Random Job Generator With What Each Job Really Does

One press deals five real jobs from a checked list of 397, each with a plain line on the work and the schooling most people start with.

  1. Industrial machinery mechanicKeeps factory machines and conveyor systems working. Entry: high school diploma.
  2. Executive assistantGives high-level office support to a senior executive. Entry: high school diploma.
  3. Earth drillerDrills wells and bores holes for water, samples and construction. Entry: high school diploma.
  4. Sales engineerSells complex technical products and explains how they work. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  5. TutorGives one student or a small group extra help with school work. Entry: some college, no degree.
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Tip: the space bar makes new ones.

Job of the day

 

Random Job Generator With What Each Job Really Does: how it works

This random job generator draws from 397 real jobs, from glazier to actuary to flight attendant. Each card says in one line what the work is and what schooling people usually need to start. Narrow the draw to healthcare, science and tech, the trades, business, teaching and law, the arts, service work or outdoor jobs. Lock the jobs you like, swap the rest, save favorites and share the set.

Draw, lock and swap

Five jobs are on the page when it opens. Press New jobs or the space bar for five more, or change the size to 1, 10 or 20. The padlock holds a job while the others change, and the swap arrows replace just that one. No job comes back until you have seen every job that passes your chip, and a counter shows how far through you are. The heart keeps a job on your saved list for your next visit.

Eight fields to draw from

The chips sort the list by field: healthcare; science, tech and engineering; building, repair and making; business, office and sales; teaching, law and public safety; arts, media and sport; food, travel and personal care; and transport, farming and outdoors. Choose one and the draw stays inside it, which helps when a story needs a hospital full of staff or a lesson is about the trades. With no chip chosen, a surgeon can land next to a tree trimmer, and that mix is the fun of it.

What the entry line means

The last words on each card give the typical entry-level education for that job in the United States, as listed in the Occupational Outlook Handbook of the Bureau of Labor Statistics. We checked every one on 18 September 2026. 'Postsecondary nondegree award' means a certificate course after high school, such as cosmetology or truck driving school. Other countries set their own rules, and many jobs also need a license or training on the job. We left out pay because it changes every year.

Tips

  • Writers: draw one job for your main character and a second for the job they wish they had. The gap between the two is a story already.
  • For career day, give each student a different job in one pass by pressing once per student at size 1. Nothing repeats, so thirty students get thirty jobs.
  • If you wanted a random job generator wheel for a classroom screen, set the size to 1 and let a student press the space bar. One job lands in large type each time.
  • Play charades or a drawing game with it. Draw at size 1, keep the screen hidden and act out the job with no words.
  • The job of the day is the same for every visitor and changes at midnight. Guess the entry education before you read the card and see how long your streak runs.

Questions and answers

How many jobs are in the list?

There are 397. By field: 67 in healthcare, 82 in science, tech and engineering, 65 in building, repair and making, 59 in business, office and sales, 44 in teaching, law and public safety, 31 in arts, media and sport, 24 in food, travel and personal care and 25 in transport, farming and outdoors. Every one is a real job people are paid to do.

Is there a random job generator wheel I can spin?

Not a spinning one. A wheel stops being readable after a few dozen slices, and this list has 397 jobs. Size 1 gives the same one-winner result in a single press, and every job that passes your chip has the same chance. Unlike most wheels, the page remembers what it has dealt, so the same job never wins twice in a row.

Where does the education on each card come from?

From the Occupational Outlook Handbook, published by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, read on 18 September 2026. It lists the schooling most workers need to enter each occupation. We shortened the official job titles to everyday names and wrote the descriptions in our own words. Jobs whose entry level we could not confirm there were left out.

Can this tell me which career to choose?

No. It is a list of real jobs dealt at random, which is good for finding work you had never heard of and for stories, games and lessons. It does not know your skills or where you live. Treat a draw as a starting point for your own reading, and talk to a school or careers adviser about real decisions.

How many jobs need no degree?

On this list, 36 jobs usually need no formal credential to start and 108 need a high school diploma. Another 25 need a certificate course after high school, 6 need some college and 29 need an associate's degree. A bachelor's degree is the usual start for 129, a master's for 32 and a doctoral or professional degree for 32.

