Try the new Google Books
Check out the new look and enjoy easier access to your favorite features
Different careers need different amounts of preparation. Each O*NET career is in one of five Job Zones, which are groups of careers that need the same level of experience, education, and training.
Job Zone One: Little or No Preparation Needed
Little or no previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these careers. For example, a person can become a waiter or waitress even if he/she has never worked before.
Employees in these careers need from a few days to a few months of training. Usually, an experienced worker can show you how to do the job.
Some of these careers may need a high school diploma or GED certificate.
Cement Masons & Concrete Finishers |
Conveyor Operators & Tenders |
Cooks, Fast Food |
Cutters & Trimmers, Hand |
Door-to-Door Sales Workers, News & Street Vendors, & Related Workers |
Fallers |
Farmworkers & Laborers, Crop, Nursery, & Greenhouse |
Floor Sanders & Finishers |
Graders & Sorters, Agricultural Products |
Grinding & Polishing Workers, Hand |
Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, & Stucco Masons |
Logging Equipment Operators |
Meat, Poultry, & Fish Cutters & Trimmers |
Painting, Coating, & Decorating Workers |
Plasterers & Stucco Masons |
Pressers, Textile, Garment, & Related Materials |
Rock Splitters, Quarry |
Sewing Machine Operators |
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, it would help a teller to have experience working with the public.
Employees in these careers need from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. An apprenticeship program may be available for these careers.
These careers usually need a high school diploma.
Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators & Tenders |
Agricultural Inspectors |
Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, & Systems Assemblers |
Animal Breeders |
Automotive & Watercraft Service Attendants |
Automotive Body & Related Repairers |
Automotive Glass Installers & Repairers |
Bakers |
Bicycle Repairers |
Bill & Account Collectors |
Billing & Posting Clerks |
Biofuels Processing Technicians |
Biomass Plant Technicians |
Brickmasons & Blockmasons |
Bridge & Lock Tenders |
Butchers & Meat Cutters |
Cabinetmakers & Bench Carpenters |
Cargo & Freight Agents |
Carpenters |
Carpet Installers |
Chemical Equipment Operators & Tenders |
Chemical Plant & System Operators |
Cleaners of Vehicles & Equipment |
Cleaning, Washing, & Metal Pickling Equipment Operators & Tenders |
Coating, Painting, & Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, & Tenders |
Coil Winders, Tapers, & Finishers |
Coin, Vending, & Amusement Machine Servicers & Repairers |
Continuous Mining Machine Operators |
Cooks, Institution & Cafeteria |
Cooks, Short Order |
Cooling & Freezing Equipment Operators & Tenders |
Correctional Officers & Jailers |
Correspondence Clerks |
Counter & Rental Clerks |
Couriers & Messengers |
Court, Municipal, & License Clerks |
Credit Authorizers, Checkers, & Clerks |
Crushing, Grinding, & Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, & Tenders |
Cutting & Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, & Tenders |
Cutting, Punching, & Press Machine Setters, Operators, & Tenders, Metal & Plastic |
Data Entry Keyers |
Demonstrators & Product Promoters |
Dispatchers |
Dredge Operators |
Drilling & Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, & Tenders, Metal & Plastic |
Drywall & Ceiling Tile Installers |
Earth Drillers |
Electrical & Electronic Equipment Assemblers |
Electrical Power-Line Installers & Repairers |
Electromechanical Equipment Assemblers |
Engine & Other Machine Assemblers |
Etchers & Engravers |
Excavating & Loading Machine & Dragline Operators, Surface Mining |
Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, & Blasters |
Extruding & Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, & Tenders, Metal & Plastic |
Extruding & Forming Machine Setters, Operators, & Tenders, Synthetic & Glass Fibers |
Extruding, Forming, Pressing, & Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, & Tenders |
Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, & Aquacultural Animals |
Fence Erectors |
Fiberglass Laminators & Fabricators |
File Clerks |
First-Line Supervisors of Helpers, Laborers, & Material Movers, Hand |
First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping & Janitorial Workers |
First-Line Supervisors of Material-Moving Machine & Vehicle Operators |
Floral Designers |
Food & Tobacco Roasting, Baking, & Drying Machine Operators & Tenders |
Food Batchmakers |
Food Cooking Machine Operators & Tenders |
Forging Machine Setters, Operators, & Tenders, Metal & Plastic |
Foundry Mold & Coremakers |
Freight Forwarders |
Funeral Attendants |
Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, & Kettle Operators & Tenders |
Furniture Finishers |
Gas Compressor & Gas Pumping Station Operators |
Geothermal Technicians |
Glaziers |
Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, & Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, & Tenders, Metal & Plastic |
Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, & Tenders, Metal & Plastic |
Helpers--Brickmasons, Blockmasons, Stonemasons, & Tile & Marble Setters |
Helpers--Carpenters |
Helpers--Electricians |
Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, & Repair Workers |
Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, & Steamfitters |
Helpers--Production Workers |
Helpers--Roofers |
Highway Maintenance Workers |
Hoist & Winch Operators |
Home Appliance Repairers |
Industrial Truck & Tractor Operators |
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, & Weighers |
Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, & Wall |
Insulation Workers, Mechanical |
Insurance Claims & Policy Processing Clerks |
Lathe & Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, & Tenders, Metal & Plastic |
Layout Workers, Metal & Plastic |
Library Assistants, Clerical |
Loading & Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining |
Locksmiths & Safe Repairers |
Locomotive Engineers |
Log Graders & Scalers |
Machine Feeders & Offbearers |
Mail Clerks & Mail Machine Operators |
Manufactured Building & Mobile Home Installers |
Medical Equipment Preparers |
Metal-Refining Furnace Operators & Tenders |
Meter Readers, Utilities |
Milling & Planing Machine Setters, Operators, & Tenders, Metal & Plastic |
Mixing & Blending Machine Setters, Operators, & Tenders |
Molding, Coremaking, & Casting Machine Setters, Operators, & Tenders, Metal & Plastic |
Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, & Tenders, Metal & Plastic |
Non-Destructive Testing Specialists |
Office Machine Operators |
Operating Engineers & Other Construction Equipment Operators |
Order Clerks |
Orderlies |
Outdoor Power Equipment & Other Small Engine Mechanics |
Packaging & Filling Machine Operators & Tenders |
Packers & Packagers, Hand |
Painters, Construction & Maintenance |
Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, & Tenders |
Paperhangers |
Parking Enforcement Workers |
Parts Salespersons |
Paving, Surfacing, & Tamping Equipment Operators |
Payroll & Timekeeping Clerks |
Pest Control Workers |
Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, & Applicators, Vegetation |
Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, & Gaugers |
Pharmacy Aides |
Photographic Process Workers & Processing Machine Operators |
Pile Driver Operators |
Pipelayers |
Plating Machine Setters, Operators, & Tenders, Metal & Plastic |
Postal Service Clerks |
Postal Service Mail Carriers |
Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, & Processing Machine Operators |
Postmasters & Mail Superintendents |
Pourers & Casters, Metal |
Power Plant Operators |
Print Binding & Finishing Workers |
Printing Press Operators |
Psychiatric Aides |
Public Safety Telecommunicators |
Rail Car Repairers |
Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, & Hostlers |
Rail-Track Laying & Maintenance Equipment Operators |
Railroad Brake, Signal, & Switch Operators & Locomotive Firers |
Railroad Conductors & Yardmasters |
Recycling Coordinators |
Refractory Materials Repairers |
Reinforcing Iron & Rebar Workers |
Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, & Tenders, Metal & Plastic |
Roof Bolters, Mining |
Roofers |
Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, & Tenders, Wood |
Segmental Pavers |
Semiconductor Processing Technicians |
Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, & Still Machine Setters, Operators, & Tenders |
Sewers, Hand |
Sheet Metal Workers |
Shipping, Receiving, & Inventory Clerks |
Shoe & Leather Workers & Repairers |
Shoe Machine Operators & Tenders |
Slaughterers & Meat Packers |
Structural Iron & Steel Workers |
Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service |
Tailors, Dressmakers, & Custom Sewers |
Tank Car, Truck, & Ship Loaders |
Tapers |
Team Assemblers |
Telecommunications Line Installers & Repairers |
Telemarketers |
Telephone Operators |
Tellers |
Terrazzo Workers & Finishers |
Textile Bleaching & Dyeing Machine Operators & Tenders |
Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, & Tenders |
Textile Knitting & Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, & Tenders |
Textile Winding, Twisting, & Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, & Tenders |
Timing Device Assemblers & Adjusters |
Tire Builders |
Tire Repairers & Changers |
Title Examiners, Abstractors, & Searchers |
Tool Grinders, Filers, & Sharpeners |
Transportation Security Screeners |
Transportation Vehicle, Equipment & Systems Inspectors |
Tree Trimmers & Pruners |
Upholsterers |
Weatherization Installers & Technicians |
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, & Brazers |
Welding, Soldering, & Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, & Tenders |
Wellhead Pumpers |
Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, & Tenders |
Word Processors & Typists |
Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these careers. For example, an electrician must be in an apprenticeship for three to four years or have several years of job training. You may need to pass a test to get a license to do the job.
