< Back to Data Exploration
Exploration by Career Cluster
Explore credential attainment and employer demand within a career cluster—including occupation employment and wage data. Optional: Select a state to display state-specific employment and wage information for the selected career cluster.
How many credentials earned in each career cluster are valued by employers in each state?
How do I read this map?
What are the top occupations aligned to each career cluster?
How do I read this table?
Total High School Students Enrolled
15,222,100
Total High School CTE Concentrators
139,809
| Occupation | Employment (2016) |
Median Pay (2017) |
Projected Growth (2016-26) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maintenance and repair workers, general | 1,432,600 | $37,670 | 7.9% |
| First-line supervisors of production and operating workers | 621,400 | $58,870 | -0.3% |
| Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers | 520,700 | $37,340 | -10.7% |
| First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers | 462,200 | $64,780 | 7.1% |
| Helpers--production workers | 426,000 | $26,070 | 11.6% |
| Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers | 404,800 | $40,240 | 5.6% |
| Machinists | 396,200 | $42,600 | 2% |
| Packaging and filling machine operators and tenders | 383,000 | $29,350 | 1.7% |
| Industrial machinery mechanics | 346,900 | $51,360 | 6.7% |
| Production, planning, and expediting clerks | 329,400 | $46,670 | 5.5% |
| Production workers, all other | 263,500 | $28,890 | 4.4% |
| Cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic | 192,700 | $33,060 | -8.7% |
| Installation, maintenance, and repair workers, all other | 175,800 | $38,800 | 8.2% |
| Meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers | 156,400 | $25,250 | 0.9% |
| Sewing machine operators | 153,900 | $24,320 | -16.7% |
| Food batchmakers | 153,700 | $28,500 | 1.7% |
| Computer-controlled machine tool operators, metal and plastic | 145,700 | $39,230 | 1.1% |
| Molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic | 145,400 | $31,090 | -15% |
| Electrical and electronics engineering technicians | 137,000 | $63,660 | 2% |
| Butchers and meat cutters | 135,700 | $30,890 | 5.8% |
| Mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenders | 131,000 | $36,600 | -3.1% |
| Computer, automated teller, and office machine repairers | 119,500 | $37,710 | -1.5% |
| Multiple machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic | 117,800 | $34,800 | -2.7% |
| Cabinetmakers and bench carpenters | 109,300 | $33,920 | 2.3% |
| Paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders | 94,600 | $37,890 | -9% |
| Coating, painting, and spraying machine setters, operators, and tenders | 89,900 | $33,820 | 0% |
| Maintenance workers, machinery | 89,700 | $45,540 | 5.6% |
| Machine feeders and offbearers | 87,700 | $28,510 | 1.8% |
| Slaughterers and meat packers | 82,500 | $27,530 | 0.6% |
| Woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing | 77,100 | $29,110 | 0.6% |
| Engineering technicians, except drafters, all other | 76,800 | $62,230 | 5.2% |
| Grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic | 76,200 | $33,480 | -10.3% |
| Weighers, measurers, checkers, and samplers, recordkeeping | 75,900 | $30,180 | 1.8% |
| Chemical equipment operators and tenders | 74,100 | $47,800 | -5% |
| Tool and die makers | 72,500 | $52,480 | -7.2% |
| Security and fire alarm systems installers | 72,300 | $45,670 | 14.4% |
| Extruding and drawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic | 72,300 | $34,600 | -15.2% |
| Extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders | 71,400 | $33,680 | -5.4% |
| Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment | 68,300 | $57,190 | 2.4% |
| Chemical technicians | 67,300 | $47,280 | 4% |
| Mechanical drafters | 64,800 | $55,130 | 5.2% |
| Industrial engineering technicians | 63,900 | $54,280 | 0.6% |
| Cutting and slicing machine setters, operators, and tenders | 63,600 | $33,610 | -4% |
| Painters, transportation equipment | 58,100 | $41,850 | 6.6% |
| Sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, wood | 54,800 | $29,080 | -0.3% |
| Welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders | 49,200 | $37,190 | -10.2% |
| Separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders | 47,200 | $39,040 | 0.1% |
| Medical equipment repairers | 47,100 | $48,820 | 4.3% |
| Home appliance repairers | 46,600 | $38,160 | -4.2% |
| Food processing workers, all other | 46,400 | $24,460 | 6.5% |
| Mechanical engineering technicians | 46,100 | $55,360 | 5% |
| Molders, shapers, and casters, except metal and plastic | 43,000 | $31,950 | -2.3% |
| Aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers | 41,800 | $53,510 | -17.4% |
| Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers | 41,800 | $67,770 | 2.8% |
| Upholsterers | 41,600 | $33,660 | 0.3% |
| Dental laboratory technicians | 38,100 | $38,670 | 14.4% |
| Engine and other machine assemblers | 38,000 | $43,390 | -17.2% |
| Jewelers and precious stone and metal workers | 37,700 | $37,960 | -6.7% |
| Outdoor power equipment and other small engine mechanics | 37,600 | $34,370 | 10.3% |
| Food cooking machine operators and tenders | 37,200 | $28,420 | 2.5% |
| Coin, vending, and amusement machine servicers and repairers | 36,600 | $33,690 | -12.5% |
| Power plant operators | 36,100 | $77,180 | 1.3% |
| Plating and coating machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic | 35,300 | $31,920 | -13.8% |
| Lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic | 33,700 | $38,580 | -8.4% |
| Chemical plant and system operators | 33,200 | $62,170 | -9.2% |
| Electronic home entertainment equipment installers and repairers | 31,700 | $37,190 | 0% |
| Textile winding, twisting, and drawing out machine setters, operators, and tenders | 30,800 | $28,270 | -16.8% |
| Crushing, grinding, and polishing machine setters, operators, and tenders | 30,200 | $35,380 | -6.7% |
| Ophthalmic laboratory technicians | 29,100 | $30,960 | 11.8% |
| Rolling machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic | 29,000 | $37,860 | -12.9% |
| Locksmiths and safe repairers | 28,700 | $40,680 | -3.3% |
| Electrical and electronics drafters | 27,400 | $59,690 | 6.8% |
| Photographic process workers and processing machine operators | 26,900 | $27,480 | -18.1% |
| Grinding and polishing workers, hand | 26,600 | $28,830 | -20.5% |
| Semiconductor processors | 25,500 | $36,580 | -5.6% |
| Computer numerically controlled machine tool programmers, metal and plastic | 25,100 | $52,550 | 16.3% |
| Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay | 23,400 | $78,410 | 3.7% |
| Metal workers and plastic workers, all other | 23,000 | $35,820 | -6.7% |
| Furniture finishers | 22,400 | $31,300 | -0.4% |
| Tire builders | 22,300 | $40,230 | -12.1% |
| Textile knitting and weaving machine setters, operators, and tenders | 22,200 | $27,960 | -19.3% |
| Furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders | 21,900 | $37,580 | -5.2% |
| Extruding and forming machine setters, operators, and tenders, synthetic and glass fibers | 20,200 | $33,470 | -9.5% |