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All 397 jobs

Show all 397 jobs

Healthcare 67

  • Anesthesiologist Keeps patients pain free and stable before, during and after surgery. Entry: doctoral or professional degree.
  • Athletic trainer Prevents and treats muscle and bone injuries, often for sports teams. Entry: master's degree.
  • Audiologist Tests hearing and balance and fits hearing aids. Entry: doctoral or professional degree.
  • Cardiologist Diagnoses and treats problems of the heart and blood vessels. Entry: doctoral or professional degree.
  • Cardiovascular technologist Runs tests on the heart and lungs, such as electrocardiograms. Entry: associate's degree.
  • Chiropractor Treats back and neck problems by adjusting the spine. Entry: doctoral or professional degree.
  • Clinical laboratory technologist Tests blood, tissue and other samples in a medical lab. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Dental assistant Prepares the room, passes instruments and takes dental X-rays. Entry: postsecondary nondegree award.
  • Dental hygienist Cleans teeth, checks for gum disease and teaches good brushing. Entry: associate's degree.
  • Dentist Finds and treats problems with teeth and gums. Entry: doctoral or professional degree.
  • Dermatologist Treats conditions of the skin, hair and nails. Entry: doctoral or professional degree.
  • Diagnostic medical sonographer Uses ultrasound to make images of organs and unborn babies. Entry: associate's degree.
  • Dietitian Plans what people should eat to manage illness and stay healthy. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Emergency medical technician Answers emergency calls and gives first care on the way to hospital. Entry: postsecondary nondegree award.
  • Emergency room doctor Makes fast decisions to treat sudden illness and injury. Entry: doctoral or professional degree.
  • Exercise physiologist Builds fitness programs that help patients recover from long-term illness. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Family doctor Treats patients of every age for everyday and long-term illness. Entry: doctoral or professional degree.
  • Genetic counselor Explains the risk of inherited conditions to patients and families. Entry: master's degree.
  • Health information technologist Designs and manages the systems that hold patient health data. Entry: associate's degree.
  • Home health aide Helps people who are ill or elderly with daily tasks in their own homes. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Licensed practical nurse Gives basic nursing care under the direction of nurses and doctors. Entry: postsecondary nondegree award.
  • Massage therapist Works on muscles by touch to ease pain and tension. Entry: postsecondary nondegree award.
  • Medical assistant Takes vital signs and handles office tasks in a clinic. Entry: postsecondary nondegree award.
  • Medical dosimetrist Calculates the radiation dose for a cancer patient's treatment plan. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Medical equipment preparer Cleans, sterilizes and sets out medical instruments and equipment. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Medical records specialist Organizes and codes patient health records. Entry: postsecondary nondegree award.
  • Medical transcriptionist Turns doctors' voice recordings into written reports. Entry: postsecondary nondegree award.
  • MRI technologist Runs magnetic resonance scanners to make images of the inside of the body. Entry: associate's degree.
  • Neurologist Treats disorders of the brain, spinal cord and nerves. Entry: doctoral or professional degree.
  • Nuclear medicine technologist Prepares and gives radioactive drugs for imaging and treatment. Entry: associate's degree.
  • Nurse anesthetist Gives anesthesia and watches over patients during surgery. Entry: master's degree.
  • Nurse midwife Cares for women through pregnancy and delivers babies. Entry: master's degree.
  • Nurse practitioner Examines patients, diagnoses illness and prescribes treatment as an advanced nurse. Entry: master's degree.