Employees in these careers need one or two years of training. Both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers may be needed. An apprenticeship program may be a good choice for these careers.
Most of these careers need vocational school training, on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Administrative Services Managers |
Aerospace Engineering & Operations Technologists & Technicians |
Agricultural Technicians |
Air Traffic Controllers |
Architectural & Civil Drafters |
Audiovisual Equipment Installers & Repairers |
Automotive Engineering Technicians |
Automotive Service Technicians & Mechanics |
Aviation Inspectors |
Avionics Technicians |
Bailiffs |
Boilermakers |
Brokerage Clerks |
Bus & Truck Mechanics & Diesel Engine Specialists |
Camera & Photographic Equipment Repairers |
Cardiovascular Technologists & Technicians |
Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary |
Chemical Technicians |
Civil Engineering Technologists & Technicians |
Compliance Officers |
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators |
Computer User Support Specialists |
Computer, Automated Teller, & Office Machine Repairers |
Construction & Building Inspectors |
Control & Valve Installers & Repairers |
Cooks, Private Household |
Coroners |
Court Reporters & Simultaneous Captioners |
Crane & Tower Operators |
Customs & Border Protection Officers |
Customs Brokers |
Desktop Publishers |
Detectives & Criminal Investigators |
Dietetic Technicians |
Electric Motor, Power Tool, & Related Repairers |
Electrical & Electronic Engineering Technologists & Technicians |
Electrical & Electronics Drafters |
Electrical & Electronics Installers & Repairers, Transportation Equipment |
Electrical & Electronics Repairers, Commercial & Industrial Equipment |
Electrical & Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, & Relay |
Electricians |
Electro-Mechanical & Mechatronics Technologists & Technicians |
Electronic Equipment Installers & Repairers, Motor Vehicles |
Elevator & Escalator Installers & Repairers |
Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs |
Embalmers |
Energy Auditors |
Executive Secretaries & Executive Administrative Assistants |
Fabric & Apparel Patternmakers |
Fashion Designers |
Fire Inspectors & Investigators |
Firefighters |
First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades & Extraction Workers |
First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers |
First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, & Forestry Workers |
First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting & Prevention Workers |
First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, & Groundskeeping Workers |
First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, & Repairers |
First-Line Supervisors of Police & Detectives |
First-Line Supervisors of Production & Operating Workers |
Food Science Technicians |
Forest & Conservation Technicians |
Forest & Conservation Workers |
Funeral Home Managers |
Gas Plant Operators |
Gem & Diamond Workers |
Geothermal Production Managers |
Government Property Inspectors & Investigators |
Hazardous Materials Removal Workers |
Heating, Air Conditioning, & Refrigeration Mechanics & Installers |
Human Resources Assistants |
Hydroelectric Plant Technicians |
Hydroelectric Production Managers |
Industrial Engineering Technologists & Technicians |
Insurance Appraisers, Auto Damage |
Interviewers |
Jewelers & Precious Stone & Metal Workers |
Legal Secretaries & Administrative Assistants |
Library Technicians |
Licensed Practical & Licensed Vocational Nurses |
Loan Interviewers & Clerks |
Machinists |
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists |
Mechanical Drafters |
Mechanical Engineering Technologists & Technicians |
Medical Equipment Repairers |
Medical Transcriptionists |
Merchandise Displayers & Window Trimmers |
Model Makers, Metal & Plastic |
Morticians, Undertakers, & Funeral Arrangers |
Motorcycle Mechanics |
Musical Instrument Repairers & Tuners |
Neurodiagnostic Technologists |
New Accounts Clerks |
Nuclear Medicine Technologists |
Nuclear Monitoring Technicians |
Nuclear Power Reactor Operators |
Nuclear Technicians |
Occupational Health & Safety Technicians |
Ophthalmic Medical Technologists |
Opticians, Dispensing |
Patient Representatives |
Patternmakers, Metal & Plastic |
Pharmacy Technicians |
Photonics Technicians |
Plumbers, Pipefitters, & Steamfitters |
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers |
Police Identification & Records Officers |
Power Distributors & Dispatchers |
Prepress Technicians & Workers |
Procurement Clerks |
Production, Planning, & Expediting Clerks |
Quality Control Analysts |
Radiation Therapists |
