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.
Judicial Law Clerks
Assist judges in court or by conducting research or preparing legal documents.
Extensive preparation: most need graduate school, such as a master's degree or higher
Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education
Teach academic and social skills to kindergarten students.
Considerable preparation: most need a four-year bachelor's degree
Labor Relations Specialists
Resolve disputes between workers and managers, negotiate collective bargaining agreements, or coordinate grievance procedures to handle…
Considerable preparation: most need a four-year bachelor's degree
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand
- Bright Outlook
- Numerous Job Openings
Manually move freight, stock, luggage, or other materials, or perform other general labor.
Little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, though some jobs do not need one
Landscape Architects
Plan and design land areas for projects such as parks and other recreational facilities, airports, highways, hospitals, schools, land…
Considerable preparation: most need a four-year bachelor's degree
Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers
- Bright Outlook
- Rapid Growth
- Numerous Job Openings
Landscape or maintain grounds of property using hand or power tools or equipment.
Little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, though some jobs do not need one
Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Set up, operate, or tend lathe and turning machines to turn, bore, thread, form, or face metal or plastic materials, such as wire, rod, or…
Little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, though some jobs do not need one
Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers
Operate or tend washing or dry-cleaning machines to wash or dry-clean industrial or household articles, such as cloth garments, suede…
Little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, though some jobs do not need one
Law Teachers, Postsecondary
Teach courses in law. 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
Lawyers
- Bright Outlook
- Rapid Growth
Represent clients in criminal and civil litigation and other legal proceedings, draw up legal documents, or manage or advise clients on…
Extensive preparation: most need graduate school, such as a master's degree or higher
Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic
Lay out reference points and dimensions on metal or plastic stock or workpieces, such as sheets, plates, tubes, structural shapes…
Little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, though some jobs do not need one
Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants
Perform secretarial duties using legal terminology, procedures, and documents.
Medium preparation: usually vocational school, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree
Legal Support Workers, All Other
All legal support workers not listed separately.
Legislators
- Bright Outlook
- Rapid Growth
- Numerous Job Openings
Develop, introduce, or enact laws and statutes at the local, tribal, state, or federal level. Includes only workers in elected positions.
Considerable preparation: most need a four-year bachelor's degree
Librarians and Media Collections Specialists
Administer and maintain libraries or collections of information, for public or private access through reference or borrowing.
Extensive preparation: most need graduate school, such as a master's degree or higher
Library Assistants, Clerical
Compile records, and sort, shelve, issue, and receive library materials such as books, electronic media, pictures, cards, slides and…
Little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, though some jobs do not need one
Library Science Teachers, Postsecondary
Teach courses in library science. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and…
Extensive preparation: most need graduate school, such as a master's degree or higher
Library Technicians
Assist librarians by helping readers in the use of library catalogs, databases, and indexes to locate books and other materials; and by…
Medium preparation: usually vocational school, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses
Care for ill, injured, or convalescing patients or persons with disabilities in hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, private homes, group…
Medium preparation: usually vocational school, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree
Life Scientists, All Other
- Bright Outlook
- Rapid Growth
All life scientists not listed separately.
Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other
All life, physical, and social science technicians not listed separately.
Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers
- Bright Outlook
- Rapid Growth
Monitor recreational areas, such as pools, beaches, or ski slopes, to provide assistance and protection to participants.
Little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, though some jobs do not need one
Light Truck Drivers
- Bright Outlook
- Rapid Growth
- Numerous Job Openings
Drive a light vehicle, such as a truck or van, with a capacity of less than 26,001 pounds Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW), primarily to pick up…
Little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, though some jobs do not need one
Lighting Technicians
Set up, maintain, and dismantle light fixtures, lighting control devices, and the associated lighting electrical and rigging equipment…
Medium preparation: usually vocational school, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree
Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining
Operate underground loading or moving machine to load or move coal, ore, or rock using shuttle or mine car or conveyors.
