Career Tree | NC Careers.org

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By Education (What Can I Do With My 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 (Next Step)

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 (First Step)

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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Electrical Engineers

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Drop here

Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics

Electrical Engineers

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: Bachelor's degree

☆☆☆☆☆

Bachelor's degree

Median Annual Wage

$107,760

($51.81/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Strong Growth

1.2%

Avg. Annual Openings

Strong Opportunity

372

Choose your next step from the list below by dragging the Occupation into your Career Journey above.

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Star
Rating

Education
Requirement

Median
Annual Wage

Annual
Growth Rate

Avg. Annual
Openings

Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: Associate's degree

☆☆☆☆☆

Associate's degree

Median Annual Wage

$83,280

($40.04/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Very Strong Growth

2.4%

Avg. Annual Openings

Rare Opportunity

Medical Equipment Repairers

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: Associate's degree

☆☆☆☆☆

Associate's degree

Median Annual Wage

$59,430

($28.57/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Very Strong Growth

2.3%

Avg. Annual Openings

Strong Opportunity

437

Mechanical Engineers

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: Bachelor's degree

☆☆☆☆☆

Bachelor's degree

Median Annual Wage

$100,990

($48.55/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Very Strong Growth

1.8%

Avg. Annual Openings

Strong Opportunity

622

Industrial Engineers

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: Bachelor's degree

☆☆☆☆☆

Bachelor's degree

Median Annual Wage

$97,150

($46.71/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Very Strong Growth

1.7%

Avg. Annual Openings

Very Strong Opportunity

774

Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: Associate's degree

☆☆☆☆☆

Associate's degree

Median Annual Wage

$45,970

($22.10/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Very Strong Growth

1.7%

Avg. Annual Openings

Few Opportunities

Surveyors

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: Bachelor's degree

☆☆☆☆☆

Bachelor's degree

Median Annual Wage

$67,870

($32.63/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Very Strong Growth

1.5%

Avg. Annual Openings

Average Opportunity

110

Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: Bachelor's degree

☆☆☆☆☆

Bachelor's degree

Median Annual Wage

$107,070

($51.48/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Very Strong Growth

1.5%

Avg. Annual Openings

Few Opportunities

Chemists

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: Bachelor's degree

☆☆☆☆☆

Bachelor's degree

Median Annual Wage

$78,400

($37.69/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Very Strong Growth

1.4%

Avg. Annual Openings

Strong Opportunity

392

Civil Engineers

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: Bachelor's degree

☆☆☆☆☆

Bachelor's degree

Median Annual Wage

$93,590

($45.00/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Strong Growth

1.3%

Avg. Annual Openings

Very Strong Opportunity

857

Mining and Geological Engineers

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: Bachelor's degree

☆☆☆☆☆

Bachelor's degree

Median Annual Wage

$$$

No Data Available

Annual Growth Rate

Strong Growth

1.2%

Avg. Annual Openings

Rare Opportunity

Calibration Technologists and Technicians

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: Associate's degree

☆☆☆☆☆

Associate's degree

Median Annual Wage

$62,910

($30.25/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Strong Growth

1.1%

Avg. Annual Openings

Few Opportunities

Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics

Avionics Technicians

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: Postsecondary nondegree award

☆☆☆☆☆

Postsecondary nondegree award

Median Annual Wage

$62,060

($29.84/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Strong Growth

1.1%

Avg. Annual Openings

Average Opportunity

All Other Engineering Technologists and Technicians

Star Rating:

