Careers
Plain-language guides to what people in a career do, the skills it asks for and how to get there. Careers with a bright outlook are marked.
Gem and Diamond Workers
Fabricate, finish, or evaluate the quality of gems and diamonds used in jewelry or industrial tools.
Medium preparation: usually vocational school, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree
General Internal Medicine Physicians
Diagnose and provide nonsurgical treatment for a wide range of diseases and injuries of internal organ systems.
Extensive preparation: most need graduate school, such as a master's degree or higher
General and Operations Managers
- Bright Outlook
- Rapid Growth
- Numerous Job Openings
Plan, direct, or coordinate the operations of public or private sector organizations, overseeing multiple departments or locations.
Considerable preparation: most need a four-year bachelor's degree
Genetic Counselors
- Bright Outlook
- Rapid Growth
Assess individual or family risk for a variety of inherited conditions, such as genetic disorders and birth defects.
Extensive preparation: most need graduate school, such as a master's degree or higher
Geneticists
- Bright Outlook
- Rapid Growth
Research and study the inheritance of traits at the molecular, organism or population level.
Extensive preparation: most need graduate school, such as a master's degree or higher
Geodetic Surveyors
- Bright Outlook
- Rapid Growth
Measure large areas of the Earth's surface using satellite observations, global navigation satellite systems (GNSS), light detection and…
Considerable preparation: most need a four-year bachelor's degree
Geographers
Study the nature and use of areas of the Earth's surface, relating and interpreting interactions of physical and cultural phenomena.
Considerable preparation: most need a four-year bachelor's degree
Geographic Information Systems Technologists and Technicians
- Bright Outlook
- Rapid Growth
Assist scientists or related professionals in building, maintaining, modifying, or using geographic information systems (GIS) databases.
Considerable preparation: most need a four-year bachelor's degree
Geography Teachers, Postsecondary
Teach courses in geography. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
Extensive preparation: most need graduate school, such as a master's degree or higher
Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians
Assist scientists or engineers in the use of electronic, sonic, or nuclear measuring instruments in laboratory, exploration, and…
Considerable preparation: most need a four-year bachelor's degree
Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers
- Bright Outlook
- Rapid Growth
Study the composition, structure, and other physical aspects of the Earth.
Considerable preparation: most need a four-year bachelor's degree
Geothermal Production Managers
Manage operations at geothermal power generation facilities. Maintain and monitor geothermal plant equipment for efficient and safe plant…
Medium preparation: usually vocational school, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree
Geothermal Technicians
Perform technical activities at power plants or individual installations necessary for the generation of power from geothermal energy…
Little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, though some jobs do not need one
Glass Blowers, Molders, Benders, and Finishers
- Bright Outlook
- Rapid Growth
Shape molten glass according to patterns.
Little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, though some jobs do not need one
Glaziers
Install glass in windows, skylights, store fronts, and display cases, or on surfaces, such as building fronts, interior walls, ceilings…
Little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, though some jobs do not need one
Government Property Inspectors and Investigators
Investigate or inspect government property to ensure compliance with contract agreements and government regulations.
Medium preparation: usually vocational school, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree
Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products
Grade, sort, or classify unprocessed food and other agricultural products by size, weight, color, or condition.
Little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, though some jobs do not need one
Graphic Designers
Design or create graphics to meet specific commercial or promotional needs, such as packaging, displays, or logos.
Considerable preparation: most need a four-year bachelor's degree
Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand
Grind, sand, or polish, using hand tools or hand-held power tools, a variety of metal, wood, stone, clay, plastic, or glass objects.
Little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, though some jobs do not need one
Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Set up, operate, or tend grinding and related tools that remove excess material or burrs from surfaces, sharpen edges or corners, or buff…
Little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, though some jobs do not need one
Grounds Maintenance Workers, All Other
All grounds maintenance workers not listed separately.
Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists
- Bright Outlook
- Rapid Growth
Provide beauty services, such as cutting, coloring, and styling hair, and massaging and treating scalp.
