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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Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters

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Drop here

Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics

Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: High school diploma or equivalent

☆☆☆☆☆

High school diploma or equivalent

Median Annual Wage

$77,060

($37.05/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Slow Growth

0.5%

Avg. Annual Openings

Average Opportunity

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Star
Rating

Education
Requirement

Median
Annual Wage

Annual
Growth Rate

Avg. Annual
Openings

Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: No formal educational credential

☆☆☆☆☆

No formal educational credential

Median Annual Wage

$27,140

($13.05/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Very Strong Growth

2.0%

Avg. Annual Openings

Strong Opportunity

565

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

Cargo and Freight Agents

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: High school diploma or equivalent

☆☆☆☆☆

High school diploma or equivalent

Median Annual Wage

$46,240

($22.23/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Very Strong Growth

1.8%

Avg. Annual Openings

Strong Opportunity

331

Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

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

Light Truck Drivers

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: High school diploma or equivalent

☆☆☆☆☆

High school diploma or equivalent

Median Annual Wage

$35,680

($17.15/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Strong Growth

1.3%

Avg. Annual Openings

Very Strong Opportunity

5,583

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

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

Highway Maintenance Workers

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: High school diploma or equivalent

☆☆☆☆☆

High school diploma or equivalent

Median Annual Wage

$39,210

($18.85/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Strong Growth

1.0%

Avg. Annual Openings

Strong Opportunity

442

First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

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

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

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

Passenger Attendants

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: High school diploma or equivalent

☆☆☆☆☆

High school diploma or equivalent

Median Annual Wage

$20,630

($9.92/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Slow Growth

0.5%

Avg. Annual Openings

Average Opportunity

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

Parking Enforcement Workers

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: High school diploma or equivalent

☆☆☆☆☆

High school diploma or equivalent

Median Annual Wage

$35,630

($17.13/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

None or Negative Growth

-4.5%

Avg. Annual Openings

Rare Opportunity

Median Annual Wage
Education
Experience Needed
Description

Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters

$77,060($37.05/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters coordinate activities of switch-engine crews within a railroad yard, industrial plant, or similar location. Conductors coordinate activities of the train crew on passenger or freight trains, and yardmasters coordinate activities of workers involved in railroad traffic operations.

Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs

$27,140 ($13.05/hr)

No formal educational credential

None

Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs drive a motor vehicle to transport passengers on a planned or scheduled basis.

Transit and Intercity Bus Drivers

$35,500 ($17.07/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

None

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

Cargo and Freight Agents

$46,240 ($22.23/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

None

Cargo and Freight Agents expedite and route movement of incoming and outgoing cargo and freight shipments in airline, train, and trucking terminals and shipping docks. They take orders from customers and arrange pickup of freight and cargo for delivery to loading platform. They also prepare and examine bills of lading to determine shipping charges and tariffs.

Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors

$55,950 ($26.90/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

None

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.

Light Truck Drivers

$35,680 ($17.15/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

None

Light Truck Drivers drive a light vehicle, such as a truck or van with a capacity of less than 26,000 pounds Gross Vehicle Weight, to deliver or pick up merchandise or to deliver packages.

Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers

$47,860 ($23.01/hr)

Postsecondary nondegree award

None

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.

Airfield Operations Specialists

$39,840 ($19.16/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

None

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.

Highway Maintenance Workers

$39,210 ($18.85/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

None

Highway Maintenance Workers maintain highways, municipal and rural roads, airport runways, and rights-of-way. Their duties include patching broken or eroded pavement and repairing guard rails, highway markers, and snow fences. They may also mow or clear brush from along road, or plow snow from roadway.

First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers

$68,390 ($32.88/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

None

First-line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers directly supervise and coordinate the activities of mechanics, installers, and repairers. They can also advise customers on recommended services.

Traffic Technicians

$41,450 ($19.93/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

None

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

None

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.

Dispatchers

$41,810 ($20.10/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

None

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.

Passenger Attendants

$20,630 ($9.92/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

None

Passenger Attendants provide services to ensure the safety of passengers aboard ships, buses, trains, or within the station or terminal. They perform duties such as explaining the use of safety equipment, serving meals or beverages, or answering questions related to travel.

Underground Mining Loading and Moving Machine Operators

$45,030 ($21.65/hr)

No formal educational credential

None

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.

Parking Enforcement Workers

$35,630 ($17.13/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

None

Parking Enforcement Workers patrol assigned area, such as public parking lot or city streets to issue tickets to overtime parking violators and illegally parked vehicles.

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