  • Obstetrician Cares for women during pregnancy and childbirth. Entry: doctoral or professional degree.
  • Occupational therapist Helps patients relearn the everyday tasks of home and work. Entry: master's degree.
  • Occupational therapy assistant Carries out the exercises and activities an occupational therapist plans. Entry: associate's degree.
  • Ophthalmologist A medical doctor who treats eye disease and performs eye surgery. Entry: doctoral or professional degree.
  • Optician Fits glasses and contact lenses from a prescription. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Optometrist Tests eyesight and prescribes glasses and contact lenses. Entry: doctoral or professional degree.
  • Oral surgeon Operates on the mouth, jaw and face. Entry: doctoral or professional degree.
  • Orderly Moves patients around a hospital and keeps rooms and equipment ready. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Orthodontist Straightens teeth and corrects bites with braces. Entry: doctoral or professional degree.
  • Orthopedic surgeon Operates on bones, joints and muscles. Entry: doctoral or professional degree.
  • Orthotist and prosthetist Designs and fits braces and artificial limbs. Entry: master's degree.
  • Pathologist Studies tissue and fluid samples to find the cause of disease. Entry: doctoral or professional degree.
  • Pediatric surgeon Operates on babies and children. Entry: doctoral or professional degree.
  • Pediatrician Looks after the health of babies, children and teenagers. Entry: doctoral or professional degree.
  • Pharmacist Fills prescriptions and explains how to take medicines safely. Entry: doctoral or professional degree.
  • Pharmacy technician Counts, labels and hands out medicines under a pharmacist. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Phlebotomist Draws blood for tests, transfusions and donations. Entry: postsecondary nondegree award.
  • Physical therapist Helps injured or ill people move better and manage pain. Entry: doctoral or professional degree.
  • Physical therapist aide Sets up equipment and helps patients move around a therapy clinic. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Physician assistant Examines, diagnoses and treats patients as part of a doctor-led team. Entry: master's degree.
  • Podiatrist Treats problems of the foot, ankle and lower leg. Entry: doctoral or professional degree.
  • Psychiatric aide Helps care for patients in a mental health unit and keeps them safe. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Psychiatrist A medical doctor who diagnoses and treats mental illness. Entry: doctoral or professional degree.
  • Radiation therapist Runs the machines that deliver radiation treatment for cancer. Entry: associate's degree.
  • Radiologic technologist Takes X-rays and other diagnostic images of patients. Entry: associate's degree.
  • Radiologist Reads X-rays, scans and other images to find injury and disease. Entry: doctoral or professional degree.
  • Recreational therapist Uses arts, sports and games to help patients recover. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Registered nurse Cares for patients, gives medicines and explains treatment to families. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Respiratory therapist Treats patients who have trouble breathing. Entry: associate's degree.
  • Speech-language pathologist Helps children and adults with speech, language and swallowing problems. Entry: master's degree.
  • Surgical technologist Prepares the operating room and hands instruments to the surgeon. Entry: postsecondary nondegree award.
  • Veterinarian Diagnoses and treats pets, farm animals and other animals. Entry: doctoral or professional degree.
  • Veterinary assistant Feeds, bathes and handles animals in a clinic or laboratory. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Veterinary technician Runs lab tests and assists the vet, much as a nurse assists a doctor. Entry: associate's degree.

