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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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.

Your Journey Overview
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Broadcast Technicians

Next Step

Arts, Audio/Video Technology and Communications

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

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

Software Developers

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: Bachelor's degree

☆☆☆☆☆

Bachelor's degree

Median Annual Wage

$131,000

($62.98/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Very Strong Growth

2.8%

Avg. Annual Openings

Very Strong Opportunity

5,363

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

Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: Postsecondary nondegree award

☆☆☆☆☆

Postsecondary nondegree award

Median Annual Wage

$60,880

($29.27/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Very Strong Growth

2.2%

Avg. Annual Openings

Average Opportunity

Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics

Electronics Engineers, Except Computer

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: Bachelor's degree

☆☆☆☆☆

Bachelor's degree

Median Annual Wage

$105,360

($50.66/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Very Strong Growth

1.8%

Avg. Annual Openings

Average Opportunity

149

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

Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: Postsecondary nondegree award

☆☆☆☆☆

Postsecondary nondegree award

Median Annual Wage

$61,830

($29.72/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Very Strong Growth

1.5%

Avg. Annual Openings

Strong Opportunity

663

All Other Computer Occupations

Star Rating:

Education: Bachelor's degree

Bachelor's degree

Median Annual Wage

$106,240

($51.08/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Very Strong Growth

1.5%

Avg. Annual Openings

Strong Opportunity

564

Computer Network Support Specialists

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: Associate's degree

☆☆☆☆☆

Associate's degree

Median Annual Wage

$79,680

($38.31/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Very Strong Growth

1.4%

Avg. Annual Openings

Strong Opportunity

405

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

Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics

Transportation Equipment Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: Postsecondary nondegree award

☆☆☆☆☆

Postsecondary nondegree award

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

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 Engineers

Star Rating:

Education: Bachelor's degree

Bachelor's degree

Median Annual Wage

$106,960

($51.42/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Strong Growth

1.1%

Avg. Annual Openings

Average Opportunity

217

Computer User Support Specialists

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: Some college, no degree

☆☆☆☆☆

Some college, no degree

Median Annual Wage

$58,660

($28.20/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Strong Growth

1.0%

Avg. Annual Openings

Very Strong Opportunity

1,794

Producers and Directors

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: Bachelor's degree

☆☆☆☆☆

Bachelor's degree

Median Annual Wage

$66,000

($31.73/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Average Growth

0.9%

Avg. Annual Openings

Strong Opportunity

305

Computer Network Architects

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: Bachelor's degree

☆☆☆☆☆

Bachelor's degree

Median Annual Wage

$126,000

($60.58/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Average Growth

0.8%

Avg. Annual Openings

Strong Opportunity

447

Network and Computer Systems Administrators

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: Bachelor's degree

☆☆☆☆☆

Bachelor's degree

Median Annual Wage

$97,590

($46.92/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Average Growth

0.8%

Avg. Annual Openings

Strong Opportunity

647

Sound Engineering Technicians

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: Postsecondary nondegree award

☆☆☆☆☆

Postsecondary nondegree award

Median Annual Wage

$57,550

($27.67/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Average Growth

0.7%

Avg. Annual Openings

Few Opportunities

Commercial and Industrial Equipment Electrical and Electronics Repairers

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: Postsecondary nondegree award

☆☆☆☆☆

Postsecondary nondegree award

Median Annual Wage

$71,210

($34.24/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Average Growth

0.7%

Avg. Annual Openings

Average Opportunity

146

Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay Electrical and Electronics Repairers

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: Postsecondary nondegree award

☆☆☆☆☆

Postsecondary nondegree award

Median Annual Wage

$96,730

($46.50/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Average Growth

0.7%

Avg. Annual Openings

Average Opportunity

140

Television, Video, and Film Camera Operators

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: Bachelor's degree

☆☆☆☆☆

Bachelor's degree

Median Annual Wage

$62,130

($29.87/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

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

Power Distributors and Dispatchers

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: High school diploma or equivalent

☆☆☆☆☆

High school diploma or equivalent

Median Annual Wage

$87,420

($42.03/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Slow Growth

0.2%

Avg. Annual Openings

Rare Opportunity

Computer Hardware Engineers

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: Bachelor's degree

☆☆☆☆☆

Bachelor's degree

Median Annual Wage

$131,600

($63.27/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

None or Negative Growth

0.0%

Avg. Annual Openings

Few Opportunities

Median Annual Wage
Education
Experience Needed
Description

Broadcast Technicians

$45,430($21.84/hr)

Associate's degree

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

Software Developers

$131,000 ($62.98/hr)

Bachelor's degree

None

Software developers create the computer applications that allow users to do specific tasks and the underlying systems that run the devices or control networks.

