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

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Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers

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Drop here

Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: Bachelor's degree

☆☆☆☆☆

Bachelor's degree

Median Annual Wage

$102,660

($49.36/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Strong Growth

1.0%

Avg. Annual Openings

Strong Opportunity

479

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

Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics

Mechanical Engineers

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: Bachelor's degree

☆☆☆☆☆

Bachelor's degree

Median Annual Wage

$100,990

($48.55/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Strong Growth

1.2%

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

Strong Growth

1.1%

Avg. Annual Openings

Very Strong Opportunity

835

Calibration Technologists and Technicians

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: Associate's degree

☆☆☆☆☆

Associate's degree

Median Annual Wage

$62,910

($30.25/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Average Growth

0.7%

Avg. Annual Openings

Few Opportunities

Web and Digital Interface Designers

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: Bachelor's degree

☆☆☆☆☆

Bachelor's degree

Median Annual Wage

$84,990

($40.86/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Average Growth

0.7%

Avg. Annual Openings

Strong Opportunity

258

Web Developers

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: Bachelor's degree

☆☆☆☆☆

Bachelor's degree

Median Annual Wage

$94,070

($45.23/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Slow Growth

0.6%

Avg. Annual Openings

Average Opportunity

132

All Other Financial Specialists

Star Rating:

Education: Bachelor's degree

Bachelor's degree

Median Annual Wage

$82,240

($39.54/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Slow Growth

0.5%

Avg. Annual Openings

Strong Opportunity

266

All Other Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians

Star Rating:

Education: Associate's degree

Associate's degree

Median Annual Wage

$66,090

($31.77/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Slow Growth

0.4%

Avg. Annual Openings

Strong Opportunity

263

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

0.2%

Avg. Annual Openings

Average Opportunity

187

Computer Network Support Specialists

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: Associate's degree

☆☆☆☆☆

Associate's degree

Median Annual Wage

$79,680

($38.31/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

Slow Growth

0.2%

Avg. Annual Openings

Average Opportunity

237

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

None or Negative Growth

-0.1%

Avg. Annual Openings

Strong Opportunity

586

Electrical and Electronics Drafters

Star Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆

Education: Associate's degree

☆☆☆☆☆

Associate's degree

Median Annual Wage

$76,540

($36.80/hr)

Annual Growth Rate

None or Negative Growth

-0.4%

Avg. Annual Openings

Few Opportunities

Median Annual Wage
Education
Experience Needed
Description

Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers

$102,660($49.36/hr)

Bachelor's degree

Software quality assurance analysts and testers design and execute software tests to identify problems and learn how the software works.

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.

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.

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.

Web and Digital Interface Designers

$84,990 ($40.86/hr)

Bachelor's degree

None

Web and Digital Interface Designers develop, create, and test website or interface layout, functions, and navigation for usability. They are responsible for the look and functionality of the website or interface.

Web and Digital Interface Designers

$84,990 ($40.86/hr)

Bachelor's degree

None

Web Developers

$94,070 ($45.23/hr)

Bachelor's degree

None

Web Developers create and maintain websites. They are also responsible for the site's technical aspects, such as its performance and capacity, which are measures of a website's speed and how much traffic the site can handle. In addition, web developers may create content for the site.

Web Developers

$94,070 ($45.23/hr)

Bachelor's degree

None

All Other Financial Specialists

$82,240 ($39.54/hr)

Bachelor's degree

None

Financial Specialists analyze financial information, like market trends or company spending, and develop financial strategies accordingly. This category includes all financial specialists not contained somewhere else.

All Other Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians

$66,090 ($31.77/hr)

Associate's degree

None

Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians support scientists and engineers in many facets of science. This category includes all life, physical, and social science technicians not contained somewhere else.

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.

Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians

$71,670 ($34.46/hr)

Associate's degree

None

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.

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.

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.

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.

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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…