| Food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders | 20,100 | $29,410 | -0.8% |
| Heat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic | 19,800 | $37,300 | -14.2% |
| Fiberglass laminators and fabricators | 19,700 | $32,290 | -1.5% |
| Forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic | 19,200 | $38,650 | -19.2% |
| Metal-refining furnace operators and tenders | 17,700 | $41,300 | -8.1% |
| Milling and planing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic | 17,600 | $42,650 | -19.3% |
| Electric motor, power tool, and related repairers | 17,300 | $42,580 | 7% |
| Gas plant operators | 17,300 | $69,030 | 0% |
| Cleaning, washing, and metal pickling equipment operators and tenders | 17,200 | $29,950 | 0.4% |
| Adhesive bonding machine operators and tenders | 17,000 | $32,710 | -2.7% |
| Painting, coating, and decorating workers | 16,300 | $30,820 | 0.9% |
| Textile, apparel, and furnishings workers, all other | 16,300 | $26,670 | -4.1% |
| Drafters, all other | 15,900 | $50,290 | 8% |
| Textile cutting machine setters, operators, and tenders | 15,000 | $26,890 | -15.8% |
| Medical appliance technicians | 15,000 | $37,190 | 13.6% |
| Cutters and trimmers, hand | 14,700 | $28,210 | -10.1% |
| Radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairs | 14,500 | $56,000 | 5.4% |
| Coil winders, tapers, and finishers | 14,100 | $33,310 | -20.7% |
| Electro-mechanical technicians | 13,800 | $56,740 | 3.5% |
| Sewers, hand | 13,500 | $26,230 | -13.7% |
| Precision instrument and equipment repairers, all other | 12,600 | $56,940 | 2.1% |
| Foundry mold and coremakers | 12,500 | $35,140 | -24% |
| Drilling and boring machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic | 12,300 | $37,270 | -19.5% |
| Aerospace engineering and operations technicians | 12,100 | $67,240 | 6.6% |
| Woodworkers, all other | 12,100 | $30,680 | 3.6% |
| Plant and system operators, all other | 12,100 | $56,330 | 1.9% |
| Power distributors and dispatchers | 11,600 | $82,510 | -2.5% |
| Textile bleaching and dyeing machine operators and tenders | 11,300 | $28,280 | -18.1% |
| Shoe and leather workers and repairers | 11,000 | $25,610 | -11.7% |
| Etchers and engravers | 10,600 | $30,890 | 0.6% |
| Tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners | 9,500 | $36,390 | -3.5% |
| Layout workers, metal and plastic | 9,200 | $46,310 | -6.9% |
| Cooling and freezing equipment operators and tenders | 8,700 | $30,860 | 1.4% |
| Pourers and casters, metal | 8,400 | $38,210 | -23.4% |
| Musical instrument repairers and tuners | 8,300 | $36,530 | 1.2% |
| Nuclear power reactor operators | 7,000 | $93,370 | -10.2% |
| Nuclear technicians | 6,900 | $80,370 | 0.8% |
| Model makers, metal and plastic | 6,300 | $53,670 | -12.2% |
| Wind turbine service technicians | 5,800 | $53,880 | 96.3% |
| Fabric and apparel patternmakers | 5,500 | $40,460 | -16.1% |
| Camera and photographic equipment repairers | 4,000 | $40,770 | 2.3% |
| Shoe machine operators and tenders | 3,600 | $27,420 | -9.5% |
| Patternmakers, metal and plastic | 3,400 | $45,030 | -15.5% |
| Model makers, wood | 1,900 | $50,150 | 3% |
| Watch repairers | 1,800 | $35,770 | -29.7% |
| Patternmakers, wood | 1,800 | $52,380 | 3.3% |
| Timing device assemblers and adjusters | 800 | $34,800 | -20.1% |
| Fabric menders, except garment | 700 | $28,640 | -7.3% |
| Show AllShow Less | |||
Sources: Burning Glass Technologies and state education agencies
Credential Explorer
How do I read this table?
