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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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Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners

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Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: No formal educational credential

☆☆☆☆☆

No formal educational credential

Median Annual Wage

$27,980

($13.45/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Average Growth

0.7%

Avg. Annual Openings

Very Strong Opportunity

9,728

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

Industrial Machinery Mechanics

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

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

Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

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

Floor Layers

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: No formal educational credential

☆☆☆☆☆

No formal educational credential

Median Annual Wage

$43,460

($20.90/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Very Strong Growth

1.7%

Avg. Annual Openings

Few Opportunities

Tile and Stone Setters

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: No formal educational credential

☆☆☆☆☆

No formal educational credential

Median Annual Wage

$43,930

($21.12/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Very Strong Growth

1.5%

Avg. Annual Openings

Average Opportunity

121

Machinery Maintenance Workers

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: High school diploma or equivalent

☆☆☆☆☆

High school diploma or equivalent

Median Annual Wage

$49,980

($24.03/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Very Strong Growth

1.4%

Avg. Annual Openings

Strong Opportunity

417

Floor, Ceiling, and Wall Insulation Workers

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: No formal educational credential

☆☆☆☆☆

No formal educational credential

Median Annual Wage

$36,270

($17.44/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Strong Growth

1.2%

Avg. Annual Openings

Average Opportunity

110

Furniture Finishers

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: High school diploma or equivalent

☆☆☆☆☆

High school diploma or equivalent

Median Annual Wage

$35,120

($16.89/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Strong Growth

1.1%

Avg. Annual Openings

Average Opportunity

184

Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: No formal educational credential

☆☆☆☆☆

No formal educational credential

Median Annual Wage

$37,420

($17.99/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Strong Growth

1.1%

Avg. Annual Openings

Few Opportunities

Construction Laborers

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: No formal educational credential

☆☆☆☆☆

No formal educational credential

Median Annual Wage

$36,310

($17.46/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Strong Growth

1.0%

Avg. Annual Openings

Very Strong Opportunity

5,058

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

Helpers- Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: High school diploma or equivalent

☆☆☆☆☆

High school diploma or equivalent

Median Annual Wage

$35,280

($16.96/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Strong Growth

1.0%

Avg. Annual Openings

Strong Opportunity

402

Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: No formal educational credential

☆☆☆☆☆

No formal educational credential

Median Annual Wage

$33,870

($16.28/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Average Growth

0.9%

Avg. Annual Openings

Very Strong Opportunity

6,565

Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: High school diploma or equivalent

☆☆☆☆☆

High school diploma or equivalent

Median Annual Wage

$47,220

($22.70/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Average Growth

0.9%

Avg. Annual Openings

Very Strong Opportunity

1,910

Roofers

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: No formal educational credential

☆☆☆☆☆

No formal educational credential

Median Annual Wage

$43,130

($20.74/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Average Growth

0.9%

Avg. Annual Openings

Strong Opportunity

321

Helpers- Extraction Workers

Star Rating:

Education: High school diploma or equivalent

High school diploma or equivalent

Median Annual Wage

$44,720

($21.50/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Average Growth

0.9%

Avg. Annual Openings

Rare Opportunity

General Maintenance and Repair Workers

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

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

Floor Sanders and Finishers

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: No formal educational credential

☆☆☆☆☆

No formal educational credential

Median Annual Wage

$40,670

($19.55/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Average Growth

0.8%

Avg. Annual Openings

Average Opportunity

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

First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

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

Plasterers and Stucco Masons

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: No formal educational credential

☆☆☆☆☆

No formal educational credential

Median Annual Wage

$43,840

($21.08/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Average Growth

0.8%

Avg. Annual Openings

Rare Opportunity

Home Appliance Repairers

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

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

Carpenters

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: High school diploma or equivalent

☆☆☆☆☆

High school diploma or equivalent

Median Annual Wage

$44,980

($21.63/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Average Growth

0.7%

Avg. Annual Openings

Very Strong Opportunity

2,339

Construction and Maintenance Painters

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: No formal educational credential

☆☆☆☆☆

No formal educational credential

Median Annual Wage

$36,850

($17.71/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Average Growth

0.7%

Avg. Annual Openings

Very Strong Opportunity

795

Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: No formal educational credential

☆☆☆☆☆

No formal educational credential

Median Annual Wage

$44,860

($21.57/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Slow Growth

0.3%

Avg. Annual Openings

Strong Opportunity

635

Carpet Installers

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: No formal educational credential

☆☆☆☆☆

No formal educational credential

Median Annual Wage

$35,250

($16.95/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

None or Negative Growth

-0.4%

Avg. Annual Openings

Few Opportunities

Median Annual Wage
Education
Experience Needed
Description

Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners

$27,980($13.45/hr)

No formal educational credential

Janitors and Cleaners keep many types of buildings clean, sanitary, orderly, and in good condition.