Science, tech and engineering 82

  • Actuary Uses math and statistics to put a price on risk, mostly for insurers. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Aerospace engineer Designs aircraft, spacecraft, satellites and missiles. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Agricultural engineer Solves farm problems involving machines, power, structures and water. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Agricultural technician Measures and tests crops and farm products for scientists. Entry: associate's degree.
  • Anthropologist Studies the origin, development and behavior of humans. Entry: master's degree.
  • Archeologist Digs up and studies the remains of past human cultures. Entry: master's degree.
  • Architect Plans and designs houses, offices and other buildings. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Astronomer Studies planets, stars, galaxies and the rest of the universe. Entry: doctoral or professional degree.
  • Biochemist Studies the chemistry of living things. Entry: doctoral or professional degree.
  • Biological technician Helps scientists run laboratory tests and experiments. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Biomedical engineer Designs medical devices, equipment and software. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Cartographer Collects geographic data and turns it into maps. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Chemical engineer Designs processes for making fuel, medicine, food and chemicals. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Chemical technician Runs lab tests that help chemists and chemical engineers. Entry: associate's degree.
  • Chemist Studies substances and how they react with one another. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Civil engineer Designs roads, bridges, tunnels, dams and water systems. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Civil engineering technician Helps civil engineers plan and build roads, bridges and utilities. Entry: associate's degree.
  • Clinical psychologist Assesses and treats mental, emotional and behavioral problems. Entry: doctoral or professional degree.
  • Computer hardware engineer Designs and tests chips, circuit boards and other computer parts. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Computer network architect Designs data networks, from small office links to cloud systems. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Computer programmer Writes and tests the code that makes software work. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Computer research scientist Invents new ways of computing and new uses for existing technology. Entry: master's degree.
  • Computer support specialist Helps people and offices fix computer problems. Entry: some college, no degree.
  • Computer systems analyst Studies an organization's computer systems and designs better ones. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Conservation scientist Manages the land quality of forests, parks and rangelands. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Data scientist Uses large sets of data to find patterns and answer questions. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Database administrator Builds and looks after the systems that store an organization's data. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Drafter Turns engineers' and architects' designs into technical drawings. Entry: associate's degree.
  • Economist Studies how goods, services and money are produced and shared out. Entry: master's degree.
  • Electrical engineer Designs electrical equipment, from motors to power grids. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Electrical engineering technician Helps engineers build and test electrical and electronic equipment. Entry: associate's degree.
  • Electronics engineer Designs electronic parts and systems such as broadcast gear and navigation. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Engineering manager Plans and directs the work of an engineering or architecture firm. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Environmental engineer Finds engineering answers to pollution, waste and water problems. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Environmental science technician Tracks down sources of pollution by sampling air, water and soil. Entry: associate's degree.
  • Environmental scientist Uses natural science to protect the environment and human health. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Epidemiologist Investigates the patterns and causes of disease in groups of people. Entry: master's degree.
  • Forensic science technician Collects and analyzes evidence from crime scenes. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Forester Manages forests for timber, wildlife and recreation. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Geographer Studies the Earth's land, features and the people who live on it. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Geological technician Helps scientists and engineers explore for minerals, oil and gas. Entry: associate's degree.
  • Geoscientist Studies the rocks, structure and history of the Earth. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Health and safety engineer Designs systems that keep people from getting sick or hurt at work. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Historian Researches and interprets the past from documents and other sources. Entry: master's degree.
  • Hydrologist Studies how water moves across and through the Earth. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Industrial engineer Finds ways to cut waste in how things are made and delivered. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Industrial-organizational psychologist Applies psychology to hiring, training and life at work. Entry: master's degree.
  • Information security analyst Protects computer networks from break-ins and attacks. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • IT manager Plans and directs the computer systems of an organization. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Landscape architect Designs parks, gardens, campuses and other outdoor spaces. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Marine engineer Designs the engines and systems of ships, from tankers to submarines. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Materials engineer Develops and tests the materials that products are made from. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Materials scientist Studies the structure of materials to improve them or make new ones. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Mathematician Develops new mathematics or applies it to problems in science and business. Entry: master's degree.
  • Mechanical drafter Draws the detailed plans for machines and mechanical devices. Entry: associate's degree.
  • Mechanical engineer Designs machines, engines, tools and other mechanical devices. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Medical scientist Runs research aimed at improving human health. Entry: doctoral or professional degree.
  • Meteorologist Studies the weather and climate and makes forecasts. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Microbiologist Studies bacteria, viruses, fungi and other tiny living things. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Mining engineer Designs mines so that minerals can be removed safely. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Naval architect Designs the hull and structure of ships and boats. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Network administrator Keeps an organization's computer networks running day to day. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Nuclear engineer Works out how to use nuclear energy and radiation safely. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Nuclear technician Operates and monitors equipment in nuclear research and power. Entry: associate's degree.
  • Operations research analyst Uses math and logic to help organizations make better decisions. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Petroleum engineer Designs ways to get oil and gas out of the ground. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Physicist Studies how matter and energy behave. Entry: doctoral or professional degree.
  • Political scientist Studies how political systems start, develop and operate. Entry: master's degree.
  • Sales engineer Sells complex technical products and explains how they work. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • School psychologist Helps students with learning and behavior problems at school. Entry: master's degree.
  • Sociologist Studies how people behave in groups, cultures and institutions. Entry: master's degree.
  • Software developer Designs and writes the programs that run on computers and phones. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Software tester Hunts for problems in software and reports them before release. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Soil and plant scientist Studies crops and soil to improve how food is grown. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Statistician Collects and analyzes data to solve real-world problems. Entry: master's degree.
  • Survey researcher Designs surveys and analyzes the answers. Entry: master's degree.
  • Surveying technician Takes the land measurements that surveyors and mapmakers work from. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Surveyor Measures land to fix property boundaries. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Urban planner Plans how land is used as towns and cities grow. Entry: master's degree.
  • Web developer Builds websites and keeps them running. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Wildlife biologist Studies wild animals and how they interact with their ecosystems. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Zoologist Studies animals and how they live in their habitats. Entry: bachelor's degree.