| Credential (National) | Credential Type | Supply/Demand Category | Credentials | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Demanded | Earned | ||||
| NIMS Machining | Certification | Very Oversupplied | 11 | 3,485 | |
| PLTW Introduction to Engineering Design | CTE Assessment | Very Oversupplied | 6 | 991 | |
| MSSC Certified Production Technician | Certification | Very Oversupplied | 26 | 989 | |
| MACWIC Certification | Certification | Very Oversupplied | 5 | 449 | |
| FANUC America - Handling Tool Operation and Programming | Certification | Very Oversupplied | 0 | 437 | |
| Wisconsin Youth Apprenticeship - Production | Certification | Very Oversupplied | 0 | 358 | |
| Snap-On Multimeter Certification | Certification | Very Oversupplied | 0 | 245 | |
| DX100 Basic Programming With Material Handling | Certification | Very Oversupplied | 0 | 199 | |
| NIMS ITM - Basic Mechanical Systems | Certification | Very Oversupplied | 0 | 194 | |
| NC3 - MultiMeter Certification | Certification | Very Oversupplied | 0 | 168 | |
| NCCER - Industrial Maintenance Mechanic | Certification | Very Oversupplied | 6 | 146 | |
| NCCER - Industrial Maintenance Electrical & Instrumentation | Certification | Very Oversupplied | 0 | 141 | |
| Automotive Manufacturing Technical Education Collaborative | Certification | Very Oversupplied | 0 | 102 | |
| Louisiana Certification for Manufacturing | Certification | Very Oversupplied | 0 | 100 | |
| API - T2 Production Safety Systems | Certification | Very Oversupplied | 0 | 92 | |
| MSSC Certified Logistics Associate | Certification | Moderately Undersupplied | 280 | 90 | |
| R410A Refrigerant Safety Certification | Certification | Moderately Oversupplied | 84 | 90 | |
| PLTW Computer Integrated Manufacturing | CTE Assessment | Very Oversupplied | 0 | 84 | |
| Precision Exams - Manufacturing Principles I | CTE Assessment | Very Oversupplied | 0 | 76 | |
| IPC-A-610 Certification | Certification | Very Undersupplied | 514 | 71 | |
| Oklahoma CareerTech - Lathe Operator | CTE Assessment | Very Oversupplied | 0 | 68 | |
| Snap-On Precision Measurement Certification | Certification | Very Oversupplied | 1 | 64 | |
| Oklahoma CareerTech - Commercial Industrial Electrician's Assistant | CTE Assessment | Very Oversupplied | 0 | 62 | |
| MSSC Certified Logistics Technician | Certification | Very Oversupplied | 5 | 60 | |
| Oklahoma CareerTech - Drill Press Operator | CTE Assessment | Very Oversupplied | 0 | 50 | |
| Oklahoma CareerTech - CNC Machining Center Operator | CTE Assessment | Very Oversupplied | 0 | 43 | |
| FS100 Basic Programming With Material Handling | Certification | Very Oversupplied | 0 | 37 | |
| Wisconsin Youth Apprenticeship - Maintenance, Installation, and Repair | Certification | Very Oversupplied | 0 | 34 | |
| MSI Certified Manufacturing Technician | Certification | Supply meets demand | 37 | 32 | |
| NC3 - Starrett Tape and Rule Measurement Certification | Certification | Very Oversupplied | 0 | 32 | |
| NC3 - Starrett Caliper Measurement Certification | Certification | Very Oversupplied | 0 | 31 | |
| NOCTI Job Ready Assessment - Apparel and Textile Production | CTE Assessment | Very Oversupplied | 0 | 31 | |
| NOCTI Job Ready Assessment - Manufacturing Technology | CTE Assessment | Very Oversupplied | 0 | 28 | |
| NOCTI Job Ready Assessment - Precision Machining | CTE Assessment | Very Oversupplied | 0 | 24 | |
| Oklahoma CareerTech - Fluid Power Mechanic | CTE Assessment | Very Oversupplied | 0 | 23 | |
| Oklahoma CareerTech - Sheet Metal Technician | CTE Assessment | Very Oversupplied | 0 | 21 | |
| Oklahoma CareerTech - Industrial Maintenance Mechanic | CTE Assessment | Very Oversupplied | 0 | 18 | |
| Career Essentials - Automated Manufacturing Technology | CTE Assessment | Very Oversupplied | 0 | 17 | |
| MSI Certified Manufacturing Specialist | Certification | Very Oversupplied | 0 | 14 | |
| ShopBot | Software | Very Oversupplied | 0 | 13 | |
| Career Essentials - Robotics and Automation | CTE Assessment | Moderately Oversupplied | 0 | 10 | |
| Wisconsin Youth Apprenticeship - Production Operations Management | Certification | Moderately Oversupplied | 0 | 7 | |
| Louisiana Certification for Manufacturing Helper | Certification | Moderately Oversupplied | 0 | 6 | |
| Louisiana Certification for Machining | Certification | Supply meets demand | 0 | 5 | |
| Ohio High Pressure Boiler Operator License | License | Supply meets demand | 0 | 5 | |
| Career Essentials - CNC Milling and Turning | CTE Assessment | Supply meets demand | 0 | 4 | |
| Certified Appliance Professional | Certification | Very Oversupplied | 1 | 1 | |