Radio, Cellular, & Tower Equipment Installers & Repairers |
Radiologic Technologists & Technicians |
Real Estate Sales Agents |
Robotics Technicians |
Ship Engineers |
Signal & Track Switch Repairers |
Solar Energy Installation Managers |
Solar Sales Representatives & Assessors |
Solar Thermal Installers & Technicians |
Spa Managers |
Stationary Engineers & Boiler Operators |
Stonemasons |
Structural Metal Fabricators & Fitters |
Surgical Technologists |
Surveying & Mapping Technicians |
Tax Examiners & Collectors, & Revenue Agents |
Tax Preparers |
Telecommunications Engineering Specialists |
Telecommunications Equipment Installers & Repairers |
Tool & Die Makers |
Traffic Technicians |
Transit & Railroad Police |
Travel Agents |
Watch & Clock Repairers |
Water & Wastewater Treatment Plant & System Operators |
Wholesale & Retail Buyers |
Wind Energy Operations Managers |
Long term work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these careers. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work several years in the field to be qualified for the job.
Employees in these careers need several years of work-related experience and training. Both on-the-job and classroom job training may be needed.
Most of these careers need a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, & English as a Second Language Instructors |
Advertising Sales Agents |
Aerospace Engineers |
Agricultural Engineers |
Appraisers & Assessors of Real Estate |
Atmospheric & Space Scientists |
Automotive Engineers |
Bioengineers & Biomedical Engineers |
Biofuels Production Managers |
Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology & Product Development Managers |
Biological Technicians |
Biomass Power Plant Managers |
Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists & Site Managers |
Budget Analysts |
Business Continuity Planners |
Buyers & Purchasing Agents, Farm Products |
Career/Technical Education Teachers, Middle School |
Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School |
Cartographers & Photogrammetrists |
Chemical Engineers |
Chemists |
Civil Engineers |
Claims Adjusters, Examiners, & Investigators |
Clinical Research Coordinators |
Commercial & Industrial Designers |
Compensation & Benefits Managers |
Compensation, Benefits, & Job Analysis Specialists |
Compliance Managers |
Computer Hardware Engineers |
Computer Network Architects |
Computer Network Support Specialists |
Computer Programmers |
Computer Systems Analysts |
Computer Systems Engineers/Architects |
Conservation Scientists |
Cost Estimators |
Credit Analysts |
Credit Counselors |
Data Warehousing Specialists |
Database Administrators |
Database Architects |
Directors, Religious Activities & Education |
Document Management Specialists |
Editors |
Electrical Engineers |
Electronics Engineers |
Emergency Management Directors |
Energy Engineers |
Environmental Compliance Inspectors |
Environmental Engineering Technologists & Technicians |
Environmental Engineers |
Environmental Scientists & Specialists, Including Health |
Equal Opportunity Representatives & Officers |
Farmers, Ranchers, & Other Agricultural Managers |
Fire-Prevention & Protection Engineers |
First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers |
Fish & Game Wardens |
Fitness & Wellness Coordinators |
Food Scientists & Technologists |
Fraud Examiners, Investigators & Analysts |
Geodetic Surveyors |
Geographic Information Systems Technologists & Technicians |
Geological Technicians |
Graphic Designers |
Health & Safety Engineers |
Health Informatics Specialists |
Human Resources Managers |
Industrial Production Managers |
Information Technology Project Managers |
Insurance Sales Agents |
Insurance Underwriters |
Intelligence Analysts |
Interior Designers |
Kindergarten Teachers |
Labor Relations Specialists |
Landscape Architects |
Legislators |
Loan Officers |
Lodging Managers |
Loss Prevention Managers |
Marine Engineers & Naval Architects |
Materials Engineers |
Mechanical Engineers |
Mechatronics Engineers |
Middle School Teachers |
Mining & Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers |
Music Directors & Composers |
Nanotechnology Engineering Technologists & Technicians |
Network & Computer Systems Administrators |
News Analysts, Reporters, & Journalists |
Nuclear Engineers |
Occupational Health & Safety Specialists |
Online Merchants |
Park Naturalists |
Personal Financial Advisors |
Petroleum Engineers |
Photonics Engineers |
Poets, Lyricists & Creative Writers |
Precision Agriculture Technicians |
Probation Officers & Correctional Treatment Specialists |
Proofreaders & Copy Markers |
Property, Real Estate, & Community Association Managers |
Purchasing Agents |
Purchasing Managers |