Building, repair and making 65

  • Aircraft mechanic Repairs aircraft and carries out their scheduled maintenance. Entry: postsecondary nondegree award.
  • Assembler Puts together finished products and the parts that go into them. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Auto body repairer Straightens and refinishes damaged vehicle bodies and replaces glass. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Auto mechanic Inspects, maintains and repairs cars and light trucks. Entry: postsecondary nondegree award.
  • Baker Mixes and bakes bread, pastries and other baked goods. Entry: no formal credential.
  • Bicycle repairer Repairs and services bicycles. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Boilermaker Builds and repairs boilers, tanks and vats that hold liquids and gases. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Building inspector Checks that construction meets building codes and the contract. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Calibration technologist Tests and adjusts measuring instruments so that they read true. Entry: associate's degree.
  • Carpenter Builds and repairs frames and structures made of wood and other materials. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Cell tower technician Installs and repairs the equipment on cellular and radio towers. Entry: associate's degree.
  • Computer repairer Repairs computers, office machines and cash machines. Entry: some college, no degree.
  • Concrete finisher Pours, levels and smooths concrete for floors, roads and sidewalks. Entry: no formal credential.
  • Construction equipment operator Drives bulldozers, excavators and other heavy building machines. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Construction manager Plans, budgets and supervises building projects from start to finish. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Dental laboratory technician Makes crowns, bridges and dentures to a dentist's order. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Diesel mechanic Repairs buses, trucks and anything else with a diesel engine. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Drywall installer Hangs wallboard and tapes the joints ready for painting. Entry: no formal credential.
  • Earth driller Drills wells and bores holes for water, samples and construction. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Electrician Installs and repairs wiring, lighting and electrical power systems. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Elevator installer Installs and repairs elevators, escalators and moving walkways. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Farm equipment mechanic Repairs tractors, harvesters and other farm machinery. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Fence erector Builds and repairs fences and gates. Entry: no formal credential.
  • Flooring installer Lays carpet, wood, vinyl and other floor coverings. Entry: no formal credential.
  • General maintenance worker Fixes and maintains machines, equipment and buildings. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Glazier Cuts and installs glass in windows, skylights and shop fronts. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Hazardous materials removal worker Removes asbestos, lead and other dangerous materials. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Heating and air conditioning mechanic Installs and repairs heating, cooling and refrigeration systems. Entry: postsecondary nondegree award.
  • House painter Paints walls, buildings, bridges and other structures. Entry: no formal credential.
  • Industrial machinery mechanic Keeps factory machines and conveyor systems working. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Industrial production manager Runs the daily operations of a manufacturing plant. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Ironworker Puts up the steel frames of buildings, bridges and roads. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Jeweler Designs, makes, repairs and sells jewelry. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Machinist Sets up and runs machine tools that cut precision metal parts. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Meat cutter Cuts and trims meat, poultry and fish for sale. Entry: no formal credential.
  • Medical equipment repairer Installs and repairs equipment used in hospitals and clinics. Entry: associate's degree.
  • Millwright Installs, moves and takes apart heavy factory machinery. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Motorboat mechanic Repairs the engines and electrics of boats. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Motorcycle mechanic Services and repairs motorcycles, scooters and similar vehicles. Entry: postsecondary nondegree award.
  • Musical instrument repairer Repairs and tunes pianos, guitars, horns and other instruments. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Nuclear power reactor operator Controls a nuclear reactor and watches its instruments. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Paperhanger Covers walls and ceilings with wallpaper. Entry: no formal credential.
  • Plasterer Applies plaster and stucco to walls and ceilings. Entry: no formal credential.
  • Plumber Installs and repairs the pipes that carry water and gas. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Power plant operator Controls the systems that generate and distribute electric power. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Power-line installer Installs and repairs the cables that carry electricity. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Printing press operator Sets up and runs printing presses. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Quality control inspector Examines products and materials for defects. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Roofer Covers buildings with shingles, metal and other roofing. Entry: no formal credential.
  • RV technician Repairs and services recreational vehicles and their fittings. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Security alarm installer Installs and repairs burglar and fire alarm systems. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Semiconductor processing technician Runs the equipment that makes computer chips. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Septic tank servicer Cleans and repairs septic tanks, sewer lines and drains. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Sewing machine operator Runs machines that sew clothing and other goods. Entry: no formal credential.
  • Sheet metal worker Makes and installs products from thin metal sheets, such as air ducts. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Solar panel installer Assembles and fits solar panels on roofs and other structures. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Stationary engineer Runs a large building's boilers, engines and other mechanical plant. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Stonemason Builds walls and other structures from stone. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Telecommunications line installer Installs and repairs phone, internet and cable television lines. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Tile setter Lays tile on floors, walls and counters. Entry: no formal credential.
  • Upholsterer Makes, repairs and re-covers padded furniture. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Water treatment plant operator Runs the machines that clean drinking water and wastewater. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Welder Joins and cuts metal parts with heat. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Wind turbine technician Climbs wind turbines to inspect and repair them. Entry: postsecondary nondegree award.
  • Woodworker Makes cabinets, furniture and other products from wood. Entry: high school diploma.

