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
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Locomotive Engineers

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Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics

Locomotive Engineers

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: High school diploma or equivalent

☆☆☆☆☆

High school diploma or equivalent

Median Annual Wage

$77,160

($37.10/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Slow Growth

0.6%

Avg. Annual Openings

Average Opportunity

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Star
Rating

Education
Requirement

Median
Annual Wage

Annual
Growth Rate

Avg. Annual
Openings

Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: No formal educational credential

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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

Transit and Intercity Bus Drivers

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: High school diploma or equivalent

☆☆☆☆☆

High school diploma or equivalent

Median Annual Wage

$35,500

($17.07/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Very Strong Growth

2.0%

Avg. Annual Openings

Strong Opportunity

512

Aircraft Service Attendants

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: High school diploma or equivalent

☆☆☆☆☆

High school diploma or equivalent

Median Annual Wage

$31,740

($15.26/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Very Strong Growth

2.0%

Avg. Annual Openings

Few Opportunities

Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: High school diploma or equivalent

☆☆☆☆☆

High school diploma or equivalent

Median Annual Wage

$46,100

($22.17/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Very Strong Growth

1.7%

Avg. Annual Openings

Average Opportunity

156

Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: Postsecondary nondegree award

☆☆☆☆☆

Postsecondary nondegree award

Median Annual Wage

$62,390

($30.00/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Very Strong Growth

1.6%

Avg. Annual Openings

Strong Opportunity

535

Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors

Star Rating:

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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

Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: Postsecondary nondegree award

☆☆☆☆☆

Postsecondary nondegree award

Median Annual Wage

$47,860

($23.01/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Strong Growth

1.2%

Avg. Annual Openings

Very Strong Opportunity

11,070

Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

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

Airfield Operations Specialists

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: High school diploma or equivalent

☆☆☆☆☆

High school diploma or equivalent

Median Annual Wage

$39,840

($19.16/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Strong Growth

1.1%

Avg. Annual Openings

Few Opportunities

Rail Car Repairers

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: High school diploma or equivalent

☆☆☆☆☆

High school diploma or equivalent

Median Annual Wage

$61,890

($29.76/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Strong Growth

1.0%

Avg. Annual Openings

Few Opportunities

Traffic Technicians

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: High school diploma or equivalent

☆☆☆☆☆

High school diploma or equivalent

Median Annual Wage

$41,450

($19.93/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Strong Growth

1.0%

Avg. Annual Openings

Few Opportunities

Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: High school diploma or equivalent

☆☆☆☆☆

High school diploma or equivalent

Median Annual Wage

$50,290

($24.18/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Strong Growth

1.0%

Avg. Annual Openings

Very Strong Opportunity

1,171

Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

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

Crane and Tower Operators

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: High school diploma or equivalent

☆☆☆☆☆

High school diploma or equivalent

Median Annual Wage

$55,260

($26.57/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Average Growth

0.8%

Avg. Annual Openings

Average Opportunity

134

Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: High school diploma or equivalent

☆☆☆☆☆

High school diploma or equivalent

Median Annual Wage

$66,160

($31.81/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Average Growth

0.7%

Avg. Annual Openings

Strong Opportunity

480

Bridge and Lock Tenders

Star Rating:

Education: High school diploma or equivalent

High school diploma or equivalent

Median Annual Wage

$38,780

($18.64/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Average Growth

0.7%

Avg. Annual Openings

Rare Opportunity

Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: Postsecondary nondegree award

☆☆☆☆☆

Postsecondary nondegree award

Median Annual Wage

$56,690

($27.25/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Average Growth

0.7%

Avg. Annual Openings

Few Opportunities

Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: High school diploma or equivalent

☆☆☆☆☆

High school diploma or equivalent

Median Annual Wage

$66,910

($32.17/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Slow Growth

0.6%

Avg. Annual Openings

Few Opportunities

Dispatchers

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

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

Sailors and Marine Oilers

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: No formal educational credential

☆☆☆☆☆

No formal educational credential

Median Annual Wage

$39,210

($18.85/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Slow Growth

0.1%

Avg. Annual Openings

Few Opportunities

Ship Engineers

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

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

Gas Plant Operators

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: High school diploma or equivalent

☆☆☆☆☆

High school diploma or equivalent

Median Annual Wage

$61,070

($29.36/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

None or Negative Growth

-1.0%

Avg. Annual Openings

Rare Opportunity

Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

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

Underground Mining Loading and Moving Machine Operators

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: No formal educational credential

☆☆☆☆☆

No formal educational credential

Median Annual Wage

$45,030

($21.65/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

None or Negative Growth

-1.6%

Avg. Annual Openings

Rare Opportunity

Median Annual Wage
Education
Experience Needed
Description

Locomotive Engineers

$77,160($37.10/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

Locomotive Engineers drive electric, diesel-electric, steam, or gas-turbine-electric locomotives to carry passengers or freight. They interpret train orders, electronic or manual signals, and railroad rules and regulations.

Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders

$39,730 ($19.10/hr)

No formal educational credential

Less than 5 years

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.

Transit and Intercity Bus Drivers

$35,500 ($17.07/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

Less than 5 years

Transit and Intercity Bus Drivers drive a bus or motor coach, including regular route operations, charters, and private carriage.

Aircraft Service Attendants

$31,740 ($15.26/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

Less than 5 years

Aircraft Service Attendants service aircraft with fuel. They may de-ice aircraft, refill water and cooling agents, empty sewage tanks, service air and oxygen systems, or clean and polish the aircraft's exterior.

Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians

$46,100 ($22.17/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

Less than 5 years

Small engine mechanics inspect, service, and repair motorized power equipment. Mechanics often specialize in one type of equipment, such as motorcycles, motorboats, or outdoor power equipment.

Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians

$62,390 ($30.00/hr)

Postsecondary nondegree award

Less than 5 years

Aircraft and avionics equipment mechanics and technicians repair and perform scheduled maintenance on aircraft.

Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors

$55,950 ($26.90/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

Less than 5 years

Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors coordinate and supervise the activities of ground crew in the loading, unloading, securing, and staging of aircraft cargo or baggage. They can determine the quantity and orientation of cargo and compute aircraft center of gravity, and also may accompany aircraft as member of flight crew and monitor and handle cargo in flight, and assist and brief passengers on safety and emergency procedures. This category includes loadmasters.

Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers

$47,860 ($23.01/hr)

Postsecondary nondegree award

Less than 5 years

Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers transport goods from one location to another. Most tractor-trailer drivers are long-haul drivers and operate trucks with a total weight exceeding 26,000 pounds for the vehicle, passengers, and cargo. These drivers deliver goods over intercity routes that sometimes span several states.

Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators

$45,380 ($21.82/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

Less than 5 years

Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators use construction equipment like bulldozers and front-end loaders to dig, move, and grade earth; erect structures; or pour concrete. Among other duties, they may repair and maintain equipment.

Airfield Operations Specialists

$39,840 ($19.16/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

Less than 5 years

Airfield Operations Specialists ensure the safe takeoff and landing of commercial and military aircraft. Their duties include coordination between air-traffic control and maintenance personnel, dispatching, using airfield landing and navigational aids, implementing airfield safety procedures, monitoring and maintaining flight records, and applying knowledge of weather information.

Rail Car Repairers

$61,890 ($29.76/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

Less than 5 years

Heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians, also called mechanics, inspect, maintain, and repair vehicles and machinery used in construction, farming, rail transportation, and other industries.

Traffic Technicians

$41,450 ($19.93/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

Less than 5 years

Traffic Technicians conduct field studies to determine traffic volume, speed, effectiveness of signals, adequacy of lighting, and other factors influencing traffic conditions, under direction of traffic engineer.

Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists

$50,290 ($24.18/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

Less than 5 years

Diesel service technicians and mechanics (also known as diesel technicians) inspect, repair, or overhaul buses and trucks, or maintain and repair any type of diesel engine.

Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators

$52,730 ($25.35/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

Less than 5 years

Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators control stationary engines, boilers, or other mechanical equipment to provide utilities for buildings or for industrial purposes.

Crane and Tower Operators

$55,260 ($26.57/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

Less than 5 years

Crane and Tower Operators operate mechanical boom and cable or tower and cable equipment to lift and move materials, machines, or products in many directions.

Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers

$66,160 ($31.81/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

Less than 5 years

Line installers and repairers, also known as line workers, install or repair electrical power systems and telecommunications cables, including fiber optics.

Bridge and Lock Tenders

$38,780 ($18.64/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

Less than 5 years

Bridge and Lock Tenders operate and tend bridges, canal locks, and lighthouses to permit marine passage on inland waterways, near shores, and at danger points in waterway passages, or supervise such operations. This category includes drawbridge operators, lock operators, and slip bridge operators.

Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels

$56,690 ($27.25/hr)

Postsecondary nondegree award

Less than 5 years

Captains, Mates and Pilots of Water Vessels, operate and maintain vessels that take cargo and people over water.

Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators

$66,910 ($32.17/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

Less than 5 years

Rail-track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators install, repair, and maintain track for standard or narrow-gauge railroad equipment used in regular railroad service or in plant yards, quarries, sand and gravel pits, and mines.

Dispatchers

$41,810 ($20.10/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

Less than 5 years

Dispatchers schedule and dispatch workers, work crews, equipment, or service vehicles for conveyance of materials, freight, or passengers, or for normal installation, service, or emergency repairs rendered outside the place of business. Their duties may include using radio, telephone, or computer to transmit assignments and compiling statistics and reports on work progress.

Sailors and Marine Oilers

$39,210 ($18.85/hr)

No formal educational credential

Less than 5 years

Sailors and Marine Oilers are important parts of a ship's crew. Sailors operate and maintain the vessel and deck equipment. They keep all parts of a ship except engine and motor areas in good working order. Marine Oilers work in the engine room and help engineers maintain the propulsion system.

Ship Engineers

$50,290 ($24.18/hr)

Postsecondary nondegree award

Less than 5 years

Ship Engineers operate and maintain a vessel's propulsion system, which includes the engine, boilers, generators, pumps, and other machinery.

Gas Plant Operators

$61,070 ($29.36/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

Less than 5 years

Gas Plant Operators distribute or process gas for utility companies and others by controlling compressors to maintain specified pressures on main pipelines.

Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers

$48,180 ($23.16/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

Less than 5 years

Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems assemblers fit, fasten, and install parts of airplanes, space vehicles, or missiles.

Underground Mining Loading and Moving Machine Operators

$45,030 ($21.65/hr)

No formal educational credential

Less than 5 years

Underground Mining Loading and Moving Machine Operators use underground loading or moving machines to load or move coal, ore, or rock using shuttle or mine car or conveyors. Their equipment may include power shovels, hoisting engines equipped with cable-drawn scraper or scoop, or machines equipped with gathering arms and conveyor.

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