Medium preparation: usually vocational school, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree
Hazardous Materials Removal Workers
Identify, remove, pack, transport, or dispose of hazardous materials, including asbestos, lead-based paint, waste oil, fuel, transmission…
Little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, though some jobs do not need one
Health Education Specialists
- Bright Outlook
- Rapid Growth
Provide and manage health education programs that help individuals, families, and their communities maximize and maintain healthy…
Considerable preparation: most need a four-year bachelor's degree
Health Informatics Specialists
- Bright Outlook
- Rapid Growth
Apply knowledge of nursing and informatics to assist in the design, development, and ongoing modification of computerized health care…
Extensive preparation: most need graduate school, such as a master's degree or higher
Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars
- Bright Outlook
- Rapid Growth
Apply knowledge of healthcare and information systems to assist in the design, development, and continued modification and analysis of…
Medium preparation: usually vocational school, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree
Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary
- Bright Outlook
- Rapid Growth
Teach courses in health specialties, in fields such as dentistry, laboratory technology, medicine, pharmacy, public health, therapy, and…
Extensive preparation: most need graduate school, such as a master's degree or higher
Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other
- Bright Outlook
- Rapid Growth
All health technologists and technicians not listed separately.
Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors
- Bright Outlook
- Rapid Growth
Promote worksite or product safety by applying knowledge of industrial processes, mechanics, chemistry, psychology, and industrial health…
Considerable preparation: most need a four-year bachelor's degree
Healthcare Diagnosing or Treating Practitioners, All Other
- Bright Outlook
- Rapid Growth
All healthcare diagnosing or treating practitioners not listed separately.
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Workers, All Other
- Bright Outlook
- Rapid Growth
All healthcare practitioners and technical workers not listed separately.
Healthcare Social Workers
- Bright Outlook
- Rapid Growth
Provide individuals, families, and groups with the psychosocial support needed to cope with chronic, acute, or terminal illnesses.
Extensive preparation: most need graduate school, such as a master's degree or higher
Healthcare Support Workers, All Other
- Bright Outlook
- Rapid Growth
All healthcare support workers not listed separately.
Hearing Aid Specialists
- Bright Outlook
- Rapid Growth
Select and fit hearing aids for customers. Administer and interpret tests of hearing. Assess hearing instrument efficacy.
Medium preparation: usually vocational school, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree
Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Set up, operate, or tend heating equipment, such as heat-treating furnaces, flame-hardening machines, induction machines, soaking pits, or…
Little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, though some jobs do not need one
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers
- Bright Outlook
- Rapid Growth
Install or repair heating, central air conditioning, HVAC, or refrigeration systems, including oil burners, hot-air furnaces, and heating…
Medium preparation: usually vocational school, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers
- Bright Outlook
- Numerous Job Openings
Drive a tractor-trailer combination or a truck with a capacity of at least 26,001 pounds Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW).
Little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, though some jobs do not need one
Helpers, Construction Trades, All Other
All construction trades helpers not listed separately.
Helpers--Brickmasons, Blockmasons, Stonemasons, and Tile and Marble Setters
Help brickmasons, blockmasons, stonemasons, or tile and marble setters by performing duties requiring less skill.
Little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, though some jobs do not need one
Helpers--Carpenters
Help carpenters by performing duties requiring less skill. Duties include using, supplying, or holding materials or tools, and cleaning…
Little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, though some jobs do not need one
Helpers--Electricians
Help electricians by performing duties requiring less skill. Duties include using, supplying, or holding materials or tools, and cleaning…
Little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, though some jobs do not need one
Helpers--Extraction Workers
Help extraction craft workers, such as earth drillers, blasters and explosives workers, derrick operators, and mining machine operators…
Little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, though some jobs do not need one
Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers
- Bright Outlook
- Rapid Growth
Help installation, maintenance, and repair workers in maintenance, parts replacement, and repair of vehicles, industrial machinery, and…
Little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, though some jobs do not need one
Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons
Help painters, paperhangers, plasterers, or stucco masons by performing duties requiring less skill.
Little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, though some jobs do not need one
Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters
Help plumbers, pipefitters, steamfitters, or pipelayers by performing duties requiring less skill.
Little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, though some jobs do not need one
Helpers--Production Workers
Help production workers by performing duties requiring less skill. Duties include supplying or holding materials or tools, and cleaning…
Little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, though some jobs do not need one
Helpers--Roofers
Help roofers by performing duties requiring less skill. Duties include using, supplying, or holding materials or tools, and cleaning work…
Little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, though some jobs do not need one
Highway Maintenance Workers
Maintain highways, municipal and rural roads, airport runways, and rights-of-way.
Little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, though some jobs do not need one