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.
Personal Financial Advisors
Advise clients on financial plans using knowledge of tax and investment strategies, securities, insurance, pension plans, and real estate.
Considerable preparation: most need a four-year bachelor's degree
Personal Service Managers, All Other
- Bright Outlook
- Rapid Growth
All personal service managers not listed separately.
Pest Control Workers
- Bright Outlook
- Rapid Growth
Apply or release chemical solutions or toxic gases and set traps to kill or remove pests and vermin that infest buildings and surrounding…
Little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, though some jobs do not need one
Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation
Mix or apply pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, or insecticides through sprays, dusts, vapors, soil incorporation, or chemical…
Little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, though some jobs do not need one
Petroleum Engineers
Devise methods to improve oil and gas extraction and production and determine the need for new or modified tool designs.
Considerable preparation: most need a four-year bachelor's degree
Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers
Operate or control petroleum refining or processing units. May specialize in controlling manifold and pumping systems, gauging or testing…
Little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, though some jobs do not need one
Pharmacists
- Bright Outlook
- Rapid Growth
Dispense drugs prescribed by physicians and other health practitioners and provide information to patients about medications and their use.
Extensive preparation: most need graduate school, such as a master's degree or higher
Pharmacy Aides
Record drugs delivered to the pharmacy, store incoming merchandise, and inform the supervisor of stock needs.
Little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, though some jobs do not need one
Pharmacy Technicians
- Bright Outlook
- Rapid Growth
Prepare medications under the direction of a pharmacist. May measure, mix, count out, label, and record amounts and dosages of medications…
Medium preparation: usually vocational school, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree
Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary
Teach courses in philosophy, religion, and theology. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination…
Extensive preparation: most need graduate school, such as a master's degree or higher
Phlebotomists
- Bright Outlook
- Rapid Growth
Draw blood for tests, transfusions, donations, or research. May explain the procedure to patients and assist in the recovery of patients…
Medium preparation: usually vocational school, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree
Photographers
Photograph people, landscapes, merchandise, or other subjects. May use lighting equipment to enhance a subject's appearance.
Medium preparation: usually vocational school, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree
Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators
Perform work involved in developing and processing photographic images from film or digital media.
Little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, though some jobs do not need one
Photonics Engineers
Design technologies specializing in light information or light energy, such as laser or fiber optics technology.
Considerable preparation: most need a four-year bachelor's degree
Photonics Technicians
Build, install, test, or maintain optical or fiber optic equipment, such as lasers, lenses, or mirrors, using spectrometers…
Medium preparation: usually vocational school, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Physicians
Diagnose and treat disorders requiring physiotherapy to provide physical, mental, and occupational rehabilitation.
Extensive preparation: most need graduate school, such as a master's degree or higher
Physical Scientists, All Other
All physical scientists not listed separately.
Physical Therapist Aides
Under close supervision of a physical therapist or physical therapy assistant, perform only delegated, selected, or routine tasks in…
Little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, though some jobs do not need one
Physical Therapist Assistants
- Bright Outlook
- Rapid Growth
Assist physical therapists in providing physical therapy treatments and procedures.
Medium preparation: usually vocational school, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree
Physical Therapists
- Bright Outlook
- Rapid Growth
Assess, plan, organize, and participate in rehabilitative programs that improve mobility, relieve pain, increase strength, and improve or…
Extensive preparation: most need graduate school, such as a master's degree or higher
Physician Assistants
- Bright Outlook
- Rapid Growth
Provide healthcare services typically performed by a physician, under the supervision of a physician.
Extensive preparation: most need graduate school, such as a master's degree or higher
Physicians, All Other
All physicians not listed separately.
Physicians, Pathologists
- Bright Outlook
- Rapid Growth
Diagnose diseases and conduct lab tests using organs, body tissues, and fluids. Includes medical examiners.