Industrial Machinery Mechanics

$56,260 ($27.05/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

None

Industrial machinery mechanics and machinery maintenance workers maintain and repair factory equipment and other industrial machinery, such as conveying systems, production machinery, and packaging equipment. Millwrights install, dismantle, repair, reassemble, and move machinery in factories, power plants, and construction sites.

Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners

$37,420 ($17.99/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

None

Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners cleanse and repair septic tanks, sewer lines, or drains. They can also patch walls and partitions of tank, replace damaged drain tile, or repair breaks in underground piping.

Floor Layers

$43,460 ($20.90/hr)

No formal educational credential

None

Floor Layers apply blocks, strips, or sheets of shock-absorbing, sound-deadening, or decorative coverings to floors.

Tile and Stone Setters

$43,930 ($21.12/hr)

No formal educational credential

None

Tile and Stone Setters apply hard tile, marble, and wood tile to walls, floors, ceilings, and roof decks.

Machinery Maintenance Workers

$49,980 ($24.03/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

None

Floor, Ceiling, and Wall Insulation Workers

$36,270 ($17.44/hr)

No formal educational credential

None

Insulation workers, also called insulators, install and replace the materials used to insulate buildings.

Furniture Finishers

$35,120 ($16.89/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

None

Furniture finishers shape, finish, and refinish damaged, worn, or used furniture or new high-grade furniture to specified color or finish.

Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers

$37,420 ($17.99/hr)

No formal educational credential

None

Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers apply finishes, often using machines, to products such as cars, jewelry, and ceramics.

Construction Laborers

$36,310 ($17.46/hr)

No formal educational credential

None

Construction Laborers perform many tasks that require physical labor on construction sites.

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.

Helpers- Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters

$35,280 ($16.96/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

None

Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters perform many tasks that require physical labor to assist Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters in their duties.

Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers

$33,870 ($16.28/hr)

No formal educational credential

None

Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers install and maintain landscapes, prune trees or shrubs, and do other tasks to ensure that vegetation is attractive, orderly, and safe.

Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters

$47,220 ($22.70/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

None

Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters install and repair piping fixtures and systems.

Roofers

$43,130 ($20.74/hr)

No formal educational credential

None

Roofers replace, repair, and install the roofs of buildings, using a variety of materials, including shingles, bitumen, and metal.

Helpers- Extraction Workers

$44,720 ($21.50/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

None

Extraction Workers Helpers support extraction craft workers, such as earth drillers, blasters and explosives workers, derrick operators, and mining machine operators, by performing duties requiring less skill. Their duties include supplying equipment and cleaning their work area.

General Maintenance and Repair Workers

$40,900 ($19.66/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

None

General maintenance and repair workers fix and maintain machines, mechanical equipment, and buildings. They paint, repair flooring, and work on plumbing, electrical, and air-conditioning and heating systems.

Floor Sanders and Finishers

$40,670 ($19.55/hr)

No formal educational credential

None

Floor Sanders and Finishers scrape and sand wooden floors to smooth surfaces using a floor scraper and floor sanding machine, and then apply coats of finish.

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.

First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers

$37,180 ($17.88/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

Less than 5 years

First-line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers directly supervise and coordinate work activities of cleaning personnel in hotels, hospitals, offices, and other establishments.

Plasterers and Stucco Masons

$43,840 ($21.08/hr)

No formal educational credential

None

Plasterers and Stucco Masons apply interior or exterior plaster, cement, stucco, or similar materials. They may also set ornamental plaster.

Home Appliance Repairers

$46,500 ($22.36/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

None

Home appliance repairers install, adjust, or repair all types of electric or gas household appliances, such as refrigerators, washers, dryers, and ovens.

Carpenters

$44,980 ($21.63/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

None

Carpenters construct, repair, and install building frameworks and structures made from wood and other materials.

Construction and Maintenance Painters

$36,850 ($17.71/hr)

No formal educational credential

None

Painters apply paint, stain, and coatings to walls and ceilings, buildings, and bridges and other structures.

Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers

$44,860 ($21.57/hr)

No formal educational credential

None

Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers pour, smooth, and finish concrete floors, sidewalks, roads, and curbs. They use a variety of hand and power tools.

Carpet Installers

$35,250 ($16.95/hr)

No formal educational credential

None

Carpet installers lay and finish carpet.

First Step

Find out what's next in line on your career journey, or find our where to start your new journey.

This tool can help you understand a potential pathway to a goal career. The circle at the top right represents your goal job. The circles on the left are jobs that have similar job skills or job duties to your dream job but typically pay less. They may also require lower educational attainment or skills.