Business, office and sales 59

  • Accountant Prepares and checks financial records. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Advertising sales agent Sells advertising space to businesses and individuals. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Bank teller Handles deposits, withdrawals and other routine bank business. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Bill collector Tries to recover payment on overdue bills. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Bookkeeping clerk Keeps an organization's financial records up to date. Entry: some college, no degree.
  • Budget analyst Helps organizations plan their spending. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Cashier Takes payment from customers in shops and other businesses. Entry: no formal credential.
  • Chief executive Sets an organization's strategy and makes sure it meets its goals. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Claims adjuster Investigates insurance claims and decides what should be paid. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Compliance officer Checks that an organization follows laws and regulations. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Cost estimator Works out the time, money and materials a project will need. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Credit counselor Advises people who are struggling with debt. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Customer service representative Answers customers' questions, takes orders and handles complaints. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Data entry keyer Types information into a computer system and checks it. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Desktop publisher Lays out pages for print and web with design software. Entry: associate's degree.
  • Emergency dispatcher Answers emergency calls and sends police, fire or ambulance crews. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Emergency management director Plans how a community responds to disasters. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Event planner Arranges every detail of meetings, conventions and other events. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Executive assistant Gives high-level office support to a senior executive. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Financial analyst Advises businesses and people on decisions about investing money. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Financial examiner Checks that banks and other firms follow financial laws. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Financial manager Looks after the financial health of an organization. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Food service manager Runs the daily business of a restaurant or other place that serves food. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Fundraiser Organizes events and campaigns to raise money for an organization. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Hotel desk clerk Checks guests in and out and answers their questions. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Hotel manager Makes sure guests have a good stay and the hotel runs at a profit. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Human resources manager Plans and directs the staffing of an organization. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Human resources specialist Recruits, screens and interviews job applicants. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Insurance sales agent Contacts customers and sells them insurance. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Insurance underwriter Decides whether to offer insurance and on what terms. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Labor relations specialist Interprets and administers labor contracts. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Loan officer Reviews loan applications and recommends whether to approve them. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Logistician Manages how an organization's goods move from supplier to customer. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Mail carrier Sorts and delivers mail along a set route. Entry: no formal credential.
  • Management analyst Recommends ways for an organization to run better. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Market research analyst Studies what people buy and what they will pay for it. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Marketing manager Plans how to build interest in a product or service. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Medical and health services manager Plans and directs the business side of a hospital or clinic. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Parts salesperson Sells spare parts and equipment, mostly for vehicles. Entry: no formal credential.
  • Personal financial advisor Advises people on saving, investing, insurance and retirement. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Project management specialist Coordinates a project's budget, schedule and staffing. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Proofreader Reads text before printing to catch and mark errors. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Property appraiser Estimates what land and buildings are worth. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Property manager Looks after the running of residential and commercial buildings. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Public relations specialist Builds and protects the public image of a client. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Purchasing manager Buys the products and services an organization needs or resells. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Real estate agent Helps clients buy, sell and rent property. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Receptionist Answers the phone, greets visitors and gives out information. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Retail salesperson Helps customers find products in a shop and rings up the sale. Entry: no formal credential.
  • Sales manager Directs a sales team and sets its targets. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Secretary Handles the paperwork, calendar and calls of an office. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Securities sales agent Buys and sells stocks, bonds and other investments for clients. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Switchboard operator Answers and routes an organization's phone calls. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Tax examiner Works out how much tax is owed and collects it. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Title examiner Searches property records to confirm who legally owns a piece of land. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Training manager Plans programs that build the skills of an organization's staff. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Training specialist Plans and runs training programs for an organization's staff. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Travel agent Plans trips and sells transport, lodging and tours. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Warehouse and distribution manager Directs how goods are stored, shipped and moved. Entry: high school diploma.