Quality Control Systems Managers |
Radio Frequency Identification Device Specialists |
Range Managers |
Real Estate Brokers |
Regulatory Affairs Managers |
Regulatory Affairs Specialists |
Remote Sensing Technicians |
Robotics Engineers |
Sales Engineers |
Sales Managers |
Sales Representatives, Wholesale & Manufacturing, Technical & Scientific Products |
Secondary School Teachers |
Securities, Commodities, & Financial Services Sales Agents |
Social Science Research Assistants |
Solar Energy Systems Engineers |
Special Education Teachers, Middle School |
Special Education Teachers, Secondary School |
Statistical Assistants |
Supply Chain Managers |
Surveyors |
Sustainability Specialists |
Transportation Engineers |
Transportation Inspectors |
Transportation Planners |
Transportation, Storage, & Distribution Managers |
Water Resource Specialists |
Water/Wastewater Engineers |
Web Administrators |
Wind Energy Development Managers |
Wind Energy Engineers |
Writers & Authors |
Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these careers. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
Employees may need some on-the-job training. However, the person will usually have the needed skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and training before starting the job.
Most of these careers need a graduate school education. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Acupuncturists |
Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, & Hearing Officers |
Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary |
Allergists & Immunologists |
Anesthesiologists |
Animal Scientists |
Anthropologists & Archeologists |
Anthropology & Archeology Teachers, Postsecondary |
Arbitrators, Mediators, & Conciliators |
Architects |
Architectural & Engineering Managers |
Architecture Teachers, Postsecondary |
Area, Ethnic, & Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary |
Astronomers |
Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, & Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary |
Biochemists & Biophysicists |
Bioinformatics Scientists |
Biologists |
Business Teachers, Postsecondary |
Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary |
Chief Executives |
Chief Sustainability Officers |
Clergy |
Climate Change Policy Analysts |
Communications Teachers, Postsecondary |
Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary |
Dentists, General |
Dermatologists |
Economics Teachers, Postsecondary |
Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary |
Education Administrators, Postsecondary |
Education Teachers, Postsecondary |
English Language & Literature Teachers, Postsecondary |
Environmental Restoration Planners |
Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary |
Family & Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary |
Family Medicine Physicians |
Farm & Home Management Educators |
Financial Quantitative Analysts |
Foreign Language & Literature Teachers, Postsecondary |
Forestry & Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary |
Fuel Cell Engineers |
General Internal Medicine Physicians |
Geneticists |
Geographers |
Geography Teachers, Postsecondary |
Geoscientists |
Historians |
History Teachers, Postsecondary |
Hospitalists |
Hydrologists |
Industrial Ecologists |
Industrial-Organizational Psychologists |
Instructional Coordinators |
Judges, Magistrate Judges, & Magistrates |
Judicial Law Clerks |
Lawyers |
Librarians & Media Collections Specialists |
Library Science Teachers, Postsecondary |
Materials Scientists |
Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary |
Mathematicians |
Microbiologists |
Microsystems Engineers |
Molecular & Cellular Biologists |
Nanosystems Engineers |
Natural Sciences Managers |
Naturopathic Physicians |
Neurologists |
Obstetricians & Gynecologists |
Ophthalmologists |
Optometrists |
Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons |
Orthodontists |
Orthoptists |
Pediatricians, General |
Pharmacists |
Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Physicians |
Physicians, Pathologists |
Physicists |
Physics Teachers, Postsecondary |
Podiatrists |
Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary |
Political Scientists |
Preventive Medicine Physicians |
Prosthodontists |
Radiologists |
Recreation & Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary |
Remote Sensing Scientists & Technologists |
Set & Exhibit Designers |
Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary |
Sociologists |
Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary |
Sports Medicine Physicians |
Survey Researchers |
Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary |
Urban & Regional Planners |
Urologists |
Zoologists & Wildlife Biologists |