Extensive preparation: most need graduate school, such as a master's degree or higher
Physicists
- Bright Outlook
- Rapid Growth
Conduct research into physical phenomena, develop theories on the basis of observation and experiments, and devise methods to apply…
Extensive preparation: most need graduate school, such as a master's degree or higher
Physics Teachers, Postsecondary
Teach courses pertaining to the laws of matter and energy. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a…
Extensive preparation: most need graduate school, such as a master's degree or higher
Pile Driver Operators
Operate pile drivers mounted on skids, barges, crawler treads, or locomotive cranes to drive pilings for retaining walls, bulkheads, and…
Little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, though some jobs do not need one
Pipelayers
Lay pipe for storm or sanitation sewers, drains, and water mains. Perform any combination of the following tasks: grade trenches or…
Little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, though some jobs do not need one
Plant and System Operators, All Other
All plant and system operators not listed separately.
Plasterers and Stucco Masons
Apply interior or exterior plaster, cement, stucco, or similar materials. May also set ornamental plaster.
Little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, though some jobs do not need one
Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Set up, operate, or tend plating machines to coat metal or plastic products with chromium, zinc, copper, cadmium, nickel, or other metal…
Little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, though some jobs do not need one
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters
- Bright Outlook
- Rapid Growth
Assemble, install, alter, and repair pipelines or pipe systems that carry water, steam, air, or other liquids or gases.
Medium preparation: usually vocational school, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree
Podiatrists
Diagnose and treat diseases and deformities of the human foot.
Extensive preparation: most need graduate school, such as a master's degree or higher
Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers
Create original written works, such as scripts, essays, prose, poetry or song lyrics, for publication or performance.
Considerable preparation: most need a four-year bachelor's degree
Police Identification and Records Officers
Collect evidence at crime scene, classify and identify fingerprints, and photograph evidence for use in criminal and civil cases.
Medium preparation: usually vocational school, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers
Maintain order and protect life and property by enforcing local, tribal, state, or federal laws and ordinances.
Medium preparation: usually vocational school, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree
Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary
Teach courses in political science, international affairs, and international relations.
Extensive preparation: most need graduate school, such as a master's degree or higher
Political Scientists
Study the origin, development, and operation of political systems. May study topics, such as public opinion, political decisionmaking, and…
Extensive preparation: most need graduate school, such as a master's degree or higher
Postal Service Clerks
Perform any combination of tasks in a United States Postal Service (USPS) post office, such as receive letters and parcels; sell postage…
Little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, though some jobs do not need one
Postal Service Mail Carriers
Sort and deliver mail for the United States Postal Service (USPS). Deliver mail on established route by vehicle or on foot.
Little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, though some jobs do not need one
Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators
Prepare incoming and outgoing mail for distribution for the United States Postal Service (USPS). Examine, sort, and route mail.
Little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, though some jobs do not need one
Postmasters and Mail Superintendents
Plan, direct, or coordinate operational, administrative, management, and support services of a U.S.
Little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, though some jobs do not need one
Postsecondary Teachers, All Other
All postsecondary teachers not listed separately.
Potters, Manufacturing
- Bright Outlook
- Rapid Growth
Operate production machines such as pug mill, jigger machine, or potter's wheel to process clay in manufacture of ceramic, pottery and…
Medium preparation: usually vocational school, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree
Pourers and Casters, Metal
Operate hand-controlled mechanisms to pour and regulate the flow of molten metal into molds to produce castings or ingots.
Little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, though some jobs do not need one
Power Distributors and Dispatchers
Coordinate, regulate, or distribute electricity or steam.
Medium preparation: usually vocational school, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree
Power Plant Operators
Control, operate, or maintain machinery to generate electric power. Includes auxiliary equipment operators.
Little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, though some jobs do not need one
Precision Agriculture Technicians
- Bright Outlook
- Rapid Growth
Apply geospatial technologies, including geographic information systems (GIS) and Global Positioning System (GPS), to agricultural…
Medium preparation: usually vocational school, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree
Precision Instrument and Equipment Repairers, All Other
All precision instrument and equipment repairers not listed separately.