Teaching, law and public safety 44

  • Adult literacy teacher Teaches adults reading, writing, English and high school equivalency. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Bailiff Keeps order and security in a courtroom. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Career and technical education teacher Teaches trades such as auto repair, health care and cooking. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Clergy member Leads worship and gives spiritual guidance to a congregation. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • College administrator Runs student services, admissions or academics at a college. Entry: master's degree.
  • College professor Teaches students beyond high school and often carries out research. Entry: doctoral or professional degree.
  • Community health worker Links people in a community with the health services they need. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Correctional officer Guards people who are being held in jail or prison. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Court reporter Makes word-for-word records of trials and other legal proceedings. Entry: postsecondary nondegree award.
  • Director of religious activities Plans and runs the education programs of a religious group. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Elementary school teacher Teaches young students the basics of subjects such as math and reading. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Firefighter Puts out fires and responds to other emergencies. Entry: postsecondary nondegree award.
  • Fish and game warden Patrols land and water to enforce hunting and fishing laws. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Health education specialist Teaches communities the habits that keep people well. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • High school teacher Teaches a subject and prepares students for life after graduation. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Instructional coordinator Oversees what a school teaches and the standards it teaches to. Entry: master's degree.
  • Interpreter Converts spoken or signed words from one language into another. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Judge Applies the law by overseeing trials and hearings. Entry: doctoral or professional degree.
  • Kindergarten teacher Teaches the youngest school children letters, numbers and how to get along. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Lawyer Advises and represents people and businesses in legal matters. Entry: doctoral or professional degree.
  • Librarian Helps people find information and carry out research. Entry: master's degree.
  • Lifeguard Watches over swimmers and rescues people in trouble. Entry: no formal credential.
  • Marriage and family therapist Helps couples and families work through problems in their relationships. Entry: master's degree.
  • Mediator Helps two sides settle a dispute outside the court system. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Mental health counselor Counsels people living with mental health or addiction problems. Entry: master's degree.
  • Middle school teacher Teaches students, usually in sixth through eighth grade. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Paralegal Supports lawyers by researching, filing and drafting documents. Entry: associate's degree.
  • Police officer Patrols an area, answers calls and enforces the law. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Preschool director Runs a preschool or childcare center, from staff to daily activities. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Preschool teacher Teaches and cares for children who have not yet started kindergarten. Entry: associate's degree.
  • Private investigator Gathers facts about legal, financial and personal matters for clients. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Probation officer Supervises and supports people on probation or parole. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Rehabilitation counselor Helps people with disabilities to live and work independently. Entry: master's degree.
  • Residential advisor Looks after life in a dormitory or group home. Entry: high school diploma.
  • School counselor Helps students build school and social skills and plan what comes next. Entry: master's degree.
  • School principal Runs a school, from its teachers and budget to its daily routine. Entry: master's degree.
  • Security guard Protects property from theft, fire and vandalism. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Self-enrichment teacher Teaches classes people take for fun, such as music, art or languages. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Social and human service assistant Helps clients find benefits and community services. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Special education teacher Teaches students who have learning, mental, emotional or physical disabilities. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Substance abuse counselor Counsels people recovering from drug and alcohol addiction. Entry: master's degree.
  • Teacher assistant Works with a licensed teacher to give students extra attention. Entry: some college, no degree.
  • Translator Converts written text from one language into another. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Tutor Gives one student or a small group extra help with school work. Entry: some college, no degree.

Arts, media and sport 31

  • Actor Plays characters on stage, in film and on television. Entry: some college, no degree.
  • Animator Creates moving images and visual effects for film, games and television. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Art director Sets the visual style of magazines, packaging, films and television. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Camera operator Films television shows, movies and live events. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Coach Teaches athletes the skills they need to compete. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Composer Writes original music for performers, films and games. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Dancer Tells stories and expresses ideas through movement. Entry: no formal credential.
  • Editor Plans, reviews and revises writing before it is published. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Fashion designer Designs clothing, shoes and accessories. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Fashion model Poses for artists and photographers to help advertise products. Entry: no formal credential.
  • Film and video editor Cuts and arranges moving images into a finished story. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Film director Makes the creative decisions that shape a film or show. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Film projectionist Sets up and runs the projector in a movie theater. Entry: no formal credential.
  • Floral designer Arranges live, dried and silk flowers into displays. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Graphic designer Creates logos, layouts and images by hand or with software. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Industrial designer Shapes everyday products such as cars, appliances and toys. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Interior designer Plans indoor spaces so that they are useful, safe and good to look at. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Journalist Reports the news for newspapers, websites, television and radio. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Lighting technician Sets up and controls the lights for a stage, film or television set. Entry: postsecondary nondegree award.
  • Music director Leads an orchestra, choir or other musical group in performance. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Musician Plays instruments or sings for live audiences and recordings. Entry: no formal credential.
  • Party DJ Plays and mixes recorded music for a live audience at events. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Photographer Takes and edits pictures that record an event or tell a story. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Producer Makes the business and creative decisions behind a film, show or play. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Professional athlete Competes in organized sports in front of paying crowds. Entry: no formal credential.
  • Set designer Designs the sets for films, plays, television and museum exhibits. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Singer Performs songs for live audiences and recordings. Entry: no formal credential.
  • Sound technician Sets up and runs audio and video equipment for events and broadcasts. Entry: postsecondary nondegree award.
  • Sports official Runs a game or match and makes sure the rules are followed. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Technical writer Writes instruction manuals and how-to guides for complex products. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Writer Writes books, scripts, articles and other content. Entry: bachelor's degree.