Education: Associate's degree

Associate's degree

Median Annual Wage

$74,210

($35.68/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Strong Growth

1.1%

Avg. Annual Openings

Average Opportunity

187

Architectural and Civil Drafters

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: Associate's degree

☆☆☆☆☆

Associate's degree

Median Annual Wage

$63,590

($30.57/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Strong Growth

1.0%

Avg. Annual Openings

Strong Opportunity

259

Electrical and Electronics Drafters

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: Associate's degree

☆☆☆☆☆

Associate's degree

Median Annual Wage

$76,540

($36.80/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Average Growth

0.9%

Avg. Annual Openings

Few Opportunities

Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: Associate's degree

☆☆☆☆☆

Associate's degree

Median Annual Wage

$65,960

($31.71/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Average Growth

0.8%

Avg. Annual Openings

Average Opportunity

203

Arts, Audio/Video Technology and Communications

Commercial and Industrial Designers

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: Bachelor's degree

☆☆☆☆☆

Bachelor's degree

Median Annual Wage

$74,330

($35.73/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Average Growth

0.8%

Avg. Annual Openings

Few Opportunities

Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: Associate's degree

☆☆☆☆☆

Associate's degree

Median Annual Wage

$60,460

($29.07/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Average Growth

0.7%

Avg. Annual Openings

Strong Opportunity

281

Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: Associate's degree

☆☆☆☆☆

Associate's degree

Median Annual Wage

$57,690

($27.73/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Average Growth

0.7%

Avg. Annual Openings

Few Opportunities

Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: Associate's degree

☆☆☆☆☆

Associate's degree

Median Annual Wage

$62,760

($30.17/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Slow Growth

0.5%

Avg. Annual Openings

Few Opportunities

Cost Estimators

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: Bachelor's degree

☆☆☆☆☆

Bachelor's degree

Median Annual Wage

$72,230

($34.72/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Slow Growth

0.4%

Avg. Annual Openings

Strong Opportunity

662

Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: Associate's degree

☆☆☆☆☆

Associate's degree

Median Annual Wage

$71,670

($34.46/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Slow Growth

0.3%

Avg. Annual Openings

Strong Opportunity

259

Postsecondary Career/Technical Education Teachers

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: Bachelor's degree

☆☆☆☆☆

Bachelor's degree

Median Annual Wage

$60,590

($29.13/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Slow Growth

0.1%

Avg. Annual Openings

Strong Opportunity

580

Broadcast Technicians

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: Associate's degree

☆☆☆☆☆

Associate's degree

Median Annual Wage

$45,430

($21.84/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

None or Negative Growth

0.0%

Avg. Annual Openings

Average Opportunity

Mechanical Drafters

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: Associate's degree

☆☆☆☆☆

Associate's degree

Median Annual Wage

$61,990

($29.80/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

None or Negative Growth

-0.1%

Avg. Annual Openings

Few Opportunities

Median Annual Wage
Education
Experience Needed
Description

Electrical Engineers

$107,760($51.81/hr)

Bachelor's degree

Electrical engineers design, develop, and test electrical and electronic equipment, components, and systems.

Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians

$83,280 ($40.04/hr)

Associate's degree

None

Aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians install, run, and maintain equipment used to develop, test, produce, and sustain aircraft and spacecraft. Their work is critical to ensuring the safety and precision of key parts of these vehicles and systems.

Medical Equipment Repairers

$59,430 ($28.57/hr)

Associate's degree

None

Medical equipment repairers install, maintain, and repair patient care equipment.

Mechanical Engineers

$100,990 ($48.55/hr)

Bachelor's degree

None

Mechanical engineers research, design, develop, build, and test mechanical and thermal sensors and devices, including tools, engines, and machines.

Industrial Engineers

$97,150 ($46.71/hr)

Bachelor's degree

None

Industrial engineers devise efficient systems that integrate workers, machines, materials, information, and energy to make a product or provide a service. They assess workers, quality control, logistics, and other factors involved in coordinating production.

Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers

$45,970 ($22.10/hr)

Associate's degree

None

Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers install, maintain, or repair mobile or stationary radio transmitting, broadcasting, and receiving equipment, and two-way radio communications systems used in cellular telecommunications, mobile broadband, ship-to-shore, aircraft-to-ground communications, and radio equipment in service and emergency vehicles. They may test and analyze network coverage.

Surveyors

$67,870 ($32.63/hr)

Bachelor's degree

None

Surveyors make precise measurements to determine property boundaries. They provide data relevant to features of the Earth's surface, such as shape and contour, for engineering, mapmaking, construction, and other purposes.

Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers

$107,070 ($51.48/hr)

Bachelor's degree

None

Bioengineers and biomedical engineers combine engineering principles with sciences to design and create equipment, devices, computer systems, and software.

Chemists

$78,400 ($37.69/hr)

Bachelor's degree

None

Chemists and materials scientists research and analyze the chemical properties of substances to develop new materials, products, or knowledge.

