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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…

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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.

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Metal and Plastic Model Makers

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Metal and Plastic Model Makers

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: High school diploma or equivalent

☆☆☆☆☆

High school diploma or equivalent

Median Annual Wage

$48,030

($23.09/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

None or Negative Growth

-0.3%

Avg. Annual Openings

Rare 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

Hand Sewers

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: No formal educational credential

☆☆☆☆☆

No formal educational credential

Median Annual Wage

$31,270

($15.04/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Very Strong Growth

2.0%

Avg. Annual Openings

Few Opportunities

Molders, Shapers, and Casters

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: High school diploma or equivalent

☆☆☆☆☆

High school diploma or equivalent

Median Annual Wage

$39,540

($19.01/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Very Strong Growth

1.5%

Avg. Annual Openings

Strong Opportunity

255

Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: High school diploma or equivalent

☆☆☆☆☆

High school diploma or equivalent

Median Annual Wage

$36,720

($17.65/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Strong Growth

1.3%

Avg. Annual Openings

Strong Opportunity

488

Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: No formal educational credential

☆☆☆☆☆

No formal educational credential

Median Annual Wage

$41,550

($19.98/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Strong Growth

1.2%

Avg. Annual Openings

Average Opportunity

194

Metal and Plastic Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: High school diploma or equivalent

☆☆☆☆☆

High school diploma or equivalent

Median Annual Wage

$39,990

($19.23/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Strong Growth

1.0%

Avg. Annual Openings

Strong Opportunity

494

Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: High school diploma or equivalent

☆☆☆☆☆

High school diploma or equivalent

Median Annual Wage

$33,810

($16.25/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Average Growth

0.9%

Avg. Annual Openings

Few Opportunities

Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: High school diploma or equivalent

☆☆☆☆☆

High school diploma or equivalent

Median Annual Wage

$41,700

($20.05/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Slow Growth

0.4%

Avg. Annual Openings

Strong Opportunity

678

Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: High school diploma or equivalent

☆☆☆☆☆

High school diploma or equivalent

Median Annual Wage

$38,440

($18.48/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Slow Growth

0.4%

Avg. Annual Openings

Strong Opportunity

562

Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: High school diploma or equivalent

☆☆☆☆☆

High school diploma or equivalent

Median Annual Wage

$39,210

($18.85/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Slow Growth

0.2%

Avg. Annual Openings

Strong Opportunity

423

Metal and Plastic Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: High school diploma or equivalent

☆☆☆☆☆

High school diploma or equivalent

Median Annual Wage

$43,180

($20.76/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Slow Growth

0.1%

Avg. Annual Openings

Strong Opportunity

260

Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: High school diploma or equivalent

☆☆☆☆☆

High school diploma or equivalent

Median Annual Wage

$40,050

($19.26/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

None or Negative Growth

0.0%

Avg. Annual Openings

Rare Opportunity

Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

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

Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: High school diploma or equivalent

☆☆☆☆☆

High school diploma or equivalent

Median Annual Wage

$35,360

($17.00/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

None or Negative Growth

-0.1%

Avg. Annual Openings

Average Opportunity

181

Metal and Plastic Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: High school diploma or equivalent

☆☆☆☆☆

High school diploma or equivalent

Median Annual Wage

$35,450

($17.04/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

None or Negative Growth

-0.2%

Avg. Annual Openings

Very Strong Opportunity

1,064

Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

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

Metal and Plastic Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: High school diploma or equivalent

☆☆☆☆☆

High school diploma or equivalent

Median Annual Wage

$37,160

($17.87/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

None or Negative Growth

-0.2%

Avg. Annual Openings

Strong Opportunity

396

Metal and Plastic Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: High school diploma or equivalent

☆☆☆☆☆

High school diploma or equivalent

Median Annual Wage

$40,110

($19.29/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

None or Negative Growth

-0.3%

Avg. Annual Openings

Strong Opportunity

281

Metal and Plastic Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: High school diploma or equivalent