Food, travel and personal care 24

  • Animal caretaker Feeds, grooms and exercises pets and other animals. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Barber Cuts and styles hair and trims beards. Entry: postsecondary nondegree award.
  • Bartender Mixes and serves drinks to customers. Entry: no formal credential.
  • Casino dealer Runs table games such as blackjack and roulette. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Chef Runs a kitchen, plans the menu and directs the cooks. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Childcare worker Looks after children when parents are away, from meals to play. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Concierge Books tables, tickets and tours for hotel guests and residents. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Embalmer Prepares bodies for burial. Entry: associate's degree.
  • Fitness trainer Leads and motivates people through exercise. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Flight attendant Keeps airline passengers safe and comfortable. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Food preparation worker Washes, chops and measures ingredients for the cooks. Entry: no formal credential.
  • Funeral director Arranges the details of a funeral with the family. Entry: associate's degree.
  • Hairstylist Cuts, colors and styles hair. Entry: postsecondary nondegree award.
  • Janitor Keeps buildings clean and in good order. Entry: no formal credential.
  • Locker room attendant Hands out towels and looks after a locker room, coatroom or dressing room. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Manicurist Cleans, shapes and polishes fingernails and toenails. Entry: postsecondary nondegree award.
  • Pest control worker Removes insects, rodents and other pests from buildings. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Private household cook Plans and cooks the meals in a private home. Entry: postsecondary nondegree award.
  • Recreation worker Runs activities at camps, parks and community centers. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Restaurant host Welcomes guests, manages the waiting list and shows people to tables. Entry: no formal credential.
  • Short order cook Cooks simple meals fast in a diner or cafe. Entry: no formal credential.
  • Skincare specialist Gives facials and other treatments to improve the skin. Entry: postsecondary nondegree award.
  • Tour guide Leads visitors around a place and explains what they are seeing. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Waiter Takes orders and brings food and drinks to the table. Entry: no formal credential.

Transport, farming and outdoors 25

  • Agricultural inspector Checks that farms and food plants follow health and safety laws. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Air traffic controller Directs aircraft in the sky and on the ground to keep them safely apart. Entry: associate's degree.
  • Airline pilot Flies passengers and cargo on scheduled airline routes. Entry: bachelor's degree.
  • Animal breeder Selects and breeds animals for traits such as health or strength. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Bridge and lock tender Opens and closes bridges and canal locks so that boats can pass. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Bus driver Drives a bus along a city route or between towns. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Chauffeur Drives clients in a private car or limousine. Entry: no formal credential.
  • Commercial pilot Flies charter trips, rescue flights, crop dusters and aerial tours. Entry: postsecondary nondegree award.
  • Delivery driver Picks up and drops off packages in a van or small truck. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Farmer Runs a farm or ranch that raises crops, livestock or dairy products. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Fishing worker Catches and traps fish and other animals for food. Entry: no formal credential.
  • Forest and conservation worker Plants trees, clears brush and keeps forests healthy. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Freight mover Moves freight, stock and other materials by hand. Entry: no formal credential.
  • Garbage collector Collects trash and recycling and takes it to be processed. Entry: no formal credential.
  • Highway maintenance worker Patches roads, clears snow and keeps guardrails and signs in repair. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Hunter and trapper Hunts and traps wild animals for food, fur and wildlife control. Entry: no formal credential.
  • Logging worker Cuts down trees for timber with heavy equipment. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Oil rig worker Runs the drilling and pumping equipment on an oil or gas rig. Entry: no formal credential.
  • Railroad conductor Coordinates the crew and the daily running of a train. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Rancher Runs a ranch that raises cattle, sheep or other livestock. Entry: high school diploma.
  • School bus driver Drives students to and from school and school events. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Subway operator Drives subway trains or streetcars that carry passengers. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Taxi driver Drives passengers where they ask to go. Entry: no formal credential.
  • Tree trimmer Cuts away branches to protect roads, power lines and sidewalks. Entry: high school diploma.
  • Truck driver Hauls goods over long distances in a tractor-trailer. Entry: postsecondary nondegree award.

How this list was compiled: Job list and one-line descriptions are our own work. The typical entry-level education on every card was checked on 2026-09-18 against the US Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook: the occupation finder at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/occupation-finder.htm and the occupation group pages under https://www.bls.gov/ooh/. Job titles are shortened to everyday names. Jobs whose entry-level education we could not confirm there were left out. No pay figures are included. Licence: own work