Career Tree | NC Careers.org

Next Step

Career Journey Builder

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.

CLEAR

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

Your Journey Overview
Compare Occupations

Save Delete Saved Content
Start Over
Previous

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

Next Step

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

Choose your next step from the list below.

Sort By

View Options

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

Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics

Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: High school diploma or equivalent

☆☆☆☆☆

High school diploma or equivalent

Median Annual Wage

$53,720

($25.83/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Very Strong Growth

1.6%

Avg. Annual Openings

Strong Opportunity

690

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

Millwrights

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: High school diploma or equivalent

☆☆☆☆☆

High school diploma or equivalent

Median Annual Wage

$49,600

($23.85/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Strong Growth

1.1%

Avg. Annual Openings

Average Opportunity

Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: High school diploma or equivalent

☆☆☆☆☆

High school diploma or equivalent

Median Annual Wage

$73,810

($35.49/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Strong Growth

1.0%

Avg. Annual Openings

Rare Opportunity

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

Continuous Mining Machine Operators

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: No formal educational credential

☆☆☆☆☆

No formal educational credential

Median Annual Wage

$48,550

($23.34/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Strong Growth

1.0%

Avg. Annual Openings

Rare Opportunity

Riggers

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: High school diploma or equivalent

☆☆☆☆☆

High school diploma or equivalent

Median Annual Wage

$50,220

($24.14/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Average Growth

0.9%

Avg. Annual Openings

Few Opportunities

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

Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: High school diploma or equivalent

☆☆☆☆☆

High school diploma or equivalent

Median Annual Wage

$48,220

($23.18/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Average Growth

0.8%

Avg. Annual Openings

Average Opportunity

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

All Other Plant and System Operators

Star Rating:

Education: High school diploma or equivalent

High school diploma or equivalent

Median Annual Wage

$66,350

($31.90/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Average Growth

0.8%

Avg. Annual Openings

Rare Opportunity

First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: High school diploma or equivalent

☆☆☆☆☆

High school diploma or equivalent

Median Annual Wage

$61,340

($29.49/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Average Growth

0.8%

Avg. Annual Openings

Very Strong Opportunity

2,890

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

Control and Valve Installers and Repairers

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: High school diploma or equivalent

☆☆☆☆☆

High school diploma or equivalent

Median Annual Wage

$61,580

($29.61/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Slow Growth

0.5%

Avg. Annual Openings

Average Opportunity

156

Chemical Plant and System Operators

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: High school diploma or equivalent

☆☆☆☆☆

High school diploma or equivalent

Median Annual Wage

$65,870

($31.67/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Slow Growth

0.3%

Avg. Annual Openings

Few Opportunities

Boilermakers

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: High school diploma or equivalent

☆☆☆☆☆

High school diploma or equivalent

Median Annual Wage

$65,720

($31.60/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

None or Negative Growth

-0.2%

Avg. Annual Openings

Rare Opportunity

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

Power Distributors and Dispatchers

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: High school diploma or equivalent

☆☆☆☆☆

High school diploma or equivalent

Median Annual Wage

$82,200

($39.52/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

None or Negative Growth

-0.5%

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

Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: No formal educational credential

☆☆☆☆☆

No formal educational credential

Median Annual Wage

$48,500

($23.32/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

None or Negative Growth

-1.1%

Avg. Annual Openings

Average Opportunity

114

Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: High school diploma or equivalent

☆☆☆☆☆

High school diploma or equivalent

Median Annual Wage

$51,940

($24.97/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

None or Negative Growth

-1.4%

Avg. Annual Openings

Few Opportunities

Power Plant Operators

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: High school diploma or equivalent

☆☆☆☆☆

High school diploma or equivalent

Median Annual Wage

$76,820

($36.93/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

None or Negative Growth

-1.5%

Avg. Annual Openings

Few Opportunities

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

Metal and Plastic Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: High school diploma or equivalent

☆☆☆☆☆

High school diploma or equivalent

Median Annual Wage

$50,590

($24.32/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

None or Negative Growth

-1.6%

Avg. Annual Openings

Rare Opportunity

Median Annual Wage
Education
Experience Needed
Description

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

$43,720($21.02/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

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.

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.

Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics

$53,720 ($25.83/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

None

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.

Machinery Maintenance Workers

$49,980 ($24.03/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

None

Millwrights

$49,600 ($23.85/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

None

Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers

$73,810 ($35.49/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

None

Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers operate or control petroleum refining or processing units. They may specialize in controlling manifold and pumping systems, gauging or testing oil in storage tanks, or regulating the flow of oil into pipelines.

Rail Car Repairers

$61,890 ($29.76/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

None

Continuous Mining Machine Operators

$48,550 ($23.34/hr)

No formal educational credential

None

Continuous Mining Machine Operators use self-propelled mining machines that rip coal, metal and nonmetal ores, rock, stone, or sand from the mine face and load it onto conveyors, shuttle cars, or trucks, in a continuous operation.

Riggers

$50,220 ($24.14/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

None

Riggers set up or repair rigging for construction projects, manufacturing plants, logging yards, ships and shipyards, or for the entertainment industry.

Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators

$52,730 ($25.35/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

None

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

Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers

$48,220 ($23.18/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

Less than 5 years

Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers fix, maintain, or install electric motors, wiring, or switches.

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.

All Other Plant and System Operators

$66,350 ($31.90/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

None

Plant and System Operators control, operate, repair, and maintain entire processes or system of machines. This category includes all plant and system operators not contained somewhere else.

First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers

$61,340 ($29.49/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

Less than 5 years

First-line Supervisors of Production and Operating workers directly supervise and coordinate the activities of production and operating workers, such as inspectors, precision workers, machine setters and operators, assemblers, fabricators, and plant and system operators. This category excludes team or work leaders.

Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators

$66,910 ($32.17/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

None

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.

Control and Valve Installers and Repairers

$61,580 ($29.61/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

None

Control and valve installers and repairers install, repair, and maintain mechanical regulating and controlling devices, such as electric meters, gas regulators, thermostats, safety and flow valves, and other mechanical governors.

Chemical Plant and System Operators

$65,870 ($31.67/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

None

Chemical Plant and System Operators control or operate entire chemical processes or system of machines.

Boilermakers

$65,720 ($31.60/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

None

Boilermakers assemble, install, maintain, and repair boilers, closed vats, and other large vessels or containers that hold liquids and gases.

Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders

$48,950 ($23.53/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

None

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.

Power Distributors and Dispatchers

$82,200 ($39.52/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

None

Power Distributors and Dispatchers control the systems that generate and distribute electric power.

Gas Plant Operators

$61,070 ($29.36/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

None

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

Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders

$48,500 ($23.32/hr)

No formal educational credential

None

Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders operate or tend food or tobacco roasting, baking, or drying equipment, including hearth ovens, kiln driers, roasters, char kilns, and vacuum drying equipment.

Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers

$51,940 ($24.97/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

None

Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers wind wire coils used in electrical components, such as resistors and transformers, and in electrical equipment and instruments like field cores, bobbins, electrical motors, generators, and control equipment.

Power Plant Operators

$76,820 ($36.93/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

None

Power Plant Operators, Distributors, and Dispatchers control the systems that generate and distribute electric power.

Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers

$48,180 ($23.16/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

None

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

Metal and Plastic Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

$50,590 ($24.32/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

None

Metal and Plastic Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders set up, operate, or tend forging machines to taper, shape, or form metal or plastic parts.

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.