Growth Rate
Very Strong Growth
1.6%
Avg. Annual Openings
Strong Opportunity
690
Education: Postsecondary nondegree award
Postsecondary nondegree award
Median Annual Wage
$58,400
($28.08/hr)
Annual Growth Rate
Very Strong Growth
1.5%
Avg. Annual Openings
Strong Opportunity
318
Education: High school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
Median Annual Wage
$49,020
($23.57/hr)
Annual Growth Rate
Very Strong Growth
1.5%
Avg. Annual Openings
Very Strong Opportunity
2,628
Education: No formal educational credential
No formal educational credential
Median Annual Wage
$33,060
($15.89/hr)
Annual Growth Rate
Very Strong Growth
1.4%
Avg. Annual Openings
Very Strong Opportunity
17,604
Education: High school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
Median Annual Wage
$55,950
($26.90/hr)
Annual Growth Rate
Very Strong Growth
1.4%
Avg. Annual Openings
Rare Opportunity
11
Education: High school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
Median Annual Wage
$30,530
($14.68/hr)
Annual Growth Rate
Strong Growth
1.3%
Avg. Annual Openings
Very Strong Opportunity
18,468
Education: High school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
Median Annual Wage
$46,360
($22.29/hr)
Annual Growth Rate
Strong Growth
1.2%
Avg. Annual Openings
Very Strong Opportunity
1,441
Education: High school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
Median Annual Wage
$45,380
($21.82/hr)
Annual Growth Rate
Strong Growth
1.1%
Avg. Annual Openings
Very Strong Opportunity
1,855
Education: High school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
Median Annual Wage
$49,600
($23.85/hr)
Annual Growth Rate
Strong Growth
1.1%
Avg. Annual Openings
Average Opportunity
84
Education: Some college, no degree
Some college, no degree
Median Annual Wage
$54,170
($26.04/hr)
Annual Growth Rate
Strong Growth
1.1%
Avg. Annual Openings
Very Strong Opportunity
2,488
Education: High school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
Median Annual Wage
$58,450
($28.10/hr)
Annual Growth Rate
Strong Growth
1.1%
Avg. Annual Openings
Few Opportunities
43
Education: High school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
Median Annual Wage
$31,200
($15.00/hr)
Annual Growth Rate
Strong Growth
1.0%
Avg. Annual Openings
Strong Opportunity
471
Education: High school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
Median Annual Wage
$46,600
($22.40/hr)
Annual Growth Rate
Strong Growth
1.0%
Avg. Annual Openings
Very Strong Opportunity
1,451
Education: Associate's degree
Associate's degree
Median Annual Wage
$54,450
($26.18/hr)
Annual Growth Rate
Average Growth
0.9%
Avg. Annual Openings
Average Opportunity
86
Education: High school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
Median Annual Wage
$50,220
($24.14/hr)
Annual Growth Rate
Average Growth
0.9%
Avg. Annual Openings
Few Opportunities
43
Education: High school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
Median Annual Wage
$52,730
($25.35/hr)
Annual Growth Rate
Average Growth
0.9%
Avg. Annual Openings
Few Opportunities
61
Education: Associate's degree
Associate's degree
Median Annual Wage
$58,210
($27.99/hr)
Annual Growth Rate
Average Growth
0.9%
Avg. Annual Openings
Strong Opportunity
285
Education: High school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
Median Annual Wage
$40,900
($19.66/hr)
Annual Growth Rate
Average Growth
0.9%
Avg. Annual Openings
Very Strong Opportunity
5,597
Education: High school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
Median Annual Wage
$48,220
($23.18/hr)
Annual Growth Rate
Average Growth
0.8%
Avg. Annual Openings
Average Opportunity
82
Education: High school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
Median Annual Wage
$37,180
($17.88/hr)
Annual Growth Rate
Average Growth
0.8%
Avg. Annual Openings
Very Strong Opportunity
1,150
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
17
Education: High school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
Median Annual Wage
$61,340
($29.49/hr)
Annual Growth Rate
Average Growth
0.8%
Avg. Annual Openings
Very Strong Opportunity
2,890
