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Career Journey Builder

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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.

Career Journey Builder

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Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials

Next Step

Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: No formal educational credential

☆☆☆☆☆

No formal educational credential

Median Annual Wage

$26,990

($12.98/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

None or Negative Growth

-1.2%

Avg. Annual Openings

Average Opportunity

116

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Star
Rating

Education
Requirement

Median
Annual Wage

Annual
Growth Rate

Avg. Annual
Openings

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

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

Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: High school diploma or equivalent

☆☆☆☆☆

High school diploma or equivalent

Median Annual Wage

$34,320

($16.50/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Strong Growth

1.2%

Avg. Annual Openings

Strong Opportunity

548

Upholsterers

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: High school diploma or equivalent

☆☆☆☆☆

High school diploma or equivalent

Median Annual Wage

$44,370

($21.33/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Strong Growth

1.1%

Avg. Annual Openings

Very Strong Opportunity

751

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

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

Machine Feeders and Offbearers

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: No formal educational credential

☆☆☆☆☆

No formal educational credential

Median Annual Wage

$35,360

($17.00/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Strong Growth

1.0%

Avg. Annual Openings

Strong Opportunity

396

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

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

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

Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: High school diploma or equivalent

☆☆☆☆☆

High school diploma or equivalent

Median Annual Wage

$35,190

($16.92/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Slow Growth

0.3%

Avg. Annual Openings

Few Opportunities

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

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

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 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

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 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

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 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

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

Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials

$26,990($12.98/hr)

No formal educational credential

Textile, Garment, and Related Materials Pressers shape or press articles by hand or machine.

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.

Machinery Maintenance Workers

$49,980 ($24.03/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.

Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

$34,320 ($16.50/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

None

Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders set up, operate, or tend woodworking machines, such as drill presses, lathes, shapers, routers, sanders, planers, and wood nailing machines.

Upholsterers

$44,370 ($21.33/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

None

Upholsterers make, repair, or replace upholstery for household furniture or transportation vehicles.

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.

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.

Machine Feeders and Offbearers

$35,360 ($17.00/hr)

No formal educational credential

None

Machine Feeders and Offbearers feed materials into or remove materials from machines or equipment that is automatic or tended by other workers.

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.

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.

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.

Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers

$35,190 ($16.92/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

None

Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers construct, decorate, or repair leather and leather-like products, such as luggage, shoes, and saddles. May use hand tools.

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.

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.

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 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.

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 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.

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 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.

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.

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.