Civil Engineers

$93,590 ($45.00/hr)

Bachelor's degree

None

Civil engineers plan, design, and supervise the construction and maintenance of building and infrastructure projects. These projects may include facilities, bridges, roads, tunnels, and water and sewage systems.

Mining and Geological Engineers

- ( - /hr)

Bachelor's degree

None

Mining and geological engineers design mines to safely and efficiently remove minerals such as coal and metals for use in manufacturing and utilities.

Calibration Technologists and Technicians

$62,910 ($30.25/hr)

Associate's degree

None

Calibration technologists and technicians inspect, adjust, and test measurement devices against standards, such as those used in manufacturing, healthcare, and other industries.

Avionics Technicians

$62,060 ($29.84/hr)

Postsecondary nondegree award

None

Avionics technicians install, test, adjust, and repair equipment and systems in aircraft.

All Other Engineering Technologists and Technicians

$74,210 ($35.68/hr)

Associate's degree

None

Engineering Technologists and Technicians support engineers in their duties, usually working on teams. They make sure that all machinery and tools being used remain functional. This category includes all engineering technologists and technicians not contained somewhere else.

Architectural and Civil Drafters

$63,590 ($30.57/hr)

Associate's degree

None

Architectural and Civil Drafters use software to convert the designs of architects and engineers into technical drawings. Workers use technical drawings to help design buildings, infrastructure and more.

Electrical and Electronics Drafters

$76,540 ($36.80/hr)

Associate's degree

None

Electrical and Electronic Drafters use software to convert the designs of engineers into technical drawings. Workers use technical drawings to help design microchips and other electronics components.

Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians

$65,960 ($31.71/hr)

Associate's degree

None

Industrial engineering technologists and technicians help engineers solve problems affecting manufacturing layout or production. They prepare machinery and equipment plans, design workflows, conduct statistical production studies, and analyze production costs.

Commercial and Industrial Designers

$74,330 ($35.73/hr)

Bachelor's degree

None

Commercial and Industrial Designers design and develop manufactured products, such as cars, home appliances, and children's toys. Combine artistic talent with research on product use, marketing, and materials to create the most functional and appealing product design.

Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians

$60,460 ($29.07/hr)

Associate's degree

None

Civil engineering technologists and technicians help civil engineers plan, design, and build highways, bridges, utilities, and other infrastructure projects. They also help to plan, design, and build commercial, industrial, residential, and land development projects.

Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians

$57,690 ($27.73/hr)

Associate's degree

None

Electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologists and technicians combine knowledge of mechanical technology with knowledge of electrical and electronic circuitry. They operate, test, and maintain unmanned, automated, robotic, or electromechanical equipment.

Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians

$62,760 ($30.17/hr)

Associate's degree

None

Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians help mechanical engineers design, develop, test, and manufacture tools, engines, machines, and other devices. They may make sketches and rough layouts, record and analyze data, and report their findings.

Cost Estimators

$72,230 ($34.72/hr)

Bachelor's degree

None

Cost estimators collect and analyze data in order to assess the time, money, materials, and labor required to manufacture a product, construct a building, or provide a service. They generally specialize in a particular product or industry.

Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians

$71,670 ($34.46/hr)

Associate's degree

None

Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians help electrical and electronics engineers plan and develop communications equipment, computers, medical monitoring devices, or other equipment that is powered by other electricity or electric current. They often work in product evaluation and testing, using measuring and diagnostic devices to test, adjust, and repair equipment. They are also involved in assembling equipment for automation.

Postsecondary Career/Technical Education Teachers

$60,590 ($29.13/hr)

Bachelor's degree

None

Career and technical education (CTE) teachers provide training in subjects such as auto repair, cosmetology, and culinary arts. They teach vocational and technical content to give students the skills and knowledge necessary to enter an occupation.

Broadcast Technicians

$45,430 ($21.84/hr)

Associate's degree

None

Broadcast technicians set up, operate, and maintain the electrical equipment for radio programs, television broadcasts, concerts, sound recordings, and movies.

Mechanical Drafters

$61,990 ($29.80/hr)

Associate's degree

None

Mechanical Drafters use software to convert the designs of engineers into technical drawings. Workers use technical drawings to help design mechanical equipment. This category includes all drafters not in the

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Start Planning

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…