☆☆☆☆☆

High school diploma or equivalent

Median Annual Wage

$41,470

($19.94/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

None or Negative Growth

-0.3%

Avg. Annual Openings

Average Opportunity

Engine and Other Machine Assemblers

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

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

Metal and Plastic Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: High school diploma or equivalent

☆☆☆☆☆

High school diploma or equivalent

Median Annual Wage

$41,950

($20.17/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

None or Negative Growth

-0.5%

Avg. Annual Openings

Few Opportunities

Metal and Plastic Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: High school diploma or equivalent

☆☆☆☆☆

High school diploma or equivalent

Median Annual Wage

$41,130

($19.77/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

None or Negative Growth

-0.6%

Avg. Annual Openings

Few Opportunities

Metal and Plastic Patternmakers

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: High school diploma or equivalent

☆☆☆☆☆

High school diploma or equivalent

Median Annual Wage

$34,330

($16.50/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

None or Negative Growth

-0.7%

Avg. Annual Openings

Rare Opportunity

Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: High school diploma or equivalent

☆☆☆☆☆

High school diploma or equivalent

Median Annual Wage

$40,750

($19.59/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

None or Negative Growth

-1.2%

Avg. Annual Openings

Average Opportunity

162

Metal and Plastic Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: High school diploma or equivalent

☆☆☆☆☆

High school diploma or equivalent

Median Annual Wage

$33,840

($16.27/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

None or Negative Growth

-1.4%

Avg. Annual Openings

Few Opportunities

Arts, Audio/Video Technology and Communications

Print Binding and Finishing Workers

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: High school diploma or equivalent

☆☆☆☆☆

High school diploma or equivalent

Median Annual Wage

$37,510

($18.03/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

None or Negative Growth

-1.5%

Avg. Annual Openings

Average Opportunity

Manufactured Building and Mobile Home Installers

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: High school diploma or equivalent

☆☆☆☆☆

High school diploma or equivalent

Median Annual Wage

$42,910

($20.63/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

None or Negative Growth

-1.8%

Avg. Annual Openings

Rare Opportunity

Hand Cutters and Trimmers

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: No formal educational credential

☆☆☆☆☆

No formal educational credential

Median Annual Wage

$39,850

($19.16/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

None or Negative Growth

-2.0%

Avg. Annual Openings

Average Opportunity

128

Median Annual Wage
Education
Experience Needed
Description

Metal and Plastic Model Makers

$48,030($23.09/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

Metal and Plastic Model Makers are metal and plastic machine workers who set up and operate machines to make working models of metal or plastic objects.

Hand Sewers

$31,270 ($15.04/hr)

No formal educational credential

None

Hand Sewers join, reinforce, or finish- usually with needle and thread - a variety of manufactured items.

Molders, Shapers, and Casters

$39,540 ($19.01/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

None

Molders, Shapers, and Casters mold, shape, form, cast, or carve products such as food products, figurines, tile, pipes, and candles consisting of clay, glass, plaster, concrete, stone, or combinations of materials.

Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters

$36,720 ($17.65/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

None

Cabinetmakers and bench carpenters cut, shape, and assemble wooden articles. They set up and operate a variety of woodworking machines such as power saws, jointers, and mortisers to fabricate parts for wood products.

Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers

$41,550 ($19.98/hr)

No formal educational credential

None

Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers hang wallboard and install ceiling tile inside buildings. Many also install and tape wallboard.

Metal and Plastic Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders

$39,990 ($19.23/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

None

Metal and Plastic Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders set up, operate, or tend more than one type of cutting or forming machine tool or robot.

Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians

$33,810 ($16.25/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

None

Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians cut, grind, and polish eyeglasses, contact lenses, or other precision optical elements. They assemble and mount lenses into frames or process other optical elements.

Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

$41,700 ($20.05/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

None

Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders set up, operate, or tend paper goods machines that perform a variety of functions, such as converting, sawing, corrugating, banding, wrapping, boxing, stitching, forming, or sealing paper or paperboard sheets into products.

Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

$38,440 ($18.48/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

None

Set Up, Operate, or Tend Machines that cut or slice materials, such as glass, stone, cork, rubber, tobacco, food, paper, or insulating material.

Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

$39,210 ($18.85/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

None

Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders set up, operate, or tend machines, such as glass-forming machines, plodder machines, and tuber machines, to shape and form products such as glassware, food, rubber, soap, brick, tile, clay, wax, tobacco, or cosmetics.

Metal and Plastic Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

$43,180 ($20.76/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

None

Metal and Plastic Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders set up, operate, or tend machines to extrude or draw thermoplastic or metal materials into tubes, rods, hoses, wire, bars, or structural shapes.

Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners

$40,050 ($19.26/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

None

Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners perform precision smoothing, sharpening, polishing, or grinding of metal objects.

Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers

$38,010 ($18.27/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

None

Quality Control Inspectors examine products and materials for defects or deviations from specifications.

Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

$35,360 ($17.00/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

None

Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders set up, operate, or tend machines that cut textiles.

Metal and Plastic Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

$35,450 ($17.04/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

None

Metal and Plastic Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders set up, operate, or tend metal or plastic molding, casting, or coremaking machines to make metal or thermoplastic parts or products.

Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

$41,030 ($19.73/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

None

Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders set up, operate, or tend welding, soldering, or brazing machines or robots that weld, braze, solder, or heat treat metal products, components, or assemblies.

Metal and Plastic Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

$37,160 ($17.87/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

None

Metal and Plastic Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders set up, operate, or tend machines to saw, cut, shear, slit, punch, crimp, notch, bend, or straighten metal or plastic material.

Metal and Plastic Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders

$40,110 ($19.29/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

None

Metal and Plastic Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders set up, operate, or tend grinding and related tools that remove excess material or burrs from surfaces, sharpen edges or corners, or buff, hone, or polish metal or plastic work pieces.

Metal and Plastic Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders

$41,470 ($19.94/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

None

Metal and Plastic Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders set up, operate, or tend lathe and turning machines to turn, bore, thread, form, or face metal or plastic materials, such as wire, rod, or bar stock.

Engine and Other Machine Assemblers

$41,890 ($20.14/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

None

Engine and Other Machine Assemblers construct, assemble, or rebuild machines such as engines, turbines, and similar equipment used in industries like construction, extraction, textiles, and paper manufacturing.

Metal and Plastic Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders

$41,950 ($20.17/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

None

Metal and Plastic Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders set up, operate, or tend heating equipment such as heat-treating furnaces, flame-hardening machines, induction machines, soaking pits, or vacuum equipment to temper, harden, or heat-treat metal or plastic objects.

Metal and Plastic Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

$41,130 ($19.77/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

None

Metal and Plastic Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders set up, operate, or tend machines to roll steel or plastic. This process forms bends, beads, knurls, rolls, or plate or flattens, tempers, or reduces gauge of material.

Metal and Plastic Patternmakers

$34,330 ($16.50/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

None

Metal and Plastic Patternmakers are metal and plastic machine workers who lay out, machine, fit, and assemble castings and parts to metal or plastic foundry patterns and core molds.

Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters

$40,750 ($19.59/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

None

Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters fabricate, position, align, and fit parts of structural metal products.

Metal and Plastic Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

$33,840 ($16.27/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

None

Metal and Plastic Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders set up, operate, or tend milling or planing machines to mill, plane, shape, groove, or profile metal or plastic work pieces.

Print Binding and Finishing Workers

$37,510 ($18.03/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

None

Print Binding and Finishing Workers bind books and other publications or finish printed products by hand or machine. They can also set up binding and finishing machines.

Manufactured Building and Mobile Home Installers

$42,910 ($20.63/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

None

Manufactured Building and Mobile Home Installers move or install mobile homes or prefabricated buildings.

Hand Cutters and Trimmers

$39,850 ($19.16/hr)

No formal educational credential

None

Hand Cutters and Trimmers use hand tools or hand-held power tools to cut and trim a variety of manufactured items, such as carpet, fabric, stone, glass, or rubber.

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