Little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, though some jobs do not need one
Loan Interviewers and Clerks
Interview loan applicants to elicit information; investigate applicants' backgrounds and verify references; prepare loan request papers…
Medium preparation: usually vocational school, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree
Loan Officers
Evaluate, authorize, or recommend approval of commercial, real estate, or credit loans.
Considerable preparation: most need a four-year bachelor's degree
Locker Room, Coatroom, and Dressing Room Attendants
- Bright Outlook
- Rapid Growth
Provide personal items to patrons or customers in locker rooms, dressing rooms, or coatrooms.
Little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, though some jobs do not need one
Locksmiths and Safe Repairers
Repair and open locks, make keys, change locks and safe combinations, and install and repair safes.
Little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, though some jobs do not need one
Locomotive Engineers
Drive electric, diesel-electric, steam, or gas-turbine-electric locomotives to transport passengers or freight.
Little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, though some jobs do not need one
Lodging Managers
Plan, direct, or coordinate activities of an organization or department that provides lodging and other accommodations.
Considerable preparation: most need a four-year bachelor's degree
Log Graders and Scalers
Grade logs or estimate the marketable content or value of logs or pulpwood in sorting yards, millpond, log deck, or similar locations.
Little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, though some jobs do not need one
Logging Equipment Operators
Drive logging tractor or wheeled vehicle equipped with one or more accessories, such as bulldozer blade, frontal shear, grapple, logging…
Little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, though some jobs do not need one
Logging Workers, All Other
All logging workers not listed separately.
Logisticians
- Bright Outlook
- Rapid Growth
Analyze and coordinate the ongoing logistical functions of a firm or organization.
Considerable preparation: most need a four-year bachelor's degree
Logistics Analysts
- Bright Outlook
- Rapid Growth
Analyze product delivery or supply chain processes to identify or recommend changes.
Considerable preparation: most need a four-year bachelor's degree
Logistics Engineers
- Bright Outlook
- Rapid Growth
Design or analyze operational solutions for projects such as transportation optimization, network modeling, process and methods analysis…
Considerable preparation: most need a four-year bachelor's degree
Loss Prevention Managers
- Bright Outlook
- Rapid Growth
- Numerous Job Openings
Plan and direct policies, procedures, or systems to prevent the loss of assets.
Considerable preparation: most need a four-year bachelor's degree
Low Vision Therapists, Orientation and Mobility Specialists, and Vision Rehabilitation Therapists
- Bright Outlook
- Rapid Growth
Provide therapy to patients with visual impairments to improve their functioning in daily life activities.
Extensive preparation: most need graduate school, such as a master's degree or higher
Machine Feeders and Offbearers
Feed materials into or remove materials from machines or equipment that is automatic or tended by other workers.
Little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, though some jobs do not need one
Machinists
Set up and operate a variety of machine tools to produce precision parts and instruments out of metal.
Medium preparation: usually vocational school, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists
- Bright Outlook
- Rapid Growth
Operate Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanners. Monitor patient safety and comfort, and view images of area being scanned to ensure…
Medium preparation: usually vocational school, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree
Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners
- Bright Outlook
- Numerous Job Openings
Perform any combination of light cleaning duties to maintain private households or commercial establishments, such as hotels and…
Little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, though some jobs do not need one
Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service
Prepare incoming and outgoing mail for distribution. Time-stamp, open, read, sort, and route incoming mail; and address, seal, stamp…
Little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, though some jobs do not need one
Maintenance Workers, Machinery
Lubricate machinery, change parts, or perform other routine machinery maintenance.
Medium preparation: usually vocational school, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General
- Bright Outlook
- Numerous Job Openings
Perform work involving the skills of two or more maintenance or craft occupations to keep machines, mechanical equipment, or the structure…
Medium preparation: usually vocational school, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree
Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance
- Bright Outlook
- Rapid Growth
Apply makeup to performers to reflect period, setting, and situation of their role.
Medium preparation: usually vocational school, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree
Management Analysts
- Bright Outlook
- Rapid Growth
- Numerous Job Openings
Conduct organizational studies and evaluations, design systems and procedures, conduct work simplification and measurement studies, and…
Considerable preparation: most need a four-year bachelor's degree