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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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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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Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders

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Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: High school diploma or equivalent

☆☆☆☆☆

High school diploma or equivalent

Median Annual Wage

$48,950

($23.53/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

None or Negative Growth

-0.2%

Avg. Annual Openings

Strong Opportunity

550

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Star
Rating

Education
Requirement

Median
Annual Wage

Annual
Growth Rate

Avg. Annual
Openings

Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics

Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: No formal educational credential

☆☆☆☆☆

No formal educational credential

Median Annual Wage

$39,730

($19.10/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Very Strong Growth

2.7%

Avg. Annual Openings

Few Opportunities

Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: High school diploma or equivalent

☆☆☆☆☆

High school diploma or equivalent

Median Annual Wage

$36,430

($17.51/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Very Strong Growth

1.6%

Avg. Annual Openings

Few Opportunities

Food Batchmakers

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: High school diploma or equivalent

☆☆☆☆☆

High school diploma or equivalent

Median Annual Wage

$32,620

($15.68/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Very Strong Growth

1.5%

Avg. Annual Openings

Very Strong Opportunity

767

Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: High school diploma or equivalent

☆☆☆☆☆

High school diploma or equivalent

Median Annual Wage

$33,300

($16.01/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Very Strong Growth

1.5%

Avg. Annual Openings

Few Opportunities

Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: High school diploma or equivalent

☆☆☆☆☆

High school diploma or equivalent

Median Annual Wage

$35,480

($17.06/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Strong Growth

1.1%

Avg. Annual Openings

Very Strong Opportunity

2,004

Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: High school diploma or equivalent

☆☆☆☆☆

High school diploma or equivalent

Median Annual Wage

$41,150

($19.79/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Strong Growth

1.0%

Avg. Annual Openings

Strong Opportunity

687

All Other Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers

Star Rating:

Education: High school diploma or equivalent

High school diploma or equivalent

Median Annual Wage

$42,020

($20.20/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Strong Growth

1.0%

Avg. Annual Openings

Strong Opportunity

591

Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still 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

Average Growth

0.9%

Avg. Annual Openings

Strong Opportunity

255

Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: High school diploma or equivalent

☆☆☆☆☆

High school diploma or equivalent

Median Annual Wage

$29,270

($14.07/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Average Growth

0.9%

Avg. Annual Openings

Average Opportunity

Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: High school diploma or equivalent

☆☆☆☆☆

High school diploma or equivalent

Median Annual Wage

$36,820

($17.70/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Average Growth

0.9%

Avg. Annual Openings

Average Opportunity

Recordkeeping Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: High school diploma or equivalent

☆☆☆☆☆

High school diploma or equivalent

Median Annual Wage

$36,500

($17.55/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Average Growth

0.8%

Avg. Annual Openings

Average Opportunity

249

Vegetation Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: High school diploma or equivalent

☆☆☆☆☆

High school diploma or equivalent

Median Annual Wage

$38,760

($18.64/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Average Growth

0.8%

Avg. Annual Openings

Average Opportunity

158

Hazardous Materials Removal Workers

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: High school diploma or equivalent

☆☆☆☆☆

High school diploma or equivalent

Median Annual Wage

$38,000

($18.27/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Average Growth

0.8%

Avg. Annual Openings

Average Opportunity

166

Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: High school diploma or equivalent

☆☆☆☆☆

High school diploma or equivalent

Median Annual Wage

$40,490

($19.47/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Average Growth

0.7%

Avg. Annual Openings

Strong Opportunity

621

Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: High school diploma or equivalent

☆☆☆☆☆

High school diploma or equivalent

Median Annual Wage

$38,070

($18.30/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Slow Growth

0.5%

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

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-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: High school diploma or equivalent

☆☆☆☆☆

High school diploma or equivalent

Median Annual Wage

$36,730

($17.66/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Slow Growth

0.1%

Avg. Annual Openings

Few Opportunities

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

Food Science Technicians

Star Rating:

Education: Associate's degree

Associate's degree

Median Annual Wage

$44,320

($21.31/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Slow Growth

0.1%

Avg. Annual Openings

Few Opportunities

Synthetic and Glass Fibers Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: High school diploma or equivalent

☆☆☆☆☆

High school diploma or equivalent

Median Annual Wage

$43,720

($21.02/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

None or Negative Growth

-0.2%

Avg. Annual Openings

Strong Opportunity

273

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 Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: High school diploma or equivalent

☆☆☆☆☆

High school diploma or equivalent

Median Annual Wage

$36,850

($17.72/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 Pourers and Casters

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: High school diploma or equivalent

☆☆☆☆☆

High school diploma or equivalent

Median Annual Wage

$44,220

($21.26/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

None or Negative Growth

-0.7%

Avg. Annual Openings

Rare Opportunity

Median Annual Wage
Education
Experience Needed
Description

Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders

$48,950($23.53/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders operate or tend equipment to control chemical changes or reactions in the processing of industrial or consumer products. The equipment that they use can include devulcanizers, steam-jacketed kettles, and reactor vessels.

Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders

$39,730 ($19.10/hr)

No formal educational credential

None

Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders load and unload chemicals and bulk solids, such as coal, sand, and grain, into or from tank cars, trucks, or ships, using material moving equipment. They may perform a variety of other tasks relating to shipment of products, and gauge or sample shipping tanks and test them for leaks.

Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders

$36,430 ($17.51/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

None

Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders operate or tend equipment such as cooling and freezing units, refrigerators, batch freezers, and freezing tunnels, to cool or freeze products, food, blood plasma, and chemicals.

Food Batchmakers

$32,620 ($15.68/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

None

Food Batchmakers set up and operate equipment that mixes or blends ingredients used in the manufacturing of food products.

Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders

$33,300 ($16.01/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

None

Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and tenders operate or tend machines to wash or clean products- such as barrels or kegs, glass items, tinplate, food, pulp, coal, plastic, or rubber - to remove impurities.

Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders

$35,480 ($17.06/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

None

Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders operate or tend machines to prepare industrial or consumer products for storage or shipment. This category includes cannery workers who pack food products.

Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

$41,150 ($19.79/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

None

Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders set up, operate, or tend machines to coat or paint products like glassware, cloth, ceramics, metal, plastic, paper, or wood with lacquer, silver, copper, rubber, varnish, glaze, enamel, oil, or rust-proofing materials.

All Other Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers

$42,020 ($20.20/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

None

Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers install, fix and maintain machines, mechanical equipment, and buildings. This category includes all installation, maintenance, and repair workers not contained somewhere else.

Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

$41,700 ($20.05/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

None

Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders set up, operate, and tend continuous flow or vat-type equipment, filter presses, shaker screens, centrifuges, condenser tubes, precipitating, fermenting, or evaporating tanks, scrubbing towers, or batch stills. These machines extract, sort, or separate liquids, gases, or solids from other materials to recover a refined product. This category includes dairy processing equipment operators.

Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders

$29,270 ($14.07/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

None

Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders operate or tend cooking equipment, such as steam cooking vats, deep fry cookers, pressure cookers, kettles, and boilers, to prepare food products.

Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders

$36,820 ($17.70/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

None

Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders operate or tend heating equipment other than basic metal, plastic, or food processing equipment. This category includes activities such as annealing glass, drying lumber, curing rubber, removing moisture from materials, or boiling soap.

Recordkeeping Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers

$36,500 ($17.55/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

None

Recordkeeping Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers check materials, supplies, and equipment in order to keep relevant records. Their duties are primarily clerical.

Vegetation Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators

$38,760 ($18.64/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

None

Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators mix or apply pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, or insecticides through sprays, dusts, vapors, soil incorporation, or chemical application on trees, shrubs, lawns, or botanical crops. They usually need specific training and State or Federal certification.

Hazardous Materials Removal Workers

$38,000 ($18.27/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

None

Hazardous Materials (hazmat) Removal Workers identify and dispose of harmful substances, such as asbestos, lead, mold, and radioactive waste. They also neutralize and clean up materials that are flammable, corrosive, or toxic.

Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

$40,490 ($19.47/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

None

Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders set up, operate, or tend machines to mix or blend materials, such as chemicals, tobacco, liquids, color pigments, or explosive ingredients.

Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

$38,070 ($18.30/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

None

Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders set up, operate, or tend machines to crush, grind, or polish materials, such as coal, glass, grain, stone, food, or rubber.

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.

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-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders

$36,730 ($17.66/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

None

Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders operate or tend furnaces, such as gas, oil, coal, electric-arc or electric induction, open-hearth, or oxygen furnaces, to melt and refine metal before casting or to produce specific types of steel.

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.

Food Science Technicians

$44,320 ($21.31/hr)

Associate's degree

None

Food Science Technicians assist agricultural and food scientists by performing duties such as measuring and analyzing the quality of food and agricultural products. Duties range from performing agricultural labor with added recordkeeping duties to laboratory testing with significant amounts of office work, depending on the particular field the technician works in.

Synthetic and Glass Fibers Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

$43,720 ($21.02/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

None

Synthetic and Glass Fiber Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders set up, operate, or tend machines that extrude and form continuous filaments from synthetic materials, such as liquid polymer, rayon, and fiberglass.

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 Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

$36,850 ($17.72/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

None

Metal and Plastic Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Set up, operate, or tend plating machines to coat metal or plastic products with chromium, zinc, copper, cadmium, nickel, or other metal to protect or decorate surfaces. Typically, the product being coated is immersed in molten metal or an electrolytic solution.

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 Pourers and Casters

$44,220 ($21.26/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

None

Metal Pourers and Casters are metal and plastic machine workers who operate hand-controlled mechanisms to pour and regulate the flow of molten metal into molds to produce castings or ingots.

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