Education: High school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
Median Annual Wage
$48,750
($23.44/hr)
Annual Growth Rate
Average Growth
0.8%
Avg. Annual Openings
Very Strong Opportunity
1,135
Education: Associate's degree
Associate's degree
Median Annual Wage
$57,970
($27.87/hr)
Annual Growth Rate
Average Growth
0.7%
Avg. Annual Openings
Rare Opportunity
5
Education: High school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
Median Annual Wage
$46,500
($22.36/hr)
Annual Growth Rate
Average Growth
0.7%
Avg. Annual Openings
Average Opportunity
117
Education: Associate's degree
Associate's degree
Median Annual Wage
$59,180
($28.45/hr)
Annual Growth Rate
Average Growth
0.7%
Avg. Annual Openings
Average Opportunity
112
Education: Associate's degree
Associate's degree
Median Annual Wage
$55,330
($26.60/hr)
Annual Growth Rate
Slow Growth
0.6%
Avg. Annual Openings
Strong Opportunity
318
Education: High school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
Median Annual Wage
$41,810
($20.10/hr)
Annual Growth Rate
Slow Growth
0.6%
Avg. Annual Openings
Strong Opportunity
724
Education: Associate's degree
Associate's degree
Median Annual Wage
$49,670
($23.88/hr)
Annual Growth Rate
Slow Growth
0.6%
Avg. Annual Openings
Strong Opportunity
332
Education: Postsecondary nondegree award
Postsecondary nondegree award
Median Annual Wage
$37,450
($18.00/hr)
Annual Growth Rate
Slow Growth
0.6%
Avg. Annual Openings
Rare Opportunity
11
Education: High school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
Median Annual Wage
$58,880
($28.31/hr)
Annual Growth Rate
Slow Growth
0.4%
Avg. Annual Openings
Strong Opportunity
304
Education: High school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
Median Annual Wage
$36,080
($17.35/hr)
Annual Growth Rate
Slow Growth
0.4%
Avg. Annual Openings
Very Strong Opportunity
802
Education: High school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
Median Annual Wage
$50,170
($24.12/hr)
Annual Growth Rate
Slow Growth
0.3%
Avg. Annual Openings
Average Opportunity
172
Education: Associate's degree
Associate's degree
Median Annual Wage
$49,370
($23.74/hr)
Annual Growth Rate
Slow Growth
0.2%
Avg. Annual Openings
Few Opportunities
55
Education: High school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
Median Annual Wage
$56,140
($26.99/hr)
Annual Growth Rate
Slow Growth
0.2%
Avg. Annual Openings
Very Strong Opportunity
5,318
Education: Postsecondary nondegree award
Postsecondary nondegree award
Median Annual Wage
$50,290
($24.18/hr)
Annual Growth Rate
None or Negative Growth
0.0%
Avg. Annual Openings
Rare Opportunity
8
Education: High school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
Median Annual Wage
$38,010
($18.27/hr)
Annual Growth Rate
None or Negative Growth
0.0%
Avg. Annual Openings
Very Strong Opportunity
2,815
Education: Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
Median Annual Wage
$56,360
($27.10/hr)
Annual Growth Rate
None or Negative Growth
-0.1%
Avg. Annual Openings
Strong Opportunity
658
Education: High school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
Median Annual Wage
$43,920
($21.11/hr)
Annual Growth Rate
None or Negative Growth
-0.1%
Avg. Annual Openings
Very Strong Opportunity
6,480
Education: High school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
Median Annual Wage
$35,660
($17.14/hr)
Annual Growth Rate
None or Negative Growth
-0.2%
Avg. Annual Openings
Very Strong Opportunity
11,469
Education: High school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
Median Annual Wage
$41,030
($19.73/hr)
Annual Growth Rate
None or Negative Growth
-0.2%
Avg. Annual Openings
Average Opportunity
94
Education: High school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
Median Annual Wage
$41,890
($20.14/hr)
Annual Growth Rate
None or Negative Growth
-0.4%
Avg. Annual Openings
Average Opportunity
142
Education: High school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
Median Annual Wage
$48,180
($23.16/hr)
Annual Growth Rate
None or Negative Growth
-1.6%
Avg. Annual Openings
Few Opportunities
26
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