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.

Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers

$60,880 ($29.27/hr)

Postsecondary nondegree award

None

Computer Numerically Controlled Machine Tool Programmers make programs to control machining or processing of metal or plastic parts. They use automatic machine tools, equipment, or systems.

Electronics Engineers, Except Computer

$105,360 ($50.66/hr)

Bachelor's degree

None

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

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.

Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers

$61,830 ($29.72/hr)

Postsecondary nondegree award

None

Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, also known as telecom technicians, set up and maintain devices or equipment that carry communications signals, such as telephone lines and Internet routers.

All Other Computer Occupations

$106,240 ($51.08/hr)

Bachelor's degree

None

Computer Occupations include personnel who work on computers, including IT, computer systems, and security. This category includes all computer occupations not contained somewhere else.

Computer Network Support Specialists

$79,680 ($38.31/hr)

Associate's degree

None

Computer Networks Support Specialists assist computer users and organizations by maintaining computer networks.

Electrical Engineers

$107,760 ($51.81/hr)

Bachelor's degree

None

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

Transportation Equipment Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers

- ( - /hr)

Postsecondary nondegree award

None

Transportation Equipment Electrical and Electronics installers and repairers install, adjust, or maintain mobile communication equipment, including sound, sonar, security, navigation, and surveillance systems on trains, watercraft, or other vehicles.

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 Engineers

$106,960 ($51.42/hr)

Bachelor's degree

None

Engineers are professionals that use math and science to solve technical problems. This normally includes creating, improving, or repairing systems or products. This category includes all engineers not contained somewhere else.

Computer User Support Specialists

$58,660 ($28.20/hr)

Some college, no degree

None

Computer support specialists assist computer users and organizations. These specialists either maintain computer networks or provide technical help directly to computer users.

Producers and Directors

$66,000 ($31.73/hr)

Bachelor's degree

Less than 5 years

Producers and directors make business and creative decisions about, film, television, stage, and other productions. They interpret a writer's script to entertain, inform, or instruct an audience.

Computer Network Architects

$126,000 ($60.58/hr)

Bachelor's degree

5 years or more

Computer network architects design and implement data communication networks, including local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs), and intranets. These networks range from small connections between two offices to virtual capabilities such as a cloud infrastructure that serves multiple customers.

Network and Computer Systems Administrators

$97,590 ($46.92/hr)

Bachelor's degree

None

Network and computer systems administrators install, configure, and maintain organizations' local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs), data communication networks, operating systems, and servers.

Sound Engineering Technicians

$57,550 ($27.67/hr)

Postsecondary nondegree award

None

Sound Engineering Technicians set up, operate, and maintain the electrical equipment for radio programs, television broadcasts, concerts, sound recordings, and movies.

Commercial and Industrial Equipment Electrical and Electronics Repairers

$71,210 ($34.24/hr)

Postsecondary nondegree award

None

Commercial and Industrial Equipment Electrical and Electronics Repairers repair, test, adjust, or install electronic equipment, such as industrial controls, transmitters, and antennas.

Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay Electrical and Electronics Repairers

$96,730 ($46.50/hr)

Postsecondary nondegree award

Less than 5 years

Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay Electrical and Electronics Repairers inspect, test, repair, or maintain electrical equipment in generating stations, substations, and in-service relays.

Television, Video, and Film Camera Operators

$62,130 ($29.87/hr)

Bachelor's degree

None

Television, Video and Film Camera Operators manipulate images that entertain or inform an audience. They capture a wide range of material for television, movies, and other media.

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.

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.

Power Distributors and Dispatchers

$87,420 ($42.03/hr)

High school diploma or equivalent

None

Power distributors, and dispatchers control the systems that generate and distribute electric power.

Computer Hardware Engineers

$131,600 ($63.27/hr)

Bachelor's degree

None

Computer hardware engineers research, design, develop, and test computer systems and components such as processors, circuit boards, memory devices, networks, and routers.

First Step

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…